Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • Question: How to Keep Fabric Stash Fresh Smelling? >
  • Question: How to Keep Fabric Stash Fresh Smelling?

  • Question: How to Keep Fabric Stash Fresh Smelling?

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 08-30-2012, 07:11 AM
      #1  
    Senior Member
    Thread Starter
     
    laynak's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Apr 2010
    Location: N. California
    Posts: 323
    Question Question: How to Keep Fabric Stash Fresh Smelling?

    Okay, I've got 'enough stash' for many quilts to come. Mostly fabrics bought new. I don't wash till before starting a new quilt.
    I have about a 10x12 quilt room (guessing). It includes a nice sized dresser, a standup plastic pull-out drawer storage, and about 10 cloth boxes in cubicles in the closet 1/2 filled with fabrics.
    I spent the past few days cleaning the whole room top to bottom, dusting bookshelves and book tops, surge protectors, under and around every piece of furniture, every surface possible. I still detect some odor like a linen closet. I've had cedar balls in some of the drawers/boxes but wonder, what do others do?
    Do I need to take out all my fabrics & run them through the dryer with dryer sheets to freshen them up? Take them outside for a day of fresh air? Store them in a different manner? How?
    The room is CLEAN but not as fresh smelling as I want to enter winter with....
    A friend gave me a gallon of lavender water awhile back. I haven't used it much. Not sure I want everything smelling like lavender. Any ideas how could that be used?
    laynak is offline  
    Old 08-30-2012, 09:03 AM
      #2  
    cjr
    Super Member
     
    cjr's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jul 2010
    Location: Las Vegas NV
    Posts: 1,250
    Default

    I stick used dryer sheets in the back and between fabric piles. Also because of allergies I"m a prewasher. Unwashed fabric is a no-no for me. I also have copd so I need to be extra careful.

    What about lavender sachets?
    cjr is offline  
    Old 08-30-2012, 09:36 AM
      #3  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Mar 2012
    Location: Texas, USA
    Posts: 5,896
    Default

    You can also get some nice smelling bars of soap, to tuck here and there. Just open the box, then place it among your fabric (this keeps the soap off of the fabric). We used to do this, with suitcases.
    Neesie is offline  
    Old 08-30-2012, 09:48 AM
      #4  
    Super Member
     
    luvTooQuilt's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jul 2010
    Location: A Hop from Heaven, a Skip from Sanity and a Jump from the Good Life....
    Posts: 6,665
    Default

    ~Baking soda in a canning jar- omit lid cover with cheesecloth or something mesh-y like- and screw on band... Decorate jar or leave as is..

    ~plug in scents

    ~Battery operated spray deodorizers- clean linen scent is my favorite..

    ~downy dryer sheets, but dont leave them directly on fabrics - they may stain your fabrics.. I re-use the ones that have already gone thru the dryer and put them in the drawers and closet.. they still have a lil scent left on them.. ..
    luvTooQuilt is offline  
    Old 08-30-2012, 04:10 PM
      #5  
    Senior Member
     
    Tashana's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jul 2012
    Location: Long Island
    Posts: 798
    Default

    I use fresh beads in my wash and my fabrics are in plastic boxes. I also have a Fabreeze air freshened (the pull out kind that does not use power and lasts about a month. When I vacuum I empty a small sachet of potpourri meant for drawers or closets in my vacuum bag. It makes the room smell divine.
    Tashana is offline  
    Old 08-30-2012, 04:15 PM
      #6  
    Super Member
     
    LivelyLady's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Dec 2010
    Location: Western MA
    Posts: 2,720
    Default

    Originally Posted by Neesie
    You can also get some nice smelling bars of soap, to tuck here and there. Just open the box, then place it among your fabric (this keeps the soap off of the fabric). We used to do this, with suitcases.
    That's what I use, too. I put them in my bureau drawers, too. I leave the soap in the wrappers....works great.
    LivelyLady is offline  
    Old 08-30-2012, 04:21 PM
      #7  
    Senior Member
     
    Join Date: Jul 2012
    Posts: 319
    Default

    Originally Posted by luvTooQuilt
    ~Baking soda in a canning jar- omit lid cover with cheesecloth or something mesh-y like- and screw on band... Decorate jar or leave as is.........
    I'm sensitive to scented products, so I'm going to try this. Baking soda is cheap and works in my frig and freezer. Thanks for the tip.
    MattieMae is offline  
    Old 08-30-2012, 04:26 PM
      #8  
    Super Member
     
    LynnVT's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2012
    Location: Vermont, USA
    Posts: 1,346
    Default

    Febreze. It does not add a smell, it clears away unpleasant ones. There are different kinds now, so go with the one that just leaves fresh air fragrance. Also, find out if moisture is the culprit somehow. Is there dampness from the basement or foundation?
    LynnVT is offline  
    Old 08-30-2012, 04:34 PM
      #9  
    Senior Member
     
    Gigi07's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Nov 2010
    Location: WNC
    Posts: 659
    Default

    I usually use baking soda but lately have tried the scented beads... either works well.
    Gigi07 is offline  
    Old 08-30-2012, 04:39 PM
      #10  
    Super Member
     
    ghostrider's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2009
    Posts: 4,688
    Default

    You don't say whether your fabrics are stored out in the open or enclosed in drawers/boxes/bins. If there is inadequate air circulation, that may be what's causing the odor you smell. I'd be looking for the cause of the problem, not just a cover-up scent to use. Whatever you decide, keep those cedar balls out of direct contact with your fabrics. They'll discolor it.
    ghostrider is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    Janet P.
    Main
    61
    04-01-2019 11:53 AM
    Purl
    Main
    25
    07-04-2015 06:33 PM
    CAS49OR
    Main
    37
    04-18-2015 09:58 AM
    Ariannaquilts
    For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
    22
    07-20-2014 04:15 PM
    quilterj
    General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
    19
    10-07-2009 04:33 AM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter