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How To Get A Fishy Smell Out Of Clothes

Mark Armstrong
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You’ve come home to relax after a long day of fishing but it’s not just your memories that you’ve brought back. An unwelcome aroma has followed you home and you want it gone. But how do you get rid of it?

Fish odor can linger on your clothes and can be difficult to shake. But it’s not all bad. To help you get that awful fish smell out of clothes and other fabrics we’ve put together this guide with some useful tips and tricks.

How To Get Fish Smell Out Of Clothes? - PinterestPin

Something Smells Fishy: Tips To Get Fish Odor Out Of Clothes

1: Baking Soda

You’ve probably already heard about the many cleaning abilities of baking soda and it can also come to the rescue for getting rid of fishy smells. There are a few ways you can utilize baking soda for this purpose.

You can lay your fishy smelling clothing out flat, sprinkle baking soda over it and leave it outside in the sun for a couple of hours. Alternatively, put your sprinkled clothing inside a sealed bag and leave overnight. Brush off the baking soda and hang outside in the fresh air.

Another way is to fill up your sink with water, add half a cup to a cup of baking soda and leave your clothing to soak, preferably overnight. Whether you soak it or sprinkle it (or try both) you can then wash it as normal in your washing machine.

You can also add half a cup of baking soda to your washing machine to give it an extra boost. 

Baking soda should also help eradicate oily stains from the fish too.

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2: Vinegar

Vinegar is another household item that can be ideal for cleaning and getting rid of fish smells from clothing. Similar to the way you might use baking soda, white vinegar can be added to a sink full of water where you can leave your fishy clothes to soak.

Additionally, you can add a cup of white vinegar to your washing machine along with your detergent and this can help neutralize any odors on your clothing. White vinegar can also enhance the powers of baking soda in your washing machine, so could be used together in your wash cycle.

Video: 6 Natural Ways To Remove Odors And Stains From Clothes

3: Air Dry

Leaving your clothes outside to dry in the fresh air can help to get rid of any odors, especially if you’ve already tried other methods to get rid of the fish smell. Airing out your clothes before you wash them could also help minimize the fish odor before you soak the items in baking soda or vinegar.

4: Vodka (Yes, Really!)

Vodka might not be the first thing you think of when you’re trying to get fish odors out of your clothes but it can actually be pretty useful. Because it’s clear and high in alcohol content you should be able to apply it to most clothing.

The alcohol content helps to get rid of the smells and once it’s dry it should have lifted the fishy smell out of your clothing without leaving behind any alcohol smell.

Put it in a clean spray bottle if you can, and then spray it evenly across your fishy clothing before hanging it up to dry.

In Conclusion

Trying to get the fish smell out of clothes after a fishing trip or after you’ve been cooking can be a bit of a challenge. But hopefully, with our handy tips, you’ll soon be on your way to fresh smelling clothes.

Remember that depending on how strong the smell is on your clothes, you may need to repeat or try several of these methods before the smell will completely disappear. Leave us a comment to let us know what method you prefer. Don’t want your friends to smell fishy? Share this with them.

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