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suhlut -> RE: How do i get the smell out? (5/4/2010 6:08:26 AM)
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I work in dry cleaning, and where I work, leather can't be cleaned. Any leather that gets brought in to be cleaned gets picked up and taken care of, by a professional leather cleaner. They have a special process, but I am completely unsure about what luck that process has in removing cigarrette smoke scent.
But, what I do know is, that when people bring in normal clothing, or window curtains, drapes, the clothes NEVER lose that stinky smell. It may be a bit weaker scented, but when I steam or press them, the steam really smells awful.
And that is because its not only a scent that is the problem, it is what cigarette smoke does to the FABRIC.
Nicotein, and various tars and other additives, float around in the smoke, and are very sticky. Once it goes into fabric, like drapes for example.. it turns them a lil yelllow. Smoke a bit more, and then more yellowing.. keep puffing away, and eventually its no longer yellowing, its turning brown. That sticky yellow/brown stuff, does not like to come out. And with it, comes the ordor.
Recently watched the owner trying to clean some flags that came from inside a vets meeting place. They had to be hand washed, one at a time. The water color was so dark, it looked like coffee.
She used ammonia on them, and believe me, I often use ammonia on my home laundry, to remove various scents from the clothes, from perfumes, to deoderants, to sweat, to baby clothes, covered in urine. Ammonia works wonders with removing scents.
But those flags, a different story... when i pressed and steamed them later, there came that unmistakable scent. Just no way of removing it.
Some people bring in drapes that have hung in their houses for years and years, yellow/brown streaks covering them, and for some reason, they expect that dry cleaning is gonna save them.
Well, the stains might fade by several degrees, but those yellow streaks are still there when I press...and so is the smell. It would be cheaper, to get them replaced. And stop smoking. I am so glad I stopped 4 years ago, and never smoked in my house in the first place.
I'd never buy a house, nor curtains/drapes, nor clothing that is secondhand from a smoker. It ruins everything. If I were you, I'd write to the Ebay seller and demand to be able to return and get your money back. Otherwise, bring it to Ebay's attention.
The leather cleaning might work, I do know when things come back from the professional cleaner, everything I have ever smelled, smells like brand new leather. So, maybe that process is so far different, that it works to get the stains out. I can't really say though, cause maybe none of those coats belonged to a heavy chain smoker.
And yeah, it does cost quite alot, but I'd ask your dry cleaner what thier success is in removing such stains/scents. If they can't give you very good news, you don't need to leave it there.
I will tell you that NOTHING that your trying to do on your own is gonna work, and in fact is very likely making it WORSE. Leather is NOT sposed to be gotten wet. Spritzing liquids on it may very well be setting the stains in deeper.
If you do end up taking it to your cleaners, do please remember to tell them what you did already to the jacket while trying to remove the stains.
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