If you’re a food enthusiast who loves experimenting with fresh herbs and spices, you know that cooking aromas can be incredibly tempting. However, the downside is that these smells can be difficult to eliminate from your clothes and home. It’s frustrating when you want to enjoy both good food and fresh-smelling clothing or furniture, but the odors just won’t budge.
Thankfully, there are simple ways to keep onion smells from infiltrating your fabrics and living spaces. As someone who can’t stand the smell of food lingering on my bedding, clothes, couch, or natural fibers like wool and cotton, I’m excited to share my expert tips for how to effectively smell-proof your home while still enjoying your passion for cooking.
Does Onion Smell Go Away from Clothes?
Yes, the onion smell can go away from clothes with the right techniques and products. The onion smell is caused by sulfur compounds in the onion, which can easily stick to fabrics and linger even after washing. However, there are several effective methods for removing the onion smell from clothes.
One common method is to soak the affected clothes in a solution of water and vinegar or baking soda for at least 30 minutes before washing. You can also add vinegar or baking soda directly to the washing machine during the wash cycle.
Another method is to wash the clothes with a detergent that contains enzymes, which can break down the sulfur compounds and eliminate the odor.
Additionally, hanging the clothes outside to air dry can also help to remove the onion smell. The fresh air and sunlight can naturally deodorize the clothes.
What Kills the Smell of Onions Out of Clothes
Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the best substances for killing the onion smell due to its natural deodorizing properties. When baking soda is mixed with water, it forms an alkaline solution that can help to neutralize the acidic sulfur compounds in onions that cause the odor.
In addition to neutralizing odors, baking soda can also act as a mild abrasive, helping to lift any residue from the fabric. This can help to ensure that the odor is completely eliminated, rather than just masked by a fragrance.
Baking soda is also a safe and natural alternative to harsh chemicals or synthetic fragrances that can irritate sensitive skin or cause allergic reactions. It’s gentle enough to use on a variety of fabrics, including delicate items like silk or wool.
Vinegar
Vinegar is another natural substance that is effective at killing onion smell from clothes and other fabrics. Vinegar is a mild acid, which means it can neutralize the alkaline sulfur compounds in onions that cause the odor.
To use vinegar to eliminate onion smell from clothes, you can mix a solution of equal parts water and vinegar and soak the affected items in the solution for at least 30 minutes before washing. Alternatively, you can add vinegar directly to the washing machine during the rinse cycle.
Vinegar also has antibacterial properties, which can help to kill odor-causing bacteria that may be present on the fabric. Vinegar is also a natural fabric softener, so it can leave clothes feeling soft and fresh.
It’s important to note that vinegar has a strong smell of its own, but this odor will dissipate once the clothes are dry. Additionally, vinegar can be harsh on some fabrics, so it’s important to test a small, inconspicuous area before using it on a larger scale.
Overall, vinegar is an effective and natural solution for eliminating onion smell from clothes, with the added benefits of antibacterial properties and fabric softening.
Fabric Softener
Fabric softener is a product that is added to the wash cycle of laundry to make clothes feel softer and more comfortable to wear.
Fabric softeners typically contain a variety of ingredients, including a type of surfactant that helps to reduce static cling, fragrance to provide a pleasant scent, and other conditioning agents to improve the texture of the fabric.
Fabric softeners can come in liquid or dryer sheet form. When using liquid fabric softener, it’s added to the washing machine during the rinse cycle.
When using dryer sheets, they’re added to the dryer along with the clothes.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts that are often used in aromatherapy, skincare, and natural cleaning products.
Essential oils are derived from various parts of plants, including the leaves, flowers, roots, and bark, and each oil has its unique scent and properties.
When it comes to laundry, essential oils can be used as a natural alternative to synthetic fragrances found in conventional fabric softeners and laundry detergents.
Essential oils can be added to the wash cycle, fabric softener dispenser, or dryer balls to provide a pleasant scent to clothes.
Some essential oils have natural antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Tea tree oil, for example, is a popular essential oil that’s used in laundry care because of its antimicrobial properties.
Scent Detergent
Scent detergents are laundry detergents that are specifically formulated to provide a long-lasting fragrance to clothes. These detergents contain special fragrance-boosting technologies that help to infuse the scent into the fabric and keep it there for an extended period.
Scent detergents come in a wide range of scents, from floral and fruity to fresh and clean. Some popular scents include lavender, jasmine, citrus, and ocean breeze. Scent detergents can also come in different forms, including liquid, powder, and pods.
How to Remove Onion Smell from Clothes Without Washing
The smell of onions can be challenging to remove from clothes, but there are several methods you can try to eliminate the odor without washing the clothes. Here are some effective ways to remove onion smell from clothes without washing:
- Hang Them Out: Hanging your clothes outside in the fresh air and sunlight can help to naturally eliminate odors.
- Steam Your Garments: Steaming your clothes with a handheld steamer or hanging them in a steamy bathroom can help to release the onion smell from the fabric.
- Spray With Vodka: Vodka can help to neutralize odors and kill bacteria. Dilute it with water and spray it directly onto the clothes.
- Spray With White Vinegar: White vinegar is another natural odor eliminator. Dilute it with water and spray it onto the clothes, then hang them to dry.
- Natural Odor Removing Spray: You can make your own natural odor-removing spray by combining equal parts water and rubbing alcohol with a few drops of essential oil.
- Spray or Spot With Lemon Juice: Lemon juice is acidic and can help to break down odors. Spray it directly onto the clothes or spot-treat the affected areas.
- Spray with Essential Oils: Essential oils like lavender, tea tree, or lemon can help to mask odors and provide a pleasant scent. Dilute them with water and spray them onto the clothes.
- Use Baking Soda: Baking soda is a natural odor absorber. Sprinkle it onto the clothes and let it sit for several hours before shaking or brushing it off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can lemon Remove the onion smell?
Yes, lemon can help remove onion smell from clothes. Lemon juice is acidic and can help break down the compounds that cause the odor. Here’s how to use lemon juice to remove onion smell from clothes:
Does baking soda get rid of onion smell?
Baking soda can help get rid of onion smell from clothes. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer that can absorb odors from fabrics. Here’s how to use baking soda to remove onion smell from clothes:
