Laundry issue- really, really bad smell.

[Murph]

Ok, I might have to burn my shirt and pants if I can't get the smell out. Yesterday, I had to respond to a suicide that had been cooking outside for several days. The condition of the body was just indescribable, and the smell, well lets just say that the vultures were gagging. Since I am the on call investigator, I had to go, and get "up close and personal" to get ID, etc. My clothes, hair, skin, etc smelled of corpse. (Took two showers to get rid of the smell).

In the past I used a triple wash cycle, with Tide, Oxyclean, and Clorox color bleach. However the smell this time is so....stout, after my triple cycle, I can still smell dead body in my jeans and shirt. Suggestions? They smell so bad, Lupe will not get near them. She suggested throwing them away, but they are brand new Wranglers, and shirt.

[DeannaD]

Yuch...Try soaking them in vinegar.

[Murph]

Ok. will that hurt the colors any?

Originally Posted by DeannaD

Yuch...Try soaking them in vinegar.

[MHampton]

They say tomato juice works for skunk smell.

Now that I think about it, that would probably stain the clothes too huh? This is why my wife only lets me wash the towels.. :)

[DeannaD]

I soak my son's red soccer jersey in vinegar all the time and haven't had any issues. Several people recommended it, but I hate the vinegar smell, so I resisted for a while. They were right tho.. it works and the vinegar small washes out in the laundry.

They recommend white vinegar. Google "vinegar laundry" read about it.

[ggeen]

vinegar is color safe. It is even recommended to set colors to prevent running. May be just an old wives tale, but it doesn't hurt colors any.

[Cajungaltx]

Yup - old people knew what to do.

Vinegar smells yuck when you put it in - but it doesn't 'continue' to smell.

I'd add a cup of vinegar to the washer - and start the cycle. Stop it once it's agitated, and let it sit for an hour. Then finish it. The vinegar will neutralize anything in the clothing that is causing the smell.

[z-monster]

Yikes Murph, I can't say that I can help you but I do know what you're going through. In my last tour of Iraq I ended up burning several ACU uniforms because the smell of rotting flesh could not be washed out. Good luck.

[MicWayWal]

Murph,

Let us know if it works and what you did. Thanks

[CaptainTom]

Been there, done that !!! Google: Viet Nam War
Fortunately I was working for the US Army and they provided a couple of extra sets of work clothes.....i.e. fatigues.

If the vinegar doesn't work, burn them and charge your employer.

[ggeen]

Cpt. Tom, I just got an image of photographers all over the DFW area running around in fatigues. You think the populace is paranoid now? Just wait.

[carrbowl]

vinegar will work...it does wonder's for the fish odor too...

[CaptainTom]

Those guys/gals on CSI Miami never have this problem...

[Cajungaltx]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

Those guys/gals on CSI Miami never have this problem...

And Cally wears white pants alot as well.... and they all have long finger nails...

LOVE that show though... ;-)

[zeroendless]

Those guys/gals on CSI Miami never have this problem...

They can blow up a disposable camera print, then ID the killer from a witness iris reflection that's barely 1% of the whole image and it was crystal sharp :) ... i'm sure they got some rocket science cleaning solution for clothing issue.