Checking the Washing Machine
If you've noticed your freshly washed clothes consistently smelling like weed or skunk after they come out of the washing machine, the most likely culprit is inside the machine itself. Residue from marijuana can cling to the drum and various components of a washer over time if weed has been washed in it repeatedly.
Inspecting the Drum
Take a close look at the drum of your washing machine under adequate lighting. See if there are any lingering particles, stains or sticky residue coating the interior. Marijuana residue often has a brown, green or grayish color. Scrub all interior surfaces thoroughly with hot water, laundry detergent and a stiff bristle brush to remove any visible residue.
Cleaning the Dispensers
Check inside your machine's detergent and fabric softener dispensers as well, since lingering particles can collect there too. Remove the dispensing drawers completely and clean every nook and cranny with the same hot, soapy water and scrub brush. Make sure no residue remains.
Venting the Machine
Marijuana stench can also accumulate in any external venting or drainage hoses attached to your washing machine. Disconnect the hoses and rinse them thoroughly with hot water to eliminate odors. Leave hoses disconnected and allow the machine to dry completely before reattaching them.
Running a Sanitize Cycle
Once you've scrubbed the interior and cleaned the dispensers thoroughly, run a sanitize cycle empty to freshen up the machine. Use the hot water setting and add bleach or other sanitizers. This will help eradicate any remaining particles and neutralize odors.
Examining Clothing and Materials
Sometimes the smell isn't coming from inside the washing machine itself, but rather from the fabrics being washed. Marijuana odor can linger strongly in clothes, towels and other materials that have been frequently exposed to smoke.
Isolating Problematic Items
Go through your laundry hamper and smell each item before washing to pinpoint which have the strongest weed stench. Make note of these extra smelly pieces. You may need to take extra steps to fully remove odors from them even after washing.
Considering Material Types
Some fabrics more readily absorb and retain odors from marijuana smoke. Materials like cotton, wool and polyester tend to grab on to smells. Check if the extra smelly items are all of a particular type of fabric prone to holding odors.
Quarantining Stinky Clothes
To avoid cross-contamination of smells, quarantine clothes and other materials that reek of marijuana before washing. Store them separately in sealed bins or bags until ready to launder. This will prevent odor transfer to smoke-free items.
Adding Baking Soda
When washing extra-smelly weed items, add 1/2 cup of baking soda along with detergent to the wash cycle. The baking soda will help absorb and counteract stubborn odors trapped in fabrics.
Using Advanced Laundry Tactics
In some cases, a normal wash cycle may not fully eliminate that stubborn weed stench from clothes and fabrics. You can try incorporating some of these more advanced laundry tactics for extra odor neutralizing power.
Soaking in Vinegar
For smelly clothes that are white and colorfast, try soaking them in a mixture of 1 part white vinegar and 4 parts cold water for 1-2 hours before washing as usual. The acidic vinegar solution helps remove odors.
Drying Outdoors
Skip the dryer and hang smelly clothes to dry outside if possible. The fresh air and sunlight naturally help neutralize odors trapped in fabrics. Just be sure to hang them in an inconspicuous spot to avoid unwanted attention from neighbors.
Adding Enzyme Presoaks
Use an enzyme-based oxygenated laundry presoak like OxiClean or Persil to fully breakdown stubborn odors prior to washing. Presoak strongly scented items for 6-8 hours or overnight before laundering.
Using Odor Absorbing Balls
Add a few odor absorbing laundry balls or discs along with your detergent when washing stinky clothes. These contain activated charcoal or baking soda to absorb stubborn smells.
sprinkling Cat Litter
Believe it or not, pouring a thin layer of fresh, unused non-clumping cat litter into the drum of your washing machine can help absorb stubborn odors like cannabis. Use about 1/2 cup per load along with detergent.
Drying Properly
The drying process is just as important as washing when it comes to removing weed stench from clothing and fabrics. If you don't dry properly, odors can come back.
Cleaning Lint Screen
Before drying weed smelling clothes, clean out your dryer's lint screen thoroughly. Any lingering particles can lead to smells re-depositing on clothes.
Using Dryer Sheets
Add a few extra fragrance boosting dryer sheets along with your wet clothes when drying to help mask any lingering weed odors.
Choosing High Heat
Make sure to use the highest appropriate heat setting when machine drying weed smelling laundry. The hot air helps eliminate odors. Avoid air drying stinky clothes.
Venting Outside
If your dryer is vented indoors, the smell can recirculate. Vent it outside if possible when drying weed smelling items.
Pulling Items Out Quickly
Remove clothes promptly from the dryer once finished drying so smells don't have a chance to re-deposit from air sitting inside.
Storing Properly
Odors can creep back into clothes, towels and other laundered items if not stored properly after washing and drying. Follow these tips to keep closets and drawers smelling fresh.
Sealing Bins and Bags
Store strongly scented laundry items in sealed plastic bins or bags after cleaning. This locks in freshness and prevents reintroduction of smoke smells.
Using Cedar Blocks
Place cedar blocks or hang cedar chips in closets and drawers to maintain a fresh aroma in storage spaces and absorb any odors.
Opening Doors and Drawers
Make sure closets and dresser drawers stay open for awhile after putting away freshly laundered clothes. This allows any lingering moisture or smells dissipate rather than being trapped inside.
Avoiding Direct Contact
Try not to stack freshly washed and dried clothes directly on top of other items that still smell strongly of smoke. Odors can transfer through direct contact.
Adding Baking Soda
Place open boxes of baking soda inside closets, drawers and storage bins to help maintain freshness by absorbing any ambient odors.
Using Proper Prevention
Stopping that annoying weed smell from even happening in the first place is the best tactic of all. With proper prevention habits, you can avoid the hassle and embarrassment of stinky clothes altogether.
Storing Smoking Items
Keep marijuana itself along with any pipes, vapes or other smoking accessories tightly sealed in an airtight container to prevent odor leakage and contamination of nearby clothes and textiles.
Smoking Outdoors
Avoid smoking marijuana indoors around clothing items whenever possible. The smoke odor easily penetrates into fabrics. Take it outside.
Changing After Smoking
If you do smoke indoors, immediately change out of any clothes worn while smoking to prevent smells setting into the fabrics. Toss them straight in the laundry.
Adding a Smoke Buddy
FAQs
Where does the marijuana smell come from in washed clothes?
The smell can come from residue clinging inside the washing machine, fabrics that have absorbed the odor, or improper drying and storage.
What are some tips for washing smelly clothes?
Scrub inside the washer, quarantine extra smelly items, use baking soda in the wash cycle, and presoak in vinegar to help remove odors.
How can you dry smelly clothes properly?
Use high heat, extra dryer sheets, vent the dryer outside, and remove clothes promptly once finished drying.
Why can smells come back after washing?
Odors can recur if clothes are stored improperly, in contact with other smelly items or in spaces lacking adequate ventilation.
How can you prevent weed smells in clothes?
Store smoking accessories securely, avoid smoking near clothes, change after smoking, and use techniques like smoke buddies to prevent contamination.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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