Archive through January 31, 2003
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TV ClubHouse: Archives: 2003 February: Paint Thinner in Laundry........HELP: Archive through January 31, 2003

Fruitbat

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:04 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Forgive me for starting a new thead when the question thread may have done the trick, but I am desperate and wanted to call attention to this.

Paint thinner spilled into the laundry. My sheets and clothes, that I cannot disguard, and I dont think I have to, reek.

I cannot get the smell out. I have used regular liquid Tide, Lysol and Pine Sol. I am on the 4th washing. Does anyone know or have any ideas?

Wcv63

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:05 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Have you tried vinigar? It gets most odors out.

Ocean_Islands

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:13 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Wash cycles aren't long enough to get that out. I would soak the clothes in soapy water for a couple of days. This might breakdown the oil compounds. Paint thinner is a kind of oil product, so chances are slim that it can be entirely removed.

You could try soaking the clothes in tomato juice, it seems to work for skunks lol!

Grooch

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:13 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I bet you that Martha would know what to use.

Lancecrossfire

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:14 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Bat, you will need to find something that is soluable with paint thinner AND doesn't present the same type of problem as the pain thinner.

You've got a situation where the paint thinner has bonded to the fabric--and remove will take a chemical that is soluable with paint thinner or breaks the bonds between the thinner and fabric--and that last case could damage the fabric, depending on the chemical reactions involved while the bonds would be broken.

In time the smell will go away, however you would need to have all fabric surfaces exposed to air. That would take up space and a fair amount of time.

Another possibility is to have everything professionally cleaned. It woudl be a bit more expensive, hwoever if anyone would have the appropriate cleaning supplies to get the job done, it would be a prfoessional cleaning business.

Grooch

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:14 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
How about soaking it with a gigantic bottle of Febreeze?

Weinermr

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:19 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Fruitbat, check out this link.

Turpentine in Laundry

Halfunit

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:19 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Milk?

Fruitbat

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:20 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks Wcv, I will try vinegar next.

Lance, I thought of airing them and will after I give vinegar a try. I know rags lose their smell in time with air. I think, now I am not sure.

Firebird05

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:20 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I don't know of any household products that would work but you might try calling a paint store or your dry cleaner for advice.

Rissa

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:21 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
What you need is dry-cleaning solvent. I have no idea where to send you for that.. my hubby brings it home from his bldgs. Try calling your local drycleaner. Blot the stain(s) with the solvent and then like Ocean said... soak in warm, soapy water. If it's a considerable amount, you might want to soak one day in the drycleaning solvent and then the 2nd day in soapy water. Most important thing is to NOT to put any of it in the dryer until you are certain the stain/odor is gone. THe stain will set in the heat and if the odor is still present then heating the items up could make them flammable.

Lancecrossfire

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:21 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Bat, it would also be helpful if you knew what was in the paint thinner. Therre are a number of different mixtures that as sold as basic paint thinner. Some are mineral spirits, some light naphtha, some mixtures of tolune and either mineral spirits or naphtha.

Laquer thinner is typically methyl ethyl ketone.

All of these chemicals have very low odor thresholds, which means they can be smelled in low concentrations. (think in terms of having to get it all out in order not to smell it)

All of these chemicals are fairly flammable, although I realize that solution defeats the purpose of keeping the clothing:)

Rabbit

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:23 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I think you should try putting them in a box and shipping them to Lance. He might not be able to get the odor out, but at least they won't be smelling up the palace.

Fruitbat

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:24 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Weiner, thank you so much. That is the answer. I searched the internet before I started this thread and did not find anything.

Just for reference, what did you do to find this?

Rissa

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:25 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
RFLOL Grooch. Febreeze is my reason for living. LOL I go through gallons of the stuff, especially in the dog's crate (his blankets)... makes him quite nice to cuddle with. LOL

Ocean_Islands

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:26 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Watch out though because you might end up with clothes that don't smell of turpentine but do smell of pinesol, vinegar, ammonia, toluene, mothballs and Febreeze!

Ocean_Islands

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:27 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Rissa why don't you just wash your dog?

Lancecrossfire

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:32 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Rabbit, I heard that!

Rissa

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:36 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
heehee Ocean. 'cause I can't get him to voluntarily jump into the machine of course. LOL

Actually this dog gets bathes more than my children do {sigh, too close to truth :)). We are on an acreage, so he is constantly digging up mole holes or rolling in my gardens. He gets tossed in the shower about once ever 3 weeks. I just have a 'fresh air aroma' obsession.

Weinermr

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:36 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Fruitbat,

First I searched "remove paint thinner odor" and didn't find much, though I did find the suggestion for using vinegar that WCV3 mentioned. Then the word turpentine popped into my head so I searched for "remove turpentine odor" and one of the choices was the site I posted above.

I hope one of these methods works for you.

Zachsmom

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:38 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
note to self..send lance all laundry

Lancecrossfire

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:43 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Note that terpentine is a different chemical than paint thinner, although many of the same chemicals that are soluable in terpentine should also work for the chemicals that can make up paint thinner--the one being most suspect of working for all is acetic acid (vinegar).

The point about not putting them in the dryer at first is very good to remember--you do not want to blow up your house.

Schoolmarm

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:44 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Lance, will you do my laundry, too? :)

Fruitbat

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:52 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Once again the smart money is on my son, prince bunny. You are a genious, my son.

Lance, it is in the mail. They would not accept your Visa so I will send you the receipt for the postage. You are a sport. (chucks cheeks)

Grannyg

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 05:18 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Hey, Lance is doing laundry? Great!! I'll ship mine UPS and should arrive Monday or Tuesday. When should I expect to receive them back?