Army Surplus stink!

[Magentus]

I bought a Danish Civil Defense Jacket from Militarymart - great bit of clothing EXCEPT it really stinks! It has some kind of grid or netting sewn into the top half, sandwiched between the inner and outer layers that, no matter how many times I have washed it (4) with bio liquid at high and low temps, and being left in the sun all day, I cannot get rid of it.

Does anyone have any other tips please?

Could the sewn in grid/net be an asbestos kind of material? I'm sure I've smelt something like it before around insulation or lagging or the like.

 

[santaman2000]

Next time you lay it out cover it with baking soda.

 

[Magentus]

Ah, thanks

 

[Wildgoose]

Could the smell be mothballs? That smell instantly takes me back to being 13 and my first evening at cadets.

might be worth visiting the dry cleaners for advice

 

[Magentus]

Doesn't smell like mothballs - definitely a loft lagging kind of aroma - might have been stored in an attic or something.

 

[Toddy]

If it's one of the things meant to insect proof then only allowing it to sublimate (think outgas) will clear the smell, and only time will take care of that.
If you can, hang it up opened up someplace airy, like a garage and just let the air work at it. Sunshine will help, but only time opened up someplace where the air can get at it will work.

M

 

[Magentus]

Thanks Toddy - let's hope the rain stops for a while!

 

[Herman30]

Try soaking in vinegar water (1 part vinegar + 10 part water) and then wash.

 

[Mesquite]

Thanks Toddy - let's hope the rain stops for a while!

TBH leaving it out for a few days come rain or sunshine will help and certainly won't harm it

 

[Magentus]

Cheers all for your input and help

 

[marcoruhland]

put it for some days into your freezer!

mr

 

[Billy-o]

If it is possibly microbial, like shoe stink or that off an old pan scrubber, boil it. You could put it damp in the microwave, but I guess there will be metal bits on it. Works well for shoes that technique does, but can melt the glue too much if you overdo it.

 

[Magentus]

Thanks for all the advice folks - I kept it outside for three days and nights, and the smell returned a couple of hours after bringing it in after that, and then it went in the freezer for a couple of days all to no avail. Sadly I decided to bin it as I didn't want to pass it on smelling as bad as it did.

 

[Silverclaws2]

The army surplus smell I recall has a distinct similarity to the supply squadron warehouse smell, to perhaps be the cleaning or finishing product that is used.

 

[Erbswurst]

What I can't boil I freeze for three weeks and wash and rinse it excessively.

But yes, rubberised German Army stuff like the poncho keeps a special smell for very long time. Only airing it very long helps and my impression is that relatively unused stuff smells more than very used stuff.