How to get the smell out of a security blanket...

[Meghan9701]

My son who is 23 months has a blankie that he sucks on. He never took a pacifier so this is what he has always done instead.  He has to have it for nap time and bed time.  Because he sucks on it so much it gets all slobbery and wet and starts to smell pretty bad!!!!  I know gross, haha.  But he loves the thing, he calls it "bear" because it's a small blanket with a teddy bear head attached.  I have tried all I can think of to get the smell out of it...I wash it in HOT water EVERYTIME, with a good scented detergent (Tide w/Febreeze)  and sometimes I even use bleach just to get the germs out and the blanket STILL comes out smelling like I haven't even washed it, I'm afraid it's permanently got his scent on it!!!!!!!  Any advice on what I can do to make this thing smell better??????   

Here is a pic taken a while back of my son and his "bear"

 

[abelsmama07]

try throwing in a cup of white vinegar into the wash too.  if that doesn't work soak it in vinegar and hot water before washing.  it may come out smelling like vinegar if you end up having to soak it, but they next time you wash it, both smells (the stank, and the vinegar smell) should be gone.  i love vinegar... good luck!

we have four of my son's lovie for this very reason... i don't do stanky things, so we rotate often.

[Mama2Noah07]

My son's "B" (his blanket) smells pretty rank too!

Like you, washing it doesn't get the smell out. Eh....

[Randi02]

It's not getting clean because you are just washing it in something that's coating it in a chemical scent, not truly killing those germs. Tide with Febreeze is TOXIC and you should be careful with what you put on that blanket if he's sucking on it!

My son chews on his blanket as well. I was it with an all natural detergent called Attitude, but I'm not sure if it's available in the US though. Then I put about 1/2 cup of pure white vinegar in the softener slot and it kills any germs while not leaving a smell, and softening the clothing or blankets. It is a natural fabric softener, so you don't need to worry about him sucking on it and ingesting those chemicals.

[abelsmama07]

try freezing it too, if you can get it out of his hands long enough.  freezing it before the wash will kill any bacteria on there....

[dusky_rose]

 Baking soda absorbs odors so if you try the vinegar thing and then it smells of vinegar, try washing it again with baking soda in the wash.

[PreciousHead]

Try the detergent called DREFT. Its made for childrens clothes so it just may get the scent out. Also try some oxi-clean.  

[mnt_2_b_mommy]

White vinegar should to the trick, just add it to your wash cycle. It always gets the smell of vomit out of my son's clothes and bedding when he is sick, so I would think it would work for just funky smells.

[texmexmom]

This is MY concoction! for smelly things!! Add you fave detergent as usual also add 1/4 c baking soda, and 1/2 cup of vinegar to the wash! it will NOT make your clothes smell bad! if ANYTHING it will smell more like you detergent! More fresh! Vinegar is a Natural disinfectant too! and not as harsh as bleach! I use it INSTEAD of bleach on everything!! this will work on ANY thing stinky!! Puke, poopie stuff, pee-pee stuff ANYTHING!! try it and you will LOVE it!!

Quoting dusky_rose:

 Baking soda absorbs odors so if you try the vinegar thing and then it smells of vinegar, try washing it again with baking soda in the wash.

[Meghan9701]

I will try the vinegar! Thanks ladies!!

[Aislinn]

 White Vinegar.  It is a miracle worker! If it smells really bad, I would ad up to three or four cups of vinegar.