How To Get Turpentine Smell Out Of Clothes

How To Get Turpentine Smell Out of Clothes | bring back your clothes’ fresh smell

Turpentine smell on your clothes does not smell like Pine-Sol; it smells like death. It’s definitely not something you can use as a natural perfume! Apart from the smell, you might stain your clothes too.

Common household items can help you with the smell. You have to sort the odor out before putting the clothes in the washing machine, as you risk the smell going to other garments.

Using Liquid Detergent

A Cup Of Liquid Detergent On Top Of Fabric

For added effect, you can use eco laundry sheets too. This will increase the chance of removing both the stain and turpentine smells from your clothes.

If you have Oxi-Booster pods, you can also use them since they are an alternative to bleach and won’t give your clothes that chlorine ‘pool’ smell.

Get the horrid smell of turpentine out of your clothes by doing the following:

  1. Rub some detergent into the visible turpentine stains using a sponge or cloth. Make sure it’s an old sponge or cloth, and you don’t use it for other things in the house. Rub the detergent in a circular motion.
  2. Let the detergent sit on your clothes for about 10 to 15 minutes.
  3. Rinse your clothes with hot water. Not too hot where you get burnt! Let it air dry outside.
  4. Repeat this process as needed until the strong turpentine smell is gone.

You can wash your clothes as normal when the turpentine smell is gone or has faded. If possible, set up the laundry machine to extra rinse cycle to completely get all residue out.

Using Vinegar or Baking Soda

Vinegar And Baking Soda

Adding baking soda or vinegar to your laundry cleans both your washing machine and deodorizes your clothes. They are effective and inexpensive ways to take out mildew, soften your clothes, and even brighten white clothes.

They can also help with stubborn turpentine odors. If you did the above and there’s still a faint smell, these products may be your best bet. What’s great is that they’re safe for the environment and your clothes too!

Baking Soda

Add a cup of baking soda to your washing machine before popping in your smelly clothes. Then, add your detergent and wash as normal. Even better if you do this on a separate load, so you don’t risk your other clothes catching the odor.

I love baking soda because it’s a natural brightener and won’t stain or dull out your clothes!

If your washing machine is smelling like a turpentine mess, you can pour a cup of baking soda into the drum and put it on the hottest cycle. You can also put baking soda on a cloth or sponge and scrub your drum for added cleaning power.

White Vinegar

Add a cup of white vinegar to the compartment where you’d usually put fabric softener. Run a normal cycle and let the vinegar do its magic. Vinegar has acetic properties, which combats odors and stains without damaging your clothes.


If you want to clean the machine with turpentine, you can use vinegar after scrubbing the drum with baking soda. The vinegar will melt any debris and deodorize your machine after washing your smelly turpentine clothes.  

Some Extra Tips with Using Vinegar and Baking Soda

Natural Laundry Cleaners

Here are some tips which I picked up when using vinegar and baking soda in my laundry:

  • Add vinegar to the rinse cycle only for the best results. If you add the vinegar with your detergent, it may cancel out your detergent’s cleaning power. This won’t do anything to your clothes, but they may not be as clean as you want them. So, add them after your detergent has done its job.
  • Although it seems like a good idea, don’t use vinegar and baking soda together. Nothing will happen to your clothes, but they will cancel each other out. Using them separately will get you the best results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is turpentine odor harmful?

It’s mildly toxic, but it will not harm you if you use it according to the manufacturers’ guidelines. However, if it comes into contact with your skin, it can cause rash and itchiness. Increased exposure to turpentine odor can cause headaches, vomiting, and dizziness.

Can I use turpentine to clean stains off my clothes?

If you have persistent stains that just won’t come off, you can use turpentine. You can use a small amount as you may risk a smell or even a bigger stain from the turpentine. It’s good to check your clothes first before putting turpentine on them, as certain synthetic fabrics cannot take chemicals.