Goodwill and thrift stores seem to all smell the same. I thought it must be to do with the musty smell of clothes that haven’t been worn for a while. But, I later found out that they spray their clothes with similar products.
So, what does goodwill spray their clothes with? Goodwill sprays them with a generic deodorizer, like Febreze. Rather than getting rid of odors it masks them. This is according to former goodwill employees.
Lab tests have been performed on thrift store clothes which showed that odors come from various contaminants that get trapped in the fabric.
The lab tests were quite revealing and showed how different odors make their way into clothes.
So, below I will talk about the findings, as well as, how to get rid of the thrift store smell, and some general safety precautions.
What causes the thrift store smell?
The thrift store smell comes from what they spray on their clothes to mask odors, as well as, latent contaminants. Though we have been unable to find exactly what deodorizer gets used, they likely purchase a generic one that they buy in bulk.
There is anecdotal evidence that suggests they spray them with Febreze, however, this has yet to be confirmed.
Goodwill stores process a large amount of second hand items in a day, and don’t have the time or resources to wash them all.
A lab test was performed by the New York times. In it they sent a bag of goodwill clothes to Procter & Gamble. P & G, who do lab testing.
The results were quite interesting; they found that. As part of the test they used nitrogen gas on the garments, and then analyzed the nitrogen gas for various chemicals.
They found that two thirds of the smells came from things related to the body, they called the body soils. This means the odors came from sweat, dead skin, and oils which are naturally excreted by the body.
Though these don’t smell on their own over time bacteria begin using them for food and release gases which cause the smell. This was found by the Cleveland Clinic.
The remaining 33% came from environmental residue from car exhaust, air contaminants released from factories, cleaning products, perfume or food.
The smell you get from thrift stores and also Goodwill is the same smell that can be found in second hand book stores and storage lots. This is the musty smell.
We have been unable to locate any studies but it likely comes from the slow release of chemicals within the items. This produces a smell when the items have been stored because there is no airflow to take away the small amount of smell as they are released.
It is also the fact that Goodwill contains items from many different people. Some people eat different foods, and produce different variations of hormones in their sweat.
An article by GQ.com talks about the phenomenon. This causes some people to think people smell, whereas others don’t notice the smell. This is to do with the evolutionary process of humans, in order to maintain genetic variability and ensure the survival of the human race.
This leads to people to be repelled by certain peoples natural smell, whereas, others don’t notice it or find it pleasant.
So, when you go to a thrift store it is likely there are many odors which you find unpleasant based on the many different sources of the clothes.
Do thrift stores spray clothes?
Past Goodwill employees have said that they do not wash their clothes, but only spray them with a deodorizer to mask the smell. Each individual thrift store will have their own practices regarding whether they spray their clothes or not.
It would make sense that they do, but, you would have to ask the individual thrift store themselves. Many thrift stores won’t accept clothing that hasn’t been washed. In the case of Goodwill their clothes go through a lengthy process
Goodwill commonly sorts their items, as they come in. Clothes are not washed but are sorted by hand. If items are torn or too dirty they are sent to their distribution center.
Now, in case you are wondering where is a goodwill near me? We hope this helps.
Does the Salvation Army wash clothes before selling?
People who have worked there have said that they do not wash their clothes before displaying them. There is no information on their official website regarding whether they wash their clothes or not. Therefore, it is likely, they don’t wash their clothes before displaying them in stores and discard items that are torn, too dirty, or have a bad odor.
Some smaller church run thrift stores do wash their clothes. This is because they process a small volume of items, which can easily be done with only one washing machine and dryer. Larger non-profits like Salvation Army may not have the resources and assume most people will wash their clothes before donating them.
How do you get thrift store smell out of clothes?
I have used sunlight to remove bad odors from clothes. If you leave them in direct sunlight for 5 to 10 minutes it will kill any bacteria that is in the clothes. This also works for clothes that smell damp and musty.
We created a more in-depth guide on how to get your clothes smelling fresh here.
Some clothes have strong perfume or other strong smells that are a bit harder to remove. This is because the odors are caused from bacteria eating the contaminants but from chemical compounds that are more difficult to break down. For these there are products specially design for it. The New York Times recommends Doctor Bronners Pure-Castile Soap [affiliate link use this or something similar that you can get an affiliate link for ]. They have said that it has worked to remove perfume from baby clothes, and overalls that have been soaked in gasoline.
As a first try, we recommend washing them in laundry detergent and using a disinfectant such as Lysol to kill the bacteria. Then hand them in the sun, if it wont fade the material to kill any remaining bacteria.
If there is still some remaining odors, you should try some specialist products such as Doctor Bronners Pure-Castile Soap.
Why do second hand clothes smell?
Second hand clothes can smell for a few reasons. These are because of what the thrift store sprays on their clothes. People who have worked at Goodwill have said that they spray their clothes with a deodorizer before putting them on the rack. Most thrift stores will wash or discard items that are wet, or have very strong odors such as the cigarette smell, or industrial chemicals such as oil or gasoline.
When clothes are stored without airflow for some time, the odors naturally released by the clothes build up. Then when they are put on display the odors are concentrated giving them that musty, stale smell. You will find this same smell in second hand book stores and storage lots. This smell can be removed fairly easily in most cases. Please see the previous question above about how to get rid of the smell.
A lab test performed by the New York Times showed that 66% of the odors come from the body of the person who wore the clothes previously. This is sweat, natural oils, and dead skin. The remaining 33% of smells come from the environment such as car exhaust, air pollution, and food.
Conclusion
Goodwill sprays their clothes with a generic deodorizer. They do this to mask the many odors that can be present in the garments. Very smelly clothes are discarded by Goodwill. There is a well known phenomenon where people find some peoples natural scent repelling. You can remove the scent from thrift stores using a range of methods such as leaving them in the sun, and washing them with disinfectant. You should wash thrift store clothes after purchase because not every thrift store washes their clothes before putting them on display.
Recommended Blog Posts:
- How to use Sheepbuy?
- Why do thrift stores cut tags?
- Where to thrift stores get their inventory from?
Sources
Well, I've delved deep into the world of thrift stores and their distinct smell. From the odorous compounds they use to mask scents to the scientific breakdown of what creates that unique "thrift store smell," I've got the details covered.
The characteristic odor in thrift stores, including Goodwill, isn't solely from musty clothes left unworn. Instead, it's a combination of factors. To start, there's a practice of spraying clothes with a generic deodorizer, likely similar to Febreze, to mask any existing odors. This strategy, while masking smells initially, doesn't eliminate them entirely. Lab tests, even from reputable sources like the New York Times, reveal that thrift store odors are a mix of body soils (about 66%) and environmental residues (33%).
The body soils—sweat, oils, and dead skin—aren't inherently malodorous. But as bacteria feast on them, they release gases that cause the unpleasant scent over time. As for the environmental residues, they can originate from various sources like car exhaust, air contaminants, cleaning products, perfumes, or even food.
Interestingly, that familiar musty smell isn't just about what's sprayed on the clothes; it also emerges from slow-releasing chemicals trapped in stored items due to limited airflow. The diversity of people's natural scents and the evolutionary inclination to find certain scents either repelling or pleasant further contribute to the perceived odors in thrift stores.
Regarding the practices of stores like Goodwill and the Salvation Army, there's a consensus among former employees that clothes aren't typically washed but sprayed with deodorizers. However, smaller church-run thrift stores might wash their items due to handling smaller volumes that are more manageable.
Removing the thrift store smell from clothes involves a few methods. Sunlight exposure for about 5 to 10 minutes can kill bacteria causing odors. For more stubborn smells, washing with disinfectants like Lysol and using specialized products like Doctor Bronners Pure-Castile Soap, as recommended by the New York Times, might be necessary.
Ultimately, the thrift store smell is a complex blend of various factors. While the exact deodorizers used might remain elusive, the science behind why these clothes carry a distinctive odor is a fascinating interplay of biology, environment, and human perceptions.
As for related concepts:
- Thrift store odors: A mix of body soils, environmental residues, and slow-releasing chemicals from stored items.
- Deodorizing practices: Thrift stores like Goodwill often spray clothes with generic deodorizers.
- Causes of odors: Body soils (sweat, oils, dead skin) and environmental residues (car exhaust, air contaminants).
- Removal of smells: Sunlight exposure, washing with disinfectants, and using specialized products can help eliminate odors.
- Goodwill and Salvation Army practices: Typically involve spraying clothes rather than washing.
- Variability in odor perception: Evolutionary factors contribute to individuals finding certain scents repelling or pleasant.
If you're curious about specific sources or have more questions about thrift stores and their practices, I'm here to delve even deeper!
