Manure is an essential part of life on the farm and in home gardening, but it’s no secret that the strong smell of manure can be difficult to remove from your clothes.
Whether you live/work on a farm, or you like to do a bit of home gardening, the smell of manure on your clothes can be a persistent and overwhelming nuisance, making it a real challenge to feel comfortable or presentable.
Thankfully, If regular washing and drying is not enough, there are some tried and true, practical, and straightforward tricks to remove the unpleasant manure smell from clothes effectively. Follow me below to learn just how, so you can feel and smell fresh again.
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How To Get The Smell Of Manure Out Of Your Clothes
To rid your clothes of a lingering smell of manure you must do the following:
- Shake Off Excess Debris
- Pre-Treat Stains
- Soak Your Clothes In Vinegar And Baking Soda
- Wash Clothes With A Heavy Duty Detergent
- Air Dry Your Clothes Under Direct Sunlight
By following these easy steps, you should be able to effectively remove the lingering cow manure smell out of your clothes.
Manure Stinks
Manure’s fantastic fertilizing power comes from the fact that it is very rich in potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, copper, manganese, and zinc. By adding manure to your soil, you provide your plants and crops with a surge of essential minerals and nutrients.
However, manure is basically animal waste. This means that manure contains large quantities of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, methane, and other odor-causing gasses normally associated with fecal matter; which means that manure has a very strong, very pungent odor that easily penetrates the porous fabrics of your clothes.
As a result, if you work with or around manure, your clothes are going to smell like manure. This can be rather unpleasant and uncomfortable, so it’s important that you remove the smell from your clothes.
Thankfully, removing the stink of manure from your clothes is easier than you might think. Here is how you do it.
5 Steps To Remove Manure Odor From Your Clothes
Shake Off Excess Debris
The very first step to ridding your clothes of the smell of manure is to take your clothes outside and give them a good, vigorous shake. This will work to dislodge and remove any excess manure and odor-causing debris from the clothes.
You should do this as soon as possible, even if you don’t plan on washing your clothes the same day, lest the manure hardens into the fabric and become that much harder to remove.
Pre-Treat Stains
Next, it is important to pre-treat any cow manure stains that may have gotten on your clothes.
Manure can easily cause greenish-brown stains on your clothes that can be difficult to remove if not promptly washed off. These stains will often smell very strongly, so the quicker you treat and remove them, the quicker you will get the manure smell out of your clothes.
I recommend using a commercial product, such as OxiClaen’s Max Force Foam Laundry Pre-Treater (from Amazon), because it is tough on stains but gentle enough to not damage your clothes. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the best results.
Soak Your Clothes In Vinegar And Baking Soda
After shaking off excess manure debris and treating any stains with a stain remover, proceed to soak your clothes in a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Soaking your manure-smelling clothes in baking soda and distilled white vinegar will help you get the stink out because both ingredients are natural deodorizers.
Vinegar is highly acidic, which will break down odor-causing organic compounds present in the manure residue found deep in your clothes fabrics.
On the other hand, baking soda is very effective at absorbing organic molecules. This makes the vinegar-baking soda mixtures perfect to get the manure smell out of clothes because the vinegar will break down the odor-causing molecules and the baking soda will absorb them so that they can be easily washed away.
To do this simply mix 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of common household baking soda in a large wash basin, then soak the clothes in the solution for at least 30 minutes, but better if longer. Make sure your clothes are submerged completely to get the best results. Then rinse with a hose before putting it in the washing machine.
Wash Your Clothes With A Heavy Duty Detergent
When it comes to getting the smell of manure out of your clothes, using a hot water and a heavy-duty detergent to wash them will be an essential step in breaking down odor-causing compounds and leaving your clothes smelling fresh and clean.
This is because heavy-duty detergents are specially formulated with strong cleaning agents that can penetrate deep into the porous fibers of your clothes and remove particularly stubborn odor particles.
Look for a detergent with an enzymatic formula, such as this Eco-Friendly Plant-Based Laundry Detergent With Citrus Essence from Biokleen (from Amazon), as they work well to break down organic matter and remove unwanted pungent smells such as that of urine and feces.
Air Dry Your Clothes Under Direct Sunlight
Air drying clothes is often considered the best method for removing pesky odors such as that manure because it allows for natural airflow and optimal ventilation. Machine drying your clothes will sometimes cause the unwanted odors to set in and become even more difficult to remove due to the humid heat that is needed.
So, if you want to get rid of the smell of manure from your clothes, skip the dryer and leave the clothes out to air dry under direct sunlight as this will allow the fabric to breathe and dry gradually with cool air, which will prevent any unwanted odors from becoming trapped in the fabric.
Manure Stink In Your Clothes? Worry Not
Getting the poop smell of cow manure out of clothes can be a challenging task if you don’t know what you are doing. Remember to take precautions when handling manure, such as wearing gloves and protective gear, to avoid the smell getting into your clothes in the first place.
Thankfully, if you take the necessary steps and follow the tips outlined above, such as properly preparing the garment before a regular wash cycle with heavy-duty detergent, you can eliminate the stinky odor easily enough.
Last update on 2024-04-23 at 22:37 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
