How to Get Campfire Smell Out of Clothes

A campfire is part of the fun of camping. Whether it’s to keep warm, cook on, or just socialize around, the campfire is an intrinsic part of the experience. The problem is how to get the campfire smell out of your clothes, that after all the fun.

Washing the clothes is the best solution to removing the smell, but that’s not always possible or easy when camping. This short article gives you some tips on sprays you can use to remove the smell while camping and solutions to use when you get home. Don’t forget your tent will also pick up the campfire smell, so remember to clean your tent when you get home.

Remove Campfire Smell from Clothes While Camping

Wash your clothes

If possible, the best method is to wash your clothes with a small amount of detergent. Be sure to rinse the clothes thoroughly with fresh water and then hang them in the sun. The combination of fresh water, sunshine, and a breeze will remove the odor effectively. 

Lemon Spray

You could make this spray in advance before setting out on your camping trip. Mix the juice of a lemon or lime in a spray bottle with some water and take it with you. However, the mix works a little better if you use warm water to spray on your clothes, so it is better to make it fresh if you can.

Whichever you have, spray the clothes until they are damp, then hang them in the sun to dry.

Alcohol Spray

We all know that alcohol is a good cleaning solution, and it helps clean clothes without washing them. Spray your clothes with the alcohol spray and leave them in the sun to dry. As the alcohol warms up, it evaporates, taking the smoky odor with it.

Remove Campfire Smell from Clothes When You Get Home

Once you are home, you can access washing machines and more alternatives for removing the smoky campfire smell.

Hot Wash

The simplest method is to put your clothes through a hot wash in your washing machine, but first, make sure the clothes are suitable for a hot wash by checking the labels. Hot water heats the clothes material, allowing it to flex more and release the campfire particles with the smell. It also allows the detergent to penetrate the material, helping the process.

White Vinegar

Many people advocate using white vinegar in your regular clothes wash, and for a good reason. Vinegar is excellent for removing odors, and it also cleans the inside of your washing machine and its pipes. Put your clothes on a regular wash, add half a cup of vinegar to the detergent and switch on. 

Baking Soda

Using baking soda is an alternative to vinegar, but you can’t use this method for delicate clothes made from silk or wool. As with the vinegar, add the baking soda to the detergent and put it on a regular wash.

Conclusion

Building a campfire while camping is great fun, but you and your clothes inevitably pick up the campfire odor. But, as we’ve discussed, there are ways to remove the campfire smell both at the campsite and when you get home.

This article was last updated on May 7, 2021 .