Freezer and bicarbonate of soda: how to remove odours from textiles

Many households bravely mist smelly sofas, carpets or jackets and then wonder why the odour returns so quickly. The reason is buried deep in the fibres - and the most effective weapon is often sitting unnoticed in the kitchen, not in the cleaning cupboard.

Why textile sprays only mask bad smells

Most textile sprays work mainly at the surface. They coat the fabric with a fragrant layer rather than tackling the real cause. Moisture, bacteria and greasy residue remain lodged in the fibres.

As soon as the alcohol and perfume evaporate, the original stink comes back - sometimes even more strongly, because the added fragrance mixes with the old mustiness. A sofa that smells intensely is not automatically any cleaner.

These are the items most affected, because they rarely go anywhere near a washing machine:

• Sofas and armchairs
• Carpets and runners
• Winter coats and jackets
• Trainers and sneakers
• Net curtains and curtains

They soak up smoke, cooking fumes, sweat and damp air - and then release them for ages. If you rely on a scent spray here, you are tackling the smell in the air, not the smell inside the fabric.

"If you genuinely want to get rid of unpleasant odours, you have to tackle moisture, bacteria and residue - not just add fragrance."

The surprising helper: how the freezer stops odours in textiles

A freezer sounds like an odd suggestion at first, but it can work remarkably well against many smells. Cold temperatures slow down the microorganisms responsible for mustiness and can affect certain odour-causing compounds trapped in fibres.

Used correctly, the freezer compartment can also help you get lingering moisture in textiles under better control - a key driver of that damp, stale smell. Many items cope perfectly well with this quick cold treatment:

• Jeans and trousers without delicate coatings
• Knitted jumpers and cardigans
• Scarves, wraps and hats
• Sports and casual shoes made from textile
• Lightweight jackets, blazers, wool coats (without delicate leather)

Be cautious with very sensitive materials, such as thin leather, specialist glues in shoes, sequins, or glued-on decorative elements. Test first on an inconspicuous area.

Step by step: how the freezer odour treatment works

1. Prepare the textile: Shake the garment or fabric thoroughly to remove dust and crumbs. It should be dry.
2. Pack it: Put the item into a clean, airtight bag - ideally a zip freezer bag or a vacuum bag with the air removed.
3. Freeze: Place the bag in the freezer. For light odours, 45 minutes to 2 hours is often enough; for strong mustiness, leaving it overnight is worthwhile.
4. Let it acclimatise: After removing it, keep the bag closed for a few minutes. This allows condensation to form on the outside of the bag rather than directly on the fabric.
5. Air it: Open the bag, hang the item on a hanger, and leave it to fully warm up and dry in a well-ventilated place.

If you follow this routine, you will often notice a clear difference after the first round. For extremely stubborn smells - such as years of smoke or deeply absorbed frying fumes - a second run can make sense.

Odour-neutralising spray with bicarbonate of soda - when cold isn’t an option

Some textiles are simply too bulky for the freezer, or the odour is limited to certain areas, such as underarms, collars, or the backrest of a sofa. In that case, a simple spray made from water and bicarbonate of soda can help.

"The idea is not to drown the fabric in perfume, but to neutralise odour-causing molecules in a targeted way."

How to mix a simple bicarbonate of soda mist

Ingredient	Amount	Note
Water (preferably distilled)	250 ml	helps prevent limescale marks and is gentler on delicate fabrics
Bicarbonate of soda (household bicarb, not baking powder)	1 teaspoon	dissolve completely, otherwise residue can remain
Spray bottle	1 bottle	set to a fine mist, not a heavy stream

Shake the water and bicarbonate of soda well in the spray bottle until the powder has fully dissolved. Then do a patch test on a small, hidden area of the fabric and allow it to dry. This will show whether any discolouration occurs.

Common mistakes with the bicarbonate of soda method

• Too much bicarbonate of soda: leaves white marks and gritty residue.
• Hard tap water: can cause spotting on dark fabrics.
• Soaking the fabric: extends drying time and encourages musty dampness to return.

A very fine mist from a distance of 20–30 centimetres is ideal. Lightly dampen the area rather than making it dripping wet. After that, the fabric needs time and airflow.

Without thorough drying, the musty smell stays

Even the best freezer trick or bicarbonate of soda fix will fall short if the textile then hangs in a damp environment. Odours thrive on still, humid air.

Outdoors, sunshine and wind speed things up. UV light, warmth and moving air help reduce bacteria and drive out residual moisture. Indoors, it takes a bit more planning:

• Open windows wide regularly rather than leaving them on the latch
• Don’t hang textiles too close together
• If possible, run a dehumidifier
• Don’t block radiators completely

A typical routine for musty clothes from a damp wardrobe might look like this: one round in the freezer, then dry thoroughly in a warm, well-ventilated spot; if needed, follow with a light bicarbonate of soda mist and air it again.

When to use the freezer, when to spray - and when washing is the better choice

The freezer and a bicarbonate of soda solution are powerful helpers, but they cannot always replace a proper wash. Fresh sweaty clothing, spilled drinks, or visible dirt still belong in the washing machine or with a professional cleaner.

A practical rule of thumb:

• Odour without visible stains (smoke, deep-frying smells, stale air): freezer first, then air. Add bicarbonate of soda mist if needed.
• Localised mustiness (underarms, collars, sofa backrest): treat the area with bicarbonate of soda mist, then dry thoroughly.
• Damp textiles: dry completely before they go into a bag or wardrobe.
• Visible dirt or sweat marks: wash or have it cleaned; cold and bicarbonate of soda are only add-ons here.

Why moisture is the hidden main culprit

A lot of household odour problems come back to one factor: humidity that is too high. It gives bacteria ideal conditions to multiply in fabrics. Curtains, upholstery and clothing then act like a sponge for stale smells.

If you constantly struggle with musty odours, it is worth addressing not only the textile, but also the indoor air. Regular airing, heating correctly, avoiding permanently damp piles of laundry in the living room, and using a dehumidifier when needed often do more than the next premium textile spray.

The interesting part is that many expensive specialist products rely on similar effects at their core - altering pH, binding odour molecules, or depriving bacteria of what they need to thrive. With a freezer, bicarbonate of soda and good ventilation, you can use those same mechanisms with everyday basics - without a chemical cocktail and without a constant haze of fragrance in the lounge.

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