Musty smelling clothes

[janebloggs0]

I have been an Ebay member for a long time but  I am fed up with buyng often new items which smell musty!- Two items I bought recently- one brand new and in plastic and the other a used top BOTH smelt musty! I put the top in a bag filled with baking powder and left it for a few days then washed it and hung it on the line. It's much better but the sickly sweet musty odour hasn't completely disappeared. I'd never DREAM of selling musty clothing and I've never had that problem personally because I store clothes in Pack mate bags. What is Ebay's policy on this? A few times over the years I've just chucked clothes  from Ebay out because they Stunk so much!

[pickapaper]

Are you aware that you can return anything you purchase under eBay's Money Back Guarantee for a refund?  If you get something that "stinks" (and that fact wasn't mentioned in the description) and don't want to keep it, just go into your purchase history and click on the "return this item" and follow the instructions.  Be sure to check the reason as "item not as described" so that the seller will have to issue you a label for the return of the item.

The only other thing is that you need to return the item just as you received it.  Don't try to wash it or do anything else to it first to see if the smell will come out and then try to return it as that "alters" it and makes it different from what the seller sent.   

[klhmdg]

There is no policy.

But you could file a return request. File "not as described" and return it for a refund.

Im sure it is the same in the UK as here in the US.

I will say that like people who smoke or wear perfume, house has musty smells or animal smells ... people get used to it and dont smell it.  If someone lives in a house that smells musty, they dont usually know. Just like smokers dont know that they reek. 

Not an excuse but just an observation.

[toysaver]

 If you have an eBay store with substantially sized items you need 'real estate' for storage.  Not everyone has an extra bedroom upstairs.  Some opt to use the garage, cellar or attic.  Musty odors can come from a seller who does not have a humidity-controlled environment. 

I don't sell clothing but if you store clothes in a basement without a dehumidifier they can stink after a week.  My furnace has a built-in system for winter but in summer I have a portable one to keep my home fresher.  Garage storage can also be a problem, plenty of nasty stuff in there.  The smell from attic storage is less noticeable but not without peril.  Old boxes can stink and leach onto the items inside so recycle with care.    

PS  BO is worse.  

[mordecai8614]

This happens to me from time to time too. I just return them as Item Not As Described & the buyer pays the shipping, not really a big deal. Sure it can be disappointing because you want the clothes, but you also gotta understand there's a certain risk in buying clothes (especially used) from individuals (not companies) over the internet. Luckily, you're covered on Ebay

[frecklesfinery88]

Hang the item outside if you love it. The fresh air will help.  I have ordered new things from Name brand stores that has come in plastic that is foul smelling.  You need to know that depending on the fabric content, packaging, etc. it can add to all of it. 

If you do not like it, then eBay has the policy to refund it.  INAD

Have a good day.

[chariot_badges]

How about this ... don't buy your clothes on the internet.

Go to WalMart, or Kohls and sniff your clothes before you buy them.

Yea, that blouse may cost a buck more ... but, hey, it smells better, right?

[simba6]

Musty is just another word for vintage.      eBay has never had a " musty smell " policy.   Some items are better bought new.  Soft goods can pick up smells. 

[yuzuha]

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@janebloggs0 wrote:

I have been an Ebay member for a long time but  I am fed up with buyng often new items which smell musty!- Two items I bought recently- one brand new and in plastic and the other a used top BOTH smelt musty!

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Plastic packaging can off-gas and smell awful. I work B&M retail and you can open up a box of brand new, straight from the manufacturer clothing in its plastic packaging and it will REEK simply due to the plastic.

[inhawaii]

You do realize that SMELL is subjective?

What smells fine to one person smells musty to another.

[adamcartwright]

I received Tupperware containers once that REEKED of stale cigarette smoke. Soap and water does nothing on that. I soaked them overnight in the sink filled with water and a jug of vinegar.

The smell was totally GONE.

[janebloggs0]

Hi

 Thanks for that. I put the top in a plastic bag  filled with baking soda for a few days then washed and line dried it a few times and the  musty smell has disappeared!

[mam98031]

• Baking soda

  Sprinkle baking soda on the fabric and let it sit overnight. In the morning, shake off the baking soda or vacuum it up. Baking soda can also be added to the rinse cycle of your laundry.
• Vinegar

  Add a cup of white vinegar to the washing machine along with your clothes. Vinegar neutralizes odors and has disinfecting and bleaching properties.
• Borax

  Mix one part Borax with two parts hot water and add it to the washing machine along with your clothes. Borax is a natural mold killer.
• Enzyme odor remover

  Spray the clothes with an enzyme odor remover to remove odors and prevent them from coming back.
• Essential oils

  Use natural essential oils, like tea tree oil, to remove musty smells without damaging the fabric. Tea tree oil has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
• Sunlight

  Put the fabric in direct sunlight to dry it out and get rid of bacteria. Sunlight can also help remove odor.

[iamalwaysright]

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@simba6 wrote:

Musty is just another word for vintage. 

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🤣

[giant_industries]

Some good suggestions here. Many clothes offered for sale were bought in Goodwill etc. and washed etc. (hopefully) only to be put on sale on ebay. 

Goodwill etc. are terrible places for odors. I remember one research article saying that the main smell coming off these clothes is SWEAT but I also think that these clothes are sprayed with some kind of foul disinfectant like a Fabreze. There's also mold to contend with. Each garment has its own unique stinky history.

I once bought a t shirt from Goodwill online. I really liked it but it stunk badly. I soaked it in white vinegar, washed it in white vinegar about a half dozen times. When I was just about to give up and return the item, which I liked a lot (and I was looking for the specific shirt and size) the smell went away with the umpteenth wash.

That said, I think sellers need to be responsible for getting the smell out before offering it up for sale. It's only fair. It is unconscienable to offer a garment that stinks without notifying any sellers.