Do your local Charity Shops ‘smell’?

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I can't think of any ber me that have a musty smell. But lots of clothes have obviously been washed with strongly scented fabric conditioner or scent beads abs I hate that,, much prefer. Clothes that don't smell, I use washing powder that doesn't have a smell

Because some people don't wash the clothes before taking them to a charity shop. charity shops do not having washing machines only steamers..they can't put perfume sprays on clothes as some people maybe allergic...

I prefer these shops to be called charity shops, with the supported charity named, rather than the euphemistic “opportunity shops”.

Recently a building firm provided a set of open shelves in a nearby town while they worked on a hospital annex. People could put any clean items of clothing, soft furnishing, shoes, etc. on the shelves, to be taken by anyone who wanted/needed them, for free. It was locked overnight. There was a rapid turnover, and it worked extremely well, with no money involved.

It ceased to exist when the building work was completed, but for several months it provided an imaginative way of recycling, and probably helping people at the same time.

No smell, as it was outdoors. (Also, as everything was visible, things were always folded neatly and well-presented).

Calendargirl I did enjoy watching Mary Portas and do remember the charity shop series.
My thoughts were, “all well and good in London” it featured “super models”, but charity shops in real life have always been in a symbiotic business relationship with their customers ie charity shops sell cheep(er) stuff to people who need to shop in them and it raises money for the charity. One could never exist without the other.
I think Mary Portas’s remit on her show was tapping into the “reduce reuse recycle” mantra that had just become a thing and is more acceptable now.
…but older, larger, poorer or thriftier people are customers too and prettying up charity shops beyond a certain point could disenfranchise many.

Also remember Mary Portas wanting the volunteers to have sales targets and act as ‘unpaid’ retail staff.

She needed to remember they were just that, ‘volunteers’.

Never hear much about MP nowadays.

If it’s clothing, cushion covers/throws, duvet sets curtains I decide (from my years of experience🙄) what fabric they are and wash them as appropriate with a trusted detergent.
Best thing would be to hang on outdoor line for a good blow. Next a good quality fabric spray and/or some ironing water.

I don’t expect miracles from second hand but I do have a good sense of smell for good and bad aromas (drives others mad) sorry! And I examine stuff carefully.

Part of the pleasure of these shops is finding a bargain and getting in home to wash and clean so that it smells like mine.

Smokers never ever realise just how much their home and clothing and hair smells to none smokers until they stop.
Ditto anyone who works in the food industry eg chip shops/any restaurant or just never gives their home a good airing.
As for those who just dump any old or dirty stuff on charity shops well……they are simply really selfish, uneducated, and idle so and so’s imo🤬

However the worst smell I ever experienced was (what must have been) some kind of super concentrated fabric conditioner/deodoriser used by the shop itself, so strong that it took several washes to rid it. It literally hurt my nostrils and gave me a headache and many other items in the shop were “impregnated” with it somehow.
Just give me normal dirt please I can handle that🤗

No. I wouldn't go in them if they did. I know someone whose coat stinks of cigarettes, and I'm assuming he bought it second-hand, as he doesn't smoke. I don't donate dirty clothes - it seems unkind to the people who will be sorting them out - but I watched a programme where Mary Portas revamped a charity shop, and people donated clothes in a disgusting state!

They all smell foisty (not sure how to spell it!) to me. Loads of old clothes with horrible old smells ingrained into them 🤢

Tenko

The shop I volunteer in doesn’t smell , however the staff won’t put out clothes that smell musty , damp or of smoke . We often have to rag lovely clothes which stink . We don’t have a washing machine and wouldn’t have the time to use it anyway. Clothes get steamed though .
There are charity shops in my area which do have that musty smell .
I think the problem is if clothes have been stored in a bag or case and then put in the loft , they will smell musty .

If the clothes that smell are worth selling I take them home to wash.

The main problem I have with charity shops, and some clothes bought second hand on eBay, is the overpowering smell of fabric conditioner. I never use it myself and it can take several washes to get rid of the pong.

The shop I volunteer in doesn’t smell , however the staff won’t put out clothes that smell musty , damp or of smoke . We often have to rag lovely clothes which stink . We don’t have a washing machine and wouldn’t have the time to use it anyway. Clothes get steamed though .
There are charity shops in my area which do have that musty smell .
I think the problem is if clothes have been stored in a bag or case and then put in the loft , they will smell musty .

I'm a volunteer here in Australia where they are called"Op" ( opportunity) shops, which I think reflects their image and a very positive attitude to recycling. All shops are different but our manager often refuses unsuitable items and there is a comprehensive sorting process which means many items are binned, so no unpleasant smells.
We are fortunate in having a very artistic manager so the displays are really attractive and interesting.

Lots of people who help in charity shops have medical issues and some medications can made you smell bad. Could it be that?

Mt61

staceygrove

I don't use charity shops as my friend got scabies from a jumper.

😩

Your friend was unlucky in that scabies mites can only live on clothing for 24-36 hours. Usual infection is skin to skin.

Bought a massive, storage pouf for £15 quid in the charity shop, bought my John Lewis fabric, to match my sofa, cheap online, friend is going cover for £50.
Can’t beat that as the ones I was looking for between £600- £800 😳

Ah maybee70 have you been on another thread about your wicker basket?
Yes they are a nightmare to get shut of, aren’t they.
I wouldn’t turn down an item of clothing if it was a nice fabric, I would just put in the freezer for a week, wash, then steam iron the seams. Hopefully that will eradicate anything.

Celieanne86

I was interviewing applicants for a receptionist position and one very likely candidate, according to her CV, came in sat down and she ponged, literally she smelled. She was very smartly dressed, very tidy but oh dear I couldn’t stand the odour. I rushed through the interview, quickly asked her about her hobbies, she said she loved Charity shops, looking for bargains, everything she was wearing was from an animal charity shop. I wanted to tell her she should wash everything she bought as it also included the mustiness and stale sweat. I couldn’t give her the job and hoped someone would eventually tell her why she was having difficulty finding a position. This was many years ago and I know Charity shops have now overcome any problems they had in the past as I like to have a look round the ones in our town looking for glass paper weights, my hobby.

That’s what I mean, you can walk past someone in the supermarket & know they have bought something from a charity shop, either that, or it’s something that has been stored for a very long time.

staceygrove

I don't use charity shops as my friend got scabies from a jumper.

😩

A charity shop in a small town near me (not the town Aldom mentioned) absolutely ponged when I went in once.

Oh my good grief. I buy most of my clothes from Charity shops. I often go in a few looking for bargains, mostly clothes. Yes, some are a bit smelly, and some are like high fashion retailers.

If I think the clothes smell I just put them thought the wash and wear them after.

What is wrong with some people?

Lathyrus3

The sad fact is that all clothes smell if they are stroked unworn and unaired fir any length of time.

Yes even yours and mine😱

I’m afraid elderly people’s wardrobes and drawers often gave a distinctive ‘stored’ smell and then so do they.

Its a timely nudge to me to clear out a few items that rarely see the light of day😬

That’s a worrying thought, Lathyrus. Do you think if, instead of storing clothes in drawers and wardrobes, I flung them around the place & left them where they landed for days on end, as some teenagers I’ve come across do, they’d smell any sweeter?

In one town I shop in, the charity shops all smell perfectly OK to me. In another, they nearly all have a horrible smell of stale sweat that completely puts me off the idea of buying clothes there.

I used to volunteer in a charity shop and we didn’t have the facilities to launder clothing, only iron it. Thankfully most donations were already clean.

There’s a very distinctive smell that usually comes from young men who have washed their t shirts but put them away without airing them properly. Sometimes my partner does that, too and I have to tell him.It always used to be prevalent at rock concerts back in the day when I used to go to them.