Cigarettes

Cigarettes are disgusting.  There are no two ways around it.  They stink, they make the people smoking them stink, they make the clothing of the people who smoke them stink, they make innocent bystanders stink.  Oh, and don’t forget the nastified breath that comes with smoking, and the yellow teeth, and need we discuss the damage done to your lungs?  If you are a smoker, sorry to offend.  I DO know that there are lots of smokers out there who are very conscientious, spraying their clothing, using mints and whatnot so as not to subject us non-smokers to the nast that is cigarette smoke.  I appreciate that.

But then there is everyone else.  Honestly, I don’t have much interaction with heavy smokers, something about birds of a feather flock together.  I was, however, subjected to scads of yuckified clothing last week when I picked up a giant bag of stuff from someone on Freecycle.  I opened the bag and went, “Oh no!  Smoke smell!”  I suppose it would be nice if the people giving stuff away would say something like, “comes from a smoking home” or “comes from a pet friendly home” or something.  But, it’s free, so I shouldn’t complain too much.  I wasn’t ready to give up on the clothing as there were lots of useable items.  So, into the washing machine they went . . . . THREE TIMES and they still stunk, and they were stinking up the laundry room.  What to do, what to do?

Fresh air!  That’s the anwser, but it’s the middle of winter and getting ready to snow.  Oh well, the clothing can’t possibly get any worse. So I bundled up the kiddies for an impromptu play in the snow session and I hung up the offending clothing.

 

It hung outside for about 6 or 8 hours.  I finally brought them in when the snowstorm was in full swing.  I figured having them covered in snow was less than effective.  I did a sniff test and they were stinky, but now they just stunk like outside rather than like cigarette smoke.  Into the wash they went again.  The verdict . . . . nice and clean smelling clothing.  I’m telling you, that fresh air thing is amazing!

So, smoke away.  I now have a secret weapon!