How to Remove a Fishy Smell and Stains From Clothing

Common household items can neutralize stains and odor

How to Remove Fishy Smells from Clothes

The Spruce / Michela Buttignol

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 15 - 30 mins
  • Total Time: 8 hrs - 1 day
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $5 to 10

Detergent fragrances never seem to get fish smell out of clothes. You need to eliminate it from the fabric. A home remedy like baking soda is easy and cheap, but if you have a severe odor problem, it can take time and might require repeated treatments.

Soak the article of clothing before you put it into the washer since it can transfer the smell to the machine. Never wash or dry fishy-smelling clothes with other clothing, as the smell will transfer to them. Line-dry the clothes after treating the fishy area. It will help get rid of the fishy smell and won't set the odor or stain. A clothes dryer's high heat will set in a lingering fishy smell, bonding the smelly substance to the fabric.

Review these steps to get rid of fish oil and fish smell from your clothes and get them smelling clean again.

Stain type Protein-based, oil-based stain
Detergent type Laundry detergent with enzymes
Water temperature Hot
Cycle type Normal

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Bucket

Materials

  • Baking soda
  • Laundry detergent

Instructions

materials for removing fish odors

The Spruce / Michele Lee 

How to Remove a Fishy Smell From Clothing

  1. Soak in Baking Soda

    Mix one-half cup of baking soda in a bucket or sink full of warm water, or add one cup of baking soda to a washing machine filled with warm water. Submerge the smelly clothing in the solution for as long as possible, preferably overnight.

    the affected garment being submerged in a baking soda soak
    The Spruce / Michele Lee
  2. Wash as Warm as You Can

    Wash the clothing in the hottest water temperature recommended for the fabric, using your favorite laundry detergent (a formula with enzymes, or "bio" detergent, is best, but others should work, too). Hot water—or at least very warm—can make a big difference when removing a fishy smell.

    Warning

    Check the care label to confirm the fabric can handle soaking in hot or warm water.

    person pouring the garment into the washing machine
    The Spruce / Michele Lee
  3. Give It a Stretch

    Give the fabric a gentle tug while it's still wet to stretch the fibers, as this will minimize shrinkage after a hot or warm wash. You will be line-drying the clothing, but be aware that some fabrics shrink in hot or warm water, whether they're line-dried or not.

    person stretching out the washed garment
    The Spruce / Michele Lee
  4. Line-Dry

    Hang the item on a clothesline in direct sunlight. It's safe to line-dry clothes even if they still have some odor.

    Repeat the treatment, if necessary, until the odor is completely gone.

    washed garment on a drying rack
    The Spruce / Michele Lee

How to Remove a Fish Oil Stain on Clothing

If you have a fish oil stain in addition to a fishy smell, there are some additional steps you need to take.

  1. Treat the Stain: Option 1

    Rub or brush the stain with an enzyme-powered laundry detergent, and let it sit for 15 minutes before washing.

    Using enzyme-based detergent to remove odors

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  2. Treat the Stain: Option 2

    Soak the clothes in a solution of oxygen bleach (not chlorine bleach) and cool water; let it soak for eight hours, then wash.

    Using oxygen bleach to remove fish odors

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  3. Proceed with the same steps for washing, stretching, and drying.

    person pouring the garment into the washing machine

    The Spruce / Michele Lee

Additional Tips for Handling a Fishy Smell

  • If not washing immediately: If you won't be laundering your clothes immediately, you can let the waiting time work for you. Place the clothes in a paper bag and sprinkle them liberally with baking soda. The baking soda will absorb odors while the clothing is in the paper bag. When you have time to wash, throw the clothing into the washer with the baking soda. Baking soda powder is a safe cleaner that will rinse out.
  • Use solar power: Another option is to hang the clothes on a clothesline in direct sunlight. An outdoor clothesline exposes the fabric to ultraviolet rays, which can effectively break down odor-causing substances that cling to the fabric. Leave them out for a day or more, if possible, to help fade the odor before trying pretreatment and washing.
  • Intensify the soak: If the clothing still smells fishy, try a more intense soaking by filling a large bucket with very warm water and adding baking soda, laundry detergent, or a commercial laundry odor-eliminator product. Keep the item submerged, soaking for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Then, wash as usual and line dry.
  • Designate fishy clothes for fishing: Some fish odors can be hard to eliminate, so people who fish a lot tend to have certain pieces of clothing they wear only for fishing. If your clothes still smell slightly fishy, use them as your special fishing clothes.
person placing the smelly garment into a paper bag

The Spruce / Michele Lee 

FAQ
  • Why do clothes smell like fish after a wash cycle?

    Clothing can begin to get a fishy, sour smell after remaining wet and sitting too long in a washer or dryer. Mold is a fungus that gives clothing a musty, sometimes fishy smell that exists everywhere and grows fast and intensifies in wet and dark places.

  • How do you get a fishy smell out of a washing machine?

    Bleach kills a lot of things like fungus, bacteria, and viruses and is highly effective for removing a fishy smell from a washing machine. Use 2 to 4 cups of bleach in an empty washer (2 cups for front-loader; 4 cups for top-loader). Set it to "auto clean" or run the wash cycle. Stop the machine before the spin cycle; running an empty machine on spin is unnecessary. Another tip: Always keep the washing machine door open after each use.

  • What is the best way to neutralize fish oil smell?

    Fish oil odor is best handled with baking soda to start. If the scent lingers, another home remedy is to try vinegar or lemon juice. Vinegar is safe on colorfast clothing but only use lemon juice on whites since it can have a bleaching effect. Soak the garment in one cup of vinegar or lemon juice with 1 gallon of water.