How to Get the Sour Smell Out of a Down Vest

Add 1 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup mild detergent and 1 cup baking soda to warm wash water. Do not use overly hot water. Gently wash the down vest, then rinse it well. Wash the vest a second time with only 1 cup of white vinegar added to the wash water. Rinse again until the vinegar scent is not noticeable. Lay the vest on a drainboard or in the bottom of the bathtub to drain naturally. Do not twist or squeeze the feathers. Blot excess moisture away with bath towels.

Place the rinsed and drained vest in the clothes dryer set on a low heat drying cycle. Include three to four unscented fabric softener sheets. Add two clean tennis balls to the load to re-loft the feathers as they dry. Commercial "dryer balls" are also available for purchase online or at home supply stores. Drying time varies depending on the the material and weight of the vest. Check dryness every 20 minutes. When the vest is fluffy and dry to the touch, place the vest on a sturdy clothes hanger and hang it outdoors on a sunny day to finish drying completely.

Use common household items to remove sour odors from feathers and fabric. If your vest was stored and is clean, yet still emits a sour smell, place the vest in a large plastic bag. Add a vented box of baking soda. Seal the bag and store it for 2 to 3 weeks. The baking soda will absorb odors, leaving your vest clean and fresh smelling.

If you store your vest in a closed closet or storage trunk, place a container with 1 cup of fresh coffee grounds in the storage unit. Coffee grounds absorb noxious odors.

Take your vest to the dry cleaners if the exterior material of the vest should not be hand-washed. Specifically mention the odor when you leave your item for cleaning. Special dry cleaning procedures are often effective in removing unpleasant odors trapped in clothing.