A full tummy and Instagram Stories of staff expertly cutting up and grilling meat aren’t the only things most of us leave a Korean BBQ sesh with. Take a whiff of your clothes, and you’re very likely to detect that dreaded stench of smoke and grease. Ick.

If you’re lucky, the, um, aroma might fade by itself after a while. But if not, you’re probably looking for ways to smell fresh again, either instantly or in your next laundry wash. 

Either way, there are a multitude of products out there that can help you do just that in a pinch — or should we say a spritz. From fabric sprays to simple home remedies you can try with things you probably already have in your kitchen, here are eight ways to help your garments smell fresh again.

Fabric sprays for a quick fix

Febreze W Disinfecting + Deodorizing Spray for Cloth

If you’ve got someplace else to rush off to and need a quick fragrant fix, fabric refresher sprays are always a convenient choice. This is why some restaurants even have them at the counter near the exit.

This spray by Febreze — undoubtedly one of the first brands that would come to most folks’ minds when it comes to this item — boasts a special technology that allows deodorising ingredients to penetrate deep into the fibres and eliminate nasty smells. As a bonus, it’s also antibacterial and even removes wrinkles from certain cotton fabrics.

Febreze W Disinfecting + Deodorizing Spray for Cloth in Flower Blossom, $4.47, available on Amazon

Snuggle Xiong Bao Bei Spray

Don’t let the adorable packaging fool you. This small bottle of fabric spray packs a punch as it helps to annihilate unpleasant smells caused by smoke, grease, and sweat — three things that are usually produced during a typical BBQ night out, leaving a nice fresh fragrance behind.

Since it comes in a conveniently sized 100ml bottle, you can easily chuck it into your bag before you leave the house and whip it out like the hero of the night when everyone is scrunching up their faces at their stinky clothes.

Snuggle Xiong Bao Bei Spray Forest Fall in Forest Fall, $5.95, available on Amazon

Laundry aids for an extra clean wash

Febreze In-Wash Laundry Odor Eliminator

Your regular detergent may not be enough to thoroughly eradicate the smell of K-BBQ smoke. It’s time to bring in reinforcements such as this laundry aid that promises to get rid of even the toughest odours trapped in fabrics in a single wash.

All you have to do is pour it into the washing machine together with your usual liquid or powder detergent and your closet will soon be full of squeaky clean, fresh-smelling attire once more.

Febreze In-Wash Laundry Odor Eliminator, $75.39 for pack of 2, available on Amazon

Zero Odor Laundry Odor Eliminator

Just like its name suggests, this stamps out smells from smoke-drenched clothes for good, leaving, well, zero odour behind. Which is exactly what you’re looking for since you’re reading this article. Plus, there’s no worrying about nasties since it’s non-toxic and non-allergenic.

Zero Odor Laundry Odor Eliminator, $25.08, available on Amazon

Easy-to-try home remedies

Arm & Hammer 100% Pure Baking Soda

Baking soda isn’t just a useful ingredient in the kitchen — it’s an effective neutraliser of odours, including the ones left lingering after a couple of hours spent sitting in front of a fire, grill, and meat.

Some sites recommend adding some to the washing machine along with your detergent, while others say you should pour it into a plastic bag with your clothes, shake it to ensure the garment is fully covered, then leave it overnight before tossing it into the wash.

Arm & Hammer 100% Pure Baking Soda, $6.55, available on Shopee

Vinegar, vodka or lemon juice

If you’re out of baking soda, try scouring your kitchen for lemons, vinegar or vodka, which are also touted as useful home remedies for getting rid of lingering smells from fabric.

While vinegar and lemon juice can simply be dumped into the washing machine along with your clothes and regular detergent. Vodka can be mixed with water into a spray bottle and spritzed directly onto the smelly garment (don’t worry, you can use the cheap stuff, and save the best ones for cocktails instead).

Steaming

A steam iron isn’t just great for removing wrinkles from your favourite shirt. The steam can double up as a smell buster too — but be sure to read the care label on your outfit to see if steaming is okay, otherwise you’ll end up with way worse than just stinky clothes.

If all else fails…

Dry-cleaning

So you’ve tried everything in this list and still, that annoying BBQ smell sticks around like a clingy ex. It’s time to call in the pros.

With an arsenal of fancy tools and valuable knowledge, a dry cleaner should be able to have your clothes stink-free in no time. This is especially useful if your garments are delicate and you don’t want to risk damaging them by putting common household chemicals on them.