My new ballroom dress made in Hong Kong has a very strong gasoline-like smell. Will this eventually go away? I won't be able to wear it the way it is. Any suggestions? The material is a stretchy knit over a lycra with some beading. The company didn't include instructions on how to care for the material. I've emailed them -- waiting for a reply. Any suggestions on whether to dry clean or wash?

Yucky....maybe take it to a professional dry cleaner and see what they can do...if anything can be done. Possibly try steaming it and put a scented linen water in your steamer....Maybe air it outside....I don't know because I don't know what is on the dress or exactly what it's made out of so it might be too delicate to wash.

Can you send it back? Whatever is on it might be dangerous. It could be that you could absorb it into your skin. I wouldn't chance wearing it.

I called the vendor, who denied ever having a problem such as this reported. She told me to soak it in woolite and a little detergent (cold water)and then hang to dry. I asked if I can return it if the odor doesn't go away, and she told me to call her in a few days. I read reports of this nature on the internet and they say it's done for pest control on items shipped from foreign countries. Have any of you received dance clothing from Hong Kong or other countires without the bad smell? The vendor told me I may just be more sensitive to odors. Anyway, I now know I can wash the dress.

I have ordered two dresses from Hong Kong and only one had the faintest odor. Airing it out did the trick and I have worn it with no problems. The other did not have an odor at all. Both arrived in plastic bags. Perhaps the bag was the source of the problem.

It's the glue they use to glue the jems.