Help -- icky luggage smell!!

[stinkerbellsmommy]

Sorry if this is in the wrong board/area, I couldn't find any threads about it anywhere

Anyway, we bought a 3pc luggage set from Marshalls in November 2010. They smelled really funky/chemical-like at the time, but I assumed that with time, and airing them out, the smell would go away. Fast forward to January 2011, and they still smelled just as chemical-y! I used space saver bags inside our luggage, and by the time we got to WDW, the smell had permeated through the space savers, and all of our clothes smelled

It's now Feb 2012, and I don't even want to use this set for the upcoming trip because the chemical smell is so bad. My husband says he doesn't notice it, but it gives me such a bad headache I've tried EVERYTHING to get rid of the smell. I've used sprays (Lysol, Febreeze), leaving (unused) coffee grounds, sprinkling baking powder, a vinegar/water spray, and even leaving them outside in the summer sun for days at a time to air out. NOTHING has worked! I'm at my wits end, and am thisclose to getting rid of them. Does any one have any other surefire ways to get rid of this smell? If I would have known that it was going to be this hard to get rid of, I never would have bought them! It's so irritating

Thanks in advance for any help!!!!

 

[Gigi22]

This is just a suggestion of something you could try--I am not sure it would work on fabric, but it is a technique that we used at work to get rid of that funky 'basement' smell that books and papers stored in a basement sometimes get. Its sounds strange, but it works.
You need a bag of clay kitty litter--not the clumping kind--and you need some sort of cloth bag (or maybe you could try your spacesaver bags?) made out of a tightly woven material that you can use to contain the cat litter and that won't leak. Pour the litter into the bag, secure it carefully, and put the bag of litter into the luggage. Close the luggage and wait for a week or two. The litter should absorb the funkiness. You will have to vacuum out the interior of the luggage so you don't get any litter dust on your clothing.

 

[Tozzie]

This is just a suggestion of something you could try--I am not sure it would work on fabric, but it is a technique that we used at work to get rid of that funky 'basement' smell that books and papers stored in a basement sometimes get. Its sounds strange, but it works.
You need a bag of clay kitty litter--not the clumping kind--and you need some sort of cloth bag (or maybe you could try your spacesaver bags?) made out of a tightly woven material that you can use to contain the cat litter and that won't leak. Pour the litter into the bag, secure it carefully, and put the bag of litter into the luggage. Close the luggage and wait for a week or two. The litter should absorb the funkiness. You will have to vacuum out the interior of the luggage so you don't get any litter dust on your clothing.

I am not the original poster but I have a problem with that smell in a closet I am going to open a bag of kitty litter and put it in the closet. Thanks for the tip

 

[stinkerbellsmommy]

Thanks Gigi! I've heard this tip before, but have never tried it. I should have mentioned that we're leaving in just over 2 weeks, so I'm anxious to get rid of the smell. It might work for the inside, but the smell is on the outside fabric as well--so frustrating! I think I'll pick some litter up tomorrow--would a pillowcase or something similar work to hold it? The space saver bags are plastic, so I'm not sure that would work so well.

Thanks again for the suggestion!

 

[Tozzie]

Thanks Gigi! I've heard this tip before, but have never tried it. I should have mentioned that we're leaving in just over 2 weeks, so I'm anxious to get rid of the smell. It might work for the inside, but the smell is on the outside fabric as well--so frustrating! I think I'll pick some litter up tomorrow--would a pillowcase or something similar work to hold it? The space saver bags are plastic, so I'm not sure that would work so well.

Thanks again for the suggestion!

You could get a ligerie bag the kind you use in the washer, that would work.

 

[GraysMom]

I think an old pillowcase would be your best bet for holding the litter inside the luggage. I'm afraid the holes in a lingerie bag are big enough that a lot of the litter would fall through. As far as the outside goes, what about putting the litter in an old sheet, tying it closed and laying it on top/around the luggage? Obviously you'd need to flip the luggage at some point.

At this point it just might be easier and less stressful to buy new luggage.

 

[SandrA9810]

accidently pour half a bottle over the luggage, place outside for a day in a seal container, then wipe it out as best as possible.


This happened in the truck bed with the tent. A bottle of downey spilt all over the tent bag, and sat there for a day before we found it.

That tent always smelled downey fresh everytime we took it out.

 

[stinkerbellsmommy]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm still holding out hope that I can somehow get rid of the smell, but at this point, I'm really doubtful it's going to happen. My husband really liked the set when we bought it, and I wasn't sold on it at the time. Of course, now (in my head only, I'd never make him feel bad for liking something I didn't) I think "I knew I didn't like it for a reason! That's the last time I let him pick out luggage"

I just feel bad getting rid of a TECHNICALLY perfectly good set of luggage and buying a new one, but I really can't stand the smell.

Here's hoping the kitty litter (or fabric softener all over the outside ) saves the day!

 

[DizBelle]

Instead of using a pillow case or some other cloth bag, I'd put the kitty litter in pantyhose. That will allow max flow and keep it contained.

 

[malibuconlee]

It's cold enough, try sitting it on the back deck if you have one overnight. The cold helps take smoke smell out of fabric, couldn't hurt to try on the luggage.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I know this smell. My husband's luggage broke on a trip to visit his parents so he bought a piece of lugguge out there in Florida. It is a petroleum smell.

We just ended up tossing the luggage and buying a new set. Nothing would work.

We tried everything you mentioned (but not the cat litter, hmmm I wish I tried that!) and we even did the dryer-sheet trick where you load it full of dryer sheets and close it up for weeks.

 

[Gigi22]

I was originally thinking that an old pillowcase would work--you would have to secure the open end somehow. I think that a pair of pantyhose or tights might work too--but I am not sure if you could get enough litter into one pair for the process to work. When we used litter to take smells out of books and papers at work, we buried the books and papers in the litter--so you need quite a bit.

 

[7165red]

I bought 2 travel bags one from qvc and one from a 800# both had that awful funky/chemical smell. It made me sick, so I sent them back. I don't think that smell ever come out.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

I was told half an apple left overnight will kill any smell. Personally I buy the cheap (but strongest smelling tea candles) at walmalt and cut them into four peices and toss them into my suitcase. I leave it sealed and it dosent smell anymore. I do this when I store them too.

 

[S. C.]

Coffee grounds will also get out lots of awful smells.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I didn't see baking soda mentioned. You could sprinkle some in the suitcases or just leave an open box in each suitcase. It's supposed to absorb odors. I leave a box in my fridge. It works!

HTH.

 

[stinkerbellsmommy]

Coffee grounds will also get out lots of awful smells.

I was told half an apple left overnight will kill any smell. Personally I buy the cheap (but strongest smelling tea candles) at walmalt and cut them into four peices and toss them into my suitcase.

Thanks, I have tried the coffee grounds trick...I was left with the chemical smell tingled with the pleasant aroma of coffee. I tried ignoring the chemical and focusing on the coffee, it didn't work I've also tried the candle trick (although I never cut them up), and also some potpourri sachets. It's just too strong, and deep rooted!

I didn't see baking soda mentioned. You could sprinkle some in the suitcases or just leave an open box in each suitcase. It's supposed to absorb odors. I leave a box in my fridge. It works!

HTH.

Ooops! In my original post, I said "baking powder" but I definitely meant baking soda. Not sure what baking powder would have done, I wasn't trying to help it rise or anything

Thank you everyone for your ideas/suggestions! I think the major problem is that it seems to be a chemical smell that is "baked in" to the luggage, both the inside liner, as well as the fabric outside (or maybe it's the plastic/structure INSIDE the fabric covering?). I've found that scents to just mask the smell don't help for very long. I thought for awhile my best bet was just to get it really wet with some type of scent remover (lysol, febreeze, or a vinegar/water spray), and hope when it dried it took the scent along with it. That hasn't worked either Unfortunately, if the kitty litter trick doesn't work, I'm going to probably just get rid of them. Although I feel terrible doing so, I won't use them and have our clothes smell just as bad Thank you again for all your suggestions!

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Theres gatta be a soulution, have you tried tossing them in the shower for a real bath and mabey tossing in some shampoo? I know that ours stinks and smells for weeks.(suave)
Tried a quicky search of the net:
That odor is coming from the ingredients of the luggage, so you can't wipe it off or make it go off on its own. It has to gradually dissipate, but a week seems like a long time. Try contacting the manufacturer to see what they recommend. Also, I'd try rubbing them down with a solution of vinegar and water, maybe 1 part to 4 parts. It can't hurt. If the manufacturer isn't accessible, try one of the biggies, like Samsonite, and see what they say.

1) Use odor absorbers to remove the smell. There are several natural products available using a mineral called Zeolite. Zeolite is a natural mineral that adsorbs moisture, fumes, chemicals and odors. It comes from volcanic ash, and is all natural, works for years and the granules can be placed back out in the sun (for 6 hours) to be recharged.Look for the product that comes in mesh pouches that you can slip under and in the couch; this mineral is really amazing odor remover and works very well!Products made with Zeolite can be found in the pet section of your grocery store, pet stores and home improvement stores in the odor remover section. (you can also search the web for zeolite odor remover) For intense treatment to remove odors using this product, place some towels sprinkled with the zeolite minerals inside the luggage and zip it up. The odor will be gone the next day.

2) Use activated carbon or activated charcoal. This works on the same principal as the zeolite, but you need to make sure the charcoal does not get on the luggage or you will have to remove a charcoal stain too. This product is available in pet stores and hardware stores.

If you need to get rid of luggage smell right away and you don't have time to clean it up, try squeezing out the juice of lemon and add a cup of water. Place it in a spray bottle and spray it all over your bag. This will diffuse the smell and act as a natural deodorizer.



Hope one of these works! let me know! I got a stinky bag too.

 

[ilovejack02]

How about calling the company and asking if something can be done ?

 

[englishteacha]

Heck with a vinegar and water mix...I'd just spray on straight white vinegar! Soak it, then set it in the sun, if you have sun this time of year! I feel your pain. We were given a nice duffle bag that had been stored in a basement. 3 washes in hot water and bleach and it still smells moldy. It's going to the dump. Some smells just won't come out.