Help the smell! Can I get rid of it?

[luvmyfam444]

I'm thinking it's the plastic smell.
It smells like a brand new popup & it's 10 YEARS OLD!!!

I'm guessing that means there is NOTHING to get rid of the smell.

I'm kinda nervous about it...I'm not sure I'm gonna be able to handle it without getting a headache!

 

[2goofycampers]

Air purifier?

 

[retired and happy]

How often do you use it? How often do you open it to air it out? Is it plastic or mold spore? There shouldn't be that much plastic in there. Try some Fabreze spray. Air it out.

 

[JanL]

Leave a small dish of vinegar in it for a day.

 

[luvmyfam444]

How often do you use it? How often do you open it to air it out? Is it plastic or mold spore? There shouldn't be that much plastic in there. Try some Fabreze spray. Air it out.

I am assuming its the plastic on the windows that I smell.

It's definitely not mold smell.

THis is all new to us - I never thought about the fact that it needed to sit with all the windows open to air it out but that's what dh said...it has been closed for a year or two probably.

We opened it on Sat & just closed it....BUT I didn't open the windows...we had it open to check it out, remove utensils, etc.

 

[Southern Bell]

Airing it out this spring on a breezy(not rainy) day would be good. You might try OUST! Some light fragrance plugin air freshners to use when you go. After some use it will probably get better!

 

[luvmyfam444]

The previous owners left their mattress pad on & I took it & washed it today -it still smells like plastic - not sure if its the windows or the mattress now! (though the windows fold down on the mattress of course).

UGH! So after a wash the smell hasn't left.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

The previous owners left their mattress pad on & I took it & washed it today -it still smells like plastic - not sure if its the windows or the mattress now! (though the windows fold down on the mattress of course).

UGH! So after a wash the smell hasn't left.

Try using white vinegar in the rinse cycle when you wash it again. Vinegar really gets the odors out. If you don't have a fabric softener dispenser, put the vinegar in the wash cycle instead. It should help.

 

[FloridaTeacher]

You may also try charcoal. Sit some out for several days. And you'll have to open it up - doors, windows, refrigerator, everything you can open up to let fresh air in... for days. Drag the mattresses out and lay them in the sun.

It will take time and persistence (along with numerous cleaning sessions) but hopefully the smell will fade.

 

[pocomom]

air it out and sprinkle baking soda around! We store ours with baking soda in small dishes with a little lemon or peppermint essential oil mixed in...lemon keeps away ants, peppermint keeps away mice.

 

[nhmommy]

In the pet section there is a powder that is designed for litter boxes it has a slight orange smell and it absorbs smells I have never had it fail me.

 

[Southern Bell]

The previous owners left their mattress pad on & I took it & washed it today -it still smells like plastic - not sure if its the windows or the mattress now! (though the windows fold down on the mattress of course).

UGH! So after a wash the smell hasn't left.

Well, I know what I would do! I would throw the pad away! It may not be a plastic smell! You sure it hasn't been wet from rain, or by an animal or child! Because we have always bought a new camper and haven't found it that annoying or lasting of a smell! But I do know from owning a pop up in the past its going to smell a little bit when first opened up. We never put ours up wet except in cases we had to fold it down to get home. Then immediately we poped it up at home to dry and sun good. But either way I would drag the mattress out of the camper to fully sun! I would spray it to with Febreeze, Lysol or what ever a few times outside, then flip the mattress and do the same. Let fully dry and then put it back in the camper. Maybe leave the pad and any linens off the beds untill you go camping. If they let pillows go with the camper check them, too!

 

[Southern Bell]

air it out and sprinkle baking soda around! We store ours with baking soda in small dishes with a little lemon or peppermint essential oil mixed in...lemon keeps away ants, peppermint keeps away mice.

Is this true! Does it really work for ants. I've not had a rat to get in mine yet! KNOCK ON WOOD! But a few times in summer have had trouble with ants getting in camper. Last yr at Lakewood myrtle beach it was terrible. We sprayed, and sprayed and emptied all the camper and sprayed when we got home! I was afraid I was going to end up with them in the house!

 

[N365PA]

You could always burn popcorn in there. That'll remove any smell....albeit temporarily!

 

[luvmyfam444]

You could always burn popcorn in there. That'll remove any smell....albeit temporarily!

HA HA HA

then I'll SURELY get a headache!

 

[clickrs]

You can actually spray the whole inside down with Vinegar, this will absorb all odors and after about 15 mins. you won't even smell the vinegar. I use it at home to deordorize the house, esp. when the dogs have been out in the rain. Works great, plus it is natural.

Good luck.

 

[parrothead365]

Beer and deviled eggs will do it for sure

 

[arthuruscg]

I am guessing the smell is formaldehyde, don't mask the smell, you want to keep airing it out until the smell is gone.

You can sit it up to air our (windows open) and then on a hot summer day, close it up as tight as possible and turn up the furnace to "bake" the glue and resin. Then let it air out again.

http://www.rvia.org/FactsAboutFormaldehyde/industry_action.html