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Tips for removing odors from paper and crafting stuff
So I've done a couple trades now with people who smoke . . . I don't, so the smell really bothers me (not trying to diss on any smokers!!!)
So I've had to come up with something . . .and this is what i do. . .with emellishment somtime you can just febreeze them. . .but paper is another story. . .I've learned that if i take the paper and but it in a box with a sheet of Bounce and let it sit for a day or two it takes the smell out. . .if i have a lot of paper i just seperate into section each with a sheet of bouce . . .
So this is what i do . . . what do you do??
It doesn't have to be smoke . . .it could be pet odor or anything else . . .
You could try placing them in a larger box with a box of baking soda inside -- the baking soda should absorb the odor, though I don't know how long it would take.
I've also read that newspaper will suck up nasty smell...
My grandmother used to put rolled up sheets of newspaper (sometimes she used paper towels - which I prefer as it seems cleaner) in any plastic or glass item she was storing, such as stuff used only on special occasions.
No idea how or why it works but I know from experience it works on plastic.
I'll have to try that, my stamp room is in my basement and I can sometimes smell a musty smell on the paper, which drives me nuts...
I'd love to get rid of it.
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I vote with the newspaper! Scented dryer sheets do not remove the scent, they just mask it by replacing one scent with another - not at all helpful to those with chemical or scent allergies.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sharpstamper
I'll have to try that, my stamp room is in my basement and I can sometimes smell a musty smell on the paper, which drives me nuts...
I'd love to get rid of it.
For the basement dampness try keeping dri airz or dri eaze
You can find it in hardware stores or even in the walmart.
It will help keep down the moisture which will keep out the musty smell.
I have a basement craft room myself.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lbarnes
For the basement dampness try keeping dri airz or dri eaze
You can find it in hardware stores or even in the walmart.
It will help keep down the moisture which will keep out the musty smell.
I have a basement craft room myself.
My grandmother used to remove the smoky smell from her house by putting saucers (more surface area I guess) of ammonia around. Not sure how that worked . . . always struck me as strange . . .
For the basement dampness try keeping dri airz or dri eaze
You can find it in hardware stores or even in the walmart.
It will help keep down the moisture which will keep out the musty smell.
I have a basement craft room myself.
Thanks so much.... I'll see if I can find it in Canada....
Did your grandmother use ammonia or vinegar? I use a little bowl of vinegar whenever we have pet smells or after I cook fish. It smells like vinegar for a little while, but then the air smells sweeter.
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I vote for anything EXCEPT scented dryer sheets or febreeze!!!! I am insanely allergic to chemically sented stuff. I have to sprint thru the detergent aisle holding my breath or suffer a migraine, runny nose, and itchy eyes for the next 24 hours. Being around strongly perfumed people has the same effect. I can no longer use Stampin Mist since they changed the smell.
So, I'd have to put a Bounce-smelling swap straight in the garbage outside.
Baking soda and/or vinegar works wonders for odors in my house without all the headaches, literally, and they are cheaper.
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I had some musty smelling embellishments from a rummage sale. Didn't notice the smell until I got home. I spread them out in a large rubbermaid tub put a 1/2 cup of vinegar in there (in a coffee cup), closed it up. 2 days later no smell. the vinegar smell fades. Just put it somewhere no one will bump it. I use this all the time in a cup or glass to get rid of odors in my house. It's chemical free. We're exposed to enough chemicals daily as it is.
I'm going to second the ammonia idea - yes, you put a bowl of ammonia with whatever needs de-smelled in an enclosed area (drawer, room, whatever). Should get rid of the smell pretty quickly. Got the tip from a friend who cleans houses - she would know! (Now y'all be careful with ammonia, though, okay - no mixing with other chemicals and stuff)
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I vote for anything EXCEPT scented dryer sheets or febreeze!!!! I am insanely allergic to chemically sented stuff. I have to sprint thru the detergent aisle holding my breath or suffer a migraine, runny nose, and itchy eyes for the next 24 hours. Being around strongly perfumed people has the same effect. I can no longer use Stampin Mist since they changed the smell.
So, I'd have to put a Bounce-smelling swap straight in the garbage outside.
Baking soda and/or vinegar works wonders for odors in my house without all the headaches, literally, and they are cheaper.
Same here and I get a headache when my neighbor dries her clothes with a scented dryer sheet if I go outside when her dryer is running. The odor comes out of her dryer vent. I've had to change my seat in church because of strong perfume.
I had a Tupperware container that had an odor I couldn't get rid of. I tried baking soda, charcoal and airing it out. None of these worked, but then I tried newspaper and it worked. If the acid isn't a concern you could go the newspaper office and see about getting end rolls. That way you wouldn't have to worry about the newsprint and the bonus is that you can also use the paper to protect your work surface. You can also stamp it for wrapping paper. Our newspaper office sells it for 48 cent a lb.
I'll have to try that, my stamp room is in my basement and I can sometimes smell a musty smell on the paper, which drives me nuts...
I'd love to get rid of it.
To avoid musty smelling paper, store it in closed containers (plastic box, Iris drawers, etc.) and place several silica packets in each container. Those packets are found in many drug bottles and all shoe boxes. Go to your drug store and shoe stores (or departments) and ask if they will save some for you. Those packets wick off moisture, which is the reason for the musty odor. Paper is like a sponge...it grabs any and all moisture (especially humidity).
Dry paper is easier to stamp and thermal embosses much, much better.
You'll find that lingering bits of EP are greatly reduced when paper is dry...plus the powder melts faster at a lower heat (results are greatly improved). Two rules of thermal embossing: keep your powder dry; keep you paper dry. So, save a few of those packets to put into EP containers (which also should be tightly closed).
I have heard that Coffee grounds are supposed to take out smells too - and I love the smell of coffee - Might be afer than the vinegar option since they would be dry and not a liquid? Just a thought!
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I never knew the trick about ammonia or vinegar clearing scents out of the air - will have to try it my hubbie is a terrible smoker)...but I know if I put a slug into my wash, it helps the stinky work clothes (I used unscented detergents). I'd rather have fresh normal air than scented stuff around. Don't know about coffee grounds wicking up odors but I do know a good sniff of coffee grounds will clear scents out of your nose - that's why perfume counters will have a container of coffee grounds sitting around.
I'll be trying the vinegar thing
Kitty
I have heard that Coffee grounds are supposed to take out smells too - and I love the smell of coffee - Might be afer than the vinegar option since they would be dry and not a liquid? Just a thought!
Yes, coffee works
It's something I've tried before
Honestly, if it is a card swap, I scan the card then toss it....I can't stand the smell and sure as poop aren't going to put it with my other stuff...
I second this. If I traded for paper, etc., and it showed up stinking, I would probably just toss it. My husband and I are both very sensitive to the smell of smoke and my schnauzer is allergic to tobacco smoke (I give him monthly allergy shots) among other things. I don't always remember to ask people if their items come from a smoke-free environment. (Then again, I don't always remember to mention this myself.) I don't raise a stink about this though with the person I've traded with if their offer doesn't mention this either way and I forget to ask. (Ha! Good pun.) It's just as much my fault as theirs for not asking.
Kimberly
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If you choose to use the dryer sheets, make sure they are USED sheets (i.e. been through the dryer). Fresh dryer sheets contain not only heavy fragrance but also some oils that could damage paper if they touched it.
One poster mentions that she just puts the smelly items away. To me, that only makes the smell more concentrated. Fortunately, I have not received any swaps from anyone who is a smoker, but as an accountant, I have clients who are smokers. They bring me their paperwork and it absolutely reeks. Once I just put it in a box and let it sit for a week. That only made it worse. I had to take all the papers outside and let them truly air out before I could even work on them. Sunshine and fresh air are the best air fresheners.
Baking soda works great. After my grandfather died, his wife gave us all his CDs, etc. and the CD cases and the inserts were stinky! I took all the paper out of the CD cases and put them in gallon plastic baggies with a lot of baking soda and let it stay there for a few days. Then I aired them out and it really works!
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he he you will love this. I ask, I ask first because I have asthma and a couple of my kids do as well. Stale tobacco never comes out of paper.. Bounce gives me migraines. :} if there's smoke around the house or the husband smokes it's a No for me, even if he wmokes outside. I just can't handle it! no cats either. Allergies... Gotta love them!
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Last edited by emsmomthestamper; 09-19-2007 at 05:37 PM..
Coffee grounds....take a filter and put 2 T of unused coffee grounds in it, tie it up and place it into a container with the paper or other object. Leave it for a day or two. This method is used in hospital rooms...learned this one in Nursing School.
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A dehumidifier will help
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sharpstamper
I'll have to try that, my stamp room is in my basement and I can sometimes smell a musty smell on the paper, which drives me nuts...
I'd love to get rid of it.
with the musty smell from your basement HTH :}
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I've used baking soda and vinegar to get rid of smells all around the house (garbage cans, the disposal, my washing machines when it's been closed before the inside dried out, etc.) I have heard of using coffee, too. Newspapers do work great for keep funky smells off of dishes and stuff that are packed away, but I never thought to use them for de-stinking craft supplies! Great info everyone! TFS!
I paint murals and do faux painting for a living. One of the tricks I have used when the paint smells really bad is to put a few bowls of Lemon juice around the room it really helps . I don't see why it wouldnt work for other smells !! . A friend of mine paints at Schools and with all the children that have allergies he puts a few drops of Vanilla in the paint and no more smell. This might work also.
Hope this helps.
Lynn
I never knew the trick about ammonia or vinegar clearing scents out of the air - will have to try it my hubbie is a terrible smoker)...but I know if I put a slug into my wash, it helps the stinky work clothes (I used unscented detergents). I'd rather have fresh normal air than scented stuff around. Don't know about coffee grounds wicking up odors but I do know a good sniff of coffee grounds will clear scents out of your nose - that's why perfume counters will have a container of coffee grounds sitting around.
I'll be trying the vinegar thing
Kitty
I received this hint/info from a Good Housekeeping "Hints fromHeloise" column. The ammonia in your wash load is supposed to remove body oils (although removing scent would be an added benefit). Because it helps remove the oils your wash may look a little whiter/brighter also. I use it especially in warm weather with sports clothes, towels, and bedding.
I'll have to try that, my stamp room is in my basement and I can sometimes smell a musty smell on the paper, which drives me nuts...
I'd love to get rid of it.
Sharpstamper....you might want to get one of those "Dries the Air" units. They are cheap....about $7. They pull moisture out of the air that are probably causing your musty smell. Look for them in the camping section.
__________________ Ann Here is my oily blog! CLICK HERE Certified Copic Instructor - Local ClassesI love cars, stamping and essential oils!
but I know if I put a slug into my wash, it helps the stinky work clothes Kitty
Okay.....this really gave me a huge laugh.......living in Oregon, the first thought that came to my mind when I read this was a REAL slug. I thought, Ewwwww! Then realized my mistake! Hee Hee!
__________________ Ann Here is my oily blog! CLICK HERE Certified Copic Instructor - Local ClassesI love cars, stamping and essential oils!
Tips for removing odors from paper and crafting stuff
