Smelly smokey old guitar case

[SOLR]

Got an older guitar and the case ("leatherette" gibson ) smells so bad (cigarette mostly I guess), my wife doesn't want it in the house ..

any ideas ..I left it out a couple hours in the sun today but that wasn't much of an improvement

Thx

Sol

[wintermoon]

Got an older guitar and the case ("leatherette" gibson ) smells so bad (cigarette mostly I guess), my wife doesn't want it in the house ..

any ideas ..I left it out a couple hours in the sun today but that wasn't much of an improvement

Thx

Sol

A few hours won't do it. If you have a sunlit window where she'll tolerate it leave it there opened up for a week or two.

[tomvwash]

Got an older guitar and the case ("leatherette" gibson ) smells so bad (cigarette mostly I guess), my wife doesn't want it in the house ..

any ideas ..I left it out a couple hours in the sun today but that wasn't much of an improvement

Thx

Sol

Cedar pouches might do it. Worked for one of mine, years ago.

[wintermoon]

Cedar pouches might do it. Worked for one of mine, years ago.

Coffee grounds in open bags have also worked for me.
I used them on a saxophone case recently.

[SOLR]

Coffee grounds in open bags have also worked for me.
I used them on a saxophone case recently.

Thx all for the suggestions, I'll def try the cedar or coffee bags for the inside....

The worst smell is mostly on the outside of the case, there is some leather also here and there (the handle for one).





S

[wintermoon]

Thx all for the suggestions, I'll def try the cedar or coffee bags for the inside....

The worst smell is mostly on the outside of the case, there is some leather also here and there (the handle for one).





S

Outside is easier to work with. You might also try a 50/50 mix of simple green and water.
Spray it on and go over the exterior w a soft bristle brush in a circular motion. You can carefully spray w water or just wipe it down afterwards w a cloth.
Careful around the silk screened logo (that is if you want to keep it)

[Stringswinger]

I have read that the only way to kill a really bad smell in a guitar case (or a guitar) is to put it in a closet with an ozone generator (which are illegal here in California) for a few days.

The two smells on used gear that really bother me are Tobacco and the sweet smell that plug in air fresheners cause.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Airthere...5000/307870567

[wintermoon]

I have read that the only way to kill a really bad smell in a guitar case (or a guitar) is to put it in a closet with an ozone generator (which are illegal here in California) for a few days.

The two smells on used gear that really bother me are Tobacco and the sweet smell that plug in air fresheners cause.

I've successfully deodorized a number of cases over the years. Some of the toughest were old man cologne.
But I had a '34 Super 400 I got from the orig owner I just couldn't clean. The orig genuine leather case had absorbed the cologne stank and the guitar would've benefited from an ozone generator. But a friend begged me to sell it to him, so it became his problem, not sure if he ever cleaned it.

[BreckerFan]

I agree with leaving it outside longer.

A number of years ago I did a Craigslist trade for a 73 Pro Reverb that absolutely reeked of cigarette smoke. I was living with roommates so I had it in my bedroom, but it smelled so bad I could barely sleep. However I lived on the top floor of a row home in Philly and it had a roof deck, and it was September so the weather was good, so I just left it on the roof for about a week. After that it was tolerable, and it gave me the excuse to turn it up on the roof a few times ?

Still have it and it doesn't smell at all now. Great amp too.

[SOLR]

Outside is easier to work with. You might also try a 50/50 mix of simple green and water.
Spray it on and go over the exterior w a soft bristle brush in a circular motion. You can carefully spray w water or just wipe it down afterwards w a cloth.
Careful around the silk screened logo (that is if you want to keep it)

AHHH! from wiki :Simple Green is an American brand of cleaning products!
No can do at the moment

But thx for the tip.....much appreciated .

S

[wintermoon]

AHHH! from wiki :Simple Green is an American brand of cleaning products!
No can do at the moment

But thx for the tip.....much appreciated .

S

Didn't notice your locale but I get it, I saw the liquor stores in CA taking American booze off the shelves on the news the other night. But any decent citrus cleaner should work.

[SOLR]

I have read that the only way to kill a really bad smell in a guitar case (or a guitar) is to put it in a closet with an ozone generator (which are illegal here in California) for a few days.

The two smells on used gear that really bother me are Tobacco and the sweet smell that plug in air fresheners cause.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Airthere...5000/307870567

Thx for the reply,

I recall one of the members here having issues with deodorant/underarm smells on a guitar and he left it outside in the sun or sunny days for some extended period of time and that seemed to have worked for him...

S

[Dennis D]

I would also try dryer fabric sheets. Meaning however else you decide to clean it and wherever you decide to leave it air out, try throwing maybe a dozen of those sheets in it. I use that tip for old books and magazines I buy, and it works.

Hope that helps and good luck !

[Alder Statesman]

Got an older guitar and the case ("leatherette" gibson ) smells so bad (cigarette mostly I guess)

Sol

Cool

[Mick-7]

Got an older guitar and the case ("leatherette" gibson ) smells so bad (cigarette mostly I guess), my wife doesn't want it in the house ..

any ideas .. I left it out a couple hours in the sun today but that wasn't much of an improvement.

Baking soda absorbs odors, here's a simple recipe: Dissolve 2 tablespoons of baking soda in one pint of warm water. Wipe it with that.

[sgosnell]

Baking soda might help. The sun just uses UV light to do the job, so a UV light on the case for a few days might work. I have a couple of cases that I just can't remove the odor from. They're Chinese made, and the smell of the glue used to hold the lining in place just won't go away, and I've used everything mentioned above and more. There just isn't an easy way to get down underneath the lining and remove the glue. For the outside, UV light should help.

[SOLR]

Thx people,

I've used a mix of most suggestions, washed the case with a citrus biodegradable, dried it outside in bright sun, then washed it again with the baking soda mix dried it out in the sun some more.

The case is now in the house .

Thx again

S