Case Defunkification - Carpet Foam

[tbonesullivan]

So, the SG case (and the SG) are unfortunately a bit smokey. The guy I bought it from must not have my dog nose, which I admit, makes it difficult for me sometimes. I can smell stuff people can't even imagine.

Anyway, I tried the Arm & Hammer carpet deoderizer wtih Oxi Clean/etc on the Hamer Diablo case I have that is also missing a foot. It definitely nuked that odor, but I also probably have some of that stuff that will never leave the case. The smell is also a bit much at times. So this time I figured I'd try something else.

Carpet foam is a bit attractive because it doesn't really penetrate deeply, so I don't have to worry about glue release, etc. You just need to kinda rub it into the fur/nap of the fabric, and then use a wet/damp towel repeatedly to get it out of the lining. I have found that letting it dry and then using the towel again really helps to get out more of the cleaner, so I'll be doing that. Also, I used it on the case shroud, and then soaked it in a tub of water a bit to really get everything out of it. So far the smell is MUCH MUCH less, and there is no hardness to the lining. In fact, it's softer than it was before.

Now to just defunkify the guitar, which doesn't really smell that much, but I want to pull the guard to really polish up the pickups. Maybe polish the pickguard a bit to get out some of the pick marks.

[Lockbody]

If you can leave it outside in the sun that would help. My first Daytona was owned by a heavy smoker, and leaving everything outside on my deck for a bout a week finally got it to where I could bring it in. It stunk so bad I almost put the case back in the box when I first opened it.

[tbonesullivan]

Sun definitely helps, as does putting an air purifier with an ionizer in it near it. I also have heard that Ozium works well, though it should be used sparingly.

At least it's a solid bodied guitar. I have read all kinds of things about how to get the stink out of the GUITAR, as in the case of acoustics.

[scottcald]

3 hours ago, tbonesullivan said:

I can smell stuff people can't even imagine.

Sounds like a line from a Schwarzenegger movie. 

[Carl.B]

Never used the stuff but it is suppose to get rid of crap smells in cars so I can't see why it wouldn't work for a guitar case.

https://www.turtlewax.com/our-products/power-out/turtle-wax-power-out-odor-x-spray

[DaveL]

Agree with leaving it outside in the sun, for a few days if you can,   I typically hit it with fabreze.         If something is too smokey I'll return it.        Re; the guard,   Recently used novus plastic polish on something.  Worked nice it sells on ebay in a little kit if three grades for about $12 delivered.   

[mrjamiam]

15 hours ago, tbonesullivan said:

So, the SG case (and the SG) are unfortunately a bit smokey. The guy I bought it from must not have my dog nose, which I admit, makes it difficult for me sometimes. I can smell stuff people can't even imagine.

I firmly believe that one of the first things smoking does to people is to burn out their sense of smell, at least at the sensitive end of the scale.  I could always tell in the evening when an old girlfriend had sneaked a cigarette at lunch.  She couldn't believe I could smell it, and was certain that someone was ratting her out. 

[tommy p]

Case Defunkification sounds like the name of a lost Parliament album.

[DaveL]

1 hour ago, mrjamiam said:

I firmly believe that one of the first things smoking does to people is to burn out their sense of smell, at least at the sensitive end of the scale.  I could always tell in the evening when an old girlfriend had sneaked a cigarette at lunch.  She couldn't believe I could smell it, and was certain that someone was ratting her out. 

word...  I was on an morning flight yesterday and someone behind me came in smelling like an ashtray...

I was like how in the world can someone get so funkified with smoke smell that early in the morning? 

[Toadroller]

Ditto.  Smoke, perfumes, the potpourri you're blasted with when you walk into a housewares store; they're all strong scents that give me an instant headache.

This is also on my list of questions when looking at a used car.  I can open the door, take a sniff, and tell.  If it's been smoked in, there's just no way I can live with it.

 

[tbonesullivan]

I checked it this morning, and it's all dry now. I can barely smell anything now, smoke or carpet foam, and the gray fuzz definitely looks more "gray". I checked it with a wet towel and I can't get any suds or smell out of the case anymore, so I think it's good to go. One thing I did find VERY helpful was a spray bottle filled with water. I misted the inside of the case, and saw where it foamed when I ran my hands through it to know where there was still the cleaner. Sure, it was a bit labor intensive, but definitely worth it considering the cost of a new case.

I will probably put it inside my car in the sun with the case open, which is really good for getting out any residual water or smell.

As for the pickguard, I've got the full spectrum of polishing compounds for guitar touchups, and a giant bottle of swirl remover, so that should be good on that. I'm also going to try it on another pickguard. Yes I know, it's obsessive, but if it makes me happy, it's better just to give in.

[srvwannab]

I realize there are more home remedies for case stank that there are for the hiccups or the common cold.  

I have found a combination of fabreeze, dry sheets, and the sun... can successfully make it smell like fabreeze and dryer sheets.   But, better than smoke.

[bruce919]

clean the outside of the case with Mean Green. stuff the inside with dryer sheets & let it sit for about a month. Did that with a Duotone I had several years back. Took most of the smell out.

[scottcald]

2 hours ago, DaveL said:

word...  I was on an morning flight yesterday and someone behind me came in smelling like an ashtray...

I was like how in the world can someone get so funkified with smoke smell that early in the morning? 

I worked in a place years ago and this one guy who worked there smoked really cheap cigarettes and he'd go smoke any time he had time to and I think constantly after work.  He would hang his jacket in one room and it smelled up the whole room.  If you put anything of yours on the same hook or even next to it, it picked up the same smell.  

[Caddie]

2 hours ago, Toadroller said:

Ditto.  Smoke, perfumes, the potpourri you're blasted with when you walk into a housewares store; they're all strong scents that give me an instant headache.

This is also on my list of questions when looking at a used car.  I can open the door, take a sniff, and tell.  If it's been smoked in, there's just no way I can live with it.

 

Amen my brother.  Amen.  

back on topic. try febreze, it works on the funk of all funks, the twah lay room!  Au de twah lay,  Febreze has some kind of magical stuff in it.   if after a long road trip it can make my car smell like a Tropical Spring Breeze there's some powerful stuff in that can, son.  Must be some kind of fusion reaction.  

We adopted 2 baby girls from China.  About 4 years apart.  Each were about 1yr old when we brought them home.    I don't know for sure what those 2 were fed in that first year of their lives (not much of anything).  If we could weaponize that stuff,  Kim Jong-il would curl up into a fecal position and sob.  Just like the coroner, we used to wipe Vicks under our noses and warn local authorities before a diaper change on them. So bad we had a changing table in the basement and the neighbors would still call 911.  It took about a year to exorcize that demon from their Made in China G.I. Systems.  Then it went back to the usual kid diaper stank.  Still a hi ranking on the Rank Scale. 

Cheers!

the caddie of stank

[Toadroller]

Having been through six young toadrollers worth of diapers, It is my opinion that your own kids stank is acceptable, but someone else's kid?  Nasty!

[Caddie]

Remove all the insides and outside of the case.  EVERYTHING. Scrub the inside and outside with a bleachy kitchen or bathroom cleanser. Rebuild the interior.  Perhaps a nice Tartan Plaid, eh?  OR  

Just buy a new case, no matter how well you clean it that smell will still come wafting out on occasion.

"Don't try to teach a pig to sing.  It will annoy the pig and waste your time"

Cheers!

caddie

[tbonesullivan]

Probiotics are one great way to help de-stankify both adults AND children when it comes to bathroom assaults. Ever been to a brewery? Now that can be some SERIOUS stank. YEASTY. And that is also the smell of nasty diapers.

Back on topic, for the outside of the case I am usually just into a nice brush and some 409 or other related cleaner. Then, once clean, that ice turtle wax stuff that was recommended on amps also works great on cases! Looks great, smells great.

For getting the stank off guitars,  usually I use Dunlop spray cleaner or preservation polish. Then I use some type of polish on the guitar. For a gibson or other nitro finished guitar, I use the gibson pump polish. It smells great, and really works wonders on nitro. It's the only Gibson polish I use, because it really does work.

[velorush]

On 9/6/2017 at 10:26 AM, tbonesullivan said:

I will probably put it inside my car in the sun with the case open, which is really good for getting out any residual water or smell.

Before you do, dump a bag of charcoal into it; compartments, everywhere.  Fill it up to where you can just close it.  Close the case and leave it in the car a few days.  Should get the inside, at least.

Hyperosmia (overactive olfactory) is my only superpower.  'Tis a blessing and a curse.    

[tbonesullivan]

On 9/8/2017 at 9:22 AM, velorush said:

Before you do, dump a bag of charcoal into it; compartments, everywhere.  Fill it up to where you can just close it.  Close the case and leave it in the car a few days.  Should get the inside, at least.

Hyperosmia (overactive olfactory) is my only superpower.  'Tis a blessing and a curse.    

Only problem is fighting my urge to light it on fire or use it to filter whiskey.

[bubs_42]

Smoke is still better than Cat Piss, just saying.  I just ordered some Urine Neutralizer, for my case. I'm going to shampoo it and hope for the best.  

[tbonesullivan]

3 hours ago, bubs_42 said:

Smoke is still better than Cat Piss, just saying.  I just ordered some Urine Neutralizer, for my case. I'm going to shampoo it and hope for the best.  

Pet odor spray is actually VERY effective. It also cleans just about anything up, even maple syrup, with ease. I almost used it on the case, but it would have penetrated farther into the fuzz than I wanted it to.

[Caddie]

Not so fast on the defunkification.  A little funk aroma might get you some cred when you audition for that retro funk band.  Play dat funky music whiteboy

[tbonesullivan]

I'm so white I've gotta wear shades. No amount of funk can overpower that.

[gorch]

Thought of activated charcoal put in the case and leave for a week or two?

Fresh air certainly helps. You would have to open the windows every day for about 10 minutes to get rid of the smoke room that it creates in case you can't keep outside. Even outside, beware of the cat!