We got a camcorder from a friend of my MIL. Its actually a very nice one that had clearly never been used. However this thing stinks to high heaven. My dh said the friend is a very heavy smoker, but he smokes and even he thought it stunk. It is really one of the worst smells, like someone put out a whole pack of cigarettes in an old stale ashtray that was full of cat pee and then laid a stale fart on top. Even the actual camera stinks. The paper instruction manual stunk so bad I bad to stop reading it and go use my asthma inhaler. Does anyone have any idea how to get this stink out? We cant exactly throw this stuff in the washer. I was thinking about wiping the actual camera down with electonics wipes, but what about the case and manual?? Any ideas?? I dont think febreeze is going to cut it with this stink. TIA
Try putting everything into a plastic bag with coffee grounds. My father was an appliance repairman and he got the stink out of used refrigerators this way.
for the manual? cornstarch in a ziploc bag.
for the camera? try putting it on a rack over a tray of febreeze and then cover the whole thing - like a sealed tent - so the vapors could get through...don't know if that will work - but worth a try...
Cigarette smoke residue sticks to things because of the resins in the smoke. Resins are oil soluable AND oil soluble things degrade in alcohol.
My suggestion is to wipe the whole thing down with hand sanitizer or everclear (or gin/vodka if you're very very careful not to get it 'wet'). Outside, and inside as best as possible. Unscrew everything that can be unscrewed (including battery cases, etc.) and use a cotton ball soaked repeatedly in hand sanitizer to rub off most of the resins, and Qtips for small areas.
It won't be 100%, but should do about 80%.
After that, you can seal it up with coffee beans or a sealed box -with the screen so the powder doesn't get in the electronics- of baking soda.
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The case, if it's leather, is garbage. (The oils in the leather disolve the cigarette resins and then the resins bond with the leather oils, which coat all of the collagens in the leather. There is NO fix for leather without ruining the leather). If it's synthetic / fabric... soak in alcohol (vodka or gin) for several hours. In a sealed bag would be best so you can agitate it periodically and so the alcohol doesn't offgas). THEN toss the alcohol soaked thing into the washing machine with extra detergent. Wash twice, rinse 3x.
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Put the manual in the recycling, and download a new one. There's no way to remove the resins from the paper. Period.
Last ditch suggestion: talk to an auto detail shop about using an ozone machine. It's what they use to get cars unstinky!
No thoughts on the camera itself, but I would think that if you have a printer or scanner you could simply copy what you need of the manual. Or take it to InstyPrint or something and let them deal with it.
I don't think I'd enclose it with a pan of Febreze. Febreze is a liquid and you'd essentially be putting an electronic device in a cloud of moisture. Not good for its workings.
I have heard the coffee grounds idea as well and that might work but you'd need to ensure the grounds do not get into crevices in the camera -- again, same issue, not wanting to destroy the electronics. Another option is baking soda but keep it off the actual camera.
You also could inquire at a camera store, but they might be clueless unless this has come up before. The issue is that plastic can really absorb and hold smells. Normally I'd go for a vinegar wipedown and you can try that too, being careful not to get the camera too wet, and follow with the baking soda or coffee grounds trick, refreshing the grounds or soda and repeating several times.
But you may not be able to get the funk out. At least the camera was free and you can trash it without losing any money. If you must, you must. I would not want to keep an item that made me feel sick just hold, and it sounds like this camera is in that category.
I would surface clean whatever you can on the camcorder as you mentioned that way any residue is cleaned off.
Put it in a sealable plastic container with a lid completely surrounded with a bunch of wadded up newspaper.
I don't know why or how but newspaper helps draw out smells. You could tuck a sock filled with some baking soda or charcol that you get for fish tanks in there as well so long as you have newspaper between it and the camcorder so you don't accidently get any of the dust in the camcorder.
You can put the instructions manual in there as well.
Put them in a bag or a gallon size baggie with some apple slices. Let it sit for a while and see if the apples absorb any of the odor. My sister does this with antiques. Of course the apples may put moisture in the electronics but I think if it's un-usable in it's current condition then that would be a risk worth taking.
I would consider putting the booklet outside in the sunshine to let it heat up. The pores of the paper will let loose of some of the smell.
Have you considered just taking the book to the library and copying it? Then you can put the book out in the garage or even throw it away.
