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yardwork

(64,671 posts)
Sat May 5, 2012, 09:25 AM May 2012

How to get body odor out of an old plastic sewing machine cover?

I have a Singer sewing machine that was made in the early 1970s. The machine still works great. The white plastic cover stinks of body odor. I think that maybe one of my teenage sons draped a sweat-soaked t-shirt on it, and the sweat soaked into the plastic. The cover has a smooth surface, but in places where it is scuffed I see that the underlying plastic seems to be a bit porous.

I've tried to get the smell out for two years. I've soaked the cover in bleach in the bathtub, in vinegar, showered it in hot water, sprayed all kinds of cleaners on it, left it out on the patio for the rain and sun to work on, and even put essential oils on it. (I had forgotten the odor of patchouli and sweat - while this was a walk down memory lane, I don't want it in my house. I loved the 60s but....) All I've succeeded in doing is rusting the latches that snap the cover onto the base of the machine. The cover is now very clean and pearly white, but the odor always comes back.

Any advice? I'm about ready to throw it out, but that will leave my old sewing machine unprotected from dust and cat hair.

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How to get body odor out of an old plastic sewing machine cover? (Original Post) yardwork May 2012 OP
Don't throw it out. NYC_SKP May 2012 #1
Sun alone didn't work. I haven't tried mothballs yet. Sealing it in a bag is a good idea. yardwork May 2012 #2
Mothballs are toxic nt LiberalEsto May 2012 #9
That's why you air it out well after the camphor treatment. nt. NYC_SKP May 2012 #10
Would one of those MuseRider May 2012 #3
I think I tried the enzyme cleaner, too, but I could try again. yardwork May 2012 #4
Try putting in a big garbage bag with activated charcoal for several days... hlthe2b May 2012 #5
That's a good idea. I'm thinking that putting it in a plastic bag with.... something.... yardwork May 2012 #8
I'd just hose it down with Febreze when I noticed it Warpy May 2012 #6
That's where I started! lol! yardwork May 2012 #7
I think your idea of the plastic disintegrating and emitting a smell is in the right direction..... northoftheborder May 2012 #11
It's a hard shell that fits over the machine and serves as the handle for the machine. yardwork May 2012 #12
I see your point. I thought the cover was soft plastic. northoftheborder May 2012 #14
Never wearing out is definitely a reason to hang onto it. yardwork May 2012 #15
Note to self: Never use sewing machine cover to dispose of the body! OffWithTheirHeads May 2012 #13
I had an issue with plastic holding a *taste* as well as smell... Robb May 2012 #16
Paint it? Kolesar May 2012 #17
This is a brilliant suggestion. yardwork May 2012 #18
KrylonŽ Fusion for Plastic Kolesar May 2012 #19
i wonder if an oil of some sort would seal it in. mopinko May 2012 #20
if the other ideas don't work.... flying_wahini Jul 2012 #21
SEWING MACHINE kaanguler Mar 2013 #22
 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
1. Don't throw it out.
Sat May 5, 2012, 09:33 AM
May 2012

some time in the sun, and some time in a plastic bag with some mothballs, then back in the sun.

I think that would cover it.

Odor is caused by live bacteria, they hate UV.

And camphor isn't pleasant to them and should help with the smell.

Good luck!

yardwork

(64,671 posts)
2. Sun alone didn't work. I haven't tried mothballs yet. Sealing it in a bag is a good idea.
Sat May 5, 2012, 09:34 AM
May 2012

MuseRider

(34,391 posts)
3. Would one of those
Sat May 5, 2012, 09:41 AM
May 2012

enzyme cleaners work? I have never had too much luck getting odors out of plastic of any kind. I am sorry to hear about this, it must be driving you crazy. My poor old sewing machine does not have a cover and I think it has just about finished the poor thing since it sits next to the mud/dog cleaning area. I sure hope you can get this taken care of.

yardwork

(64,671 posts)
4. I think I tried the enzyme cleaner, too, but I could try again.
Sat May 5, 2012, 10:08 AM
May 2012

The other possibility is that this isn't actually body odor. Maybe the plastic is disintegrating and emitting a smell that is very similar to body odor. This might explain why everything I do seems to make the situation worse rather than better.

Sigh.

hlthe2b

(106,647 posts)
5. Try putting in a big garbage bag with activated charcoal for several days...
Sat May 5, 2012, 10:15 AM
May 2012

Then I might repeat the sun time.

Activated charcoal is very good at absorbing odors. But, plastic is tough.

If you can't find activated charcoal readily in hardware or home stores near you, just buy regular charcoal brickets and cover them with paper towels to keep the dust off the cover within the plastic garbage bag. Just make sure you buy the kind that doesn't have lighter fluid mixed in.

yardwork

(64,671 posts)
8. That's a good idea. I'm thinking that putting it in a plastic bag with.... something....
Sat May 5, 2012, 04:28 PM
May 2012

may be the way to go.

northoftheborder

(7,610 posts)
11. I think your idea of the plastic disintegrating and emitting a smell is in the right direction.....
Sun May 6, 2012, 03:02 PM
May 2012

We used to have a beautiful hand-made quilt that had been gifted to us as a wedding present, and was inside a plastic cover.

The cover smelled strangely, and the odor had permeated the quilt. I didn't want to wash the quilt.... so finally, I took it out of the cover which was thrown away, and the smell gradually dissipated.

I would suggest throwing your old plastic cover away. Perhaps you could use it as a pattern and make a new one out of some of that very colorful oilcloth. It is sewable, but use a heavy duty needle.

yardwork

(64,671 posts)
12. It's a hard shell that fits over the machine and serves as the handle for the machine.
Sun May 6, 2012, 03:13 PM
May 2012

The hard shell plastic cover fits over the machine, clicks into place, and has a retractable handle. Without the shell it will be very difficult to move the machine, as it it weighs a ton. It's built into a cast iron base and the engine is cast iron as well. Made in Italy. They don't make sewing machines like this anymore.

If it really is the plastic disintegrating, though, I may have no choice.

northoftheborder

(7,610 posts)
14. I see your point. I thought the cover was soft plastic.
Mon May 7, 2012, 12:48 PM
May 2012

My oldest machine was made in Germany, and VERY heavy. It currently needs cleaning & oiling but I cannot lift it out of the cabinet it fits in. Those old machines will never wear out, but not very portable.

yardwork

(64,671 posts)
15. Never wearing out is definitely a reason to hang onto it.
Mon May 7, 2012, 02:01 PM
May 2012

It still sews just as well as ever. No bells and whistles - it doesn't even have a buttonhole stitch feature. I love it. It's pale aqua. Totally takes me back to the day I opened it on Christmas morning as a kid.

I've read reviews of machines available now, and unless I pay thousands of dollars all I can get is a piece of plastic junk made in China. I am determined to solve this problem!

 

OffWithTheirHeads

(10,337 posts)
13. Note to self: Never use sewing machine cover to dispose of the body!
Sun May 6, 2012, 04:06 PM
May 2012

You simply can never get rid of the odor.

Robb

(39,665 posts)
16. I had an issue with plastic holding a *taste* as well as smell...
Tue May 8, 2012, 10:15 AM
May 2012

...I brew my own ciders from the trees out back, and like to reuse plastic bottles to judge by feel when the carbonation is finished doing its thing. Some flavors don't like to come out of plastic, such as root beer.

Anyhow. Try getting a big enough tub to soak the whole thing, and add a whole bunch of OxyClean Free. Give it 24-48, and I think you'll be pleased.

yardwork

(64,671 posts)
18. This is a brilliant suggestion.
Wed May 9, 2012, 04:50 PM
May 2012

I showed this issue to my son last night, and after sniffing, he stated that he believes that this odor is not body odor, but the plastic emitting a smell. Painting it would cover up the smell, whatever it's source.

Kolesar

(31,182 posts)
19. KrylonŽ Fusion for Plastic
Thu May 10, 2012, 07:06 AM
May 2012
http://www.krylon.com/safety/surface-preparation/

When working with plastic
For old plastic, use an ammonia-based cleaner and wipe down to clean surface. If the plastic is new, wipe down with paint thinner for best results. Lightly sand glossy surface if previously painted and remove dust with a tack cloth. When dry, apply Krylon® Fusion for Plastic according to the directions on the can.

flying_wahini

(8,043 posts)
21. if the other ideas don't work....
Wed Jul 11, 2012, 10:40 PM
Jul 2012

I saw a fairly inexpensive generic sewing machine box at Hancock fabrics that looked pretty nice....

kaanguler

(9 posts)
22. SEWING MACHINE
Fri Mar 8, 2013, 08:34 AM
Mar 2013

Up to this time to maintain it is very nice, let's smell, a related chemical supply, cleaning, shops, you can find.

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