I just got a suitcase from a second hand store and I cannot remove the nasty smell. It smells like old vomit or moldy milk. How can I get rid of the smell?
By sadiena from Jacksonville, FL
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Our old house had wood heat, everything always smelled like smoke including our luggage, which then got put in storage when we moved to a smaller house. I just took it out for a vacation, sprayed the inside with a vinegar/water mix and closed them back up for two days. They smelled fine for us to pack for this trip and our clothes were fine on arrival.
Try Febreze.
I tried febreze and with the smell it still stinks 9it was a bag from the charity shop)
Definitely. I use FRIDGE IT activated carbon odor absorbers in my luggage and storage bins. They are unscented and work great to eliminate odors. I just put one or two in each suitcase to keep "old" smell out.
I have been using a product called BioWorld Odor Neutralizer that has worked well for all odors. It is very strong and I haven't found an odor that it hasn't taken care of yet!
Where can I find BioWorld Odor Neutralizer? Do I have to order it on line? Have you actually used it for mold, mildew smell in your luggage? Thanks!
I've heard clay kitty litter absorbs odors really well so it might be worth the try to get a small bag of it, dump the litter in, close it up for a few days and then dump it out. Of course, wipe the inside of the case well to remove the litter dust.
I would wash this suitcase out first, and then try all the different odor absorbers. It may be that something has been spilled in the inside in the past, and never suitably and thoroughly cleaned. Leaving it in the sun to air out after washing would be good too.
Things don't get a sour milk or vomit smell from being stored in musty garages or basements. Something has been spilled in that suitcase to make that smell.
Actually, I've experienced this as well. Happens to my book bags, soft sided briefcases, suitcases, carry ons and purses (fabric/synthetic ones). Does NOT happen to my leather purses...or if I store the item open from the very beginning.
Can't figure out any common cause these would all share except being stored for months at a time in my closet.
Not true at all. I have the exact same issue with a number of items -- including three fanny packs, made by Eagle Creek, and some packing cubes, which are stored in different places but over a period of 10 years have developed the exact same smell. It's not pleasant, and it's not a spill.
Try Fabreez for fabric and letting it sit open outside in the sun, maybe keep dryer sheets inside them when storing will help too. You could also try scrubbing it out with lemon juice and letting it sit in the sun.
Charcoal! Buy some charcoal that is used in BBQ's, just put some in the suitcase and close, it will absorb the odor.
I saw this posted for a stinky refrigerator awhile back and feel it should work for your suitcase. Get a bag of plain charcoal (not the self-lighting kind.) Tear open the package and put it in the suitcase. Close the suitcase and let set. I can't recall how long the original poster said it should take, but I think it was 24-48 hours minimum.
Another possibility is baking soda. Don't dump it out into the suitcase, but just open the box (if you buy the kind you usually set in the fridge, they have tabs you can open) and let it set in the suitcase a week or more. I sure hope this helps!
Thanks. I will try both and we will see if that works. I am expected to be in Tampa next week, and I hope I can get the smell out again. Thanks for your support.
I have this issue when borrowing my Moms luggage>>>>vinegar/water spray didn't help, Febreeze didn't help, dryer sheets, leaving the luggage outside didn't help>>>>>all these things were tried, but nothing really made a difference. I am going through the same thing again now, even tried using a smudge stick and closing it up after filling it with smoke, lol. My bottom line is using a large garbage bag to pack everything in, then closing it up, zip up the suitcase and get going! No smell to anything you pack, but the musty odor is still present>>>I may be a bit too sensitive tosmells, at least my husband thinks I am. Good luck!
Adding a post about a suitcase situation that I had completely forgotten about. A couple decades ago I lent a leather duffle type suitcase to an employee for her and significant others vacation. When it was given back it reeked :-o Turns out that they had a bit too much fun drinking and instead of putting their dirty clothes (with vomit on them) in a plastic bag they just put them loose in my bag :-o I washed the inside as well as could with a rag soaked in vinegar and that made me feel like the germs were at least gone but it still stunk :-( Since it was a soft duffle I turned it inside out, put it in the dryer with a whole box of dryer sheets on low heat for awhile and, blessedly, that did the trick. Needless to say, I never loan out my suitcases anymore ;-)
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