coolidor plastic smell
 

Ok, I'm trying to prepare a new Igloo cooler to function as my coolidor. I'm having issues removing the plastic smell. I left it open for a few days, soaked it overnight in mild bleach solution, left open again, closed with backing soda, and have just now wiped down with alcohol. not sure after the alcohol treatment (just did that) but I was still smelling plastic. Is this a issue and if so what can I do?
Thanks
-John

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

I washed my coolers out with distilled water and dish soap and let them sit open over night. The next day I would take just distilled water with a cloth over it again and let it sit again over night. By day three the smell is gone.

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

Baking soda and hot water works well. Usually the first time you use it.

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

You can also put some empty cigar boxes in it for a couple days.

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

:tpd:

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

:tpd: I am not sure where you got the idea that chemicals like bleach and alcohol would be a good idea.

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

Got the bleach from here. http://www.cigarpass.com/index.php/b...-coolidor.html
Can't remember where I picked up the alcohol. But either I think will off-gas faster then the plastic. I'll try a solutino of backing soda and water. Can only smell it when it's been shut over night then opened.

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

When I set up my coolidor I washed it first in a bleach solution, rinsed very well and then left it outside, open, to sun dry all day. This got rid of all but the tiniest plastic odor. After bringing it in that night I washed with a clean washcloth and a baking soda solution followed by a rinse. Left it open to dry overnight and had no plastic odor the next day. I think being open in the sun had almost as much effect as the bleach.

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

Plastics absorb smell longer than give it off. A couple pieces of spanish cedar and some humidifying device will make is right.

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/tobii3/cooler.jpg

:tu

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

Bob, while the quantities of bleach recommended vary, I've seen the bleaching advice repeated in a number of places, including a few online cigar vendors. Seems it's another one of those dubious "cigar things" that gets parroted often.

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

The baking soda solution worked for me. That and leaving it sit outside on a nice day with the lid open for about 4 hours.

Now it just smells like cigars.

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

Good advice!

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

:tpd:

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

I did nothing with mine except fill it with cigar boxes full of cigars!!! I've never detected a plastic odor!!! I also have a few sheets of Spanish cedar in mine! The more wood and cigars the better!!!:2

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

Add Cedar like others have said.In a short time it will have a aroma like a Cedar cabinet when you open it.

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

:tpd:Yep!:tu

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

A simple wipe down with a damp towel (distilled water) a few times, letting it dry, and then lining it with cedar sheets did the trick for me.

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

There is just something about the rays from the sun . It's all I did with any of my coolers .

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

By the way, cigars come in Spanish Cedar boxes - the cigars won't taste like plastic.

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

I tried the baking soda tonight. Letting it dry overnight. Then gonna close for a day and see if smell is back when reopen. If so, just gonna try dropping my box in there and 'cover it up' I guess.

Rev, I keep reading how much cigars absorb flavors. That's why I'm concerned about getting rid of it. Your saying it's not important?
-John

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

I did nothing with it, and all is fine.

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

I have not heard of the plastic smell ever affecting the taste, but some people are more sensitive to smells and flavors than others. A couple of empty boxes should help as long as they arent the recent Drac or Boris boxes which were not finished curing before they were released. :2

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

Too do something or not is the quetion. I put my cigars in my new cooler last thursday. It does had the slight plastic smell which im ok with as long as it doesnt effect the cigars. Oh well ifs i have time i may try the baking soda and distilled water and sun.

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

All the cigars in my coolidor are in the box still. If the faint plastic smell can get through cedar boxes and corrupt my cigars I guess I'm in trouble, but right now the whole thing just smells like Cedar, so I think not. Also the cooler smells like plastic because it is plastic. It seems like the plastic smell would just keep coming back as long as you leave the cooler empty and the only way to get rid of it completely would be to let the plastic absorb some other smell. I could be way off though that just makes sense to me.

Edit: Holy resurrected thread!

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

All you need to do is grab some newspaper, ball it up, let it sit for a day.
Throw it away and fill it up again w/ balled up newspaper. The carbon in
the newspaper absorbs the scent. (Maybe its not carbon, but you get my drift!):r

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

This worked wit all my coolers (6).

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

I wiped it out and left the door open for a few days, smell came back quick for me if I had nothing in it. After filling it with empty cigar boxes it quickly started smelling like a humidor though.

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

Mine sat empty for awhile. I cleaned with rubbing alcohol and let air out. Its working great now.:2

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

its just that the paper itself is so absorbent that it will soak up all the smells too. Newspaper is pretty amazing stuff actually.


ive used this trick to take the smell out of old shoes, new coolers, fabrick lunch boxes that stink... it works well.

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

hahahahahaha, yup.

I have found the putting it outside and propping the lid open for a day or so works.
Another thing is a small tub or bucket of water inside....It works with painted rooms.

Re: coolidor plastic smell
 

I've been using a bit of vinegar when I wash out our compost container, and it's done a great job of eliminating any odor. I've also used it to clean up when our cat went nuts after my son was born in 2008. Worked like a charm.

So I tried it on a cooler.

I wiped it down with hot water and a spash of distilled white vinegar. Did that, wiped it with a damp cloth, dried it, and the smell was completely gone.

I've done that for two different coolers, and it worked both times.