Bleaching a Cooler

[KenyanSandBoa]

What are your thoughts on bleaching a cooler to clean it? The reason I'm asking is because I can't seem to get rid of the soap scent on my cooler, so I'm thinking of just bleaching it and letting it air dry for a few days.

This was an old trick with fish tanks that I used to use, and it worked wonders because the chlorine would essentially become gaseous and all removed any trace of odor from cleaning products.

Has anyone tried this method?

[Ogre]

you will have to dilute it. Pure bleach with damage the cooler. or use a baking soda and water solution and scrub it.

[KenyanSandBoa]

Originally Posted by Ogre3239

you will have to dilute it. Pure bleach with damage the cooler. or use a baking soda and water solution and scrub it.

Sorry Larry...I didn't see you posted that first. I was planning on diluting it, but I'll definitley give the baking soda and water solution a go instead.

[DAFU]

Once you get several hundred cigars in it you shouldn't have any "smell" issues.

[KenyanSandBoa]

Originally Posted by DAFU

Once you get several hundred cigars in it you shouldn't have any "smell" issues.

...very true.

I was just worried that it would transfer the soapy smell to the cigars...that make a very unhappy KSB.

[bscottskangum]

Originally Posted by KenyanSandBoa

I was just worried that it would transfer the soapy smell to the cigars...that make a very unhappy KSB.

It wont if you smoke them fast enough

[Kreth]

Originally Posted by KenyanSandBoa

Sorry Larry...I didn't see you posted that first. I was planning on diluting it, but I'll definitley give the baking soda and water solution a go instead.

When I did mine I used like half a box of baking soda, just enough water to make a thick paste. I scrubbed the inside, and closed it up for a day or so without rinsing. The next day I rinsed it, then set out to air dry with the lid open. No plastic smell, so then I hit cbid...
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[KenyanSandBoa]

Originally Posted by homerjay19

Or I go over your house and smoke them on you....

I've never trusted you anyway.

Originally Posted by hotreds

Throw some Spanish cedar in there, too!

That's a definite!! I got one of the marine coolers so I have the slots in there. Jeremy (homerjay19) is getting the same cooler, and he is picking up spanish cedar planks so we can do this up right.

Originally Posted by Kreth

When I did mine I used like half a box of baking soda, just enough water to make a thick paste. I scrubbed the inside, and closed it up for a day or so without rinsing. The next day I rinsed it, then set out to air dry with the lid open. No plastic smell, so then I hit cbid...
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Thanks!! I'll try that method. I'm trying to avoid Cbid until after the wedding, but I'm already getting the itch.

[Kreth]

Originally Posted by KenyanSandBoa

Thanks!! I'll try that method. I'm trying to avoid Cbid until after the wedding, but I'm already getting the itch.

Glad I could help, brother! You need smokes to hand out at the wedding, right? Cbid is your friend...
Oh, one last tip: no matter how proud you are of your new storage, DO NOT post pics of an empty cooler!
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[kelmac07]

Jim...I used baking soda and water to get rid of the smell. Let it sit 24 hours with the baking soda/water and then dried it out and it was good to go.

[CasaDooley]

Originally Posted by Ogre3239

you will have to dilute it. Pure bleach with damage the cooler. or use a baking soda and water solution and scrub it.

Originally Posted by kelmac07

Jim...I used baking soda and water to get rid of the smell. Let is sit 24 hours with the baking sonda/water and then dried it out and it was good to go.

Baking soda and water is the way to go.

[KenyanSandBoa]

Originally Posted by kelmac07

Jim...I used baking soda and water to get rid of the smell. Let it sit 24 hours with the baking soda/water and then dried it out and it was good to go.

Thanks Mac. I must of had a brain fart there, because I didn't even think about that.

[Jbailey]

I used a little dish soap with distilled water and it was fine in 24 hours. I went over it again with just distilled water and let it sit for another 24 hours and had no plastic smell.


If it's nice out maybe letting it air our outside.

[alwayslit]

I heard they do it in California.....so it must be okay

[hotreds]

Throw some Spanish cedar in there, too!

[Bax]

Originally Posted by hotreds

Throw some Spanish cedar in there, too!

Give Chasden a PM and see if he can send you a cedar board cut to the size fo your cooler bottom.

[Jack Straw]

You might be able to get out the soapy smell by wiping down the inside with a paper towel soaked in isopropyl alcohol. I have not done this with plastic but it works with glass...worth a shot since it's easy as hell and dries super quick.

[KenyanSandBoa]

I gave the cooler the sniff test (yes, that's an official unit of measurement) last night and I'm pleased to report she's ready to go!! No trace of plastic or any sort of floral/soapy smell to report.

Now to fill 'er up!!

Thanks again everyone...and thank you, Jeff, for the paste idea.

[cigarlvr]

I would try baking soda or even Everclear before using bleach. I would think the bleach smell will be taken on by any of the cigars even if you used a 50/50 mixture

[KenyanSandBoa]

Originally Posted by cigarlvr

I would try baking soda or even Everclear before using bleach. I would think the bleach smell will be taken on by any of the cigars even if you used a 50/50 mixture

Thanks...it's actually all done now. I used baking soda...