I don't want to be the stinking traveling girl.

September 4, 2009 10:14 AM

What is that horrible suitcase smell and how can I prevent it?

Recently I've come across 2 sets of second hand luggage, and a laptop bag that's a couple of years old. Both sets of luggage and the bag had this HORRIBLE smell coming from the inside, the same smell even though all three things came from different people, and seemed to be different brands. I don't even know what to compare it to, something rotting + burning rubber perhaps? No, that's not it. But it's bad - I think if anyone has smelled it they'll recognize what I'm talking about. The smell is absolutely disgusting and strong, I remember I smelled it from the other room when I had this luggage.

None of the bags/suitcases I mention had a materials tag on it, but the material on everything looks similar - plasticky on the inside, and that 'bookbag' material on the outside. The laptop bag is made by HP, I don't know who made the luggage - I threw both sets out after using them once, ugh. The smell doesn't go away after airing them out, or spraying with febreeze or lysol or anything.

My questions: What causes the smell? Does all suitcases become like this? If yes, after how many years? If no, how do I make sure that when I finally buy my own luggage instead of getting my friends' used luggage that the smell won't appear? Is it a special material I should look for? A way to clean it?

Thanks!

posted by KateHasQuestions to Grab Bag (6 answers total)

Baking soda is really good for absorbing odors. For something like this, buy a few boxes and put them in the suitcases for a few days. If you've got an old pair of pantyhose, fill them up with the baking soda and tie them off so it won't spill all over your bags.

I do this with my stinky winter boots every year - sometime I have to do it more than once, but it works.
posted by futureisunwritten at 10:22 AM on September 4, 2009

Have you ever seen Rear Window? Could be that.

Or, you know, mothballs.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:46 AM on September 4, 2009 [2 favorites]

It's possible that it's some kind of mold, in which case washing, with either baking soda or dilute bleach, will do the trick.

But given your description, I'm putting my bets on overheated plastic. Most luggage is made from synthetics these days, and when that stuff gets too hot, it can produce some truly horrible odors. If it's kept closed and hot, especially in an enclosed space, for an extended period of time, the smell can permeate the article to the point that it's unusable.

I'm afraid that once this happens, there may not be a whole lot you can do about it. Just don't leave your stuff where it's going to bake.
posted by valkyryn at 10:48 AM on September 4, 2009

No one knows why, but many otherwise trustworthy cats find an open suitcase an irresistible place to pee. And your description of the smell matches. Try treating it with some Natures Miracle and see if that does the trick.
posted by LarryC at 1:15 PM on September 4, 2009

Some plastic has a distinctive odor that gets worse when it ages. Mildew would smell musty and cat pee smells like cat pee. Crumpled newspaper will help keep luggage dry and mildew free in storage and will absorb some smell. Sunlight helps a lot; spray with 1:1 white vinegar:water solution and let dry in a sunny outdoor spot.
posted by theora55 at 2:08 PM on September 5, 2009 [1 favorite]

He turned into Lincoln Park, found an empty place and opened the case. Two severed human legs that belonged to young man with dark skin. Shiny black leg hairs glittered in the dim streetlight. The legs had been forced into the case and he had to use his knee on the back of the case to shove them out. "Legs, yet," he said, and walked quickly away with the case.

Might bring a few dollars to score. The buyer sniffed suspiciously. "Kind of a funny smell about it." "It's just Mexican leather." "Well, some joker didn't cure it." The buyer looked at the case with cold disfavor.

Soak the case in dilute bleach, followed by packing baking soda in every crevice of the bag and leaving it at a relatively high temperature with lots of airflow.
posted by benzenedream at 12:37 AM on September 15, 2009