Ah! Paint thinner smell! How do I get rid of it?
September 27, 2014 9:01 AM Subscribe
I was carrying paint thinner in my backpack, and it spilled (probably about 250 ml)! I've tried carpet cleaner, laundry detergent, and even shampoo (!) to get the smell out and let it soak over night but it still smells really strongly! Any advice for what might work to get rid of the smell?
Hang it outside. Paint thinner evaporates well. It may take a few days, though.
posted by Too-Ticky at 9:07 AM on September 27, 2014
posted by Too-Ticky at 9:07 AM on September 27, 2014
Response by poster: (Should have added, it's a hiking backpack, so doesn't fit in the washing machine, unfortunately, have already tried)
posted by twill at 9:09 AM on September 27, 2014
posted by twill at 9:09 AM on September 27, 2014
Yeah I second letting it dry well and airing it out.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 9:10 AM on September 27, 2014
posted by CrazyLemonade at 9:10 AM on September 27, 2014
I've found Goo Gone to be very useful in getting gasoline smells out of clothing. Typically I soak the affected area, let it sit for an hour or so, and then launder normally.
posted by jon1270 at 9:26 AM on September 27, 2014
posted by jon1270 at 9:26 AM on September 27, 2014
I remember reading once that you can get rid of paint fumes by putting onions in a pan of water in the newly painted room and leaving it there overnight. My understanding is paint thinner is chemically related to paint, so I googled a bit and came up with a couple of links:
This one talks about onions absorbing paint smells (plus a couple of other things):
3 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Paint Fumes
Use Lemons and Water to Send Paint Fumes Packing
Given that onions can be an offensive smell, I think I would probably start by trying to use whole lemons or cut lemons somehow. But, if you haven't done so already, I would first try to hose it down real thoroughly, either outside or in the shower since you say it doesn't fit in the washing machine. And, after that, I might soak it in a tub with a few cut lemons and see if that worked.
Also, you could try to going to a Laundromat. Some Laundromats have a few larger machines that cost extra money. Maybe you can find a place where you can fit the backpack into a washing machine, which would likely help a good bit, though you might still need to try some additional methods. (On preview, maybe Goo Gone first, Laundromat second? Then try crazy experimental stuff if it still smells.)
posted by Michele in California at 9:28 AM on September 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
This one talks about onions absorbing paint smells (plus a couple of other things):
3 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Paint Fumes
Use Lemons and Water to Send Paint Fumes Packing
Given that onions can be an offensive smell, I think I would probably start by trying to use whole lemons or cut lemons somehow. But, if you haven't done so already, I would first try to hose it down real thoroughly, either outside or in the shower since you say it doesn't fit in the washing machine. And, after that, I might soak it in a tub with a few cut lemons and see if that worked.
Also, you could try to going to a Laundromat. Some Laundromats have a few larger machines that cost extra money. Maybe you can find a place where you can fit the backpack into a washing machine, which would likely help a good bit, though you might still need to try some additional methods. (On preview, maybe Goo Gone first, Laundromat second? Then try crazy experimental stuff if it still smells.)
posted by Michele in California at 9:28 AM on September 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Check the manufacturer laundering instructions before dry-cleaning a technical pack. Some (every one I've seen) advises against it because the solvents will attack the DWR treatment and the membrane.
Just leave it in a well-ventilated area with all the openings opened for a while. A few days to a fortnight should do it. All the solvents used as paint thinner are highly volatile and evaporate cleanly.
posted by d. z. wang at 2:55 PM on September 27, 2014
Just leave it in a well-ventilated area with all the openings opened for a while. A few days to a fortnight should do it. All the solvents used as paint thinner are highly volatile and evaporate cleanly.
posted by d. z. wang at 2:55 PM on September 27, 2014
On second thought, you might be smelling not the paint thinner itself but contaminants in the solvent. Was your paint thinner swanky low-odor artist's paint thinner, or rubbish you were going to burn in a camp stove? The second kind is probably full of sulfur and aromatic compounds that might linger. I don't know what you tell you if that's the case.
posted by d. z. wang at 2:59 PM on September 27, 2014
posted by d. z. wang at 2:59 PM on September 27, 2014
Response by poster: Have hung it outside to dry, will see how we go in a few days' time
posted by twill at 4:49 PM on September 27, 2014
posted by twill at 4:49 PM on September 27, 2014
Paint thinner is made up of a mix of non-polar hydrocarbons. There are pretty much only two realistic ways you get that out of fabric: you put the soiled fabric outside, where heat/sun can turn some of the non-polars into a vapor that the wind can carry away, or you wash it in another non-polar solvent that can carry away the paint thinner, i.e., you dry-clean it.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 1:12 AM on September 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by a lungful of dragon at 1:12 AM on September 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Just to follow up: the backpack has been outside now for 10 days with no noticeable improvement! May have to take it to the drycleaner, come what may (and yeah, the label inside does say no drycleaning...)
posted by twill at 11:53 AM on October 7, 2014
posted by twill at 11:53 AM on October 7, 2014
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posted by DarlingBri at 9:02 AM on September 27, 2014