How to remove banana odor from backpack.

October 12, 2014 1:23 PM

I foolishly put a banana in a backpack (JanSport knapsack). The banana was crushed and smeared all over the inside of the large section of the backpack and set for a day. Now I cannot get rid of the rank banana odor. I've washed three times, and sponged heavily with vinegar twice. The material is some sort of synthetic, no leather. Suggestions on how to remove the lingering odor?
posted by Jackson to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (10 answers total)

I might try shaking a shit-ton of baking soda over it and sealing it up in a plastic bag of some kind and leaving it for a couple days before washing it again. I believe baking soda's the active ingredient in a lot of carpet odor removers.
posted by Diablevert at 1:46 PM on October 12, 2014

Well, I can't say I've tried this stuff on banana odor, but my go-to suggestion for smelly things is Atsko (Sno-Seal) Sport Wash. It's a detergent that is made specifically for hunters to remove scents from their clothes so as not to give away their position. I use it on stinky Under Armour shirts and stale dog beds with great success. You can buy it at most outdoors stores, and Wal-Mart has it too, though it's in the camping/hunting section and not the detergent aisle.
posted by workerant at 1:47 PM on October 12, 2014

Sunlight breaks down odours if you put it in there long enough.
posted by taff at 1:51 PM on October 12, 2014 [3 favorites]

I would try soaking it in OxiClean for two weeks. I recognize that may be a hardship if you need to use it every day.
posted by Bruce H. at 4:26 PM on October 12, 2014

Try spraying vodka on it. It should take out the smell and will evaporate pretty quickly. If not, drink the rest of the bottle.
posted by dawkins_7 at 8:20 PM on October 12, 2014 [1 favorite]

Turn it inside out and let it sunbathe for a few days after any of the suggested treatments.
posted by slightlybewildered at 11:07 PM on October 12, 2014

It probably still smells like banana because there's still banana stuff all up in the weave of the thing. I'd probably apply some detergent directly to it and have at it with a scrub brush, on both sides of the fabric (if I didn't throw it out, honestly).
posted by cotton dress sock at 2:26 AM on October 13, 2014 [1 favorite]

This happened to me -- Febreze worked great.
posted by trillian at 6:20 AM on October 13, 2014

I'd also try Nature's Miracle or some other pet stain removal product because those can get a lot out. No idea if it'll actually work, just something I'd try.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 7:56 AM on October 13, 2014

Response by poster: Banana odor update.
Tried the baking soda suggestion. No effect.
Drenched in 91% isopropyl alchol three times. Significant odor reduction but significant odor remained.
Several partial days in sun - it's been raining - no noticeable effect.
Drenched three times with Fabreze extra duty fabric refresher, and washed in detergent again. Slight odor reduction but noticeable odor still remains.
Atsko, Oxyclean, and pet stain remover will be tried next as necessary.
Surrender is not an option, but the banana is indeed a worthy opponent.
posted by Jackson at 3:26 PM on October 15, 2014