These DVDs smell!

August 2, 2008 10:51 PM

How do I remove the smell of smoke from DVDs?

I recently bought a DVD collection from someone who smokes. I couldn't tell they smelled until I got them home, but now I'd like to remove the smell from the boxes. The interiors and disks don't smell that much, it's only the outer boxes. How can I do it? Febreze? Dehumidifier possibly? Thanks much.

posted by santaliqueur to Media & Arts (5 answers total)

Wiping the cases down with a 50/50 mix of water and white vinegar will remove most smoke residue.
posted by Marky at 11:42 PM on August 2, 2008

Remove the DVDs and store them temporarily in one of those tubs that blank CD-Rs come in, open out the cases, and leave them outside in the breeze for a whole day. Pick an overcast but not rainy day unless you don't mind bleaching the printed inserts a little.
posted by flabdablet at 11:54 PM on August 2, 2008

Response by poster: That won't mark the finish of the cases? Sounds easy enough. I'll try it on a couple of them, thanks.
posted by santaliqueur at 11:57 PM on August 2, 2008

Generic windex (or a water and sudsy ammonia mixture) is an excellent smoke smell/tar remover. When I quit smoking, I had to go over everything in the house with it. The horrifying brown residue was an excellent reinforcer.

That'll only work on the ones with plastic sheets covering the liner card.

I also went over a bunch of stuff (after that) with Pledge.
posted by gjc at 11:06 AM on August 3, 2008

Response by poster: Thanks for the replies, I will try it out.
posted by santaliqueur at 12:39 PM on August 4, 2008