Author Topic: Stinky sneakers? Foul ice chests? (Read 3177 times)

Gatofeo · « **on:** June 21, 2003, 02:46:51 PM »

This is the time of year when sneakers get stinky and ice chests get a fishy or rotten smell.
Even cleaning with a mild solution of bleach and water sometimes won't completely remove the smell.
My late father came up with an idea more than 30 years ago that works like a charm.
After you've cleaned out the cooler, dry it thoroughly. Then dump in a bag of briquets and close the lid.
That charcoal will absorb all the odors in a day or two.
Works in sneakrs too. Just fill the sneakers with briquets and allow them to remain a couple of days.
It doesn't harm the briquets at all. Use them as you normally would after you've removed them. After they're lit, any stink they've absorbed will quickly burn off (but you can't smell the stink; I'm just assuming).
Works great on that old, beater cooler you carry in the boat to toss fish in.

rickyp · « **Reply #1 on:** June 25, 2003, 08:23:55 AM »

for the coolers you can always use pure vanilla extract on a rag and wipe down the entire inside and let it dry well

the briquet's idea is not a bad one, it should work just activated charcoal and should work well for your hunting clothes when they are put away for the season

MOGorilla · « **Reply #2 on:** July 09, 2003, 02:33:05 AM »

Charcoal is a life saver. Many years ago, my father and I ran bank poles for a weekend. Upon returning, we were tired and forgot to remove the chicken livers we had been using as bait from the trunk of his company car. 2 days later, it was very hard to get near the garage. We removed the rotten meat and my dad had me alternate baking soda and coffee in the trunk, vacuuming each in turn. Soon the car smelled like a dead animal that drank coffee. A friend mentioned using charcoal. After a couple of days, the car was back to somewhat normal. Being the boss, dad had his car traded in first, before his salemen got to upgrade. By that time, everyone hd heard the story and no one objected. Dad always claimed he could still smell the rotten meat, but I never could. I have used charcoal as a deodorizer ever since.

Tom W. · « **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2003, 04:09:32 PM »

Does anyone live in a southern border town and have easy access to Mexico? you can buy a bottle of vanilla there for near nothing that is stronger than anything you'll ever see in the States.

Power · « **Reply #4 on:** August 01, 2003, 08:33:23 PM »

Quote from: MOGorilla

...We removed the rotten meat and my dad had me alternate baking soda and coffee in the trunk, vacuuming each in turn. Soon the car smelled like a dead animal that drank coffee...quote]

Must breathe......can't see......wiping tears........getting up.....off......floor.......laughing........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG, my side hurts now! You guys crack me up something fierce!

Jack Crevalle · « **Reply #5 on:** September 01, 2003, 09:15:11 AM »

For a stanky cooler, fill the cooler with cold water and pour in about
half a cup of bleach. Leave it like this for 2-3 hours.

If you can remove the cooler lid, do so before hand and then throw it
in with the water/bleach. If you can't remove it, wash it down with the
bleach/water mixture. Follow all the cautions for using bleach.

I used this when I unknownly left some bloodworms in a cooler for a week
or so. My wife didn't even need to open it to discover this. It made the
cooler April fresh once more.

WD45 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 23, 2003, 01:45:47 AM »

The charcoal is a great idea... its a little lumpy in the shoes though :-D

Toolpush · « **Reply #7 on:** September 23, 2003, 09:02:32 PM »

Another oder remover is toothpaste. I haven't cleaned any icechest with it but it will remove the oder from my hands after cleaning fish.

Randy M · « **Reply #8 on:** October 28, 2003, 04:31:28 AM »

Something else that works great. Take an old but clean cotton sock and put about a cup of fresh coffee grounds in it. Tie off the end, throw it in whatever needs to be deodorized.

Randy

SBF · « **Reply #9 on:** October 28, 2003, 05:02:04 AM »

Thanks for posting this! I have a stinky ice chest that I've been wondering about how to get the musty oder out of!

BTW - Nice to see you again Gatofeo

Gatofeo · « **Reply #10 on:** February 11, 2004, 06:50:53 PM »

Hiya Smallbore Freak!
Finally scrolled down far enough, and got curious enough, to read my own posting from June of 2003.
See you were the last to post, back in Oct. 23, 2003. Sheesh. Time flies.
The briquets in the ice cooler or sneakers is still a good trick. I like the idea about coffee in the old sock too. Sounds good. A vanilla wash sounds like a fine idea.
Yep, I was in Mexico a year ago and bought some of that wonderful Mexican vanilla extract for $3 for a quart! Gave some out to friends just before the holidays; it's wonderfully aromatic.
As I write this, it's 7 degrees Fahrenheit (-14 Celsius) out there, we've got about 14 inches (35 cm) of snow on the Utah desert ... and this ol' ugly cat ain't EVEN thinking of going out shooting!
I'm keeping my furry butt inside and sipping a big mug of catnip tea ... heh. I may be ugly ... but I ain't stoopid. :grin: