Any idea how to get smoke odor out of interconnects?

billbillw

Strange as it may seem, those nylon sheaths on interconnects really seem to hold odors.

I picked up a few pair of nylon sheathed interconnects recently and boy do they stink! The seller must have been a heavy indoor smoker. You can smell them across the room. I tried a soapy sponge and dry towel. I tried Febreeze sprayed on a paper towel (didn't want to soak them directly). I tried submersing everything but the terminated ends in warm soapy water and drying with a towel. They still stink! I'm afraid to get too agressive and ruin the cables (they are pretty nice otherwise).

Any ideas?

Jstas

I've had success with vinegar and/or 409. That 409 stuff will clean damn near anything and the vinegar is acidic enough to get most stains and odors out but usually won't harm the sheathing.

Jstas

I was just told by a co-worker that he has let cables sit in a tub of just straight baking soda for a while and it leeches out the odors. Kinda like how it helps keep the funk out of your fridge too. He said cleans them off real good first with an all-purpose cleaner like Fantastic or 409.

disneyjoe7

That's sucks I dealt with that issue a few times, sometimes I needed to throw it out. Sorry

avguytx

Wow...that's wild. What about leaving them outside for a few days? Weather permitting of course. I know I've heard of it in electronics but I guess wires could hold it too. Must have been a major "House of Smoke". lol

PhantomOG

I know it will probably sound crazy, but I have one of these , and it gets rid of odors really well. Just place the stinky item a few inches in front of it, blast it for a few hours, and it removes all odors.

I know this doesn't really help, since you probably don't have one of these, but just thought I'd mention it. They are really good to have to use in bad-odor rooms (where my dogs stay during the day).

Jstas

Another thought I just had. The odors are caused by compounds from the tar and nicotene in the smoke. There are cleaners that are enzyme based out there that I have seen used on things like computer monitors, keyboards and mice that not only remove stains but odors too. I don't know where to find them but I'm sure a quick Google search might turn something up.

billbillw

disneyjoe7 wrote:

That's sucks I dealt with that issue a few times, sometimes I needed to throw it out. Sorry

Eeerr, not these. Too nice. I'll strip off the nylon jackets before I throw them out.

I'm just afraid to really soak the cables. A) don't want the dielectric foam to soak up anything don't want liquids getting into the cables and oxidizing them.

ledhed

Put them in a paper bag with some charcoal. That should absorb the odors

billbillw

Maybe I'll try my ZeroStat gun on them. Shoots out charged particles like the thing Phantom recommended. I'll try a few things tonight, maybe also put them in a closed rubbermaid container with a small dish of vinegar. Just let the vapors do the work.

billbillw

ledhed wrote:

Put them in a paper bag with some charcoal. That should absorb the odors

I'm a gas grill guy. I'd have to buy a whole bag just for one or two brickets!;)

Jstas

No, to get rid of odors, you'd need activated charcoal. It's not the same stuff as BBQ charcoal.

audiobliss

Charlie's Soap may work, but I'm not sure. We use it around the house whenever we come across a stubborn stain that we're sure won't come out. As we're throwing the item away, we remember Charlie's Soap, try it, and the stain's gone.

Never tried it for odors before, but I guess it stands to reason that if it can remove stains so well it just might remove odors, too.

Hope you figure something out tonight.

F1nut

Take up smoking.

Demiurge

billbillw wrote:

I'm a gas grill guy. I'd have to buy a whole bag just for one or two brickets!;)

haha

BaggedLancer

May sound weird but I have heard leaving smelly objects in a container full of coffee beans will get the smell out.

Or you can just do what F1nut suggested, take up smoking.

billbillw

BaggedLancer wrote:

May sound weird but I have heard leaving smelly objects in a container full of coffee beans will get the smell out.

Or you can just do what F1nut suggested, take up smoking.

Great, coffee breath, and cigarette breath combined!

Actually, baking soda seemed to knock most of the smell out. They still smell like smoke up close, but not accross the room. I guess the most offensive part of it is gone.

BaggedLancer

billbillw wrote:

Great, coffee breath, and cigarette breath combined!

Actually, baking soda seemed to knock most of the smell out. They still smell like smoke up close, but not accross the room. I guess the most offensive part of it is gone.

Hey now, you were asking for suggestions!

scottnbnj

billbillw wrote:

...I tried a soapy sponge and dry towel...

lots of soaps, like liquid dish detergents, leave their own smell and residue on many plastics. to me, they seem to intensify many smells on/in plastics while adding their own. usually a few soft scrubs of vinegar and hot water can take that out. i wouldn't think that chemical resistant jackets would be bothered by doing this a few times throughout their life if they're not already in bad shape. if the enzymes that jstas mentioned are like 'nature's miracle', a good pet store should have a wide selection. i'm a windex kind of guy, but i would definately do homework before using it using it on expensive cables.

in any case, this might be one of those cases where it'll be quicker and you'll feel better just breaking down and asking for directions from the manufacturer.

)

mldennison

wow, good suggestions everyone, i am dealing with a smelly speaker wire, courtesy of my roommates cat! thankfully it is not something that i can smell across the room but i will try some of the suggestions and see if i can get rid of the last bit of smell...

VR3

This is by far the oddest thread ever....

How to clean your cables for maximum desmelling....

Almost as funny as the guy that smelled his speakers....

FicmanS

50/50 Mix of Simple Green and water may do the trick...

tonyb

Yeah but,do cleaner cables SOUND better ?

Lets ask JohnK....

SLOCOOKN

try:
[url]HTTP://www.prestollc.com/index.shtml[/url]

This is a wonderful cleaner!
all natural and very safe to use!

read-alot

http://www.zeroodorstore.com/how_zero_odor_works/

This stuff works for me.

PolkWannabie

F1nut wrote:

Take up smoking.

Excellent ...

Jstas

mldennison wrote:

wow, good suggestions everyone, i am dealing with a smelly speaker wire, courtesy of my roommates cat! thankfully it is not something that i can smell across the room but i will try some of the suggestions and see if i can get rid of the last bit of smell...

For that, go to a pet store. They usually have enzyme based cleaners specifically designed to remove odors and stains for such things.

RuSsMaN

Stick em' up your cornhole.

The $h!t smell will take your mind off the smoke smell.

Polkersince85

Meguiar's vinyl and plastic detailer for cars may clean the plastic, just keep it off the ends.

schwarcw

BaggedLancer wrote:

May sound weird but I have heard leaving smelly objects in a container full of coffee beans will get the smell out.

I know a guy that repairs and sells used refrigerators. He said putting a dish of fresh ground coffee is the only effective means of removing odors from refrigerators. Everything else suggested here I asked him about (baking soda, charcoal, etc.) he stated flatly doesn't work. He claims the coffeee scent "displaces" the foul odor trapped in the insulation. Your cables have probably absorbed the smoking odors deep into the coverings.. Put them in a sealed plastic bag with some fresh coffee beans for about a week.

hearingimpared

ledhed wrote:

Put them in a paper bag with some charcoal. That should absorb the odors

Don't use charcoal briquetts like Kingsford!!! Use real charcoal. Kingsford has chemicals and other nasties in it.