I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I like old stuff. It makes me happy. It makes me feel relaxed and content. It makes me want to use words like whippersnapper and hooligan while holding a rolling pin in one hand and a television remote the size of a box of cereal in the other.
The only real problem I’ve ever had regarding my love of old things is this; If it is old … it will smell. As an example, have you ever met an old cheese, old sock or old person that didn’t smell?
Several years ago I bought this luggage set. And when I bought it, it smelled. Poorly. Like a musty, musty, must bucket.
I don’t actually keep my luggage on my front hall table, I just thought it was a nice way for you to get a good gander at it.
“Gander” is one of the words I intend to use on more of a regular basis when I get old.
Quite frankly I can’t wait to get so old I can say and do whatever I want without anyone looking at me like I’m a lunatic. When you’re young and you declare in an exceptionally loud voice that you think the person in front of you in line at the grocery store is a “whack job” you come off as judgemental and mean. When you’re old and you do the same thing, you’re just “a lively old gal”.
In order to get rid of the musty luggage stink I used my old standby. Kitty Litter.
Just open up the offending piece of luggage.
Unless you’re feeling poorly. In which case you should probably sucker some other poor sod into opening up the stink box.
That lining right in there is what holds most of the stink.
Just pour a box of kitty litter into the offending piece of luggage. Yup. The whole box. Pour it right in there.
See? Fill it up.
Then close up your piece of luggage (or any other thing you own that’s filled with musty smells.
And leave it for a week. You heard me. One week. Just leave it.
When the week is up, just empty the kitty litter and fill your luggage with whatever you choose to. I use my fresh smelling train case as my sewing box and it looks like this!
Cute right?
Only it actually looks like this.
Which isn’t nearly as attractive in a photograph. But it’s the truth.
You can use this litter trick with almost anything. Musty vintage clothing? Shove it in a plastic bag and cover the piece with kitty litter. Tie the bag up and leave it for a week!
The plastic bag technique works great with just about anything that smells old and musty. Although, I probably wouldn’t recommend this exact procedure with old people.
Most of ’em are feisty. If you try and cover them in kitty litter and shove them in a plastic bag chances are they’ll knock you right on your keister.
I have also heard that a remedy for a stinky car is to place a bowl of vinegar. Apparently, it deodorizes it (whatever “it” is) and makes the stench go away. I’ve never had a smelly car to try this is, but do you think it works?
And:
getting old= sassiness is expected and wanted of you. I’m so looking forward to having an excuse for that.
Holly – I don’t know … I’d have to try it. But I must admit, I have my doubts. 🙁 If I ever come upon a really stinky car I’l let you know. – karen
I use the vinegar trick because I have 3 dogs and my car gets smelly sometimes, and yes the vinegar works.
What kind ofvinager???? White???
I use apple cider from a health food store. I have also used the white if I am out of the other. I also wash my windows with apple cider water and wipe down the seats with a vinegar water.
My 2005 car was bought new by an old lady who was a smoker and thn found out a few months later she had lung cancer. The car was under a year d but smelled like an ash tray. I am a non-smoker and very sensitive to smells. Her daughter had a jar of apple cider vinigar on a cloth in a jar in the car. It took a few months but the smell all went away. I have had the car for ears now and NEVER smell smoke in it.
When are you old theses days? I’ll be 50 next year and I can tell you if it’s on my mind it’s coming out my mouth!
This was a wonderful, humorous article – thank you much for it. As an aging person, I am definitely wondering what is available (besides lavender and rose spray) to rid my body of the ‘old person smell.’ I do believe it’s our bodies’ chemistries changing, etc. – evolution isn’t keeping up with our desire to work ’til our 80’s, live beyond. Any ideas? The plastic bag could work…..cost is horrendous for a bag that large, even on ebay….
LOL! Well I’m starting to get old myself and I find just walking around with a pet skunk tends to divert attention. ~ karen!
When we had a skunk spray our house, that vinegar remedy is one of the things I found online. It did not work.
My husband, having forgot it didn’t work, tries putting a bowl of vinegar in our bar fridge when it smelled like skunk (due to being in the mudroom that smelled) It’s been 6 months and it STILL smells like vinegar!
There’s a product called N.O.C (Nature’s Odor Catalyst) that was recommended to me by our specialty pet boutique/store after a nasty cat marked our front door. The stuff works awesome! They said they use it on pets that have been sprayed by skunks and many dog owners use it to get urine stank out of outdoor dog runs. Works on a microbial level and is completely natural and non-toxic.
Hi Sheila! Thanks .. If I see it I’ll give it a try. My little cat used to pee on the floor for some reason and it leaves a HORRENDOUS smell. I found Nature’s Miracle (which is probably a similar enzyme reducing product) and it works great too. Nothin’ worse than the smell of cat pee. Thanks again! ~ karen
Maybe you should put kitty litter in the bar fridge to get the vinegar smell out. ??
have you tried washing it with tomato juice or Simple green
Skunk smell removal – works everytime!
1 bottle of reg. 3% hydrogen peroxide
1/2 C baking soda
1 tsp. of dish detergent (dawn or other “gentler” kinds)
Apply mixture where ever the skunk has sprayed…in all cases I have been fortunate to have my dogs be sprayed…not the house/carpet..etc……so this solution goes right onto the fur….soak the area and leave in for as long as the pet will allow…maybe wash rest of body with shampoo…but let the “stinky” fur soak up all that solution.
guarantee that this works.
rinse the area where the solution was applied…then spread other shampoo over, and rinse the pet well just like regular bath…voile’
I realize this is a super old comment, but just in case anyone else is wondering…
I had left my car windows open in the rain, and didn’t notice it for 3 days. The smell was enough to make you gag, and I tried everything to get it out. Vinegar didn’t do a thing, baking soda didn’t do a thing, neither did air fresheners, shampooing, or coffee beans. It went on for weeks and I was ready to drive it off a bridge into the bay.
BUT, I heard eucalyptus oil would work because it supposedly creates oxygen (?!), so I got an essential oil warmer that plugs into the cigarette lighter, after 2 days of warm eucalyptus oil, the smell was gone forever. (It also works wonders for a headache or upset stomach in the car.)
Good to know Christina! And not to worry about it being an old post or comment you’re replying to. It’s the Internet where comments and information never die, lol. ~ karen!
That sounds so much more appealing than cat litter. Do you think it would work for for a nasty suitcase?
once again, informative and yet refreshingly entertaining.
I wish I could bottle you and open you up when I need a pick me up 🙂
Helen – 🙂 karen
You can! I just pull up some older posts and voila! Instant an Karen fix!
It really does work folks, she’s not lying to us. (Like she would dare!) This method is far better than using a dryer sheet which just covers up the smell. I do recommend using unscented cat litter though. That scented cat litter sometimes smells just as bad as the “musty musty must box” And yes Karen, your sewing box actually rocks. *jealous face* I use an old ammo box for mine and it is just as organized as yours!
Bicarb Soda works too. I use it to get funny smells out of spice & olive jars. xx
Amie – Baking soda does work, but for bigger jobs like suitcases kitty litter is the one to go with. It actually works better and it’s quite a bit cheaper. – karen!
cheaper! Got it! 🙂
Gander over here means a little walk, as in “I’m going for a gander round the block”.
So I could “gander” on and nobody would know I was noseying around their stuff, they’d think I was gone to the shops!
Love your sewing box, I think you deliberately tossed it for the photo.
To take a gander at means to look at. I’ve been taking “ganders” for over 70 years.
I love your site. Just found it. The musty suitcase is great. I will certainly try it. Plus the cat urine smell. So needed at this four cat household. Mistakes happen. Saw one cat standing up in the box, leaning on the wall to use the box. Oh my goodness. A sight to be seen. The look on her face was as if to say “I am not touching this stuff.” Wish I had a camera. I love your advice. Thanks for sharing.
Trudy
Hello Karen
This is advice I’ve been seeking for years — thanks!
Question: It looks like you used unscented cat litter. Would scented work? How about the litter made of recycled paper?
And did you vacuum out the suitcase after the week with the litter in it?
Thanks so much! I am most definitely trying this out…
Tonia in Switzerland
Tonia! I would stick to unscented, traditional kitty litter. The scented stuff is somethings reallyyyyyyy strong. Stinky strong. Also, the traditional kitty litter has way better odour absorbing properties than the newspaper type. – karen!
By gobs, I think you answered my prayer today. Well, I won’t go that far – I wasn’t actually PRAYING about it, but…
I create handbags from recycled leather jackets and I obtained a wonderful bomber jacket recently that had that OLD musty smell. It’s been on my porch for two weeks now. I resigned myself to researching the internet this morning for a solution. It was truly fate because I clearly found my solution here!
Now I just need to head up to the kitty litter room and snatch some litter. This should be interesting. Thanks!
Hey……I want to see those leather handbags!
What’s with the Halloween candy box on the floor in the background of picture #2?
Musty stuff makes you crave chocolate?
Hah, no. Must make me lazy. I took these pics the day after Halloween and couldn’t be bothered to move re-take the photo after I noticed the box of chocolate bars! – karen
Brilliant! I just bought a persian wool coat with a mink color that smells like moth balls. Would you do this with that curly wool? I’m concerned that it would get stuck in the tendrils.
Thanks!
DON”T put kitty litter on your persian wool coat!! You could put it in a pillow case and tape the ends and then lay the coat on top of the kitty litter and put all in a plastic bag…but I have found that by hanging the coat outside on a sunny day will freshen and the mothball odor will disappear.
I am assuming you have a cat so kitty litter is reusable, or a neighbor who will appreciate the gift as it is @ $10 a box!
Put it in a couple of pairs of panty hose and tie the ends.
Also smells might fade, but rotten manners don’t.
I’m 64, been an antiques dealer all my life and met plenty of old people for decades who sold me their stuff . Not many of them smelled. But perhaps for every rude old person there might be the same number of obnoxious younger ones with less excuse for making a bad impression.
When I now hear comments like this now, my personal uncharitably unspoken wish (but with a nice smile) ends up being that maybe you might not get to make that discovery for yourself.
Julie. I actually don’t think putting the Persian Lamb in kitty litter is a bad idea, but you can just try a cuff first to see. It should just shake out. If need be you could vacuum it with a soft brush attachment. Good luck. – Karen.
This post makes me think of my best friend. She loves that smell. She also loves the smell of mold. Sometimes, she purposely leaves her towel in a crumpled ball so that it will smell mouldy.
Really!! I am on this site to find out how to get rid of this nasty mold smell. This friend must be a really special person. 🙁
Question: Can anyone tell me hat can you put into water base paint that has obtained a musty, mildewey odor? There is a product for oil base but not for acrylic.
And, kitty litter is recommended to put in old paint cans to dry out the paint before disposing them.
Add a few drops of vanilla, yes the kid for cooking. I do this any time i paint with water based paint.
So, after you remove the kitty litter from the suitcase, does the suitcase smell like kitty litter?
I also noticed that your largest suitcase seems to have a smiley face (with pinholes for eyes, and a big smile made of a handle). Perhaps it’s delighted that it no longer smells of old people.
Our entire basement smells like old people. Slightly mildewed old people, anyway. There’s a new carpet down there and we’ve had it professionally cleaned twice this year, but it still smells unpleasant enough that we seldom use the space except to do the laundry and stash the bodies.
Is there a kitty litter trick that might solve our aromatic basement problem?
take few onion bags,fill w/charcoal and hang around your basement,and I would try sprinkle the cat litter,you can vacuum latter
Oh my goodness, genius! I have a vintage chest that needs serious help. This is the perfect thing for it.
What a great idea! I have used cat litter when my son dumped a huge cup of water in the car. After 24 hours, I just vacuumed it up and the floorboards were dry.
Your post is so timely for me. I am 70 years old. I have a hot date tonight, so I am spending the day in a large plastic bag of kitty litter just to be on the safe side. Thanks for the tip you little Whippersnapper, you.
🙂
😀
@Sharon. Funny! Hope your date was successful!
OMGosh!! Sharon, you just made me snort! I have a vision of you standing in a puddle of litter with the plastic bag pulled up and tied around your neck, just waiting. LOLOL. You are too funny. Keep up the good attitude and I am sure the gent will want to spend more time with you!
Sharon:
I hope when I am old and 70, I’m as funny as you are. Oh my……can it be? Must be reading that number wrong. According to my driver’s license 70 comes in another two months!
Thanks for the laugh. Now about that horrible smell in my second hand suit case.
Is it me or does the bottom suitcase look like it is smiling at you – it looks quite a chipper lil suitcase!
Karen, what if my whole house smells like old people? The people before us painted the windows shut and the smell is always lurking here and there. Would you recommend filling the house ALL the way up with litter or would half-way do the trick? :o)
If you put this litter in the bottom of a rubbish bin/garbage it will soak up the smells and also any nasty liquid that leaks from your liner.
Do you have any suggestions for cabinetry? We suffer from musty old-person smell in our bathroom cabinets (think old lady talcum power smell).
Thanks!
This is the same smell that I have in my kitchen cabinets. This is the best way to describe the smell, perfect!
This might be the answer I have been looking for too!
Can I use it to get moldy smell out of books? Would I put the books directly in the kitty litter or a pillow case then litter together in a plastic bag?
I find that using charcoal is much less messy. I place one or two in a coffee filter and then just dump them back in the bag afterward so they can be reused. They only need 24-36 hours depending on the size of the space and how many you use to do the job. Only on the smelliest, most heavily varnished pieces have I had to leave them in for a week.
Tori! I’ve never tried charcoal for smells. I don’t actually find the kitty litter to be messy at all. You pour it in, you pour it out. Plus it doesn’t turn your fingers black when you pick it up! Usually. 🙂 ~ karen
I don’t think I would reuse the charcoal to cook after the old smell has been absorbed into the charcoal. 🙁
I have several suitcases that are musty. I have heard that rice is good for drying things out. I’m wondering if it will work like charcoal or kitty litter?
Love the stack of old suitcases! They look like they’re smiling at me 😀 I wonder if we can find a way to fill my grandparents’ entire house with kitty litter… I would say get them a ton of cats, but then their house will just smell like poo.
Yeah, yeah, great suggestions, BUT… WHERE did you get that FABULOUS TABLE?!?!?!? The silver, pedestal one? OMG. Must have it!
Jem – 🙂 I got the table at Homesense (Homegoods in the U.S.) last year. Thanks. I’m kindda fond of it too. – karen
why do you suppose there is an “old people” smell, most old people still bathe? don’t they? and how did that smell get in my armoire or your suitcases? curious! and as i get older (past 60) i realize i just don’t care what people think so i say what i want…oh wait, i did that when i was 20 too, oh well, it was a thought!
Liz! I liken the smell to “puppy breath” smell, “baby” smell and “random weird fridge” smell. None of them are explainable. ~ karen!
Great idea. One question: do you chuck the kitty litter when done, or can your pour it back into the container and save for another de-mustifying use? I’m kinda thrifty (some would say cheap) so I’m hoping it’s the latter. Thanks!
Shauna – I have cats, so it goes directly in the litter box! I’m not sure if you can reuse it to be honest with you. I’ve never smelled the litter to see if it retains the musty smell. I have a hunch it’ll only be able to absorb so much smell, but have no idea how much! I’ll do a little testing and see what I can come up with. ~ karen!
I find if I put the litter outside on a sunny day and stir a bit now and then the musty goes away. Worth a try. ~L
Great. I work at a hospital, and you can be sure that I’m gonna be grinning like an idiot whenever your kitty litter suggestion pops into my head. Just what I need – more inappropriate mental images to add to the self-monitoring list. Thanks, Karen : )
You did mean unused kitty litter, right? I can’t economise?
OMG. Yes unused! You weirdo. 🙂 ~ karen
I know this is late, but hoping to help for the future. Re: the persian lamb coat. Don’t use kitty litter on the coat! Wool has natural oils that the litter will suck right out of the coat, if left that long. Litter, especially the scoopable kind has powerful dessicants that are used for the “clumping” action. Oh, also, don’t try to wash the coat in the washing machine, even on gentle, unless you want hundreds of little scraps of curly lamb for a project. Gall-dernit, I miss that jacket.
I’m glad I found this trick! I have two vintage train cases which looks fabulous but smells nowhere as good. I’ve tried putting it out in the sun (which just melts the glue on the lining inside), the bicarb soda, even had kitchen paper with lavender oil in it for weeks but the smell just won’t go away. I shall give it one more try with the kitty litter. The cases are just too cute to give up. Thanks Karen!
Any thoughts on photo, vintage cards, spent the weekend tearing up MIL scrapbooks and albums OMG what stinky old people smell – I am thinking ziploc bags and fabric sheets – would like to use these in some mixed media – afterall I have NO clue who these people from 20’s- 70’s are– I think everyone needs to write a name and year to all photos – but saving all mine to external drive these days so guess it won’t really matter– I think my in-laws are related to the “Adams Family” scary!
Kat – Hmm. I”m not sure. The problem with things like fabric sheets and Febreeze is they just mask the odour, they don’t get rid of it. So once the fabric sheet smells dies down, the musty smell comes back. I’d be tempted to try the kitty litter. The only worry you’d have is that the litter would scratch the surface of the pictures, but if they’re a billion years old it probably won’t matter. Do a test run on one of the least offensive Adams Family members and see if it works. If you lose one pictures, it’s not as big a deal as if you lost all of them to the kitty litter. But I actually think it’ll work fine. ~ karen!
As an antique and vintage item lover an I only way too familiar with this situation. How is it possible that this stuff can stink up a whole room. After doing some internet research I stumbled upon a product called Room Shocker. It’s really easy to use, it doesn’t use any harsh chemicals and the smell NEVER comes back. Check it out at: http://www.biocidesystems.com/roomshocker1.html
My dear sweet…you are funny honest and genuine…. Great post
Well thank you! You’re new around here aren’t ya? Glad you found my site. Sometimes I swear. You have been forewarned. ~ karen!
Once you use the kitty litter in one container, can it be reused a second time to absorb more odor, or is it one time use only?
Teresa – I always end up just throwing the used stuff in the litter box, but I would expect you can use it more than once. ~ karen!
Hello and yes I am new..found you on Pinterest…appreciate the forwarning..
If it gets too muddy, I will know enough not to get offended..lol
my best mdm samm
Thanks for your witty advice
I love it… and I love your writing! I just have to say, I can’t look at those luggage pics and not see the happy face on the largest suitcase. Almost makes me want to add googly eyes. 😉
Thanks Natasha! A few others mentioned the smiley face, but I didn’t even notice it until it was pointed out to me. ~ karen!
Oh. my. gosh. I think you might be my twin.
“When you’re young and you declare in an exceptionally loud voice that you think the person in front of you in line at the grocery store is a “whack job” you come off as judgemental and mean. When you’re old and you do the same thing, you’re just ‘a lively old gal’.”
YES!
I’m visiting via Pinterest, but I’ll be a regular for sure. Thanks for the kitty litter tip! 🙂
Welcome Janel! Glad to see you here. ~ karen
Oh wow! This is the best tip ever! Old people smell is the worst and it is in pretty much everything that comes from the thrift store! Thanks so much! PS I’m visiting via Pinterest too!
LOL! Lots of people on this post from Pinterest today! ~ k
Does it also get out the smell of old moth balls?? I have an old cedar chest that someone put moth balls in along the way. My sweaters always come out with a weird cedar moth ball combo so I have to let them sit out before I wear them. Thanks!
Heather – I dunno! I’ve never tried it with the mothball smell. Give it a shot and report back! ~ karen
I did try it in my cedar chest and it got the moth ball smell out for the most part. I sprayed the chest with water after I cleaned out the kitty litter and it brought out the cedar smell. I’ve got my fingers crossed that the moth ball smell doesn’t return.
Good to know! Thx. ~ karen
To completely refresh a cedar chest, lightly sand the cedar then wipe down with a damp rag. This bring the smell back for years! My husband taught me this one.
I have tried the kitty litter in an old trunk that had moth balls in it for 40+ years. The litter is still in it after a year and the smell is just as strong.
LOL. Well I guess that answers that. ~ karen
Try removing the kitty litter and let it air out. The smell might go away some. My litter definitely smelled like moth balls when I took it out but the trunk did not smell anymore.
Well, thank God for Pinterest! I’m sure I read this post when you wrote it back in 2010, but I don’t remember it (getting old or something!). And I’m having deja vu just saying that, like I’ve said the same thing before!
My daughter wore the most amazing vintage lace dress to her prom several years ago. Unfortunately we never could get that old musty smell out of it, but it was so beautiful, she bravely wore it anyway. I’ve hung on to it and I’m going to give the kitty litter a try!
For the person with the moth ball-smelling cedar chest, would sanding the cedar help?
As usual, you have the BEST suggestions.
Thank you!
Kerry
There are a lot of saxophone collectors with old smelly cases that are going to try the kitty litter trick (do you own stock?) and hope it works. Also, I’m turning 70 soon and feel like I’m 30. I sometimes act like I’m 20 (my wife says 12). So being old is not only a state of mind but anybody that is ten years older than you are.
LOL! Excellent point. ~ karen
Great idea. Thanks for sharing, you whippersnapper.
No problem. The solution works lickity split. 😉 ~ karen
I love this idea! Will it work in a cedar chest that smells like moth balls? Yes – someone put moth ball in a cedar chest. I have no idea how to get rid of the smell.
Sandy – I don’t have any experience with that, but someone else who commented here said they had tried to get rid of mothball scent w/ litter and it didn’t work. However … I always say to try it yourself. You never know if something will or won’t work unless you give it a shot yourself. ~ karen!
Sorry to repeat, but, the best way to treat cedar is to sand it a little bit. It refreshes the cedar. And, evidently, there’s oil you can use as well.
Here, I found this online:
“There is a product that refreshes the cedar oils in the cedar wood.
I would suggest that you take everything out of the chest and use a fine grade sand paper on the exposed cedar. Do Not use anything heavier than 120 grit and just lightly sand it. Next take the replenishing oil of cedar and using a clean lint free cloth that you have applied the oil to. Rub the freshly sanded wood lightly with the cloth, if you apply to much pressure you will saturate the wood with the oil and leave an oil stain.”
As a quick note … I always mention on this site that just because you read it on the Internet doesn’t mean that it’s true. I never recommend anything that I haven’t tried and know to work myself. I’d like to give the oil a shot to see if it’s true or whether yet again, the Internet is a big fat liar. The other thing is, once cedar dries out it’s really very hard to sand it to have the scent come back again. With newer cedar it works, but not as much with anything old. ~ karen
Oh, so sorry.
I bought a fabulous used sewing machine a couple of years ago. It and its case smell like cigarette smoke. The machine is both plastic and metal, and the case is only plastic. Do you know if the kitty litter would work for getting rid of the smoke smell? I’ll probably try it, but I wanted to get input from anyone who can speak from experience. Thanks.
Hi Rose – I have no idea if the kitty little would work on cigarette smoke or not. More specifically cigarette smoke on plastic. You could try it on the case, but I’d be worried about trying it on the machine. What with all the parts that could get damaged from the litter. Give the case a shot, at least then you’ll know! ~ karen
I appreciate the tip….going to try it on a vintage fedora I just bought. But I am an old people and I resent your implications. We do not smell…at least I don’t.
Thenar – Old people who are Internet savvy are excluded. 😉 ~ karen
Fair enough. I’ll be 70 this year, but I also co-chair Spain’s largest digital entertainment conference (Mundos Digitales) and I host the Virtual Humans Forum at FMX in STuttgart…another cutting edge venue for discussion of some of the most advanced technologies. But I also love old things, especially vintage Fedoras. If I can’t return this vintage Akubra to the Ebay seller…first I’ll be pissed, then I’ll get out the cat litter…I have about 40 lbs of it here for Luna-C. Any particular brand you recommend?
Just so long as it’s unscented. You don’t need to replace the musty smell with the overpowering, vile smell of a “flower” never to be found in nature. ~ karen
I just tried this amazing idea. We will see in a week what my results are! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
As for vinegar- it works magic on stinky cars! I recently decided to get rid of my car within a few days. Unfortunately, I am a smoker. Especially when I drive. Well, this left my car smelling so horrible and there was nothing to get the smoke smell out. It was even a convertible! So, the night before I had to turn it back it, I had remembered reading the vinegar trick online. With nothing to lose, I filled a tupperware (preferably a large but short sized) so the vinegar has more surface area. I left a few around the car on stable surfaces. Apparently vinegar absorbs odor, and let me tell you, it worked! Smoke smell gone! It did smell like vinegar, but after putting the convertible top down that went away quick!
Was wondering if you can reuse the kitty litter or need to use fresh each time? (I have never had a cat, only dogs). Thanks
Hi Shirley – I normally use fresh stuff, but that’s because I have cats. Once it’s done it’s musty job I just use it in the litterbox. I”m sure you could reuse it, but there will be a point when it can’t absorb any more smell. (I would think) How’s that for a kind of useless answer? LOL. ~ karen