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.
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Kerry
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
Janet
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.
Karen
LOL. Well I guess that answers that. ~ karen
Heather
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.
Heather
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!
Karen
Heather - I dunno! I've never tried it with the mothball smell. Give it a shot and report back! ~ karen
Heather
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.
Karen
Good to know! Thx. ~ karen
Reita Novkov
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.
Rachael Birks
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!
Karen
LOL! Lots of people on this post from Pinterest today! ~ k
Janel
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! :)
Karen
Welcome Janel! Glad to see you here. ~ karen
Natasha
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. ;)
Karen
Thanks Natasha! A few others mentioned the smiley face, but I didn't even notice it until it was pointed out to me. ~ karen!
Jean Lucey
Thanks for your witty advice
Mdm
My dear sweet...you are funny honest and genuine.... Great post
Karen
Well thank you! You're new around here aren't ya? Glad you found my site. Sometimes I swear. You have been forewarned. ~ karen!
Teresa
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?
Karen
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!
mdm
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
JJ Henry
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
Kat
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!
Karen
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!
Nicole
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!
Eva
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.
Tricia Rose
You did mean unused kitty litter, right? I can't economise?
Karen
OMG. Yes unused! You weirdo. :) ~ karen
Brook
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 : )
Shauna
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!
Karen
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!
Laurie
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
liz a.
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!
Karen
Liz! I liken the smell to "puppy breath" smell, "baby" smell and "random weird fridge" smell. None of them are explainable. ~ karen!
Jem
Yeah, yeah, great suggestions, BUT... WHERE did you get that FABULOUS TABLE?!?!?!? The silver, pedestal one? OMG. Must have it!
Karen
Jem - :) I got the table at Homesense (Homegoods in the U.S.) last year. Thanks. I'm kindda fond of it too. - karen
Alexandra Dare
Love the stack of old suitcases! They look like they're smiling at me :D 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.
Tori
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.
Karen
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
Rocksi
I don't think I would reuse the charcoal to cook after the old smell has been absorbed into the charcoal. :(
Patty
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?
Betsy
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?