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DIY & Home Improvement

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yardwork

(64,968 posts)
Sat May 5, 2012, 09:25 AM May 2012

How to get body odor out of an old plastic sewing machine cover? [View all]

I have a Singer sewing machine that was made in the early 1970s. The machine still works great. The white plastic cover stinks of body odor. I think that maybe one of my teenage sons draped a sweat-soaked t-shirt on it, and the sweat soaked into the plastic. The cover has a smooth surface, but in places where it is scuffed I see that the underlying plastic seems to be a bit porous.

I've tried to get the smell out for two years. I've soaked the cover in bleach in the bathtub, in vinegar, showered it in hot water, sprayed all kinds of cleaners on it, left it out on the patio for the rain and sun to work on, and even put essential oils on it. (I had forgotten the odor of patchouli and sweat - while this was a walk down memory lane, I don't want it in my house. I loved the 60s but....) All I've succeeded in doing is rusting the latches that snap the cover onto the base of the machine. The cover is now very clean and pearly white, but the odor always comes back.

Any advice? I'm about ready to throw it out, but that will leave my old sewing machine unprotected from dust and cat hair.

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Don't throw it out. NYC_SKP May 2012 #1
Sun alone didn't work. I haven't tried mothballs yet. Sealing it in a bag is a good idea. yardwork May 2012 #2
Mothballs are toxic nt LiberalEsto May 2012 #9
That's why you air it out well after the camphor treatment. nt. NYC_SKP May 2012 #10
Would one of those MuseRider May 2012 #3
I think I tried the enzyme cleaner, too, but I could try again. yardwork May 2012 #4
Try putting in a big garbage bag with activated charcoal for several days... hlthe2b May 2012 #5
That's a good idea. I'm thinking that putting it in a plastic bag with.... something.... yardwork May 2012 #8
I'd just hose it down with Febreze when I noticed it Warpy May 2012 #6
That's where I started! lol! yardwork May 2012 #7
I think your idea of the plastic disintegrating and emitting a smell is in the right direction..... northoftheborder May 2012 #11
It's a hard shell that fits over the machine and serves as the handle for the machine. yardwork May 2012 #12
I see your point. I thought the cover was soft plastic. northoftheborder May 2012 #14
Never wearing out is definitely a reason to hang onto it. yardwork May 2012 #15
Note to self: Never use sewing machine cover to dispose of the body! OffWithTheirHeads May 2012 #13
I had an issue with plastic holding a *taste* as well as smell... Robb May 2012 #16
Paint it? Kolesar May 2012 #17
This is a brilliant suggestion. yardwork May 2012 #18
KrylonŽ Fusion for Plastic Kolesar May 2012 #19
i wonder if an oil of some sort would seal it in. mopinko May 2012 #20
if the other ideas don't work.... flying_wahini Jul 2012 #21
SEWING MACHINE kaanguler Mar 2013 #22
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