Quiltingboard Forums

Quiltingboard Forums (https://www.quiltingboard.com/)
-   Main (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/)
-   -   How to get rid of a musty smell in an old machine (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/how-get-rid-musty-smell-old-machine-t74084.html)

Connie Rae 11-03-2010 03:30 PM

I am a newbie and found an old Singer (50's) in it's case in a big plastic bag. It smells musty and I have tried airing it out in the sun, packing it with newspapers, putting some vanilla in it, but so far no luck. Any ideas?? :?:

wolfkitty 11-03-2010 03:38 PM

Baking soda absorbs odors, if you could find a container to put it in and cover the machine along with the baking soda. It will probably take a few days, or maybe a week or two.

There are probably others with better ideas, too.

Also wipe it down as much as possible with a damp cloth and baking soda, getting into the nooks and crannies as best you can. Rinse the cloth in the baking soda water often.

featherweight 11-03-2010 03:54 PM

I put some charcoal briquettes in one and it got rid of the smell. Then leave a downey dryer sheet in it.

quiltinghere 11-03-2010 04:02 PM

ahhhhh I thought I read somewhere that LIGHT will kill the mold spores - and that maybe what's making it smell.

AT YOUR RISK - try putting a light in it - BUT WATCH IT - KEEP IT WITHIN EYE SIGHT - DON"T LEAVE THE HOUSE.

I've never tried it - just read it somewhere on one of the forums for older machines - don't know it it'll work or if it's just old wives tales.

Good luck

amma 11-03-2010 04:24 PM

Maybe set a bowl of vinegar on the floor and set the case over it for a few days? Or lightly sponge on some vinegar?

thimblebug6000 11-03-2010 04:28 PM

The only thing that took a yucky smell out of some shoes my DD bought was fabreeze.... we had tried everything else & I hadn't even heard of fabreeze.....worked great, couldn't believe it!

Prism99 11-03-2010 04:47 PM

My featherweight had a case that smelled musty. I got some Odor Eaters shoe insoles (the ones with carbon in them) and put one in the case. No more musty smell!

OneMoreQuilt 11-03-2010 05:17 PM

I've had great luck using those little packets that come in a box with new shoes. Throw a few in the case and wait a few days. Good luck!

nwm50 11-03-2010 05:22 PM

Cat litter...(new), bounce fabric sheets, those pkg that comes with new shoes, baking soda usually works. did on my fw, took about a week or so though.

AnnaK 11-03-2010 05:42 PM

The packages that come with shoes are silica gel. You can get it at craft stores because it is used for drying flowers. I put some in each of my machine's cases because I live in a moist climate.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:47 PM.