I just purchased a Singer 301 and before it arrived I purchased a new felt pad for it. They are listed now on ebay, same seller I used, for a couple of dollars plus shipping. I had read somewhere that this smell was a problem and anticipated it would be a problem on mine as well. When mine arrived no smell at all, but installed the new felt pad anyway. It is a very easy thing to do and I feel better that it has a new pad. I also purchased a set of new rubber feet for the machine bottom. I am using my machine as a portable and the rubber feet had become dry and brittle and the entire machine would slid when I sewed on it. The new rubber feet are great and hold the machine in place. They are also available on ebay.

Hi

I had the same problem with the 301 and a featherweight. I replaced the oil drip pad on the underside of the machine and that helped a lot. I bought them online from a company (in Florida I think) that sold fetherweight parts. Inexpensive at about $3.00 each and very simple to replace. Take off the bottom and check to see how dirty/oily the pad is. If you think this could help, then google to find a seller. Dryer sheets and exposure to air will help too.

DRY SUN! I left my FW case out in the sun and sprayed the inside with an antibacterial spray 2 day running all day, no problem since! Also sent you a PM,

Put it in a sealed box with ckrinkled up newspaper for a few days. See if that works. Good luck, take care.
Linda

Hints from Heloise - wad up newspapers in the case - will remove the odors.

I used a bar of Irish Spring soap in my featherweight case, No more smell. Also changed the felt pad, I think some of the older machines have the original one still in there. You can purchase the pads and feet on ebay.

Congratulations on your purchase. I'd change out the pad on the bottom and put charcoal in the box with it to absorb the smell. A man who used to have a vintage sewing machine/repair store near here told me to never put baking soda in with the machine because it's not good for the paint.

Funny you should ask. A friend and I were talking about that very thing yesterday. She said the remedy is to soak some cotton balls in vodka and put them in the case and close it up. I don't know if it will work but I can't see that it would hurt anything if it didn't. You might want to give it a try.
mamaduck

I know wadding up newspaper up and putting it in smelly shoes gets rid of the smell. I have been told it also works on other things. It could work. Wad up newspaper and put it all in a box.

I won a featherweight on E-bay and it smelled so musty, my hands would smell if I even touched it. I tried the dryer cloths and they did not work. I cleaned the machine with Goop Hand cleaner and the machine seems pretty good, just a very faint odor. I heard if you freeze musty things, the smell would leave. The foot pedal has been in my freezer for a few days. I just checked, the smell is dissipating. I have access to an industrial freezer at work - I am bringing the case to work to give it a shot. I wonder if we bought from the same seller. She insisted it did not smell and I should have asked before I bought it. Funny, I thought of asking questions like does it work, are all the parts there, etc. - never does it smell.