Getting that musty smell out of stuff

[mkirby]

Okay so my "new" pack came with the unpleasant stench of mold. Whoever sold it to Next Adventure let it sit in a damp basement for a year beforehand or something. I don't mind the smell of sweat or general grime but mildew can drive me crazy....
I've tried letting it sit in the sun for a while, but the sun comes and goes this time of year in Portland. My last attempt was dousing it in this enzyme stuff that I usually use for getting the cat piss smell out of carpets...it helped a little, but mostly just made it smell lemony and moldy.
Any good tricks for making it smell okay again?

 

[john1158]

has nothing to do with musty pack but Oxi Clean did wonders on our old brew bucket last night...the last person to use it had left it unwashed for about 3 months....it took away all the musty smell from that....i know you can use it on fabric but i have never have....just an idea....

 

[sharks77]

maybe try baking soda?

definitely don't try febreeze or anything like that... then it just smells like flowery-type chemicals AND mildew so its even worse

 

[Angela]

It's alot easier if this is a backpack that can be put into a washing machine(external frame packs can't). I've used vinegar before for this problem and it's worked wonders. Get a cheap bottle of vinegar, take the backpack to a laundromat and stick it in a washer with a few tablespoons of the vinegar and regular laundry soap. Then dry it on high heat and it should get rid of the smell. Depending on how bad the mold is, it sometimes takes a second treatment. I hope that was a cheap backpack, if not you might consider just returning it. Good luck with the moldy backpack!

 

[mkirby]

It's internal frame, and the frame's removable. I did try sticking it in the dryer for a bit, but the clacking sound of the straps was really unnerving so I pulled it out after like 5 mins. Might attempt the vinegar thing though...

 

[john1158]

iam not sure but maybe lemon juice might help as well.....

 

[stove]

DONT stick it into a tumble dryer! That is a great way to crack those plastic buckles. The heat can also melt the fabric.

From experience, removing the frame and washing it like any thoroughly soiled garmet should work. Check the instructions for care on the tag or the net; a VERY small amount of bleach in warm soapy water CAN help, depending on the pack material. However, it could also dissolve the nylon of the pack if it's the wrong material.

 

[finn]

I've removed that smell before, using a bucket and hot water and soap. Think of the old way of washing stuff, and you have the right idea. If you can get the water boiling hot (I'm 90 percent sure that it won't melt the fabric and straps) more power to you. The heat should kill off the mold, and the soap should remove the spores, but it'll take a few cycles to complete. A cycle would be hot water and soap, beat it up a bit, empty out the muddy water followed by a cold water rinse and drying.

 

[mkirby]

success! Bath in that lemony enzyme cleaner stuff, dried by the heater. Now smells only faintly of mildew(not even noticeable unless you put your nose inside it and inhale like you're snorting a line), chiefly of lemon/limey gooness.

BWAHAHAHA

 

[dirty_feet]

You and your backpack will smell much worse when you're through with it, or while traveling - so I for one would welcome your new musty shell.

 

[Angela]

DONT stick it into a tumble dryer! That is a great way to crack those plastic buckles. The heat can also melt the fabric.

I've put backpacks in dryers before and never had the buckles or fabric melt but maybe I've just been lucky. A drycleaner will also get rid of mold quick but is a bit spendy and you have to be in town long enough to wait and pick it up if you take it to one of those.

 

[finn]

I think the buckles cracking had more to do with the crappy plastic that was used some years ago, which don't seem to be around so much in newer stuff. I remember a while ago, it was pretty common to have a buckle crack, but I haven't had that experience recently.

 

[Py11]

put vinegar on that shit, and leave it out in the sun for a bit. shit'll work wonders.