How to get body odor out of an old plastic sewing machine cover?

[yardwork]

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.

edit spelling

[NYC_SKP]

1. Don't throw it out.

some time in the sun, and some time in a plastic bag with some mothballs, then back in the sun.

I think that would cover it.

Odor is caused by live bacteria, they hate UV.

And camphor isn't pleasant to them and should help with the smell.

Good luck!

[yardwork]

2. Sun alone didn't work. I haven't tried mothballs yet. Sealing it in a bag is a good idea.

[LiberalEsto]

9. Mothballs are toxic nt

[NYC_SKP]

10. That's why you air it out well after the camphor treatment. nt.

[MuseRider]

3. Would one of those

enzyme cleaners work? I have never had too much luck getting odors out of plastic of any kind. I am sorry to hear about this, it must be driving you crazy. My poor old sewing machine does not have a cover and I think it has just about finished the poor thing since it sits next to the mud/dog cleaning area. I sure hope you can get this taken care of.

[yardwork]

4. I think I tried the enzyme cleaner, too, but I could try again.

The other possibility is that this isn't actually body odor. Maybe the plastic is disintegrating and emitting a smell that is very similar to body odor. This might explain why everything I do seems to make the situation worse rather than better.

Sigh.

[hlthe2b]

5. Try putting in a big garbage bag with activated charcoal for several days...

Then I might repeat the sun time.

Activated charcoal is very good at absorbing odors. But, plastic is tough.

If you can't find activated charcoal readily in hardware or home stores near you, just buy regular charcoal brickets and cover them with paper towels to keep the dust off the cover within the plastic garbage bag. Just make sure you buy the kind that doesn't have lighter fluid mixed in.

[yardwork]

8. That's a good idea. I'm thinking that putting it in a plastic bag with.... something....

may be the way to go.

[Warpy]

6. I'd just hose it down with Febreze when I noticed it

and hope it goes away over time.

[yardwork]

7. That's where I started! lol!

[northoftheborder]

11. I think your idea of the plastic disintegrating and emitting a smell is in the right direction.....

We used to have a beautiful hand-made quilt that had been gifted to us as a wedding present, and was inside a plastic cover.

The cover smelled strangely, and the odor had permeated the quilt. I didn't want to wash the quilt.... so finally, I took it out of the cover which was thrown away, and the smell gradually dissipated.

I would suggest throwing your old plastic cover away. Perhaps you could use it as a pattern and make a new one out of some of that very colorful oilcloth. It is sewable, but use a heavy duty needle.

[yardwork]

12. It's a hard shell that fits over the machine and serves as the handle for the machine.

The hard shell plastic cover fits over the machine, clicks into place, and has a retractable handle. Without the shell it will be very difficult to move the machine, as it it weighs a ton. It's built into a cast iron base and the engine is cast iron as well. Made in Italy. They don't make sewing machines like this anymore.

If it really is the plastic disintegrating, though, I may have no choice.

[northoftheborder]

14. I see your point. I thought the cover was soft plastic.

My oldest machine was made in Germany, and VERY heavy. It currently needs cleaning & oiling but I cannot lift it out of the cabinet it fits in. Those old machines will never wear out, but not very portable.

[yardwork]

15. Never wearing out is definitely a reason to hang onto it.

It still sews just as well as ever. No bells and whistles - it doesn't even have a buttonhole stitch feature. I love it. It's pale aqua. Totally takes me back to the day I opened it on Christmas morning as a kid.

I've read reviews of machines available now, and unless I pay thousands of dollars all I can get is a piece of plastic junk made in China. I am determined to solve this problem!

[OffWithTheirHeads]

13. Note to self: Never use sewing machine cover to dispose of the body!

You simply can never get rid of the odor.

[Robb]

16. I had an issue with plastic holding a *taste* as well as smell...

...I brew my own ciders from the trees out back, and like to reuse plastic bottles to judge by feel when the carbonation is finished doing its thing. Some flavors don't like to come out of plastic, such as root beer.

Anyhow. Try getting a big enough tub to soak the whole thing, and add a whole bunch of OxyClean Free. Give it 24-48, and I think you'll be pleased.

[Kolesar]

17. Paint it?

Sherwin Williams has some primers that stick to glossy surfaces.

[yardwork]

18. This is a brilliant suggestion.

I showed this issue to my son last night, and after sniffing, he stated that he believes that this odor is not body odor, but the plastic emitting a smell. Painting it would cover up the smell, whatever it's source.

[Kolesar]

19. Krylon® Fusion for Plastic

http://www.krylon.com/safety/surface-preparation/

When working with plastic
For old plastic, use an ammonia-based cleaner and wipe down to clean surface. If the plastic is new, wipe down with paint thinner for best results. Lightly sand glossy surface if previously painted and remove dust with a tack cloth. When dry, apply Krylon® Fusion for Plastic according to the directions on the can.

[mopinko]

20. i wonder if an oil of some sort would seal it in.

furniture polish, maybe?

[flying_wahini]

21. if the other ideas don't work....

I saw a fairly inexpensive generic sewing machine box at Hancock fabrics that looked pretty nice....

[kaanguler]

22. SEWING MACHINE

Up to this time to maintain it is very nice, let's smell, a related chemical supply, cleaning, shops, you can find.