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"Stop and smell the purses, wallets"

(27 posts)

Started 2 months ago by gracie
Latest reply from Compass Rose

gracie

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I bought a very cool bag this past weekend at GW to carry my tablet in. The original tags were still on it. Brand new. So I didn't do my usual "sniff test" on it. And now I have to throw it away. I started smelling something by my desk, in my car and narrowed it down to the bag. It smells like a body that has been dead for long time (and yes, I have smelled that before). That smell permeates everything in a house - went to an estate sale & whole house smelled like that. Turned out guy had died in bed & found sometime later. And they were trying to sell the bed - you could see where his head had been on the bed with giant stain. Very weird house - round bed and handcuffs on the wall and videos with different guy's names on them. I didn't walk - I ran out of that place <figuratively speaking>
Few years back I bought a real leather beautiful purse at GW and didn't even think about the sniff test. I put my wallet, checkbook, etc in it. In my car next morning could faintly smell something, then at work same smell. I picked up the purse & it reeked of that very distinctive smell. I was sad I had to chuck it because it was exactly what I was looking for.
So instead of "stop and smell the roses", stop and smell the purse, wallet at stores like this before you buy. I should have known last weekend. Live and learn!

Posted 2 months ago #
Edog

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This nose affliction, of which you're b*tching, smells of fiction to me!

Posted 2 months ago #
Cheese

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Someone was trying to sell the mattress that somebody died on that left a stain? That's insane! I would say it is hard to believe, but honestly, I can believe there are people out there like that.

You are right that sometimes smells don't make themselves known until later, that is always something to beware of at secondhand stores for any item.

We did score an incredibly ugly suitcase at Value Village. Won't be stolen and is easily identifiable at the baggage claim. Oh...right, nobody knows what a baggage claim is anymore.

Posted 2 months ago #
racerX

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Edog +1

Posted 2 months ago #
biophile87

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gracie, all you have to do is stuff a cloth bag (like a tightly woven coffee bag) filled with baking soda in the purse and leave it for a week or two. odor gone.

Posted 2 months ago #
pennygirl

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I am speechless. But it's Thursday, so maybe not.

Posted 2 months ago #
Corvus

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Stuff it with bullshit, paint a frownie face on it and couple cross eyes, name it Onedy and burn the effigy. All Ballard will smell better.

Posted 2 months ago #
gracie

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Thanks bio. I will try that because love the bag. Glad I read this because was throwing it in trash.

Posted 2 months ago #
onederfullone

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"Stuff it with bullshit, paint a frownie face on it and couple cross eyes, name it Onedy and burn the effigy. All Ballard will smell better."

Maybe somebody needs a time out.

Again.

Posted 2 months ago #
gracie

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Cheese-score on your suitcase. Sounds like will stick out at baggage claim! And yep, that house inside was bizzare. You would think they would have 86'd that mattress & took down handcuffs. I was looking for my neighbor. I came there with when this woman said check this out. I had never seen a round bed in person & headboard like this pink shiny giant seashell looking thing. When I saw that stain I was floored. Doubt that ever sold. My neighbor bought a dresser & had inside her house when the smell hit. She had it out in the sun & tried bleach, as I recall. Dont think she ever used it.

Posted 2 months ago #
iPlod

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@ biophile87

Maybe a month or four or five & change the baking soda every week.

Back when, I filled a great looking but nasty smelling 3 cubic foot chest with baking soda & changed it every week with no improvement.

So, three months later I finally had to concede that this way cool looking chest was more useful as kindling vs decoration.

Posted 2 months ago #
biophile87

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iPlod. Yes some odors are more pernicious. I once rented a basement with a wood armoire in it that stank. I had to keep a small bucket of baking soda in it the entire time I lived there. As long as there was NaHCO3 in it, it didn't smell. The moment it wasn't there, holy pee. I think if I could have gotten it out in the hot sun for about a week it would have gone away, though.

Posted 2 months ago #
BuffaloHawk

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When I was a dispatcher years ago semi's would contact us for loads back home. If they had a refrigerated truck that unloaded meat products it would have a funky smell. I remember they would dump coffee grounds in the back and sweep it to clean out the funky smell.

Posted 2 months ago #
iPlod

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Bio, how close of an orbit?

Posted 2 months ago #
biophile87

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HaHA! Had to think about that one. Excellent, iPlod.

Posted 2 months ago #
gracie

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Bio I tried what you suggested and no change. Going into the garbage today. :-(

Posted 2 months ago #
biophile87

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girl, it has not been a week.

Posted 2 months ago #
eric

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lol, nope, she's going to solicit advice via posting a thread then ignore the advice and post about it again instead!

Posted 2 months ago #
oldguybc

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My buddy bought a nearly brand new car way back when, guy had died & decomped in it, dealer couldn't get rid of the smell, my friend bought it for $50 and removed the engine & tranny, junking the rest. He replaced them with the old ones in his car (same make/model) and it ran real good with the new engine & tranny in it... until it warmed up... still ran good but, yes folks, the smell returned.
Moral of the story... the thrill may be gone but the memory lingers on...

Posted 2 months ago #
gracie

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Bio, you are right. Only seems longer. So not into trash and exercise PATIENCE and give it more time. I also left on porch when there was sun (you know that nano second we had on sun recently)

Posted 2 months ago #
allisonw

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Another thing that can often work is to put straight (the cheaper and stronger the better) Everclear or vodka into a spray bottle. Spray and let dry, repeat as necessary.

That's what theatre wardrobe professionals do with things that can't be traditionally laundered.

Posted 2 months ago #
gracie

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Allison - and maybe a squirt (or two, three,repeat as necessary) in my mouth while doing that! That's wild using vodka. Wonder how Boris would feel about "wodka" being used in this way!!

Posted 2 months ago #
allisonw

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I know it sounds silly, but it's not. Google it if you don't believe me.

Another last resort, if it's washable, you can try McNett Mirazyme on it. The vodka almost always works though.

Posted 2 months ago #
gracie

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Allison, I didn't doubt you. Just never heard it. And I know I should but I don't nkow what McNett Mirazyme is. Will have to look up that one.

Posted 2 months ago #
Compass Rose

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Interesting about the everclear/vodka solution. I've never heard that, but would have tried it on a pair of shoes I had to throw out after they became moldy. I tried everything - bleach water, vinegar, sun - but the smell would not go away. I wore them only once and ended up giving them to .... um, Goodwill. So, apologies if any of you ended up with my stinky shoes. They really were cute. What a bummer.

Posted 2 months ago #
BuffaloHawk

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CR

If you are stinky at 6 years old my apologies.I dig junking on Sundays with the little one and find killer deals on jackets, pants and sweaters for less than the tax at a crappy department store. I have no abandoned cart marks on the car.I found a 236.00 cashmere sweater (who in there Facebooking mind pays that much for a growing kid) for 2.00 and it gets rave reviews.In 6 months it gets redonated and life is good.

Good Times

disclaimer: When I told my mother I took my daughter to Goodwill she said not to tell my siblings. I still did and 2 out of 3 go there now as opposed to the mall.

Posted 2 months ago #
Compass Rose

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Stinky at 6? I have no idea what you're trying to say.

Posted 2 months ago #