The stench!!! / General Science and Electronics / Forums

Forums

4hv.org :: Forums :: General Science and Electronics

« Previous topic | Next topic »

The stench!!!

previous 1 2 3 next

Move Thread

LAN_403

nrhoades

Thu Mar 27 2008, 06:40PM

Registered Member #610 Joined: Wed Mar 28 2007, 09:44PM
Location: Middletown, RI
Posts: 110

Ozone isn't going to do anything. The odor and bacteria are now embedded into the upholstry and even a small amount of humidity will keep micro-colonies alive. You now have to think about trading off time (waiting) and money (completely new upholstry) to solve the problem.

If ozone were as magical as most people here think it is then there would be many more products that use it. It really isn't that practical.

Myke

Thu Mar 27 2008, 09:46PM

Registered Member #540 Joined: Mon Feb 19 2007, 07:49PM
Location: MIT
Posts: 969

Ozone is highly reactive and when it hits bacteria they die?

Dave Marshall

Thu Mar 27 2008, 09:57PM

Registered Member #16 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 02:22PM
Location: New Wilmington, PA
Posts: 554

Ozone and UV light are both very effective antiseptics. The trouble is that both are impractical in a situation such as this.

The foam used in most automotive seats is fairly dense, and for the most part, waterproof. I found this out after spilling 2 pounds of cheese queso all over the back seat.

I ended up pulling the seat out and just flooding it with tons of warm, soapy water. After a couple hours of steady irrigation, I vacuumed the water up as best I could, then allowed it to dry in the front yard, in direct sunlight. A thorough steam cleaning afterwards to kill any remaining bacteria and another stint in the sun, and the odor was gone.

As for the mess that ended up on the floor, I took the "lots of irrigation" approach as well. There isn't anything under the carpeting thats likely to be harmed by water. I just yanked all the seats out and alternately covered the floor in an inch of water, agitated it, then vacuumed it off. A good steam cleaning followed, and the car was back to smelling normal after a couple days of drying time.

There are several very effective antiseptics you could use without harming the upholstery, the question is, is it worth the hassle. Concentrated vinegar, isopropyl alcohol, diluted ammonia will all three kill the bacteria and eliminate the milk odor with a quickness. Ammonia and vinegar come with their own smell though, and alcohol just blows up your car if you aren't careful.

Dave

Avalanche

Thu Mar 27 2008, 10:39PM

Registered Member #103 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 08:16PM
Location: Derby, UK
Posts: 845

For a slightly less 1337 approach... you can buy a power, oxy-something that you just sprinkle on and leave, and it eventually kills the reak somehow. It's the stuff that you use on carpets then vacuum it off about a day later, put years more life into my carpet, haven't tried it in the car yet.

nrhoades

Fri Mar 28 2008, 01:24AM

Registered Member #610 Joined: Wed Mar 28 2007, 09:44PM
Location: Middletown, RI
Posts: 110

There used to be an old prank of pouring buttermilk into someone's car on a hot day. I read an article of a group of activists did this to cars in a dealership to protest oil consumption or something stupid like that. I think the lot was ruined.

Backyard Skunkworks

Fri Mar 28 2008, 05:16AM

Registered Member #1262 Joined: Fri Jan 25 2008, 05:22AM
Location: Maryland, USA
Posts: 451

I remember one of Mythbuster's original episodes was cleaning the stinky car, for this they let two dead pigs go sour in an 87 'vette for four months. Jamie almost passed out from the gases that formed from the decay! They talked to a guy who does crime scene cleaning and he showed them how to use something he called an enzyme based cleaner, I donno where you'd find such a thing but it did do the job for Mythbusters even after the dead pigs (sort of).

You could try a drop of household bleach to see if it discolors the material at all, some things seem to hold up to huge amounts of bleach just fine.

All else failing you could try something radical like filling your car with ozone as stated, however just be careful as this is how darwin awards are won.

Carbon_Rod

Fri Mar 28 2008, 07:08AM

Registered Member #65 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 06:43AM
Location:
Posts: 1155

IIRC hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and liquid soap work well for some smells....
And trisodium phosphate in bleach also works for others.

Generally the above mentioned cow-enzymes or Oxyclean do work. The practical levels of ozone needed may only damage the material being exposed....

Weston

Fri Mar 28 2008, 11:56AM

Registered Member #1316 Joined: Thu Feb 14 2008, 03:35AM
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 365

I agree with Carbon Rod. Ozone can make many rubbers and plastics brittle.

nrhoades

Fri Mar 28 2008, 01:11PM

Registered Member #610 Joined: Wed Mar 28 2007, 09:44PM
Location: Middletown, RI
Posts: 110

I can't get past the kid actually drinking the milk!!!

Ultra7

Fri Mar 28 2008, 07:50PM

Registered Member #1157 Joined: Thu Dec 06 2007, 12:11PM
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 307

He's a "special" kid.

Tourette's with severe symptoms.
9 years old with the brain of a 12-year-old with a 5-year-olds' common sense.

I'd say 100watt light bulb with a faulty "clapper" switch.

previous 1 2 3 next

Moderator(s): Chris Russell, Noelle, Alex, Tesladownunder, Dave Marshall, Dave Billington, Bjørn, Steve Conner, Wolfram, Kizmo, Mads Barnkob