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Post by 60isolderthanithot on Nov 20, 2012 10:08:08 GMT -5
I purchased a hand crafted necklace with copper parts and what I thought were dyed stones and maybe some plastic. I bought them in an open air market and didn't realize until I got home that the item reeked of cigarettes. When I opened the box, it was really evident.
How do I clean this without leaving behind a scent? I was thinking Windex or maybe ammonia? Will that do anything to the lacquer coating on the copper? Will it make anything rust? I don't even understand how that smell could stick to this thing.
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Post by PaperGrace on Nov 20, 2012 10:26:51 GMT -5
Is it something that will be worn right away? I'd play it safe and try a mild soap and careful drying followed by a good period of airing before resorting to something harsher.
Love,
Overly Cautious PaperGrace
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Post by cricket on Nov 20, 2012 10:31:26 GMT -5
I'd start by washing it with Dawn or other dish liquid and use a soft brush to get into all the links. On something nonporous, I think that would be enough.
I used vinegar to deodorize, but wouldn't use it in thise case. It would react with the copper and will damage any desirable patina. In fact, I use salt and vinegar to clean copper bottom pots, but you probably don't want copper jewelry that shiny.
Is it possible the smell is more in the box than on the jewelry?
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Post by eagle on Nov 20, 2012 11:23:38 GMT -5
First, I'd toss the box. The cigaret odor is probably embedded in that & you might find the odor goes much faster that way. My mom was a heavy smoker, so I can understand the concern. I have ruined jewelry trying to clean it with some chemicals that are used to clean jewelry, so be careful and I suggest you not trust everything you read about jewely cleaners. The sonic ones can actually ruin the shine on some stones, so I advise against using one of those. Here is a link about cleaning cigarette smoke & odor from jewelry. It suggests using baking soda, then coffee grounds. Not as an abrasive cleaner, but as a odor soaker-upper. That's what I'd try second after simply soaking the jewely in water to remove any surface dirt & dust that might come off with some of the odors. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2012 12:17:05 GMT -5
I was unaware jewelry could grab or hold onto a smell, but I suppose like anything else it might be able too. Agree with the suggestions to toss the box, which may be a big part of the problem. Do you have someplace you could leave the necklace in sunshine and fresh air, like a patio or deck? Sunshine is a pretty powerful disinfectant and a great odor neutralizer. I'm not so sure about soaking it in water....I don't know if the metal parts will corrode or rust. I have a lot of lovely costume jewelry and though it LOOKS fabulous, but it's rather cheaply made....getting it wet or using chemicals might ruin it.
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Post by 60isolderthanithot on Nov 20, 2012 12:18:25 GMT -5
The necklace is supposed to be a gift, so I really want it to be free of odors. The box was a new one, I saw the lady take it out of a large box filled with them. She laid out the necklace and the little bag with earrings and a little drying silica gel, like you see in camera boxes and such. I removed the necklace and it smelled of smoke when I held it in a bundle in my hand. The batting inside the box also smelled. I guess I must replace the box.
It's a beautiful shade of copper wire, I'd hate to remove it by accident. I will try a little bowl of cold water with a few drops of Dawn soap. I'll rub it lightly with a washcloth. Maybe that will be enough. I have to be careful not to wet the tags. I'll remove them if I can.
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Post by 60isolderthanithot on Nov 20, 2012 12:19:19 GMT -5
Eagle, my concern with cleaners was the same as yours - I want the patina to stay intact.
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Post by messymommy on Nov 20, 2012 12:22:21 GMT -5
Before wetting it at all, I would try burying it in some ground coffee - not used coffee grounds. Leave it there for a couple of days then bury it in some uncooked white rice for a couple of days (it gets rid of any moisture and also the coffee smell). I've had great luck with this!
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Post by Layla on Nov 20, 2012 12:30:14 GMT -5
You may not want to soak it first, instead test a spot, lay it on a towel and get a soft rag or brush and clean just a spot of it, and see how it looks after before doing the whole thing. just a minimal amount with a soft rag, and of course sunshine and fresh air are great for odors, but anything with smoke needs the residue wiped off first and foremost.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2012 13:53:25 GMT -5
I have gotten rid of cigarrette smell in clothing outside overnight. Maybe this will work. If it rains it works even better, the smelly thing does not need to get rained on, just be outside.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2012 13:54:44 GMT -5
Is the necklace on a string? maybe the string is holding onto the smell.
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Post by 60isolderthanithot on Nov 20, 2012 14:12:55 GMT -5
Hordfest - oh noooooo! I didn't even think of that! The string itself might be stinky! I only have one friend left who smokes and she and I are barely speaking (long story). What the heck am I going to do with a smoke-stinky gift if I can't get the smell out?
I have a couple of weeks before this necklace has to make an entrance. I will try the gentlest methods first - coffee and baking soda. After that, I guess I'd better chance wetting it with something.
This sure teaches me a lesson. It's been so long since I thought about smoking issues. But it's very noticeable now because most of the environment is smoke-free. Cigarette smell really stands out. Crafters sometimes put "made in a smoke free home" in their ads but many non-smokers do not. I can't remember the last time I bought something that had an ashtray smell. Years ago, it was a problem so you'd look for "no smoking" in the ads. These days, the assumption is that crafters won't smoke around the goods.
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Post by casper on Nov 20, 2012 17:31:06 GMT -5
I have a string of pearls that had a nasty smell that got worse when I wore them. Smelled like a corpse.  It was the string that stunk. I buried the necklace in talcum powder for a week and the nasty smell was gone and never returned.  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2012 17:55:33 GMT -5
I don't think smokers can smell the smoke on them.
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Blackswan
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Post by Blackswan on Nov 21, 2012 8:57:08 GMT -5
If they could they would probably keel over immediately.
The worst experience on earth is getting a haircut or dental work done by somebody right after their smoking break. Just horrifying.
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