How do you get rid of the stench of smoke from games?

atarumoroboshi18

So I recently bought an N64 lot off of Craigslist for $50. It came with some decent games like Kirby Crystal Shard, Mario Kart 64, Dr. Mario 64, and Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. All totaled there was the N64 system with 2 controllers, 11 games, and the power cord. The games have some wear(particularly Mario Kart 64 which has label damage on the front and back of the cart) and some stickers, but I can just take some time to clean them off. No, my problem is the smell of smoke coming from everything.

It's not a pungent smell, but the moment you put your nose close to the thing it just reeks. How do I get rid of this smell? The last thing I was thinking of was to smell the console and games? Right now the N64, controllers, and power cord are sitting out in the garage, while the N64 carts are out there in an airtight bag with a box of baking soda. Anyone have an idea on how to really get rid of that smoky smell?

RetroBasement

http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=how+to+get+smoke+out+of+a+game

Redivivus

^ totally helpful..

elhector

Get a stocking or nylons and pack it with unscented cat litter. Than put the stuff that stinks in a box with the nylons full of cat litter and let them sit for about a week. It should suck most if not all of the smoke smell off everything. Used car salesmen do the same thing with used cars to get the smell out. They just throw a couple of these under the seats.

Miss Clawful

 

So far I've only tried baking soda, some months ago when I had ordered a Playstation game online, it came in great condition as described except for one thing, the instruction manual smelled of cigarette smoke terribly, so hearing that baking soda supposedly removes odors I tried that, put the manual and some baking soda in a zip-lock bag together, checked on it a few days later, nope, no change, still stunk as much as before, put fresh baking soda, tried again for another couple days, still no results, gave up, its not like I sit there reading the manual on a regular basis anyway.

Got me a Dreamcast at a yard sale a while back for a real good deal, as well as one of those steering wheel controllers, both looked like crap, real filthy, but I took my chances, got the stuff home, cleaned them up real good, all works great, but one thing I couldn't get rid of and can't handle was the cigarette odor, and I'm not going to start experimenting on them just to try to find something that works, mostly bought it out of curiousity anyway, figure I can resell it later, will just have to be sure to let whoever buys it know that it stinks of cigarette smoke something awful.

JohnnyPhantom

I purchased a used PS3 controller from Gamestop that smelt horribly of smoke.I couldn't return it (the PS3 was still new at the time, and it was a dual shock 3 controller and no other gamestop had them traded in just yet) looking online, someone recommended vinegar So I took apart the controller, and applied vinegar to all the plastic piece, put back together (no the controller smelt strongly of vinegar, after a few days the smells went away, its now faintly smells of smoke now (due to the circuit board inside not being washable). so if you're careful you can try some vinegar

8bitdreams

If you blow pot smoke all over it daily for a few days, it will smell much better than cigarette smoke - try it!!

Guivader

If you can't take the stench away with elhector's tip you can try putting them under sunlight, problem is that the temperature might damage your games and the light might cause discolaration on some labes/plastics.



It's not a reccomended method, but it could be a sort of "extreme measure" if the odor is extremely unbearable.

Otter

Start smoking...?

OSG

Originally posted by: otterpop

Start smoking...?

Yes. If you smoke you quickly become acclimatized to the smell. You won't even notice it any more.

RetroSnow

This is why I smoke outside. Even as a smoker, it bugs me to no end when I get games that stink like smoke. When it happens to me every now and then, I toss it into my dupe pile and order another one.

NewUser123456789

Originally posted by: RetroSnow

This is why I smoke outside. Even as a smoker, it bugs me to no end when I get games that stink like smoke. When it happens to me every now and then, I toss it into my dupe pile and order another one.

I completely agree, smoking inside ruins the smell of everything. 

Nightowljrm

Ugh, I hate that smell. Smoking indoors DOES ruin the smell of everything, especially indoors, and it really is difficult to get out. I purchased a box of 15 NES games off eBay once and they smelled like smoke. The way I got MOST of it out was just by sitting them all in the garage in different areas by themselves to let them "air out". Over night, it helped a little bit, but it could've been just the box that was tainted with the odor. Later, I tried the cat-litter method similar to elhector's: I placed the NES cartridges inside pantyhose and placed them inside a bag of scented cat-litter. It was weird, but overnight, it showed dramatic improvement.



Moral of the story? If you smoke, smoke outside.

ChuChu Flamingo

I would recommend baking soda+air. The colder the air, the better.

elhector

Originally posted by: RetroSnow

This is why I smoke outside. Even as a smoker, it bugs me to no end when I get games that stink like smoke. When it happens to me every now and then, I toss it into my dupe pile and order another one.

Ditto for me.  I've never smoked inside anywhere I've lived.  Don't smoke in my car either.

RetroBasement

lol im not really that big of a dbag i just wanted to be that guy that posted that link for once. But iv actually heard part a cart in a bowl of rice and leaving it actually does something.

ClaytonBigsby

Smoking cigarettes is the gateway drug...............to smoking pole!

NewUser123456789

to rid your games of the smoke smell perform the following:



Step 1 Box up the games that smell in a nice sturdy shipping box

Step 2 PM Paul for his address

Step 3 Ship games to Paul



Problem Solved.



I would recommend sealing them in a bag with a box of baking soda, followed by Lysol and maybe Ozium, google it. It's a great air sanitizer.

atarumoroboshi18

I'm going to look through the suggestions and give them a try. My first step is to leave everything out in the garage, and also package up the games in a sealed bag with a fresh box of baking soda as I'm currently doing. If I come across any of the suggested items, then I'll get them. Thanks guys.

Retrogradio

If you know someone with a food dehydrator, those things are actually pretty good at pulling the odors out of objects. Place the game on a tray near a bowl of baking soda. Set the dehydrator to a lower setting and wait a couple days. It should come out smelling pretty fresh.



I heard of this trick from a friend who received some DVDs from a home with two heavy smokers. He figured it was worth a shot and he was a little shocked that it worked for him. I've always kept it in mind should I ever have a similar problem.

 EDIT: He didn't heat up the DVDs. The cases smelled of smoke and that's what he put in the dehydrator. I wouldn't recommend putting CDs in there, but NES carts should be fine as long as you don't crank the temperature.

Redivivus

I just pulled a couple of my ROBs from a cat filled house. They smelled very rank. I diluted some Pine Sol (about 5:1), used a spray bottle with a light pass, and so far, it has cut the smell significantly. A few more cleanings, and I think they will be doing pretty well. Id be careful around any labels, and I didnt notice any discoloration of plastic at all.

Speedy_NES

I always place items that reek of cigarettes out in the open, fresh air works like a charm (especially when it's windy). If it's raining or you lack an outdoor area, you can always open windows to create a draft and put the items in the middle of the draft area. I've always gotten the smell out of items this way, just need to turn them around once or twice and after 25-50 hours, the smell should be gone.

atarumoroboshi18

Alright, I'm already starting to notice a significant decrease in the smell of smoke by leaving them out in the garage and putting the games in a bag with baking soda. I'll keep them out there 'til the smell is barely noticeable.