This junkyard seat STINKS and it is driving me nuts! ATTN:Detailers,others with junkyard seats,restorations,somebody,ANYBODY,please HELP!

[JoeCool]

Like the title says I got a bench seat from a junkyard. See topic here: http://community.ratsun.net/topic/65004-ratty-ratsun-seat-repairs-who-else-has-done-them-update-forget-that-got-a-new-seat-see-new-reply-for-details/?do=findComment&comment=1188315

 

I pressure washed it and steam cleaned it, and I got it looking nice. BUT IT STINKS! I mean it reeks. I'm not sure what exactly it smells like, but I can't stand it! I know it isn't mildew or mold, as I know that smell well from working at a dealer with used cars, besides, it aired out and dried in the sun in 50-60 degree temps on my covered porch for over a week. It was dry when I installed it. So far I have sprayed it with Lysol, Febreeze, cologne, Axe, and the odor overpowers them all. I know someone else has had to have dealt with this before and found a solution. I have also aired the truck out during the day all day today. I figured someone out there has used a smelly junkyard seat, done a restoration on an old barn or yard find car or maybe somebody is a detailer. I am desperate to get rid of this problem. The old seat was ragged, but it just had the old car smell.

 

[MicroMachinery]

It may not be the seat... Time for a shower.

[JoeCool]

OH SNAP! Hadn't thought of that!  :blush:        

 

But seriously does anyone who is not a troll have a REAL solution?  :rolleyes:

[MicroMachinery]

 

OH SNAP! Hadn't thought of that!   :blush:        

 

But seriously does anyone who is not a troll have a REAL solution?   :rolleyes:

 

I liked your original response better.

 

Have you tried a box of baking soda to absorb the odor? You may have to wait for warmer weather for the mildew to dry out.

[flatcat19]

I vote shower. No smell from any of my junkyard findings. 

 

 

 

Except that one time. 

[bananahamuck]

What color lysol??  the light blue cans work the best ,, any other or hand pump liquids have more perfumes and less hospital smell,, and it doesn't last or do as good a job. 

[Lonestar]

Question, the vehicle you got this out of, was it wrecked? If so then your smell maybe something to do human/animal bio. That's not a very easy smell to get of a car...believe me...I work for a car recycling plant and we get cars like that.  I heard that find someone with a true ozone machine will do it but very costly. Your option would be a) Find another seat or (b Strip that one down to bare metal and replace the cushion inside it. That is all I can think of unless you try a really high grade commercial scent remover. Good luck man.

[JoeCool]

Micro, I changed it because I decided to play nice. And no, haven't tried baking soda yet because it is so messy! But that gives me an idea... ARM AND HAMMER CARPET POWDER! Might have to try that.

 

Flat, you're lucky! I have had some bad luck with junkyard parts!

 

But for both of you... I shower daily WITH SOAP and use deodorant! I am a former mechanic, it was a REQUIREMENT as I got real dirty, now it is just a habit.

 

 

 

And yeah Banana, it was the blue can. And the Febreeze was the "super strength" kind.

 

LONESTAR, no, it hadn't been wrecked. Just old (92 Hardbody) and had a blown engine.

 

I am starting to think this damn seat has the funk deep down in the cushion itself, I don't think it is mold or mildew because I made sure I didn't pick anything from a vehicle with missing doors or busted windows. Then again... maybe? I dunno...

[Draker]

Bleach and water... it kills all bacteria. Watch the ratio and you'll be fine.

[Chuck Most]

See if you can find Blaze Away- that stuff will overpower just about any nasty smell I've ever encountered in a vehicle. I know Advance Auto Parts carried it years ago, I'm not sure if they still have it in the store or if you have to order it. 

[laotsu]

ozium? that shit works.

 

could it be the rubber itself is old enough to be deteriorating and giving of that smell it does when it breaks down.

 

did you wash your butt?

[MikeRL411]

Junkyard?  Think dead mouse, rat, racoon, vole or skunk burrowed into your cushion or back seat cushion or foam.  Roofers have an Ozone generator that they use to decontaminate roof top or attic insulation contaminated with mouse. rat, pigeon or Racoon droppings or dead bodies, might be worth contacting one in your area!.  A friend of mine bought the local "Junk House" due to the smell[AKA stink] no one with a functioning nose would even consider it!  A few days with a professional exterminator [ I believe they used an Ozone grnerator, not what you want on vinyl upholstery or foam rubber cushions] and it cleared about 10 years of Racoon shit stink out of his attic.He wanted to replace the roof anyway, good thing, there was no attic insulation left after the dumpster pulled away.  BTW he had all tree limbs in any unreasonable by human standards distance from his roof chopped of!

[dat521gatherer]

Enzyme cleaner.

[Mattndew76]

Just sit in the truck for hours at a time until you become numb to the smell. Sorta like how Cat owners are immune to the smell of cat piss n shit. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strip the cover and see whats growing on the foam. 

[JoeCool]

I have an update...

 

First, I had been airing out the truck all day every day for a few days.

Then I bought a can of this stuff, and WOW! It works great!

 

http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotive/products/g16402-whole-car-air-re-fresher-%28new-car-scent%29/

 

I followed the directions. Turn heat on, with fan on high and recirculate. Put can on floorboard. Lock the tab on top and let can empty. Should take 15-20 minutes. (I let it go 30) Turn vehicle off, roll down windows, let air out 15 minutes. I skipped the last one and left it shut up all night for extra anti-funk. It doesn't smell like a "new car", but it does smell nice. It has been almost a week and no more weird smell. Well worth the $6.40 at Walmart. Problem solved I think!

[laotsu]

HAH! Joe had to flea bomb his truck!

[Dolomite]

+1 for the ozium, I bought a tbird turbo back in the day that smelled like stank armpit or something. I wrapped rubber bands around a can of ozium and did basically what joecool did with the meguires, it smelled like clean nothingness afterwards.

[JoeCool]

Ozium stinks!                                                                                               

[laotsu]

Ozium stinks!                                                                                               

so does/did your truck

[JoeCool]

I have an update, that stuff is still working. Still has that fake "new car" smell. I highly recommend that product!

[Scgreen620]

so does/did your truck

Ozium does work!

[Kytoaster]

Just a tip I picked up from buying a car that was in a flood..

Buy a set of pantyhose and a can of ground coffee. 

Cut the feet off of the pantyhose, so that you will have about 1' of material.

Fill them with coffee, and tie them off. 

Set them in the truck, with the windows up, either on the seat or under the seat (Or one on, one under).

Coffee will absorb the odor of almost ANYTHING, and is especially useful with hard to remove smells. 

Now, it will smell like coffee for a bit, but it should pull the nasty smells out for good, granted the seat isn't molding inside or something.

 

You can also use charcoal briquettes If you aren't a fan of the smell of coffee (obviously the non-fuel soaked "insta-light" kind).

[sebpv]

how about baking soda? People use that in their fridges... Id put it in a small container and poke holes on the lid, set it in a cup holder or in a roll of duct tape on the floor

[lazarus223]

Remove the seat, remove the covers and pressure clean.the fucker, let it sit in the set a day or 2 to bake.

I had the same issue a while back tried everything Mentioned Above With no results An old guy Recommended the pressure cleaning I kid you not I reinstalled it No problem no smell

[sebpv]

A friend suggested soaking the covers in water with couple caps of vinaiger