How do I get rid of smoke smell on my pony? What about other smells?

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MustBeJewel

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How Do I Get Rid of Smoke Smell on My Pony?


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This tutorial also applies to other odors.


Ponies that have lived with cigarette smokers, or which have been stored with items affected by cigarette smoke, can be a problem that pony collectors may come across over time. Due to the porous nature of the body and hair of the ponies, this odor can set in very strongly and can be very difficult to remove fully.


The thing to remember about odors is that unless you are removing / neutralizing the odor, many approaches that may seem effective at first, may prove in time to only be covering up the odor. Think of it like dunking someone who has been skunk-sprayed in air freshener:

Now they just smell like skunk AND flowers. ;)


The following are some methods that have been recommended in the past, but which I did not find effective, and why:
  • Dryer sheets: As stated above, the smell of the fabric sheets only masks or blends in with the cigarette odor. You may notice a flowery scent first, but the source of the problem has likely not been dealt with, and once the flowery scent fades, you may be back to square one.
  • Cat litter: Many cat litter brands are touted for controlling the odor of pet waste, but I have not found this to be effective with ponies. Due to the sandy consistency of most of these odor-controlling litters, the grains of litter have a difficult time thoroughly contacting the entire surface of the pony. Also, the litter may encapsulate the pet waste and seem to control odor, but the odor of the waste is still there.
  • Baking soda: Dry baking soda usually requires some kind of liquid to interact with in order to make it an effective cleaning agent. The powdery consistency of baking soda may be more effective than cat litter, but I did not find this to be as effective as other methods.
  • Airing them out: Leaving ponies in open air for a few days isn't a bad idea to start, but it will likely not solve the problem.​

Below, I'm going to outline the things I have personally tried with measurable success.


If you have a solution or tutorial to share,
please send me a PM, as we are still seeking resources for this thread.




Jewel's Trial and Error Step 1: Airing out

I left the ponies out of direct sunlight on a porch for 1 week to let the vinyl breathe.
They had been living in a sealed trash bag for many years marinating in cigarette smoke, compounding onto the copious amounts of surface dirt, dust, and tail rust among this poor lot. The odor was the most intense I have ever come across in ponies.



Jewel's Trial and Error Step 2: Routine washing

I used Dawn dish soap to thoroughly clean the bodies, manes, and tails of each pony with warm water.
If a head was loose enough to be removed, I removed it at this stage, and scrubbed the inside of the ponies when possible.



Jewel's Trial and Error Step 3: Vinegar soak


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I sealed the ponies in a storage bin with a 1:1 vinegar and water solution, and weighed them down with a tray and some glasses on top to stay submerged. Normally I NEVER, EVER submerge ponies, but this case was extreme. I left them covered there for several days. This was probably the single most effective treatment aside Step 4.

NOTE: Vinegar does weird things to ponies!
  • This approach should be considered experimental, as not enough is yet known about the effect on all types of ponies.
  • It will turn Sparkle Ponies, or any translucent ponies foggy and opaque, but this WILL wear off as they dry.
  • Not recommended for Glow n Show ponies.
  • It may fry the tinsel on Princess Ponies and may strip the color. Skylark and the SHS were fine, Princess Dawn was not. Avoid using on ponies with tinsel just in case.
  • The acidic nature of vinegar may damage some features or discolor some paint--I can't say exactly what since this wasn't a diverse enough group. USE AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION!

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Example of vinegar turning a translucent body opaque. The effect wore off.


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Princess Dawn's tinsel did not react well to the vinegar.





Jewel's Trial and Error Step 4: De-Stinkr

I used this product with no adverse effects on ponies. I sprayed them generously, let them sit overnight, then repeated step 2 above.

This was by far the single most effective treatment for smoke smell that I have found.



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Product Description
Biodegradable * Non-toxic * Non-flammable Phosphate-free * Solvent-free

D-stinker interacts with malodor molecules to counteract and cancel unpleasant odors. It is not a masking agent.

D-stinker has been used successfully to eliminate animal odors as well as odors from stored dolls, fish, fungus, garbage, mildew, mold, mothballs, nicotine, pet waste, rotted food, smoke, smoking, soot and even smelly footwear.

After application D-stinker leaves a neutral environment with no fragrance cover up or malodor smell. The pleasant scent of the product dissipates as malodors are eliminated. D-stinker has been safely tested on common metals, plastics, rubber and washable fabrics with no adverse effects. Soaking or over-wetting a doll can dull the finish of the doll. As with all products please test first in an inconspicuous area.

D-stinker was tested on dolls for two years with great success. Odors from mold and mildew, food and even animal waste odors have been successfully eliminated. Unfortunately there are exceptions to most rules. Some dolls made of urea-formaldehyde (1930s and 1940s hard plastic) are beyond help. These dolls succumb to bacteria that attack the urea and leave a most unpleasant odor that simply cannot be overcome.

D-stinker is effective in eliminating odors from sewers, meat processing, hospitals, veterinary clinics, day care centers and nursing homes.

Directions:
To use the product simply spray a fine mist on to or in to the offending area. If used on a strung doll simply pull a leg or arm and spray inside. It is not necessary to saturate or soak. A fine mist spray is all that is necessary. Repeat as needed.

CAUTION:
Keep out of the reach of children. Product can irritate the eyes if eye contact is made. In the event of eye contact flush with plenty of water. If irritation persists consult a physician.



Jewel's Trial and Error: Results

By the time all was said and done and the ponies had all very thoroughly dried for at least 2 weeks, you could only get the tiniest whiff of the original odor if you held them right up under your nose and sniffed deeply.




 
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