Removing smell from a g1 dance n prance pony?

Truly_Scrumptious

Broken Winged Flutter
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I was excited to receive Tap Dancer in the mail today - she's been on my wish list for a while, and for some reason it seems she's listed on eBay less frequently than other Dance n Prance ponies. However, when I took her out of the package and smelled her (idk why I did, maybe because the yellow plastic of her knob and tail ring has weird discoloration?), she definitely has some kind of smell. I think it might even be cat pee, and I don't think it was mentioned in the listing.

I would normally pop her open to help me clean her out, but since she's a Dance n Prance I don't want to break anything, especially because her head is still glued on. I gave her an external scrubbing and conditioner, but the smell is still there under the soapy smell. Thankfully, it's not noticeable unless I bring her to my face to smell. But I still want it gone :tongue:

I checked out this post about removing odors by MustBeJewel, and wanted to ask if anyone else has used one of these methods to get the smell off of a Dance n Prance. Her mechanism is already broken, but I don't want to cause mold inside her or something since I can't really open her up. With this in mind, would submerging her (in the 1:1 vinegar solution as per the restoration post) be a bad idea? The other option I saw on that post was the D-Stinker product, but I wanted to try vinegar first.

Until I can remove the smell she is unfortunately in Pony Jail (the box she came in) so that she doesn't possibly stink up the place.

Thank you pony friends!! :Flutter:
 
I was excited to receive Tap Dancer in the mail today - she's been on my wish list for a while, and for some reason it seems she's listed on eBay less frequently than other Dance n Prance ponies. However, when I took her out of the package and smelled her (idk why I did, maybe because the yellow plastic of her knob and tail ring has weird discoloration?), she definitely has some kind of smell. I think it might even be cat pee, and I don't think it was mentioned in the listing.

I would normally pop her open to help me clean her out, but since she's a Dance n Prance I don't want to break anything, especially because her head is still glued on. I gave her an external scrubbing and conditioner, but the smell is still there under the soapy smell. Thankfully, it's not noticeable unless I bring her to my face to smell. But I still want it gone :tongue:

I checked out this post about removing odors by MustBeJewel, and wanted to ask if anyone else has used one of these methods to get the smell off of a Dance n Prance. Her mechanism is already broken, but I don't want to cause mold inside her or something since I can't really open her up. With this in mind, would submerging her (in the 1:1 vinegar solution as per the restoration post) be a bad idea? The other option I saw on that post was the D-Stinker product, but I wanted to try vinegar first.

Until I can remove the smell she is unfortunately in Pony Jail (the box she came in) so that she doesn't possibly stink up the place.

Thank you pony friends!! :Flutter:
"Pony jail" :rofl: I do that too, if someone needs cleaning. "Into quarantine you go!"
oh noo, this sounds so gross. Fortunately other things can cause an ammonia smell besides cat pee but it's still not pleasant. If she were headed for my collection I probably would perform surgery and get her head off, try to see what we're dealing with in there, especially if the mechanism is already broken. I usually turn to baking soda for my de-stinking but you need a fresh box and it takes a while, and I like to know it's clean inside so the smell isn't going to just re-permeate.
 
"Pony jail" :rofl: I do that too, if someone needs cleaning. "Into quarantine you go!"
oh noo, this sounds so gross. Fortunately other things can cause an ammonia smell besides cat pee but it's still not pleasant. If she were headed for my collection I probably would perform surgery and get her head off, try to see what we're dealing with in there, especially if the mechanism is already broken. I usually turn to baking soda for my de-stinking but you need a fresh box and it takes a while, and I like to know it's clean inside so the smell isn't going to just re-permeate.
Lol glad to see that we're all tyrants here :rofl:

I suppose you're right, I should just set about removing the head. She's "baity" as-is so I don't think she'll be leaving my collection anytime soon. I think I'll pop her open and get to work - thanks for the helpful input!!
 
Lol glad to see that we're all tyrants here :rofl:
ROFL! I totally am. Too much of a germophobe to let filthy ponies run around wild. :rofl:

I suppose you're right, I should just set about removing the head. She's "baity" as-is so I don't think she'll be leaving my collection anytime soon. I think I'll pop her open and get to work - thanks for the helpful input!!
You're welcome! Let us know what you uncover!
 
I checked out this post about removing odors by MustBeJewel, and wanted to ask if anyone else has used one of these methods to get the smell off of a Dance n Prance. Her mechanism is already broken, but I don't want to cause mold inside her or something since I can't really open her up. With this in mind, would submerging her (in the 1:1 vinegar solution as per the restoration post) be a bad idea? The other option I saw on that post was the D-Stinker product, but I wanted to try vinegar first.
That is an excellent consideration I hadn't thought of, which is how the metal inside might react to a vinegar solution. If only my bait box weren't in storage I'd be happy to test this out personally. In the meantime though, I'd advise against it just out of caution until we know more.

I would still recommend that DeStinkr spray mentioned in the thread though, after you've done a thorough cleaning, and then a thorough rinsing after letting it sit for at least 24 hours with the spray on. I've use that stuff way more than I thought I would.

Lol glad to see that we're all tyrants here :rofl:
Exactly the kind of community I aim to foster here :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: ;)
 
I would still recommend that DeStinkr spray mentioned in the thread though, after you've done a thorough cleaning, and then a thorough rinsing after letting it sit for at least 24 hours with the spray on. I've use that stuff way more than I thought I would.
Thank you so much for the usage info, that's really helpful! Would you recommend removing the pony's head and spraying the inside and outside? Or would it be an external only product? Either way I think you've sold me on the spray, LOL. :tongue:
 
What worked for me when I got a lot that REEKED of cigarettes and pot, I really thought they were gone for.

After traditional cleaning (dish soap, oxyclean) adn they still smelled horrendous, I put them in my light box with a bowl of vinegar and a bowl of baking soda on either side of the ponies (heads off their bodies). In a week they came out odorless. (The ponies were not in vinegar or baking soda, it was simply in the box with them). I feel like UV light helped deminish the smell as well by killing any bacteria that may be in the vinyl

I did another routine of baths and they still smell clean, even when I put them to my nose.
 
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What worked for me when I got a lot that REEKED of cigarettes and pot, I really thought they were gone for.

After traditional cleaning (dish soap, oxyclean) adn they still smelled horrendous, I put them in my light box with a bowl of vinegar and a bowl of baking soda on either side of the ponies (heads off their bodies). In a week they came out odorless. (The ponies were not in vinegar or baking soda, it was simply in the box with them). I feel like UV light helped deminish the smell as well by killing any bacteria that may be in the vinyl

I did another routine of baths and they still smell clean, even when I put them to my nose.
This is also great advice, tysm for sharing!! It sounds like i need to finally put together my light box. I have all the materials and just haven't gotten to it.
 
So, an update on poor Tap Dancer... I tried the D-Stinker product for about a week now, allowing her to dry completely and cleaning her with soap, then letting her dry completely, then reapplying. Unfortunately I don't think it has worked very well. At the very least I think the ammonia-like undertone might have left? But she still smells like she's been in an attic for 25yrs :(

Also, having removed her mechanism, it doesn't work normally, but it also doesn't look like the broken one on mlppreservationproject. Its cords are tightly wound. I think if I want to fix her I'll have to mess around a bit :unsure: I am NOT mechanically inclined lol.

I think I'm going to try your method next @DracoKat ! I have a question, when you put the ponies in the UV chamber did you cover up symbols and hair, or did you just pop them in with the baking soda and vinegar? :)
 
So, an update on poor Tap Dancer... I tried the D-Stinker product for about a week now, allowing her to dry completely and cleaning her with soap, then letting her dry completely, then reapplying. Unfortunately I don't think it has worked very well. At the very least I think the ammonia-like undertone might have left? But she still smells like she's been in an attic for 25yrs :(

Also, having removed her mechanism, it doesn't work normally, but it also doesn't look like the broken one on mlppreservationproject. Its cords are tightly wound. I think if I want to fix her I'll have to mess around a bit :unsure: I am NOT mechanically inclined lol.

I think I'm going to try your method next @DracoKat ! I have a question, when you put the ponies in the UV chamber did you cover up symbols and hair, or did you just pop them in with the baking soda and vinegar? :)

I do cover symbols and hair. I use a white washsable paint (can be found at a dollar store) to cover the symbols and eyes. I use paper towels and painter's tape to cover the mane completely, and if I can, i take the tail out, otherwise I also cover the tail. The UV light WILL fade hair and symbols, so cover completely!
 
I do cover symbols and hair. I use a white washsable paint (can be found at a dollar store) to cover the symbols and eyes. I use paper towels and painter's tape to cover the mane completely, and if I can, i take the tail out, otherwise I also cover the tail. The UV light WILL fade hair and symbols, so cover completely!
Ooh ok got it, thank you!!
 
Ok, so at this point ive tried soaking her in OxiClean, ive tried d-stinker, and ive tried dracokat's method above... and she STILL smells. :cry: At most she smelled like oxiclean or like vinegar for 24hrs or so and then the smell went away and she returned to this gross scent.

I think as a last resort I'm going to try the vinegar soak. There's no metal involved, as I took out her mechanism. If I had known the ordeal this would have been, if the smell had been in the listing, I wouldn't have bought her. Genuinely don't know if she can be saved :'((
 
Maybe a vinegar or peroxide soak in the uv chamber? I would worry about the damage to symbols tho...

Sorry, I've only dealt with smokey ponies. Usually they clear up after an oxi bath and and some sunshine for a few weeks/months. :/
Yeah, i want to keep her symbols intact and i dont know exactly how vinegar alone will interact with the paint, but i will consider the suggestion! Anything helps for this poor girl.

As of right now she is in a jar of vinegar solution and looks like she's being pickled LOL. Fingers crossed.

And its alright, i think she's a really unusual case. I dont know why she smells like this!
 
i thought this said "small" instead of "smell" -facepalm- I am no help lol

Hope things worked out for you!
 
I heard putting in freezer for a few weeks helps with the smell, someone on face book swears by it. I've personally never tried it, but I saw it on FB. Put in a ziplock bag with some baking soda and put in the freezer for a week or so?
 
Eww gross. There should be this pet enzyme spray that should help get rid of it. I'm sorry to hear that about your pony.
 
Eww gross. There should be this pet enzyme spray that should help get rid of it. I'm sorry to hear that about your pony.
Have no idea if these products are safe on ponies, but Resolve has a whole line of stuff meant for cleaning pet messes.

 
I have no idea if it works on ponys, but when we moved into a house once the kitchen cabinets had a funky smell so my dad put a bowl of coffee grounds in each one for about 2 weeks and the smell went away. Unfortunately they did smell faintly of coffee for months after but it eventually faded and we had scent free cabinets. Maybe you could try putting her in a box or something with some coffee if nothing else has worked
 
I have no idea if it works on ponys, but when we moved into a house once the kitchen cabinets had a funky smell so my dad put a bowl of coffee grounds in each one for about 2 weeks and the smell went away. Unfortunately they did smell faintly of coffee for months after but it eventually faded and we had scent free cabinets. Maybe you could try putting her in a box or something with some coffee if nothing else has worked
Never considered coffee :O
 
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