Destinking a guitar

[Sam SG]

Seriously.
Just got my other SG back from my friend after 6mo.
It stayed in the stand in his living toom for the whole.
Anyhow he smokes like 3 packs a day and this guitar snells like an ashtray.
Now I used to smoke and it udually dont bother me one bit to be around smoke.
But i can smell this thing when I walk in the room.
I polished it but no

 

[Chris Pile]

Time in bright sunlight will work, or storing the guitar in a case with some ozite I think it is? It's volcanic rock that purifies air. Buy a small bag and toss in the case.

 

[Sam SG]

Ozite?
That like a Wal Mart item or online?

 

[uOpt]

Get the fabric destink spray and spray the inside of the case, then store the guitar in that case.

 

[80's_Metal]

Armor All makes a spray just for smoke scent, I've used it on a couple of amplifiers, and it works very well. Small blue-orange can, citrus scent..... I'll look out up;

Armor All Fresh FX Smoke-X

You can get it on Amazon, Napa /AutoZone/O'Reilly's , Walmart, it's designed for cars, but it works on anything.

Clean it with a damp rag, spray it down with this stuff, let it sit in the sunlight for half a day

 

[Chris Pile]

Ozite?
That like a Wal Mart item or online?

It's probably available online. The stuff I bought years ago came from the local science education center. I think it generates or emits ozone, which is a purifier.

 

[GuitarStv]

Pull the whole guitar apart (everything, pickups, pickguard, pots, knobs, switches, etc.) and thoroughly scrub clean anything that can be cleaned. CIgarette smoke leaves a kind of sticky tar-like residue on everything that can be quite difficult to come off and stinks. Then put it back together and sit it out for about a month in an open space in your house with a fan blowing directly on it. The fan is essential to moving a lot of air past and helping that smell wear down.

This is the procedure I've used a couple times and it works reasonably well on guitars. Guitar cases that stink though, can be impossible.

 

[Chris Pile]

Guitar cases that stink though, can be impossible.

I've used kitty litter (Fresh Step) in guitar cases to remove the stink. It smells vaguely of laundry soap afterwards.

The only stink that will not come out (science even proved it) is cat urine. The ureic acid contains a compound that is impossible to break down. The only thing to do then is pitch the case, and buy a new one.

 

[Sam SG]

Pull the whole guitar apart (everything, pickups, pickguard, pots, knobs, switches, etc.) and thoroughly scrub clean anything that can be cleaned. CIgarette smoke leaves a kind of sticky tar-like residue on everything that can be quite difficult to come off and stinks. Then put it back together and sit it out for about a month in an open space in your house with a fan blowing directly on it. The fan is essential to moving a lot of air past and helping that smell wear down.

This is the procedure I've used a couple times and it works reasonably well on guitars. Guitar cases that stink though, can be impossible.

Actually I pretty much will be tearing it down anyway. As I have a pair of pickups coming for it and a Stewmac wiring kit to build.
Im surprised usually smoke dont bother me. But my freind is home all day chain smoking around the guitar. Hes disabled so he dont get out much.

 

[Chris Pile]

I had a J-50 for awhile that came from an estate. The deceased chain smoked tobacco and weed incessantly, and took months to get the brown goo off the finish. I would watch TV with my dad and just polish and polish and polish. Went through a lot of cotton diapers and a bottle of BOSS guitar detailer.

 

[Sam SG]

Yea my buddy has an Olympic White MIM strat hes had 20yrs. Its so yellowed you would think its an early 60s strat till you get up close and realize its mim 90s strat.
Cool as shit looking

 

[Wattage]

Clean the case outside, I like Chemical Guys Interior Detailer, works well

Clean the case inside, I use Arm & Hammer Baking soda. Sprinkle it all over rub it in lightly with a dry towel, let in sit for an hour or 2 then vacuum it out. Repeat as necessary.

For the guitar I generally use naphtha if the surface is in good condition. Wipe it down and then give it a good cleaning and light polish.

 

[Sam SG]

I left a fan on it for 24hrs. Cracked the window a couple hours( ny winter) polished it twice which stunk up the rag. Then polished it again with another clean polish rag.
Wiped the case with a damp rag and a vinegar based window cleaner.
Its much better now. You catch a hint of it when your playing it but thatll wear off.
This thing was over powering when I got it home though. I could smell straight up ashtray as soon as Id get to the door of my music room. Sitting in my room gave me a headache. And I smoked for years.

 

[Securb]

If it is that bad, I would throw a couple of car air fresheners in the case.

 

[JMP/HBE]

It will never be the same. Dryer sheets in the case with the guitar is about the best ive heard.

 

[ehdwuld]

Pull the whole guitar apart (everything, pickups, pickguard, pots, knobs, switches, etc.) and thoroughly scrub clean anything that can be cleaned. CIgarette smoke leaves a kind of sticky tar-like residue on everything that can be quite difficult to come off and stinks. Then put it back together and sit it out for about a month in an open space in your house with a fan blowing directly on it. The fan is essential to moving a lot of air past and helping that smell wear down.

This is the procedure I've used a couple times and it works reasonably well on guitars. Guitar cases that stink though, can be impossible.

I had a natural gas heater in my Livingroom and white walls
After about 15 years the wall behind the heater and down the hallway had a yellow brown gradient burst like film that I painted over
Oily sticky would run in streaks if you sprayed a cleaner on it

Oh and there were three heavy smokers living there most of those years

Its invasive no doubt

Baking soda neutralizes smells

There is a spray at Walmart just for dog odors that will work as well

Can't remember the name right off

 

[GuitarStv]

For walls, Zissner make a paint that will trap odours in walls that works reasonably well.

 

[Mincer]

As far as a case goes...I don't know...I've never had luck other than to just get another case or gig bag.

 

[ehdwuld]

As far as a case goes...I don't know...I've never had luck other than to just get another case or gig bag.

Apple core and baking soda in a case
Brush baking soda into pile of case
Quarter an apple
Put in case
Close case for a week
Open case remove cores and vacuum baking soda

Scent free
And appley

 

[Mincer]

Just one apple core? Does it matter what kind of apple?