Arthur Dent
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Naphtalene odor
I didn't know where to post this question, so I think the miscellaneous forum is the most appropriate.
I regularly use naphtalene in the form of good ol' mothballs in my downstairs closet, the clothes stored in that closet smell strongly of naphtalene
but a good wash and airing and the odor is completely gone.
Now I made the mistake of storing some tablecloth in my Coleman cooler with a few naphtalene balls and now my big nice Coleman cooler just reeks of
mothball and the odor does not subside no matter how long I leave it open! I tried soap and water and the odor comes back as soon as I leave the cover
closed for a while.
Is there a way to get rid of that odor? Is there a solvent I could use to neutralize that aroma embedded in the plastic or is my cooler fubar? It's a
great old cooler and a replacement for an unit of that size is mucho $$$.
Robert
--- Art is making something out of nothing and selling it. - Frank Zappa ---
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99chemicals
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Baking soda might work. I have used that to get the pickle smell out of the lids of pickle jars. It takes about 2 weeks though.
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barley81
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Leave it outside in the sun?? Water-soluble stuff probably won't work since naphthalene is insoluble in water, and organic solvents might corrode the
inside.
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m1tanker78
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Quote: Originally posted by barley81  | | Leave it outside in the sun?? Water-soluble stuff probably won't work since naphthalene is insoluble in water, and organic solvents might corrode the
inside. |
I agree with barley - leave that sucker out in direct sunlight for a day or 2. Naphthalene sublimes even at room temp. Or a mild organic solvent?
Tank
Chemical CURIOSITY KILLED THE CATalyst.
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Arthur Dent
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A "sublime" idea ;)
Thanks. That's exactly what i'll do. I gave the inside a good wash with Febreeze spray, and am going to leave the cooler open all day on my
sun-drenched balcony.
Hopefully the aroma will be neutralized for next weekend, I'm having a big BBQ and I think mothball-scented beer cans won't be my guests favorites...
Robert
--- Art is making something out of nothing and selling it. - Frank Zappa ---
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Arthur Dent
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Failure!
The cooler is fubar. I tried everything, two days under the sun, NaOH solution, ammonia, paint thinner, and the odor is still deeply embedded in the
plastic and remains intense, it was a good cooler. RIP.
I bought one of those cheapo styrofoam coolers and it did the job. No more mothballs, ever!
Robert
--- Art is making something out of nothing and selling it. - Frank Zappa ---
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Endimion17
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It takes a long, long time for the evaporation from plastic to leave the naphtalene at an appreciate level. Don't throw it away. Put it on your
balcony and leave it there. Summer's coming. Plenty of sun. By the autumn, you'll get your cooler back without the old granny smell. 
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