natelite Posted May 5, 2006 Posted May 5, 2006 recently i won some ebay auctions without checking first if they were smoke-free...so no surprise when i got it i was shock to smell that heavy stench when i open the box. i was utterly appalled. i am not sure what i can do to get rid of the smell. can any EBers with the experience help? Quote
gylman Posted May 5, 2006 Posted May 5, 2006 Always an unpleasant discovery, I agree. >:-( However, there is hope: 1) soap and water (rinse well - I hate soap scum drying on my Lego) then 2) let it sit out in the open for a few days to weeks, and the smell generally is gone or nearly gone. The smoke smell takes longer to come out of rubber parts like tires, but even then it eventually goes away. Quote
natelite Posted May 5, 2006 Author Posted May 5, 2006 Ah, thanks. Is it okay to let them dry in the sunlight? I don't mean out in the open sun where it's hot and they may melt, but by the window exposed to sunlight but cool enough not to decompose? I was hoping some of that UV, IR light might help remove other impurities. Or is that a bad idea as the color may fade? Also why do people advertize legos as "pet-free"? Is it because pets will scratch legos or legos will have "pet-smell"? i don't mind scratches but i hate smelly legos. do you get rid of the smell using the same technique as well? Quote
gylman Posted May 5, 2006 Posted May 5, 2006 Ah, thanks. Is it okay to let them dry in the sunlight? I don't mean out in the open sun where it's hot and they may melt, but by the window exposed to sunlight but cool enough not to decompose? I was hoping some of that UV, IR light might help remove other impurities. Or is that a bad idea as the color may fade?Also why do people advertize legos as "pet-free"? Is it because pets will scratch legos or legos will have "pet-smell"? i don't mind scratches but i hate smelly legos. do you get rid of the smell using the same technique as well? Pet free relates to people who have allergies to fur, animal dandruf, etc. Prolonge UV light exposure discolours lego and should be avoided. A few hours sufficient to try the Lego shoudl not be an issue. AFter it's dry, I would advise storing in a warm dark place with good air circulation (warm helps smells evaporate faster, dark to avoid disclouration) for a few days-weeks. Quote
Sir Dillon Posted May 5, 2006 Posted May 5, 2006 I recieved some Lego that smelled like smoke. I soaked them in a bucket of warm soapy water for severel hours, and when I took them out, the smell wasn't there. :-) Quote
natelite Posted May 5, 2006 Author Posted May 5, 2006 thanks guys, particularly gylman. that's really good tips. good to know. Quote
captaintau Posted May 5, 2006 Posted May 5, 2006 This is why I never buy used LEGO. Except for the RGS which was advertised as new. Used LEGO also takes away the fun of assembly, unless you have a thoughtful, willing seller. Frankly, all smokers should be locked up. When was the last time you saw a minifig with a cigarette? Quote
Sir Dillon Posted May 5, 2006 Posted May 5, 2006 When was the last time you saw a minifig with a cigarette? http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/ratz/mis...06_raucher2.jpg :-P (not my picture, BTW) Quote
UltraPrime Posted May 5, 2006 Posted May 5, 2006 Frankly, all smokers should be locked up. I'll try not to take that personally ;-) But, yes, it isn't a good habit. Quote
captaintau Posted May 5, 2006 Posted May 5, 2006 Frankly, all smokers should be locked up. I'll try not to take that personally ;-) Its not meant personally, like to any specific individual. Broad-spectrum oppinion that I stand by. http://www.martialartsvillage.org/mavforum...read.php?p=1946 Nothing to do with LEGO, but very interesting Quote
SuvieD Posted May 8, 2006 Posted May 8, 2006 You can also spray an odor eliminating spray such as febreeze or oust before washing. This took the smell out of even the rubber tires. I also found that using the hottest water you can get from the tap is better than just warm or kind of hot. The heat releases the odors better and makes the plastic let go of any dirt or grime better. I had to dry out 30 lbs of LEGO at once and found that spreading out towels and placing a fan dried them quick enough. Make sure you flip your parts after they look dry as water settles in all the tubes and corners. Quote
xenologer Posted May 8, 2006 Posted May 8, 2006 Its not meant personally, like to any specific individual. Broad-spectrum oppinion that I stand by. http://www.martialartsvillage.org/mavforum...read.php?p=1946 Nothing to do with LEGO, but very interesting But the 'broad-spectrum' is made up of millions of individuals, so isn't that kinda a millions of times worse than if you had aimed at specifically UltraPrime? Or does not knowing who they are make it OK, like throwing bricks into a crowd randomly? -Just a thought about broad opinions. Anyhow, yeah, Smoking is kinda gross, I don't care if anyone wants to do it though as long as its not near me they can do whatever they want with their body. I'm all for freedom and legalized drug use and so on, people should be allowed to make choices good and bad (not gonna lock anyone up). Quote
captaintau Posted May 8, 2006 Posted May 8, 2006 Its not meant personally, like to any specific individual. Broad-spectrum oppinion that I stand by. http://www.martialartsvillage.org/mavforum...read.php?p=1946 Nothing to do with LEGO, but very interesting But the 'broad-spectrum' is made up of millions of individuals, so isn't that kinda a millions of times worse than if you had aimed at specifically UltraPrime? Or does not knowing who they are make it OK, like throwing bricks into a crowd randomly? -Just a thought about broad opinions. No, not as bad. I just mean that UP shouldn't take it as a targetted-at-he-personally comment. He personally has done me no harm. Smokers generally, they do me lots of harm, which is my point. Which I stand by. Quote
xenologer Posted May 8, 2006 Posted May 8, 2006 No, not as bad. I just mean that UP shouldn't take it as a targetted-at-he-personally comment. He personally has done me no harm. Smokers generally, they do me lots of harm, which is my point. Which I stand by. I think it's worse. Which I stand by. You don't know smokers in general, but perhaps you are harmed by one who regularly rides the same bus as you on the way to work. You could specifically point out 'the smokers I'm stuck with on the bus everyday' for example, instead of just all smokers. Since it's only the ones near you that you breathe smoke from; there are plenty of other who I'm sure are courteous enough to stay in the smoking sections of restaruants and so foruth. Take an analagous situation, if rather than smokers, this was a question of having a problem with people of a given race, vs a single annoying neighbor. Generalizations are worse because they let us put blame indiscriminatly without having to face anyone properly. Bleh, when I saw this topic title I thought it was goint to talk about Smoke colored lego windscreens. The PickaBrick at my local store always has hundreds of car windscreens, but theyre all trltblue, I want smoke colored ones. Its a more neutral color and lets me use it with more different color combos. On a semi related note, my oldest bricks from when I was a kid dont smell, but they often feel greasy or oily. This kinda goes away with a hot water wash. I usually shake them dry and dont worry about any remaining moisture. Hows water going to hurt plastic anyhow? Quote
gylman Posted May 9, 2006 Posted May 9, 2006 Hows water going to hurt plastic anyhow? Water won't hurt Lego. Water with soap will evaporate leaving soap scum on the bricks. Quote
SlyOwl Posted December 8, 2007 Posted December 8, 2007 When I got an elephant and a couple of Adventurers minifigs off eBay reeking of smoke, a simpl elong play with them reduced the smell - then they got mixed up with other bricks and now all smell alike; I don't know why, but just mixing and holding them removes the smell; trying not to smell them helps too ;-) Pirate-King-Skelly-Killer-SlyOwl Quote
Indy565 Posted December 9, 2007 Posted December 9, 2007 I hate it when that happens! :-X Maybe air freshner might work? Quote
ExoBuilder Posted December 9, 2007 Posted December 9, 2007 I hate it when that happens! :-X Maybe air freshner might work? I wouldn't count on it. Stuff like Pledge and Windex or anything like that completely ruins Legos. It's a very sad thought. :'-( :'-( Quote
Indy565 Posted December 10, 2007 Posted December 10, 2007 (edited) I wouldn't count on it. Stuff like Pledge and Windex or anything like that completely ruins Legos. It's a very sad thought. :'-( :'-( Dang! How can something that smells be so good be so evil? :'-( Edited December 10, 2007 by Indy565 Quote
ExoBuilder Posted December 10, 2007 Posted December 10, 2007 Dang! How can something that smells be so good be so evil? :'-( Thats just the way life is...sorry buddy 8-| :-/ Quote
Indy565 Posted December 10, 2007 Posted December 10, 2007 Thats just the way life is...sorry buddy 8-| :-/ Curse you Pledge and Windex! >:-( Quote
ExoBuilder Posted December 10, 2007 Posted December 10, 2007 Curse you Pledge and Windex! >:-( And Megablocks..... >:-) X-D Quote
phoinix Posted December 10, 2007 Posted December 10, 2007 you could also add some lemon in the soapy water that really helps to remove the smell i should know..im a heavy smoker! Quote
Medievalego Posted December 10, 2007 Posted December 10, 2007 Smoking is cool! All the cool people on TV and in movies and on cheap advertising at bus stops do it! *Even camels!* Sweet .... (takes a drag) .... oh sweet nicotine goodness .... mmmm, yeaaaah. Just so this isn't totally off topic ... LEGO ... Quote
Indy565 Posted December 10, 2007 Posted December 10, 2007 (edited) Smoking is cool! All the cool people on TV and in movies and on cheap advertising at bus stops do it! *Even camels!* Sweet .... (takes a drag) .... oh sweet nicotine goodness .... mmmm, yeaaaah. Just so this isn't totally off topic ... LEGO ... Smoking is not cool! You make me :-X Edited December 10, 2007 by Indy565 Quote
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