When Coated Nylon Turns Stinky

“Why does coated nylon turn foul smelling, and is there any way to prevent it? If you put old stinky stuff sacs in a box with new ones, do the new ones get contaminated?

I'm not talking about B.O. Its a real chemical smell that is characteristic of old coated nylon. When a stuff sac smells like that, is it still waterproof?”

“I know that smell. Not sure if you can prevent it, but this works pretty well to get rid of the smell: mix a half-cup of Lysol in one gallon of hot water. Soak your items in this mix for an hour or two, then shake them off and air-dry. Once they're all dry, mix a cup of salt and one cup of concentrated lemon juice and mix it with another gallon of hot water. Soak your items with this. Rinse (maybe a couple times) and air dry.”

“ya.. good advice..

Here's another lists of answers I pulled off the net that looked promising on a somewhat related subject:
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My husband drives a fuel truck. Does anyone know how to remove smells/stains of diesel/gasoline from his work clothes? The smell permeates everything! It's turning cold where we live and I will not be able to dry them outside much longer!
-- Chris J.


Coke Classic
When washing these clothes pour a can of Coca-Cola Classic in the machine with your detergent. This will remove the petroleum products completely, which I suspect is the problem. You must use Coke!
-- W.


Baking Soda
My husband drives a fuel tanker as well; I have found that adding 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda when I add detergent helps remove the odors and stains from his work clothes. If the baking soda doesn't help try pre-washing in Pine-Sol or Mr.Clean, either one removes the stains and oily residue from the clothes.
-- Denise G.


Amonia
To get odors out of you clothes, add some plain ammonia to the water while washing them. Gets rid of musty smells. Put it in the water with your soap and other things, not on top of the clothes. Use 1/2 cup. I used it in washing old "down" quilts that had been in an attic for a long time. Washed them and set them outside in the air. Were good as new.
-- Nancy


Special Pre-Wash
Try rubbing mechanic's hand soap (GoJo Creme is a common brandname)on the oily spots, then wash as normal. The best type is the kind that doesn't need water, contains lanolin and is commonly found in a plastic tub (for about $.99). I got this trick from a woman who always wore white and worked with me in a machine shop(!), at the end of the day she would put some hand soap on any (the many) spots and they always came out. I've since found out it will remove almost any stain.
-- Eric W


Vinegar
My late husband used to drive a fuel truck, and the diesel fuel was the worst smell to get out, what I put in the laundry to help clean better and get rid of the odors was 1 to 2 cups of white vineagar, it also helped get the grease and oil out of his clothes. The vineagar is good to use just to get better smelling clothes.
-- Vivian O.


Good Quality Detergent
My hisband is a diesel mechanic and I have had to wash his uniform for over ten years. I find that washing them in hot water with Tide with Bleach and drying them with a fabric softener sheet works fine. (I learned long ago that using a "bargain brand" detergent in not worth it, I only use Tide with Bleach alterantive. You may also try adding !/2 cup of whjie vinegar to the rinse water. I just put it in my fabric softener dispenser. if you don't have this feature on your amchine try one of those "Downy Balls"
-- Patricia R


Oil to Remove Oil
Try adding a drop or two of eucalyptus oil to the wash after filled with water.
-- Andy P.


Pinesol
I found after years of greasy clothes leaving gunk in my washer that, heavy duty (industrial) pinesol (approx. 3/4 cup in full load) along with the soap does a GREAT job.
-- M.


Dishwashing Pre-Treat
My fiancée drives a semi-truck and always seems to be getting either diesel fuel or axle grease on his clothing. The best thing I've found to remove the stains and smell is to pre-treat the clothing with Dawn dishwashing detergent, and then wash them as usual. I have even added some to the whole load to get rid of the fuel smell.
--Sherry W.”

“Careful here...harsh detergents and chemical cleaners are going to wipe out any coating on the nylon. Wash with a mild detergent and air dry outdoors if possible. I don't think you will ever get all of the smell out of coated nylon but then I associate that smell with backpacking and it's a good thing;-)”

“heh.. Pamster? Deb won't let me wash ANYTHING at home beyond bath clothes and towels.

She knows I don't know diddly about washing! All that sorting by color and style confuses the heck out of me. I am only SAFE around something simple; namely doing the bath clothes and towels.

:)”

“I need to send Tight Wad Bob, err Honey over to give you lessons. He does most of the laundry at our house. He doesn't like the way I do it! Especially the ironing! I guess it's that ex-military thing. Those creases have to be juuuuusssstttt sssssoooo.”

“uMm.. that's ok Pamster.. I don't want to be educated.. I like being stupid.

:)

'sides.. I get all the yard and mowing, and weedeating, and landscape, and closing the pool last night, and the outbuildings, and the barn, and picking up limbs, and firing up the chainsaw.. and cutting wood for the winter..”

“Thanks!”