Removing Smoke Smell/Colouring - Help UPDATE

LastMantra · May 2023

Some activated charcoal?

Turn it into a bong?

bertie · May 2023

LastMantra said:

Some activated charcoal?

Turn it into a bong?

got 2 bags in the car for "anti mutt" deodorising, seems to work

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B089T1MFJ5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ;

oh and this is the thing we have in the fridge

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ozone-Generator-Refrigerator-Deodorizer-Preservation/dp/B08LMN4G7J/ref=sr_1_3?crid=12EE9HVYOQP23&keywords=ozone+generators+fridge&qid=1685453270&s=kitchen&sprefix=ozone+generators+fridge,kitchen,79&sr=1-3

ToneControl · May 2023

I bought a nice acoustic a few years back that stank

I got rid of the smell over a year.

Firstly: the padded case - easier, open it and put in somewhere hot. In the sun, on a radiator, etc.
I used to use this technique with smoke-impregnated jackets before the smoking ban in clubs. Also spray it with febreeze or whatever, or just some nice EDP

Secondly: the guitar was much harder, all you can really do is just keeping it out of the case, spray a bit of EDP inside it, clean it with decent guitar cleaner, properly clean and condition the fretboard

smudge_lad · May 2023

ToneControl said:

I bought a nice acoustic a few years back that stank

I got rid of the smell over a year.

Firstly: the padded case - easier, open it and put in somewhere hot. In the sun, on a radiator, etc.
I used to use this technique with smoke-impregnated jackets before the smoking ban in clubs. Also spray it with febreeze or whatever, or just some nice EDP

Secondly: the guitar was much harder, all you can really do is just keeping it out of the case, spray a bit of EDP inside it, clean it with decent guitar cleaner, properly clean and condition the fretboard

What is EDP?

BillDL · May 2023

I think it may have replaced DDT?

Eau de Poilette?

tomjax · May 2023

LastMantra said:

Some activated charcoal?

Turn it into a bong?

I tried two bags of that in the guitar in the case, sadly no effect whatsoever.

bertie · May 2023

tomjax said:

LastMantra said:

Some activated charcoal?

Turn it into a bong?

I tried two bags of that in the guitar in the case, sadly no effect whatsoever.

try that ozone thing I posted

tomjax · May 2023

bertie said:

tomjax said:

LastMantra said:

Some activated charcoal?

Turn it into a bong?

I tried two bags of that in the guitar in the case, sadly no effect whatsoever.

try that ozone thing I posted

Nope, I'm already sorted - cedar shavings!

JezWynd · June 2023

I found lighter fluid worked well on a recent bass overhaul. The bass smelt strongly of skunk and tobacco and felt tacky to touch. I applied a small amount of lighter fluid to a cloth and worked over the body and parts (used cotton buds for smaller parts like bridge and saddles). After all the tar had been removed I followed up with Gibson guitar polish for the body and F One oil for fretboard. Worked very well and took the bad odours away completely. An acoustic will likely be more challenging as the interior is raw wood that will soak up the tar but cleaning the exterior will be a big improvement.

smudge_lad · June 2023

Thanks for all the input guys.

I’m waiting on a delivery of cedar chips to store inside the guitar, and have bought the Dunlop guitar cleaning kit to try and cover all bases for cleaning and see how it goes from there.

If after that it still smells, I’ll try some lighter fluid and a blow torch…

guitarjack66 · June 2023

smudge_lad said:

Thanks for all the input guys.

I’m waiting on a delivery of cedar chips to store inside the guitar, and have bought the Dunlop guitar cleaning kit to try and cover all bases for cleaning and see how it goes from there.

If after that it still smells, I’ll try some lighter fluid and a blow torch…

Good luck. Tobacco smoke and stains are some of the most horrible smells on the planet. I can happily breathe in a herd of cow shite than endure the smell(and unavoidable taste!) of second hand tobacco smoke.

ToneControl · June 2023

smudge_lad said:

ToneControl said:

I bought a nice acoustic a few years back that stank

I got rid of the smell over a year.

Firstly: the padded case - easier, open it and put in somewhere hot. In the sun, on a radiator, etc.
I used to use this technique with smoke-impregnated jackets before the smoking ban in clubs. Also spray it with febreeze or whatever, or just some nice EDP

Secondly: the guitar was much harder, all you can really do is just keeping it out of the case, spray a bit of EDP inside it, clean it with decent guitar cleaner, properly clean and condition the fretboard

What is EDP?

Eau de parfum
or try Eau de toilette.

Basically decent quality perfume

guitarjack66 · June 2023

ToneControl said:

smudge_lad said:

ToneControl said:

I bought a nice acoustic a few years back that stank

I got rid of the smell over a year.

Firstly: the padded case - easier, open it and put in somewhere hot. In the sun, on a radiator, etc.
I used to use this technique with smoke-impregnated jackets before the smoking ban in clubs. Also spray it with febreeze or whatever, or just some nice EDP

Secondly: the guitar was much harder, all you can really do is just keeping it out of the case, spray a bit of EDP inside it, clean it with decent guitar cleaner, properly clean and condition the fretboard

What is EDP?

Eau de parfum
or try Eau de toilette.

Basically decent quality perfume

I am an Old Spice man(not really!) Mind you,if you use that its smell will leave the tobacco smell as a distant memory although I think I'd prefer the tobacco smoke!

smudge_lad · June 2023

So I finally had a go at cleaning the guitar
tonight. I didn’t manage to get some
of the bleach wipes but decided just to use the wipes I had, hot water and the Dunlop cleaners.

Managed to give it a good clean and it wasn’t an actually as bad as I first thought. Everything was going well until I was almost finished and decided to try the EDT suggestion to add some
extra fragrance, but unfortunately this has clung to the finish and I’ve not been able to remove it from the headstock, as the pictures show.

Can anyone now suggest what I can use to clean this off? None of the stuff I had managed to remove any of it. I obviously don’t want to damage the finish.

Im going to leave the strings off tonight in the hope I can get some suggestions, but obviously want to get it restrung ASAP

Winny_Pooh · June 2023

Lighter fluid (naphtha).

If that doesn't work a light abrasive polish like mequires or t-cut, not a "guitar" polish with silicone or shite.

BillDL · June 2023

I assume EDT means Eau de Toilette [correction Parfum]? That contains alcohol and oils that can soften and damage lacquer. Personally I would leave the guitar for a few days in case it has softenened the lacquer. If you start rubbing softened lacquer with even fine abrasives like T-Cut it usually just makes more of a mess and starts rubbing off into tiny balls/rolls, like you get when trying to sand badly mixed and improperly cured 2-part epoxy with fine wet & dry paper. The surface needs to be hard before you try and buff it with an abrasive cream.

bertie · June 2023

BillDL said:

I assume EDT means Eau de Toilette? That contains alcohol and oils that can soften and damage lacquer. .

that's my first thoughts, its "reacted" with the finish rather than left residue.

Mellish · June 2023

Lighter fluid and/or Virtuoso cleaner.

If you can't find the latter, shoot me a PM.

EDIT: Ah, didn't read above comments. And there's something else I should've mentioned: Virtuoso on Nitro only.

smudge_lad · June 2023

Mellish said:

Lighter fluid and/or Virtuoso cleaner.

If you can't find the latter, shoot me a PM.

EDIT: Ah, didn't read above comments. And there's something else I should've mentioned: Virtuoso on Nitro only.

I think I found the virtuoso cleaner when I checked recently.

Dumb question - how did I know if it’s a nitro finish?

Im guessing this shouldn’t be used on the headstock then?

Mellish · June 2023

It depends what finish the headstock has. Is it satin? It doesn't look it to me but it's difficult to be sure. Check out the factory specs.

Mellish · June 2023

The body has a Nitro finish. If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say the headstock front does, too.

If that's the case case, Virtuoso Cleaner will be safe to use there but keep it away from satin or raw wood.

If you have difficulty finding it, you can get it from The Guitar Repair Workshop, Salford.

Mellish · June 2023

If you do buy Virtuoso Cleaner, it's a good idea to get Virtuoso Polish, too, to restore the shine after you're done.

Rio · June 2023

I've owned two guitars with this problem and was never able to get rid of the smell. One was stolen (end of problem), and I wound up selling the other after months of elbow grease and cleaner.

Rio

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Removing Smoke Smell/Colouring - Help *UPDATE*

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Removing Smoke Smell/Colouring - Help UPDATE