how to get rid of damp smell?

melt71

I've just managed to aquire a full Britax travel system on Freecycle. It's got a pram suitable from birth and a car seat that can also be used in the pram. It's great but it has damp in the covers. I've washed them all with powder/soda crystals and vinegar and it still smells funny. There's no way that I would risk putting a baby in it to be honest even though it's only a slight smell of damp.

Does anyone know how to resolve this or is it only fit for the dump

Mel

Louisa_2

Hello

Are you pregnant at the moment? Only ask because this does really funny things to your sense of smell, and a book I read when I was expecting had a tale about a lady who threw away new duvet after new duvet because she thought they were mildewed - they weren't, or at least no one else could smell it

We were having some building work done when I was pregnant and the smell of sawdust was terrible, I couldn't stand my husbands deodorant and as for the cat food, well....

Perhaps get your other half/a friend to have a good sniff for you if you are pregnant, if they look at you a bit strangely and pat you on the head saying "there there" the travel system might be fine!

Just a thought, I can't help otherwise I'm afraid other than suggesting a good airing on the washing line on a fine day.

Lou

melt71

Hi, no I'm not pregnant. The pram is for my OH's niece who is coming to stay soon and then hopefully we will be using it next year as we are planning to have a baby then. It was actually my OH and my daughter that smelt the funny smell in the first place and now I've had a good sniff I can smell it too. It's not really bad but I am worried about using it for a baby just in case it causes any health problems if you know what I mean.

Thanks for your reply,

Mel

*Sparkle*_3

perhaps them new sprays out now can kill off the smell, they advertise them as not just masking over the smell but they actually get rid of the bacteria that causes the smell, perhaps that could help?
i know "oust" do one...

melt71

Thanks very much, I didn't know about these, I only knew about the general air freshners. I'll give it a shot and see what happens.

Kazonline

I don't want to scare monger but I'm sure that I once heared that second hand matresses etc were suspected as a cause of cot death because of certain mold spores etc. I could be wrong, but I can't not say anything as I'd worry. You could try asking a health visitor?
Kaz x

Thriftylady

you could try sprinkling it with bicarbonate of soda and leaving it for maybe a day and then vacuuming it off - this soaks up all sorts of smells, it could be worth trying.

mamaoba

I'm with kazoline on this one. I'm a tight-fisted as anyone but not when it comes to my babies saftey - if you've washed it throughroughly and it still smells get rid, SIDS is too horrifying to take chances with.

ariba10

Out on a clothes line on a windy day will take some beating.

memorygirl

Beg, borrow - or erm! borrow a steam cleaner.

A VERY thorough deep steam clean will kill any spores with the benefit of not adding any additional chemicals into the mix - then out for a really good airing on the line until absolutely dry again.

If you've got space - tie the covers into a plastic bag and bung in the freezer overnight - we do this with soft toys every now and again to kill any little bits still lurking around after a wash.

Still pongy after all that - might be time to try Freecycle again for another item.

Good luck for next year by the way - I'd love to try for another, but not tilll the debt is clearer.

Memorygirl

janb5

It`s the covers that have a damp smell- there isnt a mattress involved. It sounds as tho` the wholething has been stored in a damp placeand it needs to dry out properly. Maybe you could dry it out in the airing cupboard or if you havent got one, then borrow someone else`s..

(I am a HV by the way -)