Sardine Oil - Smell Everywhere

Shrimply

Hey Guys,

Not sure if this is the right place, and I apologise if it isn't, but I'm becoming more and more traumatised and I need some advice.

I use tinned sardines in cooking reasonably often, they are a cheap alternative to tuna in pasta etc and I've never had this issue. These sardines came from Lidl though, whereas I usually buy them from ASDA. I'm now scared to used the second tin sitting in the cupboard.

As far as I'm aware I didn't do anything differently, and the sardines themselves were fine to eat. Afterwards I rinsed the tin in cold water and then washed it in the dish water after all the other dishes.

Since then though I can smell fish oil everywhere, and I have a pretty strong stomach but it makes me gag. The tin is no longer in the house, it went straight to the recycling outside. I've washed the sink and basin with hot soapy water, which seems to have solved that problem. I was getting the smell following around the house with me though, and it appears that some of the dish water must have splashed onto the sleeve of my jumper. So that's now in the wash.

But I can not for the life of me get the smell out of the dish cloth, I've soaked it in bleach and hot soapy water and its still there.

So I have two questions, firstly does anyone know why this has happened. Is it the type of sardine, did I do something stupid, have I just been lucky in the past. This can't be normal.

And secondly what is the best method to eliminate the smell for the dish cloth and anything else I discover that stinks.

GreenQueen

I've found previously that lemon juice can get rid of a fishy smell - as long as you know what items the smell is coming from.

GQ

suki1964

Sometimes it's just "phantom " smell iykwim Like you have the smell up your nose so everything smells. This happens to me now and then and then I get a migraine. Once the migraine comes on the smell disappears

However saying that, I'm not at all fussed on lidls sardines. Had a couple of cans that the oil had solidified in Stopped buying them and just get form tesco when on special offer

carriebradshaw

I use the lidl ones and I've never had a problem with the fishy smell lingering in the house or on the dishcloth after washing & bleaching .I buy the tesco ones as well not much difference between them so far.You could try putting the dishcloth in the freezer overnight that sometimes works with strong odours

Farway

I know this is MSE, but why not just bin the dishcloth?

I use Adsa Smart price sardines, and never had a problem with smells etc

The_Only_Girl

GreenQueen wrote: »

I've found previously that lemon juice can get rid of a fishy smell - as long as you know what items the smell is coming from.

GQ

Hi I agree with GreenQueen about the lemon. You can soak your dish cloth in warm water with lemon juice overnight/or rub lemon on the dishcloth and soak overnight and then stick it in the washing machine. My mother used to keep the lemon skins and simmer in water while cooking fish. It helps get rid of fishy smell. I also use the same method for the microwave (put a lemon skin in a bowl of water and run the microwave for 2-3 minutes). Scented candles while cooking also tends to help.

Owain_Moneysaver

When I was young, and sharing a flat, a flatmate used the oil from sardines to oil his bicycle ... which he kept in his bedroom in the flat.

sidefx

Farway wrote: »

I know this is MSE, but why not just bin the dishcloth?

Just what I was thinking. :money:

Shrimply

Thanks guy, I guess I will give the Lidl Sardines another chance. I appreciated all the helpful advice.

Farway wrote: »

I know this is MSE, but why not just bin the dishcloth?

This sort of attitude still shocks me a bit. The answer - I don't agree with the throwaway society we live in, or unnecessarily adding to landfill. So I buy hard wearing dishcloths that are meant to last, not get chucked away at the first opportunity.

And because it was a simple fix. Turns out a soak in water with a few drops of tea tree oil and a good rinse solved the problem totally .

I could of course have just binned it...