How do you get rid of that smell?

[Bob Robeson]

I bought a used C-36 and it had a leaky fuel (diesel)tank. I do not know how long it leaked, but all the uphostery was well permiated. Good thing it need new upholstery.That diesel smell has penetrated everything, so are replaceing all fabric, foam, curtains etc. And I have spent a lot of time cleaning the bilge and airing out the boat. But I can still smell diesel, all-be-it not near as badly.Does anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of the smell once and for all.Lysol just does not cut it.ThanksBob

 

[LaDonna Bubak - Planet Catalina]

Air Sponge

Hi Bob!The West Marine at Delta Park had a pretty good supply of a product called Air Sponge last week.It comes in a tub (like margarine) & you pop off the lid & place it wherever it smells. I'd buy several & place them throughout the boat. Supposedly, the goo inside sucks up the odors. I've used it & it does work but dont put them in small cupboards cuz the goo will eventually emit a faint weird odor (not as bad as diesel) that builds up in very small spaces.They were on one of those racks that attaches to the shelves at eye level (POP type display), and I think it was on the head aisle. Good luck!LaDonna

 

[Todd Osborne]

Vinegar

Vinegar does an excellent job of absorbing odors, and its cheap too!

 

[LaDonna Bubak - Planet Catalina]

Clarification

I'm not sure I was clear about Air Sponge. You just open it up & it sucks the odors out of the air. You don't wipe it on anything. Just a clarification!LaDonna

 

[Gary Jensen]

ridding the diesel smell

I had my diesel tank leak also. I did replace it instead of re-welding it. When I had it out, I used a degreaser that I bought at Wallmart. Its sold at some auto stores also at 5 times the Wallmart price. I washed the whole bildge with a huge sponge. I vacuumed all the upholstry with a dirt devil vacuum cleaner. I wiped all the teak with teak oil and I used the degreaser on all the overhead and hard serfaces with great results. The thing is that the diesel was not in the bilge very long----perhaps a week. There was only maybe six ounces(although six ounces goes along way when cleaning up). I am a fuss bug, and so is my wife, when it comes to cleaning the boat. None of our guests on the boat have ever experienced a fowl smell.

 

[Bob Camarena]

Ionizer

Although I've never had too bad of a problem with any kind of odors onboard, I have had pretty good luck with small ionizers. I've used battery powered, 12V DC and small AC powered ones with similar results. They also minimize or eliminate mildew. Check the automotive catalogs for ones that plug into cigarette lighter receptacles. If you have a big problem, you can rent larger units that are designed to de-odorize homes after smoke or flood damage.