Oooh that smell...

[wp34]

I've got an NBA Jam in my garage that stinks.    My family does not want it in the basement due to the smell. 

This is my first cabinet. Is it common for older cabinets to stink? 

[THE POKER BRAT]

open it up and see whats inside hiding,..rotting away like an animal that died in there,..y
take it apart and wash it down gently,..a little febreeze will help, if not, then maybe some amonia in a small bucket and to be left inside the machine for a few days will help,.. you really need to give it a good clean bath,....come on man,..use your (instinks)!   

[mvsfan]

Dude forget anything youve ever heard and forget Febreze, it doesnt do anything but cover the stink and then it smells like pretty stink.

My dad Owns a car business and we constantly deal with off road trucks that redefine the meaning of off road.

Some folks like to go hunting and prepare everything right on the spot out in the woods and they never bother to clean up the fresh guts off of themselves or the truck.

And then, they cant make payment and it gets repossesed, and then we buy it...

anyway the best thing to day to get rid of foul or dead anything smell is this stuff called fabuloso.

its purple and comes in about a half gallon bottle, and anything you put it on it literally kills the smell and the germs.

It doesnt at all leave you with the fabuloso on top but somethings still dead feeling.

im not a hunter myself, never will be, but i just know how to clean up an automotive mess.

Z71 reposessions are some of the filthiest of anything that we encouter and buy cause we know they will clean up with the right stuff.

anyways if your old cabinet is experiencing some funky stink you cant seem to get rid of,

my best suggestion after years of soaking horrible trucks and cars with it is purple fabuloso avaiable at dollar general and wal mart.

main thing with a cabinet though is that you dont want to get it too wet or the particleboard will start swelling.

another good piece of advice too is to first clean out any dead animals and / or bugs first before you try the Fabulous.

[Octo]

That would really suck if it was mold inside the particle board... do the panels show any signs of warping, like they've soaked up water? You may be replacing some wood in there.

[DJ_Izumi]

Dude forget anything youve ever heard and forget Febreze, it doesnt do anything but cover the stink and then it smells like pretty stink.

No, that's not how Febreze works at all.  It's not an 'air freshener'.  The main ingrediant is Cyclodextrin, a sorta Cheerio shaped starch molicule that can effectively trap a smaller smelly molicule inside it and make that molicule too big to affect the human senses.  Though technicly the smell is still there it's trapped in something else and can't be detected anymore.

However, I don't think that Febreze could work that effective on wood since you'd need to spray on a hell of a LOT to get it to soak incompletely.  It's more for fabrics than anything else.  I'd agree with amonia or bleach or something in a case like this.  Just of course be sure to ventilate your work space.

[Ummon]

Febreeze stinks cos they add smelly stuff for chicks - partly so they can revel in it, partly cos the stink assures them it's doing something (whether it is). That stuff is toxic. Ammonia is a good, sorta natural substance that does the same kind of thing. You can also use an ozonator. And that fabu stuff might be okay.

[Malenko]

I usually use a latex based primer on the inside to effectively seal the inside of the cab. it helped out with my stinky MVS's

[SavannahLion]

You can also use an ozonator.

O₃? Are you serious? If you want to destroy your lungs and rust out any metals you got inside that cab, that would be viable solution. Well... if you must, you must. Treat it as a toxic chemical and remove all the circuit boards and wiring from the cab before you go with destroying the gross with oxygen.

Ozone generators have their place, just not in a home.

[torez]

After you are done with cleaning put baking soda in the cabinet.  Either use one of these Arm&Hammer boxes that people use for a fridge or for best performance just spread it on some paper on the bottom of the cab.

[protokatie]

The ammonia bucket idea sounds like a good first option (after you mechanically clean your cab out). Just whatever you do, don't us a bucket of bleach inside. Both ammonia and sodiumhypochlorite(bleach) will evaporate inside the cab and kill anything from bacteria to fungus(I would fathom that fungus is the culprit) that is on or even in the wood. The problem with evaporating bleach in this type of environment is that bleach is a strong oxidizer and will have a good chance of corroding metals.

Another suggestion that might work is to mix 1 part vinegar 1 part wood alcohol and 1 part ammonia and use a sponge to wash the inside of the cab (and maybe even the outside as well). Just don't soak the wood with it, as all three of these products contain water (85% for vinegar, 30% for wood alcohol, and I forgot how much water is present in ammonia, but for it to exist as a liquid at STP it has to be aqueous.) Maybe have a wet/dry vac handy to suck up any excess fluid while doing this. And no matter what you do, do not mix sodiumhypochlorite with ammonia, unless you want to create AmmoniumChloride and have lung damage and or death. But we all know this rule )

[protokatie]

After you are done with cleaning put baking soda in the cabinet.  Either use one of these Arm&Hammer boxes that people use for a fridge or for best performance just spread it on some paper on the bottom of the cab.

You wrote this as I was typing my reply above. That is a good idea! Maybe even mix in some dry rice with it to help soak up excess moisture as well (old granny trick to prevent salt from caking, it would prolly help prevent the A&H from absorbing too much moisture as well so it could do its job better).

[DJ_Izumi]

Febreeze stinks cos they add smelly stuff for chicks - partly so they can revel in it, partly cos the stink assures them it's doing something (whether it is). That stuff is toxic. Ammonia is a good, sorta natural substance that does the same kind of thing.

So your arguement is that a house hold product, safe to use on fabrics in ready contact with humans, is toxic, but ammonia hydroxide, that's totally natural and safe?

[TOK]

Malenko is doing it in the way that is pretty much regarded as the best. Strip the guts, sponge clean the inside with a mix of bleach and water, let it dry in the sun and either prime or paint it to prevent any remaining funk smell.

Its time consuming, but stuff like Fabreez is just a band aid.

[CheffoJeffo]

Malenko is doing it in the way that is pretty much regarded as the best. Strip the guts, sponge clean the inside with a mix of bleach and water, let it dry in the sun and either prime or paint it to prevent any remaining funk smell.

Its time consuming, but stuff like Fabreez is just a band aid.

+1

[Dr Zero]

Malenko is doing it in the way that is pretty much regarded as the best. Strip the guts, sponge clean the inside with a mix of bleach and water, let it dry in the sun and either prime or paint it to prevent any remaining funk smell.

Its time consuming, but stuff like Fabreez is just a band aid.

That is a good plan, might try some liquid lysol also  **warning though this stuff is strong and will take a bit to dissipate till then your house will smell like a hospital but it will the cleanest cab in town**

http://www.lysol.com/products/all-purpose-cleaners/brand-concentrate/

http://www.lysol.com/aftertheflood/

After the hurricanes we use alot of Lysol, bleach and fabuloso 

[shardian]

I'll look for that fabuloso stuff this evening. I've never heard of it. I just pulled a stinky plywood cabinet outside last weekend, sprayed it liberally with orange clean, then hosed it down after a few minutes. The inside was minty fresh clean, and dried quickly.

[Todd H]

Paint the inside with Kilz primer and that should take care of the smell.

[ultrageek]

I have no suggestions, but all of the suggestions so far have merrit.
 

I'm just amazed at how much this thread sounds like a "Dear Abby" column.
"How do I get out a wine stain?"
"Try club soda."
"Try more wine."
"Rub some mayonaise on it, then rub an ice cube on it and then it will just break off."

 

[bkenobi]

Bleach + ammonia = death cloud...seriously!  DON'T DO IT!

[DeLuSioNal29]

When I vacationed in Panama earlier this year, I came across Fabuloso and took a pic.  LOL.  It doesn't always come in purple.  I though it was a funny name.  Mistolin is another that I thought was funny.  It's a knock off of Mister Clean, but got lost in translation.

But seriously, you'll probably want to vacuum out the cabinet, then wipe the cabinet down.  Use any floor cleaning product (like Mr. Clean, etc).  Put a tiny bit in a 1 gallon bucket of water.  Use a rag, (wring it out so that it doesn't drip) and wipe the entire cabinet down.  You don't want to get it too wet.  Do this once.  Let it dry.  Get new water and do it again.  Let it dry.  They spray the inside with any type of rustoleum spray paint. 1 can should do it.  It doesn't have to be perfect.  Let it dry for a week to air out and the smell should be gone.

That's what I did.  I had one that smelled like cigarettes after I bought it from a chain smoker.

DeLuSioNaL

[wp34]

I appreciate all the tips.   

I agree that stripping the cab to clean it would be most effective.  But I'd like to avoid that if possible.  A previous owner did a number on the cab I assume when replacing the monitor.   I'm afraid it is going to fall apart if I try to remove the monitor.

I will try cleaning and painting the areas I can get to.  The baking soda idea makes a lot of sense as well.

Mainly I was trying to get an idea if this was common in old cabinets.  I'm going to try and clean it up as best as possible and sell it for what I have in it. 

[DJ_Izumi]

I'd suggest going with bleach, just bleach, don't mix it with anything but water.  Bleach will effectively denature any bacteria or just about anything else that's soaked into the wood.

[SavannahLion]

Paint the inside with Kilz primer and that should take care of the smell.

Kilz just traps the smell within the wood, it doesn't fix whatever is causing the smell. If the smell is caused by cigarette smoke and booze, then it would probably be the first thing to try. Because the cause, cigarettes and beer, is no longer around the cab. If it's caused by mold, you'll create bigger problems if you don't take care of the mold problem first. If it's mold, do the bleach solution someone else suggested first, dry the wood out completely then kilz it to seal the wood from further mold growth (hopefully) and further moisture problems. This is exactly what Kilz suggests.

[Malenko]

I wiped mine down with a cap full of bleach to a gallon and a half of water, damp rag. This was of course after I pulled EVERYTHING out of the cab. I let it dry outside on a nice day, then primed the inside. The smell wasnt terrible, but there was no point in letting it stink if I could get rid of it. Plus I think the inside of the cab white looks nifty.


You shouldn't just prime/paint it without cleaning first.

[THE POKER BRAT]

well,..i wish you good luck with your arcade thats falling apart,...if you think is gonna collapse when you remove the monitor,...then strip it down, and thow out the cabinet
(prob too weak to hold up)
anyway,..your stinky arcade doesnt beat the time when i read about the...
"TEMPEST WITH A SPIDER INFESTATION"... i think the thread appeared on KLOV or here,...can anyone find it?   just click on that link, theres great ways to get rid of something funky in your cab!   check it out!

[Rusty Shackelford]

You could try and Emzyme type cleaner. It eats whats causing the smell instead of just masking it. The one I used on my carpet (baby sick) I brought in a pet store!

[SirPeale]

After you are done with cleaning put baking soda in the cabinet.  Either use one of these Arm&Hammer boxes that people use for a fridge or for best performance just spread it on some paper on the bottom of the cab.

Studies have shown that baking soda actually absorbs very little odor.

[Ummon]

Bleach + ammonia = death cloud...seriously!  DON'T DO IT!

When I was a freshman in high school, I had a paper route, and one sunday morning while folding papers my dad hands me a page and shows me a story on some kid at a party in a wash within two miles of our house the night before....just a few hours before, actually....who was making chlorine bombs and blew himself up. Dead. Maybe another or two/few injured. Girl on my street was within fifty feet I think and made it out okay.

After you are done with cleaning put baking soda in the cabinet.  Either use one of these Arm&Hammer boxes that people use for a fridge or for best performance just spread it on some paper on the bottom of the cab.

Studies have shown that baking soda actually absorbs very little odor.

Hmm. Seems to work in the fridge. I dunno.

[RayB]

The most common cause of a smelly cabinet are:
1. Years of dust
2. Cigarette smoke residue
3. less common (in my experience) mold

So a good cleaning, not even necessarily with anything so strong as bleach, usually does take care of 1 and 2. Clean both inside and outside. Bascially every surface you can.

[wp34]

well,..i wish you good luck with your arcade thats falling apart,...if you think is gonna collapse when you remove the monitor,...then strip it down, and thow out the cabinet
(prob too weak to hold up)

I may do exactly that if I can't sell it.  I'm chalking this one up to experience.

[SirPeale]

Hmm. Seems to work in the fridge. I dunno.

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem00/chem00388.htm

For one example.

[torez]

Even in that regard, it is not all that
effective because, as the powder in the box contacts water vapor, it tends to
crust over an lose a great deal of its already limited surface activity.

That's why (for greater effect) you would want to spread it on a paper, instead keeping it in a box.  All that after you clean up and dry the cab.  After a month or two (even few months) you can move the baking soda around to expose more fresh/unsaturated powder.  As a cab is mostly closed space (except some small vent/s), banking soda can keep the air inside under control.  It did help in my cab that was cleaned up, but still had this old attic smell:).

[Ummon]

Hmm. Seems to work in the fridge. I dunno.

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem00/chem00388.htm

For one example.

Hm. Charcoal would be a no-brainer. Wonder if it's available like that at the hardware store or something....then people could make their own types of filters an all.

[protokatie]

Hmm. Seems to work in the fridge. I dunno.

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem00/chem00388.htm

For one example.

Hm. Charcoal would be a no-brainer. Wonder if it's available like that at the hardware store or something....then people could make their own types of filters an all.

Take two coffee filters, put crushed activated charcoal in between and glue them closed. Put it over a fan that can suck air through it (on low).  That  could do it...

[DaOld Man]

Hmm. Seems to work in the fridge. I dunno.

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem00/chem00388.htm

For one example.

Hm. Charcoal would be a no-brainer. Wonder if it's available like that at the hardware store or something....then people could make their own types of filters an all.

You can get activated charcoal at a pet store or Walmart.
I use it in my fish aquarium filter.

[mvsfan]

When I vacationed in Panama earlier this year, I came across Fabuloso and took a pic.  LOL.  It doesn't always come in purple.  I though it was a funny name.  Mistolin is another that I thought was funny.  It's a knock off of Mister Clean, but got lost in translation.

But seriously, you'll probably want to vacuum out the cabinet, then wipe the cabinet down.  Use any floor cleaning product (like Mr. Clean, etc).  Put a tiny bit in a 1 gallon bucket of water.  Use a rag, (wring it out so that it doesn't drip) and wipe the entire cabinet down.  You don't want to get it too wet.  Do this once.  Let it dry.  Get new water and do it again.  Let it dry.  They spray the inside with any type of rustoleum spray paint. 1 can should do it.  It doesn't have to be perfect.  Let it dry for a week to air out and the smell should be gone.

That's what I did.  I had one that smelled like cigarettes after I bought it from a chain smoker.

Dude ill bet my stuff smells really funky to you then.

im a "gotta have the old flip over ashtray on the cabinet person."

one of the best things to me about having my own arcade is that it really is just like the 80s. all my games have ashtrays.

[mvsfan]

well,..i wish you good luck with your arcade thats falling apart,...if you think is gonna collapse when you remove the monitor,...then strip it down, and thow out the cabinet
(prob too weak to hold up)
anyway,..your stinky arcade doesnt beat the time when i read about the...
"TEMPEST WITH A SPIDER INFESTATION"... i think the thread appeared on KLOV or here,...can anyone find it?   just click on that link, theres great ways to get rid of something funky in your cab!   check it out!

About those spiders.

I live "out there" to quote tractor supply company.

but anyways,

theirs a certain thing made for every bug based on their uniqueness.

dont ever try to approach a bees nest with wasp and hornet spray for example.

It has no effect on bees at all. but surely every time it will take out the biggest wasp nest.

hardly anyone reads those junk catalogs like Collections, ETC because they sell almost nothing but junk.

ony thing worth anything out of there is this stuff called Spider Nott made by the Nott company.

I know too, home depot has all kinds of cool stuff like spectracide Ant, Roach, And spider killer.

30 minutes, 45 later and still smiling and laughing at you the spidermight do a small dance. these things just dont work.

The only thing in the world that Nott claims their product kills is in fact spiders and its an instant result, 15 seconds or less.

some people dont like pesticides and im acutally one of them, but when your faced with black widows in the barn and shed every spring, your view changes for that situation.

[Ummon]

some people dont like pesticides and im acutally one of them, but when your faced with black widows in the barn and shed every spring, your view changes for that situation.

Wouldn't it be nice if you could just make a home for them, and they'd go there and be cool, yeah?

one of the best things to me about having my own arcade is that it really is just like the 80s. all my games have ashtrays.

I'm so glad I grew up in the southwest.

You can get activated charcoal at a pet store or Walmart.
I use it in my fish aquarium filter.

Mmm, pet store did come to mind. Thanks.

[wp34]

Finally got around to trying some of these techniques on an Asteroids Deluxe I picked up. Didn't have much luck with the charcoal and filter method although I only tried it for a couple of days. 

I have to say the Fabuloso worked great.  I ended up wiping down the entire outside of the cabinet with a rag that had been dipped lightly in it. Really did the trick.   

[404]

wow, major thread bump! 

I sporadically work with a mold remediation business. The smell may come from mold. If so, here are some mold tips for your cabs. The most important thing In my opinion is  to never use bleach. Bleach will kill mold. however, bleach is a corrosive agent. It can and will eat through wood especially wood that is glued or compressed depending on how much bleach you use. Add the fact that most arcade cabs are 20+ years old, made of particle board, plywood and contain paint work and/or vinyl overlays. Why would you want to risk your new project or even a precious gem to bleach.

If you do indeed have mold in your cabinet, try to find a mold inhibitor/antimicrobial treatment and use that instead of bleach. Nearly all of them will kill mold and the associated smell. If all else fails you can head over to your local tool rental shop and see if they have an air scrubber or negative air machine for rent. You can make yourself a quick negative air chamber with a spare air filter, a few garbage bags and of course a negative air machine.