restoring that new console smell

[jhelfand]

So, I recently bought a Game Gear on eBay. It's in great shape, however, the console, games, everything stinks of cigarette smoke. Guessing this is nothing new.

I'm looking for ideas on how to neutralize the smell? Any thoughts from you non smoking collectors? No offense intended.

[Nitrosport]

I usually clean everything with goo gone and it takes all the gunk and smells off.

[walrusmonger]

I would avoid goo gone- that stuff is very strong and can screw things up if it gets on the screen.

When I buy used accessories (or get cheap used systems) I use anti-bacterial fantastik and windex. First I spray the fantastik on paper towels, give everything a good scrub, then dry it. Then I work on it with the windex. If the smell is still there, then it's on the inside, and you need to figure that out since I have no idea ;)

[PingvinBlueJeans]

If the smell is still there, then it's on the inside, and you need to figure that out since I have no idea ;)

Febreze?

[Contrabassoon86]

I've found that storing something in a drawer with dryer sheets works.

[ROTS MKII]

Warm water and oil n some areas.

[InsaneDavid]

Same thing walrusmonger said except I use Simple Green and then Windex. Simple Green got rid of the years of animal, smoke, rodent, and other smells my Pole Position arcade cabinet had when I bought it.

[77punk]

i use paper towel and a touch of water and im just uber careful. Cig smoke sucks and stains all. Maybe use the patch?!

[phreak97]

dunno if its plentiful outside australia, but eucalyptus oil is godly. itll remove sticker goo aswel. i got a nes that smelled like someone had had it in a heavy smoking environment and only gotten rid of it when someone vomited alcohol into it. eucalyptus oil cleaned it up perfectly and permanently, i just took the thing apart and cleaned out the whole inside with it. its not quite the default out of box smell, but its a very nice smell once it settles. the diluted version can be used to reshine consoles too.

i buy it from my local grocery store.. its meant to be a medicinal thing.. its anticeptic and stuff. tea tree oil works pretty much the same but smells like ass in comparison.

avoid some labels (mostly nintendo ones i've found) and some clear surfaces. you can get it diluted aswel, its harder to get rid of stickers, but its nicer on clear surfaces. 100% pure as a deoderisor though.

[dgordon86]

I had a problem with a nintendo nes box...

get a package of ceader chips, throw some in a giant zipper bag with the game gear and seal the package for about 1 week.

cleaning it with a cleaner of some sort (fantastic, like others mentioned) beforehand and you should have no more ciggy smells!

[JLukas]

Can Game Gears be opened easily? If you are able to remove the plastic shell (without electronics attached,) and soak it in soapy water, that would help a lot.

Also, you can get a small airtight container and an open a box of baking soda and let it sit in there for a couple of weeks until the smell is gone.

[jhelfand]

I kind of felt stupid posting this question and can't tell you how much I appreciate all of these ideas. Many thanks!

[phreak97]

no reason to feel stupid, console restoration is one of the elements of being a collector!

let me know if you decide on my eucalyptus oil method. (it doesnt take a week, and doesnt require you to soak anything :P though it is best if you can open the console, as youll probably find smelly brown dust in there, which is half the stink source.)

smokers out there, youre killing more than youre lungs! think of the consoles!

[InsaneDavid]

Almost forgot, this thread (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99710) will go a long way as well to helping you. FAbombjoy says it better than anyone ever could.

[phreak97]

only problem with soaking is if you have something with paper stickers on..

[InsaneDavid]

only problem with soaking is if you have something with paper stickers on..

That's where common sense comes in.

[phreak97]

well yeah, obviously you wont soak it.. but then you need an alternative.

[2Dskillz]

Along these lines has anyone ever cleaned the eye shade on a Virtua Boy. I am afraid that soaking it will ruin its shape.

[InsaneDavid]

Along these lines has anyone ever cleaned the eye shade on a Virtua Boy. I am afraid that soaking it will ruin its shape.

My guess would be a steam iron from a distance and febreeze. You may want to contact Dog-P.

[selfdestroyer]

This is what I do.. I bought a deionizer/ozone machine from a thrift store and I put my stinky consoles or accessories in a hefty garbage bag. I place the deionizer in the opening of the bag and tuck the bag around the machine. I let it run for a few hours, I was surprised how well this worked. I got the idea from my father-in-law, he gets that old people smell out of apartment carpets and it works well for that.

Just my 2 cents.

http://electronics.listings.ebay.com/Air-Purifiers_Ionizers_W0QQfclZ3QQfromZR11QQsacatZ1499 78QQsocmdZListingItemList