To ask how the hell to get the BO/sweat stink out of plastic???

[Deptofdebt]

Bought a second hand highchair today that was advertised as very good condition. Picked it up and to my horror it was absolutely filthy, dried crusty food all over and it stank so bad of body odour. The actual condition of the item is ok, as in its working, but bloody hell ive spent the whole day scrubbing it and cannot get the smell out of it. Honestly I wish I had just turned around and walked away but I figured it just needed a good clean!

so far I’ve tried steeping it in a bath of laundry detergent and washing up liquid and scrubbing (I mean arms deep) it, covering it in a bicarbonate soda paste and leaving it for an hour, steeping it in bleach and just scrubbed it with white vinegar and it still smells 😭 is there anything I can do to get this smell out?? Or should I just take this as a loss and lesson learned? The smell is overpowering, like you can smell it as soon as you enter the room. It is clean now at least.

can’t get my money back as stupidly I thought I had bought through eBay but she requested cash, I hadn’t realised she hadn’t accepted my offer so it wasn’t an official purchase through there. I do have her address but not much I can do there really 😭

I know iatu one for buying it anyway but I really did believe it just needed a good clean! £50 down the drain and I had to order new cushions for it anyway which was £40 😢 should have just bought new!

aibu to expect items to be cleaned before someone sells them??? Please someone tell me I can get rid of this smell!

Hi OP I have found that a mixture of warm water and vanish powder works to get smells out of stuff where everything else fails- including cat pee off of Lego. Make the mix fairly thick, paste it on for about 5 minutes and then wash it off and dry. Bobs yer uncle.

I don’t think it’s BO. I think it’s the smell some plastics get as they age and start to break down. I’ve noticed it on a few different things like a laundry basket, plant pot etc. The smell doesn’t go I’m afraid.

Maybe try soda crystals

It’s the oxo tot sprout! I didn’t realise it was so old as the article I read was best high chairs of 2021 🫤 I’m guessing there’s a newer model?! I had a look and can’t even find them new so that says it all really! Bought that one specifically as my first dd was terrible for kicking herself back and toppling over and this one looked pretty in-toperable (is that a word?!)

i think I’ll pick up the ikea one. Currently have a last ditch attempt covered it with a dish washer tab. I’ll update if there’s any change!

How odd for it to smell of BO… I wonder if maybe the people it came from were smoking weed near it? That has a BO type odour…

I think your best bet if it’s waterproof is leaving it outside for a few days to air out. And the best thing for removing odours is vinegar, neat, so maybe wipe it down with that and leave in the garden a couple of days?

I don't think it can be BO. Think about it? For it to permeate plastic like that it would have to have been covered in sweat. Definitely more likely to be weed.

What’s everyone’s thoughts of me going to her house tomorrow with the item? Chances are she won’t answer the door but is it worth a shot? 2 messages and no response. I’m actually getting more angry about this and feel totally ripped off. She advertised it as ‘very good condition’

Do it

Yeah go round her house, it’s bad

She must have been smoking weed around her baby for the high chair to smell so bad …

Worth a try of course but I'd be surprised if someone with the brass neck to sell something in that condition would be reasonable about its return. And she might well say the smell thing is just a matter of opinion or that she can't smell anything wrong (she will almost certainly say this as she's not going to want to admit that it stinks!).

Defo go to her house OP. It's false advertising. Like I said, cause a scene. She won't like it but she would have to be pretty ballsy to refuse. If she says she doesn't have the cash, tell her that you will wait while she goes to get the cash and don't move from her doorstep. Tell her that you should be charging her for the cleaning job you've done on it and the petrol to pick up and return it but you will just accept the £50 back that you've spent on it.

I highly doubt it’s weed. Plastic breaks down and smells like bo. I’ve just had to throw out a washing basket- also about 8 years old. Thought there were smelly clothes on my landing, but didn’t smell like anyone in my house, til I realised it was the washing basket.

Definitely going round there tomorrow. She’s now blocked me on eBay so it’s clear she knew she was scamming me. You know if she had messaged me and said something like “I’m sorry but I can’t take a refund sold as seen etc but I apologise for the condition I wasn’t aware” etc I could accept it. But ignoring me and thinking that will make me go away is actually just making me angrier. 100% will be going there tomorrow.

Could you request a refund through eBay, they usually favour the buyer

You should never mix cleaning chemicals!! Yes, vinegar counts!

You'd have no comeback via eBay however you paid. You inspected it before purchasing! And accepted it. If you're collecting something most people are going to want cash, that's not unusual. You made a mistake in not walking away when you saw the state of it. Chalk it up to experience. I hope you can get the smell out, BO smells are the worst thing ever. I'd throw it out if you can't. Or advertise it more honestly and see if you can get some of your money back that way. It's cleaner now than when you bought it anyway.

I totally agree. It’s sold as seen. Your time to raise it was then and there, particularly when you saw how dirty it was.

You cannot threaten her with small claims and cost of petrol and false advertising and whatever other nonsense is on this thread.

And please do not mix chemicals! Some awful advice on this thread!

Absolutely shameful to sell something in such a state.
I wouldn’t even give something away without cleaning it.

Just so this. Why sit about moaning. She's ripped you off so don't just accept it. You're not a door matt. Sold as seen. Sod that.

I found rubbing oil of cloves into wood took away the (dog pee) odor. Might work for the plastic too.

Live and learn. It sucks but I think you are stuck with it.
There are still a few tricks you could try.
Leave it outside for a few days, every day rubbing a different type of chemical. Have you tried a paste of bicarb soda with citric acid ( baking section of supermarket) and a tablespoon of dishwasher liquid?
I am sorry they took advantage of you, some people have no shame

Definitely go back, much higher chance of getting somewhere than sat at home berating her.
Get on your local Facebook and ask if anyone is getting rid of an IKEA Antilop you can put them in the dishwasher so never going to have this trouble. Good luck

I don't think there is anything to be gained from going round, it was sold as seen. The seller can legitimately keep your money. Is this really the type of argument you want to start? I assume it is smoke smell, or plastic degradation. Get the IKEA one and make it lesson learned.