Musty Handbag

[Meckity1]

I bought a bag from eBay, perfect for me, just the right size, tags still on love it - but it smells of mould!

I've tried leaving it to air, but it's still stinky. Any suggestions? If I spray it with alcohol based perfume, would it help?

Thanks for any advice.

baking powder sprinkle some inside the handbag and leave for a few days , if the outside is leather use a good shoe polish on it should do the trick

@isseywithcats Thank you. It's a sort of fabric with a gazillion pockets, but I think giving it a good workover with baking powder should help, I have loads. Thank you. I never thought of that.

If it's fabric put it in the washing machine an a 30 wash and line dry iron when damp

@MintyT Thank you. It's a weird combination of fabric and 'faux leatherette' with a gazillion pockets. It may come to that, though. After all, it can't make things worse.

It would have to wait, however, as the chaos that is my life currently includes a broken washing machine which hasn't worked since all the lights blew and I'm scared to touch it because of the maintenance warranty.

Getting the handbag sorted will at least get me one thing off the list.

Sprinkle loads of bicarb into it, stuff it full with clean newspaper, and then seal it up in a bin bag for a few days.

I second Aqua. I bought a bag from the charity shop and when I got it home it stank of cigarette smoke. Tried a few things but nothing worked. Goggled and tried scrunching sheets of newspaper up and filled the bag with it. Placed it in a bin bag with more scrunched up newspaper around it. Put it in a cupboard and forgot about it! Two weeks later I found it and the smell had completely gone. The paper will absorb it.

@Meckity1 did you get it sorted