What we collect!

 

Stamporama Discussion Board Logo
For People Who Love To Talk About Stamps
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Stamporama Discussion Board Logo
For People Who Love To Talk About Stamps
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Stamporama Discussion Board Logo
For People Who Love To Talk About Stamps



What we collect!
What we collect!


General Philatelic/Supplies, Literature & Software : Getting rid of stamps, covers that still smell from smoke

 

Author
Postings
Capetown

10 Aug 2009
07:40:31pm
Hi to you all. Does anyone have any tricks to getting rid of stamps, covers, postcards etc. that have been worked with by a heavy smoker. Or have been put in storage for years and smell musty and moldy. I only know to try cat litter and leave the stuff sealed, but it doesn't work so well. Maybe someone has better ideas. Please email me at lotreetops@msn.com Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks and best wishes, Lionel
Like
Login to Like
this post
Sponthetrona2
Members Picture


Keep Postal systems alive, buy stamps and mail often

10 Aug 2009
07:58:39pm
re: Getting rid of stamps, covers that still smell from smoke

What an interesting a good question. I never had a lot of stamps that had that problem but I had a few musty ones. I took the petals of a rose and placed them behind water resistant page liners and closed the book on it. Now of course you get the smell of rose but, it's better than the musty ..... Perry

Like
Login to Like
this post
Patches
Members Picture


Liz

10 Aug 2009
08:14:57pm
re: Getting rid of stamps, covers that still smell from smoke

Someone told me a long time ago that if you put them in a frost free freezer overnight it gets rid of the smell. I tried it once with success.

They also sell little 'pucks' that absorb smells. They do remove some of the smell, but I haven't had that much success using them.

If the stamps are used stamps you can resoak them in a drop of soap and water and redry them. That does get rid of the smell.

Whenever I buy kiloware or large quantities of stamps from any country other than Canada it always arrives reaking of what smells like diesel fuel, even though most times the stamps are wrapped in plastic. Maybe it's the plastic that reaks? Strange!

Liz

Like
Login to Like
this post
Bobstamp
Members Picture


10 Aug 2009
09:43:28pm
re: Getting rid of stamps, covers that still smell from smoke

I once cleaned some stamps from India with the same problem. I washed them in mild soap and warm water with a couple drops of household bleach. Worked well. I'm not totally confident with the bleach, but soap and water should not cause any problems if the stamps are well rinsed.

The covers are another problem. Can't help you there.

Bob

Like
Login to Like
this post

www.ephemeraltreasures.net
Doe
Members Picture


10 Aug 2009
09:48:48pm
re: Getting rid of stamps, covers that still smell from smoke

I put stinky covers and postcards in a sealed container with carpet powder (scented baking soda) for a few weeks.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Woodstock

11 Aug 2009
07:04:45am
re: Getting rid of stamps, covers that still smell from smoke

For albums, I have had some moderate success by using fabric softener dryer sheets, spaced throughout and placed in a sealed plastic bag for a week or two. This method should also work on covers.

bob.jpg

Like
Login to Like
this post
Joshtanski
Members Picture


13 Aug 2009
08:58:34pm
re: Getting rid of stamps, covers that still smell from smoke

I've had luck removing smoke smells by either soaking the stamps or by sealing in a tub with baking soda.

Like
Login to Like
this post
        

 

Author/Postings
Capetown

10 Aug 2009
07:40:31pm

Hi to you all. Does anyone have any tricks to getting rid of stamps, covers, postcards etc. that have been worked with by a heavy smoker. Or have been put in storage for years and smell musty and moldy. I only know to try cat litter and leave the stuff sealed, but it doesn't work so well. Maybe someone has better ideas. Please email me at lotreetops@msn.com Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks and best wishes, Lionel

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Sponthetrona2

Keep Postal systems alive, buy stamps and mail often
10 Aug 2009
07:58:39pm

re: Getting rid of stamps, covers that still smell from smoke

What an interesting a good question. I never had a lot of stamps that had that problem but I had a few musty ones. I took the petals of a rose and placed them behind water resistant page liners and closed the book on it. Now of course you get the smell of rose but, it's better than the musty ..... Perry

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Patches

Liz
10 Aug 2009
08:14:57pm

re: Getting rid of stamps, covers that still smell from smoke

Someone told me a long time ago that if you put them in a frost free freezer overnight it gets rid of the smell. I tried it once with success.

They also sell little 'pucks' that absorb smells. They do remove some of the smell, but I haven't had that much success using them.

If the stamps are used stamps you can resoak them in a drop of soap and water and redry them. That does get rid of the smell.

Whenever I buy kiloware or large quantities of stamps from any country other than Canada it always arrives reaking of what smells like diesel fuel, even though most times the stamps are wrapped in plastic. Maybe it's the plastic that reaks? Strange!

Liz

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Bobstamp

10 Aug 2009
09:43:28pm

re: Getting rid of stamps, covers that still smell from smoke

I once cleaned some stamps from India with the same problem. I washed them in mild soap and warm water with a couple drops of household bleach. Worked well. I'm not totally confident with the bleach, but soap and water should not cause any problems if the stamps are well rinsed.

The covers are another problem. Can't help you there.

Bob

Like
Login to Like
this post

www.ephemeraltreasur ...
Members Picture
Doe

10 Aug 2009
09:48:48pm

re: Getting rid of stamps, covers that still smell from smoke

I put stinky covers and postcards in a sealed container with carpet powder (scented baking soda) for a few weeks.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Woodstock

11 Aug 2009
07:04:45am

re: Getting rid of stamps, covers that still smell from smoke

For albums, I have had some moderate success by using fabric softener dryer sheets, spaced throughout and placed in a sealed plastic bag for a week or two. This method should also work on covers.

bob.jpg

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Joshtanski

13 Aug 2009
08:58:34pm

re: Getting rid of stamps, covers that still smell from smoke

I've had luck removing smoke smells by either soaking the stamps or by sealing in a tub with baking soda.

Like
Login to Like
this post
        

Contact Webmaster | Visitors Online | Unsubscribe Emails | Facebook


User Agreement

Copyright © 2024 Stamporama.com