Help me figure out a non-chemical way to get rid of this smell!

**QuilterMom** · 04-23-2006, 11:14 PM

We were gifted with a play yard for ds2. It has been sitting out for at least 3.5 months now unused (so plenty of time to air out). Dh put him in it today and I got him out about 15 minutes later. When I lifted him up to me, his head and outfit just overwhelmed me with a horrid chemical smell. The culprit is the pad that goes in the very bottom of the play yard. We put it outside to air out all day today and still no improvement. I am at a loss as to how to get the chemical smell out in a natural manner!

**Valerie in WA** · 04-23-2006, 11:18 PM

Is it the flooring in a climbing toy? Is that flooring really necessary?

I don't think there is a natural way to get rid of it. I think the smell is just characteristic of the nasty products that are synthesized. You can try baking soda, but...

**joyb** · 04-23-2006, 11:22 PM

Could you wipe it down with vinegar? I practically swear by vinegar. I don't know if it would help or not, but it might be worth a try. Good luck. I hope you find something that works.

**canadian gardener** · 04-23-2006, 11:50 PM

I threw out a vinyl pad for ds's wooden playpen and made him a quilt for the playpen.

I'm not sure what a play yard is. But would a good quilt do it?

I got these doomahickies that looked like giant garter belt clippies that I forget what they were for, but they held the quilt in securely so it didn't ripple up.

**ama** · 04-24-2006, 08:44 AM

I think you should try and make a paste of baking soda -- it works wonders I tell ya. You can always try the vinegar as well and then let it air outside.

**PrairieRose** · 04-24-2006, 09:05 AM

Kim, I'd try vinegar and/or baking soda to wipe it down and let it sit in the sun after a good rinse for 3 days or so. I think that might naturally bleach it out.

**SewCrafty** · 04-24-2006, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by canadian gardener

I threw out a vinyl pad for ds's wooden playpen and made him a quilt for the playpen.

I'm not sure what a play yard is. But would a good quilt do it?

I got these doomahickies that looked like giant garter belt clippies that I forget what they were for, but they held the quilt in securely so it didn't ripple up.

I was thinking the same thing and those 'doomahickies' (

) are used to hold your bed sheets in place. You can get them in a package of 4 and most dollar stores around here carry them.

**miss_thrifty** · 04-24-2006, 09:20 AM

same as above -i would use vinegar and baking soda. love these products !!! very versatile!!

**QuilterMom** · 04-24-2006, 09:41 AM

Margery - it's the same thing as a playpen. LOL I love the quilt idea, but this pad is necessary in the bottom to keep from feeling the bars underneath.

This smell is so super strong - stronger than anything I've ever tried vinegar on before - but I'll give it a whirl and see how it does. I think part of the smell might be coming from the padding inside and there's no way to deal with it. Ugh!

**SewCrafty** · 04-24-2006, 09:44 AM

Kim will the pad fit in your washer? I realize it is probably made out of plastic, but if it has stitching in it, it will take in water. Maybe put it on the soak cycle with either baking soda or vinegar and then wash normally. You might have to run the spin cycle twice and then hang to dry it. Worth a try.

**QuilterMom** · 04-24-2006, 10:42 AM

No, it won't go in the washer due to the bottom of the pad. The pad folds into 4 sections and each section has a firm piece of something like a thick heavy cardboard inside. The pad doesn't come apart at all - it's all one piece together and the top of it is a vinyl like material. Ds2 is on top of me almost asleep so I'm hoping to get him down in a minute and try wiping it down with vinegar.

**YankeeMom** · 04-24-2006, 11:47 AM

I have washed those play yard paddings (with the hard insert) in my washing machine before with good results.

If all else fails, could you remove the cloth & padding from the hard insert and make a new one?

**baxjul** · 04-24-2006, 12:47 PM

I would try the baking soda. Let the baking soda sit in the sun for a bit, then scrup it off with some of you "organic" cleaner.

**Kimberlina** · 04-24-2006, 02:19 PM

The padding in our (virtually unused) one sounds just like yours, but it really didn't ever have a smell that I noticed.

The only thing I would suggest is what you already tried- putting it outside. I would make sure it is in the sun for a good long while. That is what cooperative extension recommended to us to get a really horrid smell out of a freezer, and I really can't think of anything else you could try.