by Ziggy587 Sun Nov 04, 2012 9:14 pm
Charcoal and baking soda both work really well for absorbing odors. So maybe get a container of some kind, like a tote with a lid, to put everything in. Throw in the charcoal and/or baking soda. If using charcoal, I would cover the bottom of a tote with one layer of coal then maybe put down a screen of some sort so the game doesn't make contact with it. If using only baking soda, you probably don't have to put it in loose. You can just cut the top of the box off (people use to put a box of baking soda in their fridge like this to absorb odors). But, perhaps the baking soda would absorb the odor faster if it's spread out. So if using both, just spread the baking soda out evenly over the charcoal.
As for putting the game in, it would probably be best if everything was spread out. So take the cover insert out of the sleeve, and take the manual out. Try to position the case so the sleeve is separated from the black plastic (maybe put a half of pencil or popsicle stick between the sleeve and the spine so the sleeve stays separated). As for the manual, if there is one, it'd probably be best if the pages were separated, as best as possible. Don't put the disc in there with everything. It's just not worth it. I don't see the disc itself smelling. It's probably mostly the paper that has the smoke smell, but perhaps the plastic case does too.
Anyways, throw everything in a tote as best you can and put a lid on it. Leave it for at least a week. Give the items a check after a week. Give the items a check. If you're not satisfied, put them back in for another week.
I've never tried to pull odors out of a small item like a game manual, but I have used charcoal and baking soda in the past to successfully remove odors from rooms and the inside of cars. My thinking is that the charcoal and baking soda in a closed container should work well. After all, people use to put a box of baking soda in the fridge (no one seems to do this anymore) so I don't see why it shouldn't work here.
Unless some one has a better idea...
