A while back we were the happy winners of one fantastic Michael Lax vintage tea kettle. We were over the moon...for about 2 hot seconds. We opened the nicely wrapped package to the undeniable stink of cigarettes and Chanel No. 5. We were heartbroken at the thought of throwing out our new favorite yellow accessory so we did the only thing we could think of: we wrote in to AT for some reader help! Check below the jump for the list of killer cleaning tips:
You guys came through with an amazing list of ways to attack the stench and we're happy to report that we are, at this very moment, sipping a lovely steaming cup of tea straight from the kettle. Sure, the kettle still looks a wee bit funky on the inside, but we don't mind. Our tea tastes like Lady Grey, not old lady.
Here's what we did:
1. Boiled a mixture of white vinegar with water, let it sit and soak.
2. Scrubbed with baking soda and water, let it sit and soak.
3. Repeated. Again and again and again.
4. Wrote to AT for help.
5. Scrubbed inside with half of a lemon and salt (thanks Faith!).
6. Attacked with Bon Ami (probably could have also used Barkeeper's Friend).
7. Scrubbed with ketchup and salt.
8. Repeaedt everything, then repeated again.
9. Sniff sniff!
10. Boiled water for tea and enjoyed.
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Did you try leaving it in full sun for a couple of days? That's how I get rid of cigarette smells from clothes/leather. Don't know if it works on metal though.
view ami's profile
Here's a tip. Don't ever boil any kettle on high, especially enamel kettles. It will extend the life of the enamal and the coating inside. Boil on med-high.
view kimg924's profile
Did you try vodka?
view KelleyR's profile
Wow. I can only imagine what the house it came from must smell like. They probably had to burn the place down.
I had the same problem with a vintage Danish credenza that reeked of smoke. I used the e-bay solution--sold it to someone else to deal with;-).
view austinjohn's profile
I'll have to try this with a gorgeous vintage perfume atomizer my mother got me for Christmas last year. I opened the bottle, and it smelled of little old lady with purple hair. It was quite delightful, though if I ever actually want to use it for perfume, it will need to be cleaned quite thoroughly. I'll try the tips above.
view artsandletters's profile
That looks like a Dansk tea kettle we had when I was little. Good score!
view Opera Glass's profile
get a water cooker, it saves time and energy. Much more eco friendly and just keep the kettle as an accessory.
view Nina79's profile
When I worked as a teacher you could tell what the house was like the kids lived in when you unzipped their book bags to read with them - some of them released the most noxious odours!!!
view Violetsrose's profile
I need to know what a water cooker is--I always thought that was a tea kettle!
view kaanswfm's profile