Removing Smells from 5 Gallon Buckets

[Bravery]

Well, I just bought ten 5 gallon buckets that had pickles in them. If you don't know... the smell of pickles is pretty strong. In the past I just used Baking Soda to get the smell out (it worked). Even though it worked I was wondering what you use (hopefully it is better). The woman I got them from said they use bleach to get the smell out (the good thing about using bleach is that it will be free of microbes (for the most part).

 

[Colt 1911]

Well, I just bought ten 5 gallon buckets that had pickles in them. If you don't know... the smell of pickles is pretty strong. In the past I just used Baking Soda to get the smell out (it worked). Even though it worked I was wondering what you use (hopefully it is better). The woman I got them from said they use bleach to get the smell out (the good thing about using bleach is that it will be free of microbes (for the most part).

That's a good topic, i found this. I don't know if it works but here you go.

Check the recycle number on the plastic and verify they are really food safe. Then fill the buckets with water and pour a cup of vinegar per gallon. Let it sit overnight. Empty the bucket and fill with water again. put a cup of baking soda in and stir it around. Let it soak overnight. Guarantee this will eliminate all odors from the plastic.

 

[Clyde]

That's a good topic, i found this. I don't know if it works but here you go.

Check the recycle number on the plastic and verify they are really food safe. Then fill the buckets with water and pour a cup of vinegar per gallon. Let it sit overnight. Empty the bucket and fill with water again. put a cup of baking soda in and stir it around. Let it soak overnight. Guarantee this will eliminate all odors from the plastic.

Finally a way that doesn't require bleach. Yes, bleach makes me a tad bit nervous. I fear poisoning myself with bleach.

 

[Bravery]

Finally a way that doesn't require bleach. Yes, bleach makes me a tad bit nervous. I fear poisoning myself with bleach.

What do you fear about bleach? (Not trying to flame you or trying to be critical at all... just wondering ... you probably know something that I don't) It kills just about all viruses and bacteria and then it rather quickly breaks down (especially in the presence of heat and/or sunlight) into NaCl (table salt).

Mind you if you drink it straight like Nadia Comaneci tried to do; it would be very bad.

 

[Bravery]

That's a good topic, i found this. I don't know if it works but here you go.

Check the recycle number on the plastic and verify they are really food safe. Then fill the buckets with water and pour a cup of vinegar per gallon. Let it sit overnight. Empty the bucket and fill with water again. put a cup of baking soda in and stir it around. Let it soak overnight. Guarantee this will eliminate all odors from the plastic.

Vinegar is a WONDERFUL and highly underrated cleaner!! We own a commercial and residential cleaning company, and we use vinegar all the time. I will skip the vinegar process since the buckets were used to hold pickles and pickle juice is largely vinegar based. I will use the baking soda.

Thanks for your input!!!

 

[Clyde]

What do you fear about bleach? (Not trying to flame you or trying to be critical at all... just wondering ... you probably know something that I don't) It kills just about all viruses and bacteria and then it rather quickly breaks down (especially in the presence of heat and/or sunlight) into NaCl (table salt).

Mind you if you drink it straight like Nadia Comaneci tried to do; it would be very bad.

I get nervous around harsh chemicals used in the cleaning of food containers. Especially since I do not fully understand them. I have no fear of using chlorine bleach in cleaning clothes. I know part of my fear comes from not researching it fully, or educating myself more on the uses of bleach.

 

[Colt 1911]

I get nervous around harsh chemicals used in the cleaning of food containers. Especially since I do not fully understand them. I have no fear of using chlorine bleach in cleaning clothes. I know part of my fear comes from not researching it fully, or educating myself more on the uses of bleach.

Ya and it taste horrible.

 

[Clyde]

Ya and it taste horrible.

Replacing one stench for another.

 

[rdnkbear]

Replacing one stench for another.

reminds me of my ex- wife

 

[Colt 1911]

reminds me of my ex- wife

Oh burn !

 

[Bravery]

Well, the on going saga with the pickle buckets continues.

Ok, I first should say that I have been really busy and haven't really done much with the buckets... they are still on my back patio some filled with water and baking soda and some that are empty (that previously had water and baking soda in them). Well, the smell is still there. I know the baking soda works so I am going back and increase the amount of it. I didn't use much at all because we had run low. Now I have a whole fresh bag of it.

 

[Clyde]

Well, the on going saga with the pickle buckets continues.

Ok, I first should say that I have been really busy and haven't really done much with the buckets... they are still on my back patio some filled with water and baking soda and some that are empty (that previously had water and baking soda in them). Well, the smell is still there. I know the baking soda works so I am going back and increase the amount of it. I didn't use much at all because we had run low. Now I have a whole fresh bag of it.

There have been times that I have found baking soda was NOT able to remove the oder. May have to use bleach some where along the way.

 

[old_anorak]

Bravery, what has worked for me with pickle buckets and other plastics that have a strong odor is to do the vinegar and then the baking soda, and after all of that, let the bucket set outside in the sun for a day or so to air itself.

 

[Chicknladee]

Oh, how awesome that you had a post about how to remove the smell from buckets. Hubby scored some pickle buckets (they smell like heaven to me). I want to remove as much of the smell as possible. So, I'll be cleaning this weekend. Do y'all use distilled white vinegar or cider vinegar? I'd prefer not to use the raw cider vinegar...it is pricey and so much better used elsewhere!

 

[old_anorak]

Just plain old white vinegar. This works for a room that has a funky stench to it as well. Set a bowl of baking soda out and a couple of bowls of white vinegar in the room, close the room up for the day and somehow it neutralizes the odors for a good while after you open the room back up again. Yes, it does smell like vinegar until you open a window, but it's better than smelling dead mouse in the walls.

 

[Bravery]

Just plain old white vinegar. This works for a room that has a funky stench to it as well. Set a bowl of baking soda out and a couple of bowls of white vinegar in the room, close the room up for the day and somehow it neutralizes the odors for a good while after you open the room back up again. Yes, it does smell like vinegar until you open a window, but it's better than smelling dead mouse in the walls.

We have a cleaning company and given the choice we use vinegar quite a bit... it is a wonderful cleaner. No VOCs like many other cleaners have. My wife swears by it.

 

[bill harrell]

Take some lime and put in the water or ashes from a hardwood fire. By the way Clyde ...I drank clorox when I was a kid.We used a clorox bottle to keep water cool in and I came in from outside where it was really hot and slammed her home... not good .... your fears are warranted.....it was the wrong bottle

 

[Chicknladee]

I love raw apple cider vinegar...but I have tons of distilled white & distilled cider vinegar around since hubby likes pickled everything.

 

[bill harrell]

Pickled eggs. Uummmm me and the wife love them

 

[Chicknladee]

Hmmm...never had pickled EGGS...hubby likes them but I've never had one...

 

[bill harrell]

Oh your in trouble.
But if you taste one...don't eat to much...they are so good you could have suicidal thoughts because of how you've wasted your life to this point.

 

[Come and Take It]

That's a good topic, i found this. I don't know if it works but here you go.

Check the recycle number on the plastic and verify they are really food safe. Then fill the buckets with water and pour a cup of vinegar per gallon. Let it sit overnight. Empty the bucket and fill with water again. put a cup of baking soda in and stir it around. Let it soak overnight. Guarantee this will eliminate all odors from the plastic.

I wonder if any of these methods will help remove illegal aliens from America?

 

[old_anorak]

As soon as our beets are ready, I'll be making pickled eggs! Love the horrified looks on my kid's face when I eat one!

 

[old_anorak]

Come and Take It, they might work if you keep their head in the bucket long enough while you're soaking it in bleach water.

 

[Come and Take It]

I support water boarding
Had it done to myself 5 times

 

[Chicknladee]

Oh your in trouble.
But if you taste one...don't eat to much...they are so good you could have suicidal thoughts because of how you've wasted your life to this point.

I'll be careful. Do you have to pickle beets with the eggs? I'm not a fan of beets or pickled beets. Anybody (other than my hubby) like pickled radishes?

On the subject of buckets...I filled one of my pickle buckets with water and white vinegar...tonight I'll transfer that to the next bucket and fill the first with water and baking soda...then tomorrow it is supposed to be sunny...I'll let the bucket work on its suntan and see how it smells in a couple days. I really need to put some of my rice, beans, sugar and salt somewhere other than on the shelves...stacked in buckets will be nice to free up the shelving space.

 

[bill harrell]

That sounds like a good system you got going. Let us know how it works or doesnt

 

[old_anorak]

I do some of the eggs with the beets because I like the flavor and color. It's amazing what sells at the farmers market!

 

[bill harrell]

That will sell here

 

[old_anorak]

They're really good. Kind of sweet and tangy without a strong vinegar taste. I'll have to send you a jar.