Cleaning mold smell on a rubber handle

[buckshotburt83]

Have a kabar 7 inch fighting style knife. Was stored away for years and a mold smell is on the sheath and rubber handle. I tossed the sheath and bought another one. But I can’t get the smell out of the rubber handle. Any advice?

 

[EngrSorenson]

A dip in isopropyl alcohol might do the trick.

 

[Backyard]

I'd try isopropyl alcohol too

 

[StrangeDaze]

Maybe spray with vinegar?

 

[Fonedork]

Try this stuff called Odoban, it works on old canvas bags

 

[buckshotburt83]

Maybe spray with vinegar?

Doing a white vinegar and baking soda paste soak right now. Seems like it’s working but still has a slight Oder so doing a second one now.

 

[buckshotburt83]

Try this stuff called Odoban, it works on old canvas bags

Thanks. Will do

 

[buckshotburt83]

A dip in isopropyl alcohol might do the trick.

I thought of that but was worried the alcohol would ruin the rubber

 

[EngrSorenson]

I thought of that but was worried the alcohol would ruin the rubber

It will with a lot of prolonged exposure, but for cleaning purposes, you should be fine.

 

[buckshotburt83]

It will with a lot of prolonged exposure, but for cleaning purposes, you should be fine.

Thank you

 

[knarfeng]

This qualifies as a "maintenance issue". Thread is being moved to the Maintenance Forum.

 

[DennisM]

I found this out by accident. I picked an old knife with a resipirine handle that had a smoker's ashtray kinda funk to it. I had a cold cup of black coffee on my work bench and submerged the handle in it to try and shield the smell. I forgot about it overnight and found it the next morning. The handle smelled like coffee but no smoke smell - the coffee smell eventually wore off.