How to eliminate case odor?

[JerryMouse]

So ... I bought an aluminum case with a window, and when I got it, it reeked of cigarette smoke, which I can't tolerate. (I didn't know it would smell of smoke when I bought it.) Airing it out has done no good. (It's been aired out in a well-ventilated storage area (away from the house) for about 3 months.) In terms of parts of the case, I'm not surprised certain things are retaining odors, like the acrylic window, but I'm surprised that the aluminum still smells.

Anyway, my plan is to take the case apart, clean it and put it back together again. However, this is my first encounter with this problem, so I have no idea how to safely deal with it so I don't wreck anything. I mean, I know how to clean a case under normal circumstances, but this is different. I'm trying to eliminate a specific odor.

Any ideas?

-- Jerry

Note: NO components (hard drives, optical drives, etc.) are installed in the case.

Edit: I want to rid the case of smoke odor because I and my family can't tolerate it, not because I'm concerned about my components. (I had short-lived and minor concern for my components, which are NOT in the case at present, after Briton's post.)

[Briton]

I'd be wary of a PC that has been exposed to cigarette/pot smoke. Or any kind of smoke, for that matter. As the particles get into the hard drives, optical drives, and just about anything else. I used to have a lot of these come in at the repair shop and the insides were just disgusting. I'd try a citrus based cleaner if you're looking to rid yourself of the smell.

[JerryMouse]

I'd be wary of a PC that has been exposed to cigarette/pot smoke. Or any kind of smoke, for that matter. As the particles get into the hard drives, optical drives, and just about anything else.

Well, my components aren't in the case and weren't exposed to any actual smoke. I'm only concerned at this point about the case, i.e. how to safely clean it and rid it of the smoke odor.

Ideally, I'd like to salvage my case, if possible. I'm thinking that I could clean it with a washing solution that's good for cars, i.e. anything that wouldn't harm the finish of a car probably wouldn't ruin the nice finish of my case.

Thanks for your help,
Jerry

Edited to delete discussion of components and keep focus of thread on my case.

[Bofinn]

In my opinion, you are going drastically overboard with this. Your components will be fine. Many of computer users smoke (not me), and they are not having components blow up from it.

As for the smell, clean up the case and then close it up and enjoy!

[DeMenAce]

Welcome to the Forums!

IT should be no big deal to take it all apart and clean it with some hot soapy water, concentrate on the insides, then dry immediately after each part is washed. Let stand a few hours and rub insides with a lint free cloth using Isoprol Alcohol, let stand half-hour, and assemble. No more smell.

As for damage from smoking. Don't worry about it. Only kills people, not PCs.

[(51)]

http://www.globalsources.com/gsol/I/...1000301452.htm

[wallijonn]

Pine-sol should work wonders to remove the cigarette residue which lines the case. It should be a brown tar like substance which any good cleaner should scrub off. Acetone may be corrosive to aluminium, but it should be able to clean it. Baring that some window cleaners, like Stoner's "Invisible Glass", should be able to remove the selfsame substance which lines the inside of your car windshield, but their chemicals may be even more corrosive than acetone.

If you spray the inside of the case with a Pine-sol like cleaner you should easily see the brown grime oozing down.

[Monkey Hanger]

Originally Posted by Bofinn

In my opinion, you are going drastically overboard with this. Your components will be fine. Many of computer users smoke (not me), and they are not having components blow up from it.

As for the smell, clean up the case and then close it up and enjoy!

Have to say that with Bofinns sentiments here. Thousands of computer users across the world smoke and yet their computers are fine.
Some computers are even used in industrial environments without any additional protection and yet they continue to function OK. Think of the computers in your local garage or tyre bay!

And, as for smoke particles getting inside a hard drive and bringing it down, well that's just bunkum!

[JerryMouse]

Note: I've edited most of my posts in this thread so that the discussion focuses solely on my case rather than components. However, I left this reply intact.

Originally Posted by Monkey Hanger

Originally Posted by Bofinn
"In my opinion, you are going drastically overboard with this." Have to that with Bofinns sentiments here. Thousands of computer users across the world smoke and yet their computers are fine.

Bofinn and Monkey Hanger: In terms of my concern about my components, that was spurred by Briton's post. My feeling was that my components were OK, but since the question was raised, I simply decided to ask for other opinions. As for whether smoking in general reduces the lifespan of your components, well, that's another issue altogether, on which I have no data.

At any rate, I appreciate all the replies here. DeMenAce and wallijonn: Yeah, I was planning on taking the case apart and then putting it all back together once cleaned. I'll have to clean all the fans, fan guards, etc. as well. I think I'll try the soapy water/isopropyl alcohol treatment first, and if that doesn't do the trick, I'll try the Pine-sol.

Thanks very much!
-- Jerry

[(Bullwinkle)]

Easy solution for odor is just using fabreeze. Spray it on and odors are gone. Beats scrubbing unless you have visible cigarette stains or something.

[NODES]

best thing to do is by a pack of 3 air fresheners for cars, the ones that hang of the mirror and give it a mth...had the same problem, bought a stinky as fudge PSU...stunk my whole car up, had to drive for 2 hrs with both windows down, the house stunk too after i plugged it in...after 2mths the smell was all gone...used 4 fresheners 2

[Conan]

Try putting in a small open box of Baking Soda.

[Mankal3]

Just in case anyone was wondering of how to get rid of computer operator odor, may I recommend:

[yamawho]

Originally Posted by Bofinn

In my opinion, you are going drastically overboard with this. Your components will be fine. Many of computer users smoke (not me), and they are not having components blow up from it.

As for the smell, clean up the case and then close it up and enjoy!

I also agree with this statement.

That being said, I was recently given a server case which has been used in a smoker's office. I took the case apart and cleaned all surfaces ... very yellow

[KingTermite]

I would guess that Wallijoin's suggestion of the Pinesol might be your best bet. If you are going to take it apart anyway, then when you take everything out of the case, I would give it a good scrubbing with isopropyl alcohol first (the good stuff if you can get it), let it try (should only take minutes), then use the pinesol and don't touch it until it dries.

Don't put stuff back into it until you give it the smell test. If it still reeks of smoke, then maybe we can come up with other ideas.


BTW....WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!! :welcome: