Awful smell of new rubber equipment

Neal Thompson · 08-29-2005, 06:05 PM

I was wondering if anyone knows a good way to get rid of the rubber smell of new equipment. I received a pallet with 800# of dumbbells today and the smell is a rather strong. I share my space with a karate dojo, completely separate room, and they were complaining about how strong it is. Any help or advice would be appreicated!

Michael Keller · 08-29-2005, 06:49 PM

I don't know how to get rid of it, but it led me to discover part of my Christmas present! My wife and bought a horse stall mat for my basement gym and hidden it under a table. I couldn't figure out what the strong smell was and went searching, discovering my present. :proud:

I don't think anything other than time will probably help. My mats don't smell strong at all now, a few months later.

Derek Lane · 08-29-2005, 08:24 PM

tried febreeze? I mean, the stuff gets rid of cigarette stink... granted your gym will smell fresh and flowery, which may be worse than the rubber dumbell smell.

Neal Thompson · 08-30-2005, 03:53 AM

Thanks guys. My first reaction was only time and letting it air out will take care of the smell, but the landlord wasn't too happy with that one. I read online somewhere that putting the rubber equipment in a sealed container with kitty litter for 24-48 hours will get rid of the trick. Great, now every stray cat in the city of boston will think my gym is it's personal litter box. I'll let you know how it goes.

Don Stevenson · 08-30-2005, 11:12 PM

The smell will be from volatiles in the rubber left over from the polymerisation process.

The main ways to get rid of them would be to heat the rubber up a bit and cook em out (stick the dumbells in the sun for a few days), absorb them with the kitty litter or something similar or neutralise it with the febreeze which acts by trapping the offending molecules in a matrix made of sugar.

If you use the febreeze you may want to wash the dumbells down before using them.

You may have to try a combo of these methods.

Neal Thompson · 08-31-2005, 04:47 AM

Thanks for the input Don!

Mike Donnelly · 08-31-2005, 05:10 AM

Smells like... Victory!

Don Stevenson · 08-31-2005, 05:16 AM

Sometimes being a chemistry nerd is useful.....

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Ammonia smell	Steven Sellars	Injuries	2	11-01-2006 02:14 PM
Platform Rubber	Jan Szyndler	Equipment	3	09-07-2006 11:54 AM
Cod liver oil tastes awful--suggestions?	Yael Grauer	Nutrition	10	08-30-2006 01:18 AM
Bumpers or Rubber?	Jeff Allan	Equipment	7	03-11-2006 07:58 AM
I smell (like) dead people!	Jamila Bey	Fitness	10	01-31-2006 09:30 AM

08-29-2005, 06:05 PM	#1
Neal Thompson Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Boston MA Posts: 87	I was wondering if anyone knows a good way to get rid of the rubber smell of new equipment. I received a pallet with 800# of dumbbells today and the smell is a rather strong. I share my space with a karate dojo, completely separate room, and they were complaining about how strong it is. Any help or advice would be appreicated!

08-29-2005, 06:49 PM	#2
Michael Keller Member Profile: Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Knoxville TN Posts: 295	I don't know how to get rid of it, but it led me to discover part of my Christmas present! My wife and bought a horse stall mat for my basement gym and hidden it under a table. I couldn't figure out what the strong smell was and went searching, discovering my present. :proud: I don't think anything other than time will probably help. My mats don't smell strong at all now, a few months later.

08-29-2005, 08:24 PM	#3
Derek Lane Member Profile: Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bellevue Wa Posts: 125	tried febreeze? I mean, the stuff gets rid of cigarette stink... granted your gym will smell fresh and flowery, which may be worse than the rubber dumbell smell.

08-30-2005, 03:53 AM	#4
Neal Thompson Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Boston MA Posts: 87	Thanks guys. My first reaction was only time and letting it air out will take care of the smell, but the landlord wasn't too happy with that one. I read online somewhere that putting the rubber equipment in a sealed container with kitty litter for 24-48 hours will get rid of the trick. Great, now every stray cat in the city of boston will think my gym is it's personal litter box. I'll let you know how it goes.

08-30-2005, 11:12 PM	#5
Don Stevenson Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sydney NSW Posts: 1,038	The smell will be from volatiles in the rubber left over from the polymerisation process. The main ways to get rid of them would be to heat the rubber up a bit and cook em out (stick the dumbells in the sun for a few days), absorb them with the kitty litter or something similar or neutralise it with the febreeze which acts by trapping the offending molecules in a matrix made of sugar. If you use the febreeze you may want to wash the dumbells down before using them. You may have to try a combo of these methods.

08-31-2005, 04:47 AM	#6
Neal Thompson Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Boston MA Posts: 87	Thanks for the input Don!

08-31-2005, 05:10 AM	#7
Mike Donnelly Member Profile: Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Yardley Pa Posts: 42	Smells like... Victory!

08-31-2005, 05:16 AM	#8
Don Stevenson Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sydney NSW Posts: 1,038	Sometimes being a chemistry nerd is useful.....