Removing smoking smell out of electronics?

All:
I just a got great deal on a Samsung 32" HDTV. The only issue is the smoke smell. Is there a way I can
get it off and out of my new HDTV without ruining the TV? Thank you.

Keith Lee

All:
I just a got great deal on a Samsung 32" HDTV. The only issue is the
smoke smell. Is there a way I can
get it off and out of my new HDTV without ruining the TV? Thank you.

Tobacco-smoke tar is one of the more difficult gunks to remove
(Consumer Reports used to use it as their "difficult" contaminant,
when testing glass cleaners). Unfortunately, washing the exterior of
the cabinet and the tube leaves you with an uneasy choice... cleaners
which are strong enough to strip the tobacco tar, may mar the plastic
case or (perhaps) whatever anti-glare coating was placed on the front
of the tube.

Fresh air and sunlight is probably your best bet. The UV in sunlight
helps break down the tobacco tar and the volatile materials which
cause the odor, and the heat helps volatize what's left and let it
blow away. I remember reading of one service outlet which had a
standard practice, when they got in a tape deck or receiver which
smelled of cigarette smoke - they'd take off the cover and leave it
out in the noonday sun for several days before working on it.

This isn't the right time of year for lots of sunlight, alas, and
opening up the interior of a flat-screen TV to allow sunlight to
penetrate the insides may not be feasible.

My guess is your best bet, at this point, is to clean the exterior of
the cabinet with a general-purpose liquid household cleanser (test it
in an inconspicuous spot on the back to make sure it's not damaging
the surface), and clean the glass front with whatever sort of glass
cleanser the manufacturer recommends. Don't spray liquid on it, or
use a soaking-wet rag to use the cleaning... just dampen a clean rag
and then wipe... you don't want to get liquid into the interior.

Then, put it in your garage, aim a big fan at it, and blow air on it
for several days... dissipate as much of the odor as you can that way.

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Friends of Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

On Wed, 8 Dec 2010 01:41:53 +0000 (UTC), Keith
wrote:

I just a got great deal on a Samsung 32" HDTV. The only issue is the smoke smell. Is there a way I can
get it off and out of my new HDTV without ruining the TV? Thank you.

Keith Lee

I've seen one TV stink when new out of the box. I think it was a
fairly large Vizio, but I don't recall the model number. Near as I
can guess(tm), it's lint and styrofoam from the packing material
getting into parts of the PCB that are getting hot. Ignite some
packing and styrofoam and compare the stench with the TV.

The smell went away after a few days. I tried opening the back and
removing the crud with an air hose, which turned into a waste of time
because the lint was baked into the components and would not move.

Some options:
1. If it's really a new TV, then it shouldn't stink. Exchange it for
a different unit. That's what warranties are for.
2. Open the back and clean up whatever is stinking. If you happen to
have a $3000 FLIR infrared imager, you'll be able to see what's
getting hot or smoking.
3. Let it cook for a few days and see what happens. It will either
fix itself, burn down the house, or create a warranty issue. Check
your homeowners insurance to see if damage from flaming HDTV's are
covered. Everything else should be covered by the manufacturers or
the stores warranty.


--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558
# http://802.11junk.com
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS

On Wed, 08 Dec 2010 01:41:53 +0000, Keith wrote:

I just a got great deal on a Samsung 32" HDTV. The only issue is the
smoke smell. Is there a way I can
get it off and out of my new HDTV without ruining the TV? Thank you.

If you're talking about tobacco smoke smell (or any kind really), try
Awesome Orange cleaner. It works better than anything I've ever used to
get tobacco stains and smells off anything. I wouldn't use it on the
inside though. If the smell is inside, remove the components, spray,
wash, and dry them and re-install.

Keith wrote in message
...
All:
I just a got great deal on a Samsung 32" HDTV. The only issue is the
smoke smell. Is there a way I can
get it off and out of my new HDTV without ruining the TV? Thank you.

Keith Lee


Assuming the smoke source is now gone, I've not tried this though. "shake n'
vac" or Bentonite or whatever that microporous volcanic mineral is. Scatter
inside, leave for a few days, take outdoors and blow it out.

On Wed, 8 Dec 2010 01:41:53 +0000 (UTC), Keith
wrote:

All:
I just a got great deal on a Samsung 32" HDTV. The only issue is the smoke smell. Is there a way I can
get it off and out of my new HDTV without ruining the TV? Thank you.

Keith Lee


Been through this many times;

1) Clean the exterior thoroughly with Windex and paper towels.

2) Get a Sharper Image 'Ionic Breeze' air purifier. It produces ozone,
which will kill virtually any household odor.

A_C

All:
Luckily for me, the smoke smell seems to be disappearing. I hope it will be gone within a few days.
BTW, what do any of you think of using vinegar on a tobacco smoke smelling object?
Thank you.

Keith

On Wed, 8 Dec 2010 01:41:53 +0000 (UTC), Keith
wrote:

I just a got great deal on a Samsung 32" HDTV. The only issue is the smoke smell. Is there a way I can
get it off and out of my new HDTV without ruining the TV? Thank you.

Imho: there is a very simple, common and rather safe solution (no
pun intended).
Over here (the Netherlands) it goes by the name Biotex.
That's an enzymes attacking laundry detergent (or something like
that. Housekeeping-english is not my forte :-)

Anyway, just some clothes and the washing solution.
Works like a charm. (Well, as far as cleaning can go.)

--
Kind regards,
Gerard Bok

Keith wrote:

All:
I just a got great deal on a Samsung 32" HDTV. The only issue is the
smoke smell. Is there a way I can get it off and out of my new HDTV
without ruining the TV? Thank you.

Keith Lee


You should never let the smoke out of electronic components. They will
fail to work afterwards.

On Wed, 8 Dec 2010 01:41:53 +0000 (UTC), Keith wrote:

All:
I just a got great deal on a Samsung 32" HDTV. The only issue is the smoke smell. Is there a way I can
get it off and out of my new HDTV without ruining the TV? Thank you.

Keith Lee

Hi Keith you sure were a great player for Memphis State...before the
heroin kicked in.
--
Don't **** with me. I'm tuff. And stupid but don't dare **** with me.