How to Remove Odor from Metal

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We’ve all experienced it—that weird smell coming off a stainless steel coffee thermos or an odd odor from a jacket zipper. Whether it’s an offending piece of jewelry or a much-loved kitchen pan, your metal items may start to get a little stinky over time. Thankfully, metal isn’t hard to clean and deodorize! There are a few basic steps you can take to get rid of whatever is causing the odor so you can get back to enjoying it as soon as possible.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Tackling Items in the Kitchen

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  1. Most metals can be cleaned and deodorized by simply washing them and removing what might be causing the odor, whether that’s built-up food, grime, or a layer of oxidation. Take your stainless steel, copper, or aluminum items and gently wipe them clean with a soft rag that has been dipped in soapy water. [1]
    • Make sure to wipe down any creases or crevices, as those areas are more likely to accumulate grime and bacteria. If you need to, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean hard-to-reach areas.
    • You can also try a 1:1 solution of water and white vinegar to wash the piece of metal and neutralize its odors.
  2. Rust has a particular odor that can be unpleasant, and knives, silverware, and even some pots and pans might start to develop rust over time. Take the rusted item and sprinkle the problem areas with table salt, then pour lemon juice overtop. Leave it alone for 2 hours, then scrub the rust spots with either the rind from the lemon or with a steel wool pad before rinsing it off with water. [2]
    • Make sure to dry the item off thoroughly afterward! Use a clean, soft dishtowel to remove excess water.
    • Lemon juice is acidic and table salt is abrasive. Combined, they’re great at removing rust and odors from metal.
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  3. If you have metal containers or bowls that have started to smell, wash them like you normally would with soap and water. Let them dry, then take the rind of a lemon and rub it all over the interior. The rind should absorb lingering odors and leave the container smelling fresh. [3]
    • For this to work, you need to use the rind from a lemon rather than lemon juice. If you were to just rub or pour lemon juice on the item, it would leave a sticky residue.
  4. Especially for items made of stainless steel or aluminum, baking soda can help get them clean while neutralizing bad odors at the same time. Get the object wet, then sprinkle it with a thin layer of baking soda—it’s okay if the surface area is still somewhat visible. Let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing it clean with a dishtowel or soft sponge. [4]
    • This also works to clean smelly metal appliances, like a sink drain, garbage disposal, or microwave.
    • You could try spritzing the baking soda with white vinegar. White vinegar is an acid that bonds to smelly molecules, so it packs an even greater deodorizing punch when combined with baking soda.

    Keeping Your Metal Trashcan Smelling Fresh: If your trashcan is made of some kind of metal, you can help keep nasty odors at bay by wrapping a handful of baking soda in a coffee filter and placing it at the bottom of the can. [5]

  5. One of the most common metal items that will start to smell over time is your coffee thermos. Metal can absorb odors, so it may start to smell like old coffee, tea, or even like the sponge you’ve been using to clean it with. Put a teaspoon (4.8 grams) of baking soda into the thermos and fill it with warm water. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes, then rinse it out. [6]
    • Baking soda neutralizes bad odors. It’s a multi-faceted ingredient that can be used in baking as well as in many cleaning and deodorizing tasks. [7]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Restoring Tarnished Silver

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  1. Built-up grime can cause odors on its own. Starting with a clean base will help you more effectively neutralize bad smells. You can wash the item by hand or use a soft-bristled brush. [8]
    • Overtime, silver gets tarnished because it attracts sulfur. The sulfur leaves behind a strange smell, but luckily it is pretty easy to remove!
  2. For this deodorizing method to work, the silver items have to come into contact with the foil, so line both the bottom and the sides so that the entire surface of the pot is covered. It’s okay if the foil hangs over the side of the pot a little bit. [9]
    • Make sure the pot you’re using is large enough to fully submerge the silver item. You can also put in more than one item at a time if they’ll all fit.
  3. Leave some space at the top of the pot so the water won’t overflow once you add the silver. The baking soda is going to help remove the sulfur from the silver and will also tackle any odors. [10]
    • Using more baking soda won’t hurt anything, so it’s okay if you don’t measure out exactly the right amount.
  4. Turn the burner on high and keep an eye on the pot. Once the water begins to boil, turn off the burner and move the pot to a safe surface. [11]
    • Be careful to not burn yourself on the side of the pot! Use oven mitts or hot pads to protect your hands.
  5. Gently drop the silver items into the pot. If you need to, use a ladle or tongs to lower them in so that you don’t get splashed with hot water. Use a long wooden spoon or something similar to occasionally move the items around. [12]
    • You should notice flakes coming away from the silver and floating in the water. These flakes are bits of sulfur coming off of the silver.
  6. Once the silver items start to look shiny and clean again, carefully remove them from the pot. Dry them completely before storing them. If you notice remaining tarnished spots, you may be able to simply rub them off with the dishtowel. [13]
    • You may want to use tongs or a ladle to remove the items from the pot.
    • This method can be used for all kinds of silver items, including jewelry.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Deodorizing Zippers

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  1. Over time, your items with zippers might start to smell, and sometimes that smell might even transfer to your hands or other objects. The first step to try and get rid of the smell is to simply wash it and dry it just like you normally would. If you’re unsure of how to clean a particular item, check the care tag to see if it can go in the washing machine or if it should be hand washed .
    • Many zippered items, like jackets, don’t get washed very often. The zipper can get a buildup of skin cells and oils, which react with the metal and cause it to oxidize.
  2. Chances are that there are skin cells and oxidation down in the little grooves of the zipper that are causing the bad smell. Use a soft-bristled brush dipped in rubbing alcohol to gently scrub the zipper. Take your time and make sure to pay attention to all the small crevices.
    • Clean both sides of the zipper for the best results.
  3. If you don’t have rubbing alcohol, white vinegar would work just as well to clean and deodorize your zipper. Use a soft-bristled brush dipped in white vinegar to clean between the grooves on both sides of the zipper. [14]
    • You may need to treat your zippers every month or so. Whenever you notice them starting to smell, take 5 minutes to clean them and keep your clothing and accessories smelling fresh.
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      Tips

      • Always test a new cleaning product on an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn’t react with the metal. [15]
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      • Some metals are quite soft and scratch easily. Use soft-bristled brushes or microfiber cloths to clean metal to keep it in pristine condition. [16]
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      • Avoid using an old sponge to clean out metal containers. Any smells on the sponge are likely to transfer to the container, making it smell worse than it did before. [17]
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      Things You’ll Need

      Tackling Items in the Kitchen

      • Dish detergent
      • Dishcloth or rag
      • Soft-bristled brush
      • Baking soda
      • Lemon juice
      • Table salt
      • Steel wool
      • White vinegar
      • Lemon rind

      Restoring Tarnished Silver

      • Soft-bristled brush
      • Dish detergent
      • Baking soda
      • Aluminum foil
      • Wooden spoon
      • Tongs or label
      • Oven mitts
      • Dishcloth

      Deodorizing Zippers

      • Laundry detergent
      • Rubbing alcohol
      • Soft-bristled brush
      • White vinegar

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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about removing odor from metal, check out our in-depth interview with Himesh Patel .

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/floor-and-surface-cleaning/clean-metal.html
      2. ↑ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-remove-rust-from-metal-knives-tools-and-objects
      3. ↑ https://www.self.com/story/how-to-clean-food-storage-containers
      4. ↑ https://www.popsci.com/remove-any-odor/
      5. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-deodorize-trash-can/
      6. ↑ https://www.homegrounds.co/how-to-clean-coffee-thermos/
      7. ↑ https://axial.acs.org/2018/08/03/the-science-of-baking-soda/
      8. ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/kitchen-cleaning/clean-silver-stainless-steel-cutlery.html
      9. ↑ http://www.scifun.org/HomeExpts/tarnish.html
      1. ↑ http://www.scifun.org/HomeExpts/tarnish.html
      2. ↑ http://www.scifun.org/HomeExpts/tarnish.html
      3. ↑ http://www.scifun.org/HomeExpts/tarnish.html
      4. ↑ http://www.scifun.org/HomeExpts/tarnish.html
      5. ↑ https://www.popsci.com/remove-any-odor/
      6. ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/floor-and-surface-cleaning/clean-metal.html
      7. ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/floor-and-surface-cleaning/clean-metal.html
      8. ↑ https://www.self.com/story/how-to-clean-food-storage-containers

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