I have been given 30 5 gal. pails w/lids. They have had pickles in them. How can I remove the smell? I'v washed and washed, still smell like pickles.

-- && (&&@&&.&), July 12, 1999

Answers

Fill 'em with more pickles!

Seriously, though, the pores of the plastic have become impregnated with essence of dill oil, and you probably need to soak the entire pail in a larger pail. Fill the inside (pickle) pail with clean (or bleached) water. Fill the outside pail with mild salt water. The clean (unsalted) water will flow through the pores (eventually) from the low concentration to the high (salty) concentration. With luck, the dill oil will flow with it to the outside pail. The outside pail should be dumped every couple of days, and of course should be made of metal or some other non-porous material. Otherwise, you just end up with two smelly pails instead of one.

Hope this helps,

-- Spindoc' (spindoc_99_2000@yahoo.com), July 12, 1999.

Try adding baking soda to the water and soaking for a few days, or dusting the interior with soda dust.

-- Tom (retro50@agapeis.net), July 13, 1999.

You can't.

-- smfdoc (smfdoc@aol.com), July 13, 1999.

I bought several 55 gal. barrels from the local Nalley pickle plant. I let them air out for a while then I put 1 cup of bleach and then filled them with water, put the lid on and left them for 2 weeks. Took off the lids, drained them and then let them air dry. They no longer smell...I will now be filling them with water and will do a taste test in a couple months to make sure. Good luck.... take care ben

-- ben (bent@premier1.net), July 13, 1999.

I used mine for stuff that the pickle smell/taste won't be a problem with. Course, I'M not the one who cares about pickle tasting pasta, since I use REALLY spicy sauces.

C

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), July 13, 1999.

If all else fails, pack the food in mylar bags and seal the bags. The mylar bags are very airtight, so the pickle smell won't get through.

-- de (delewis@Xinetone.net), July 13, 1999.

I have tryed all there is to try and it never leaves. This is the best I have found.Add hot water one juice of a lemon.let sit for a day or two.wash out ,let set in hot sun for 1 week.rub inside with vanilla let set all day ,then wash out.And after all this you will still have a little smell.The smell will not hurt your food at all.Like someone said you can put a bag in the bucket first.Good luck.

-- HD (home_dad@yahoo.com), July 13, 1999.

time and lots of water- have some of those we use for water buckets and harvest pails- thought the smell would never leave but it did- eventually- a lot longer than you hope it will though......

-- farmer (hillsidefarm@drbs.com), July 13, 1999.

After washing and purexing and setting out---I stuffed newspaper in the thing (recommended by the clerk at the store where I purchased it.) And after about a week there is no smell--at least it didn't yesterday!) Will give an nose update in about a week. c

-- catherine plamondon (souldancer@pop.spkn.uswest.net), July 25, 1999.