How to clean/deodorize filthy ashtrays?

[scoots]

I don't smoke, but my Dad does. He also doesn't clean the ashtrays out too often, and when he does, just dumping the butts is good enough...

I now have several ash trays that are coal black and smell ferocious. (He smokes out side, so that's a plus.)

Does anybody have a cleaning product in mind that I can use that will actually destroy the odor when I finally clean them out after all these years? Preferably something that will keep my sink and fingers from stinking as well.

Thanks,

Bill

 

[liamy1]

Hot soapy water followed by a steep in lukewarm water with vinegar.

Then once dry, either;

Line each ashtray with enough baking soda to cover the bottom of the ashtray

Or use furniture polish spray/ air freshener spray/ baby oil to put a light coating on the inner of the ashtray.

Advantages of doing this, the coating of either baking soda or the others will stop the ash sticking to the tray, so makes clean up a whole lot easier.

The sprays or oil will also release a pleasant smell when the heat from the butt makes contact with the ashtray on extinguishing. The baking soda has one advantage though, when the heat of the butt hits that, it releases carbon dioxide ensuring the butt is extinguished properly.

Lastly, don’t use a sink, coz well, yuck! Use an old bucket. Also use disposable paper towel for both washing and drying. Then dispose of wash solution down an external drain.

 

[ea56]

To keep your hands from stinking wear rubber gloves. Use an old sponge with a green scotch brite pad on it, soak the ashtrays in hot water and detergent and then scour with the scotch brite and either some Barkeepers Friend or baking soda. Save the sponge for just cleaning the ashtrays.

After you get them clean, if your Dad would wash them at least on a weekly basis they shouldn’t be such a problem in the future. I used to smoke, quit in 1981. But I used to wash my ashtrays every couple of days with the dishes and they were never a big deal to keep clean. If your Dad smokes outside, why not just put some sand in and old coffee can and have him use that and just periodically dump out the sand and butts and add fresh sand, problem solved.
Eddie

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Just soak them:

In hot water and Dawn. Drain, rinse wash in dishwasher. Works every time.
WK78

 

[askolover]

What Eddie said about the sand works great...I use cheap cat litter from the Dollar Tree (Tony smokes) in our ash pots outside.

 

[maytagbear]

This is a bad for me

I do not, and have never smoked. However, Ma smoked for most of her adult life, quitting for good on the edge of 70.

Our house reeked, our cars reeked, my sister and I reeked. My sister and I had frequent upper respiratory illnesses...…

I was firmly and thoroughly grossed out when Ma put her ashtrays in the dishwasher. To stop that, I would take them out and do them by hand myself, when I could catch them.

One of the very few inflexible things I have about a partner, instead of a fling is that he not smoke.

I am also one of the very few in my generation to never try cannabis. I did not because of the smoking. Did not know of alternative ways back in 1978-82 when I might have....

<S>Sorry</S> for going afield.

Lawrence/Maytagbear