Smelly Hammock

[skibum]

Recently I found a jungle hammock in great shape in my grandparent's basement. It smelled horrible, and thinking the issue was mildew I put it out in the sun for several days. The smell improved but remained. It's been hanging outside airing out for about a month now and the smell is still strong. It is a chemically, toxic odor and I think it may have to do with the vinyl material degrading. Does anyone have any advice on how to get rid of the stench?

Thanks for any help!

[OutandBack]

If its one of the old cotton canvas WWII models the mold/mildew more than likely will have rotted the material.

[Picaro]

Grandparents....storage....smell.........mothballs ?

[wiel]

McNett Mirazyme. Follow the directions on the bottle. Swear by it.

[sargevining]

Its "Military Artifact Smell." As a collector, I came to recognize it in Antique and Junk stores all across the country----you can literally smell the gear before you can see it. Its also known as "Army Surplus Store Smell". Most late WW2 and post war canvas web gear smells like that, particularly the stuff that was produced near the end of the war and never issued. Its likely a treatment put on it for long term storage---its why you can still buy near pristine condition field gear that was manufactured 70 years ago. It eventually goes away, but you have to carry it with you as you invade France or islands in the Pacific Ocean to make that happen.

[Algonquin_bound]

Its "Military Artifact Smell."...... It eventually goes away, but you have to carry it with you as you invade France or islands in the Pacific Ocean to make that happen.

Possibly the best post I've read anywhere. I just love it.


Cheers sarge!

[thejungleisneutral]

Mine doesn't have that smell. Just the normal army surplus old canvas odour. However I have a US poncho which has always smelled like vomit due to the waterproofing mix they painted on to seal the seams.

Chances are the smell is just the waterproofing compound. The canopy on the US jungle hammocks of the WWII era is polyurethane-coated sateen cotton so it won't be vinyl degrading. I'd personally just leave it as is, but if you decide to try and wash the hammock, do it with the hammock slung and use a little soap and warm water with a sponge. LIGHTLY hose off to rinse out the soap and then let the hammock air dry while still slung. The canopy on these, while still waterproof if in good condition, are fragile and will tear at the drop of a hat, so don't go at it with a broom and dishwashing liquid or it'll trash the hammock.

[dragon360]

A mix of vodka and water in a spray bottle has worked wonders for me.

[mountainm]

A mix of vodka and water in a spray bottle has worked wonders for me.

... and did it help your gear too?

[grannypat]

... and did it help your gear too?

Now that's funny.