Post #124963 by KuKuAhu on Thu, Nov 11, 2004 10:51 AM

On 2004-04-21 10:55, MachTiki wrote:

AND, the two mugs that did survive the trip are unusable. Seriously. The smoke smell has penetrated the suface of the mugs and I can't wash it out. I hand washed them twice and ran them through the dishwasher twice. No help. If I had wanted to drink from a Sneaky Tiki ash tray I would have bought one.

I had this same problem with a thrifted mug. I'd be willing to bet that your mugs came from a bar shelf somewhere and have been exposed to smoke for years.

I used one of those orange cleaners with a light solvent base (do not use on cold painted mugs or at last test it first) and it took out the smell along with about a decade of nicotine stains.

I do not recall the brand I used but it was that "power of orange oil" type remover. I just used a rag and spent a while in front of the tube working on it. It wasn't the spray cleaner, but a remover for sticky stuff. Like Goof Off, but way less harsh.

You might try it before you give up.

Ahu