Got this one used. Carbon fiber band end was cut off (was not in the pictures). Not that dirty, but strong cigarette smell.
Actions taken so far:
1. wash with soap water/scrab/soak and scrub X3
2. Rubbing alcohol X2

Next step is to lock in the box with backing soda for about 5 days.

Any other non intrusive suggestions?
Have anyone did it before?

I know it sounds strange but it annoying to have watch filling room with smell. It that bad. Never had such thing before and was always smiling at "from non smocking home". But apparently there is rationale in that.

i would have thougth scrub with soap would have fixed the issue. if not, does it mean the smoke smell has penetrated the resin?
would it make sense to put into an ultrasonic cleaner with a watch parts cleaning solution?
i know the watch parts are steel so they can handle that cleaning solution but the resin might not....

 

It sure penetrated resin. Ultrasonic of band itself + wings would make sense with probably just soap. Not sure how it will go with it in terms of time. Currently it sitting in box with soda and i will report on it in 5 days time.
Ozon works on cigarette smells but it will damage plastic. Don't think smell sits in metal, but i do sense it off band as now. Rest been scrubbed several times and don't smell that bad.
I also kept watch for more modest time in soapy solution since soap and gaskets not a best combo on old watch.

I don't have ultrasonic cleaner thus all that jazz. Frankly it probably best investment for vintage watch restoration afficionado given effectiveness of cleaning in just few minutes. Given your pets approve it.

 

I was contemplating using Febreze but i am not sure how it will work with plastic so it off the table.
Looked into new bands too, but whole set up will cost more than i paid for a watch.

 

I bought an skxa35 on marketplace years ago and no matter what I did the strap smelled of cologne.
Ended up having to pitch it out

 

Try something citrus based like an orange cleaner.

Natural citrus is a very good all around cleaner that combats odors well and is not to aggressive nor abrasive.

 

Try something citrus based like an orange cleaner.

Natural citrus is a very good all around cleaner that combats odors well and is not to aggressive nor abrasive.

if soda won't help much i will take off all band parts and soak it in something lemony for longer time.
I am hesitant to keep all watch submerged but should be fine for a band.

 

You'll never get it out.

Maybe pick up a pack a day habit, and then after a few years you'll never be able to tell.

Expensive, but delicious.

 

I have had similar experiences with a used G-Shock. Ended up replacing all resin parts of the watch to get rid of the smell.

 

Maybe soak it in vinegar n sprinkle some baking soda in there if the smell is still there and then leave it outside to dry

 

I bought an expensive thermometer off ebay years ago and it must have previously been used in in a cigarette factory. It reeked!

I put it in a box with a bunch of activated charcoal (aquarium filter stuff) and it worked. It's been nearly 10 years now, and I can't smell the smoke at all any more.

 

Get an Ozonizer on Amazon and put it in a closed box with the watch and run for 24hrs.
Do not breath the ozone it can irritate your lungs
This is how a car dealership gets the smoke out of a used car.

 

Go buy a fresh bag of whole dark roast coffee beans...Open the bag and stuff your watch deep inside it, close it up and leave it for a week or so (longer is better). Even better yet would be to leave the bag near a heat vent or in a sunny window. The dark roasted coffee aroma is remarkably effective at covering smoke scent.

 

When I got my GWG-1000 Mudmaster, it reeked of cologne. I wore in the shower for like a week straight and the smell went away. But I have no clue if that would work with cigarette smell.

 

Got the same issue with a velcro strap i bought last year from marketplace, smell like old book even after dyed it and wash it several times still smell like that.

 

Thank you for suggestions!

Some like ozonizer or vinegar may prove bit aggressive. I know ozon works but it will react with plastic too. So there is a balance there. Plus i have nothing to do with it later.
Vinnegar was indeed suggested home remedy with 1:1 ratio of vinegar to water (which should be quite strong). that said i read in some other "how to" it may attack some plastics.

So i will stick to thing i am sure of in terms of keeping plastic safe.

I had experience with ozon generator in hotel room i moved in. It did made things smell different and removed part of the smell but it did no got it all. Car is for sure smaller volume and it likely more effective there. There are special chemicals for fabrics (said Fabreze) not sure how it will work on plastic where it can't go in between threads.

 

mix water with some citrus cleaner or white vinegar. that usually works.

i had a pair of water shoes that i had to soak in water/vinegar mix overnight because the cigarette smell wouldn't go away. it worked...after i spend a few hours in the local river washing the vinegar smell off.

 

I have done no research on this topic, but since the watch has 100 meters of water resistance, maybe submerged in a bucket of oxyclean mixed in water for a couple hours? Oxyclean is great for getting strong persistent odors out of clothing, so I'd imagine it could work here.

 

Not a watch but rather strap. May work actually. Soaking helped to remove some stains and smells out of fabric. Did that in the past. Have box of it too.

 

Soda treatment

 

View attachment 18676361

Soda treatment

I doubt the soda powder treatment in a box will do much. After all, the soda will be only absorbing off-gassed smells, but I don’t see it working as a magnet for smells.

I think it would be a far more effective start to separate the watch from it’s strap. That way both could receive maximum possible treatment.

I have excellent LONG TERM use experience with Clorox and Lysol WIPES on car interiors. I have yet to find anything that they have faded or damaged, although as last pass, I always wet/wiped or spray/rinsed and towel dried the vehicles interior afterwards.

Same procedure and same success even on leather seats and leather steering wheel!

Every time it worked so great that I always have to chuckle, when I see pro detailers doing their thing, using foam bubbles and brushes to clean car interiors.

Long story short both Clorox and Lysol WIPES have excellent cleaning power and worked great for me (again don’t forget the spray-water-rinsing end part) for removing short term smoke smell from interior parts.

So that would be my start. Then let the watch air out and see if or what else needs to be done.

 

You can also try aromatic cedar, it has long been used to to deal with unpleasant odors. I have a cedar chest that was able to deal with a pretty nasty smoke smelling quilt heirloom.

 

Try nicotine patch. Heard it worked wonders for other smokers.

 

Watch acting like nicotine patch as now.

 

Or save your baking soda money and try this:

https://a.co/d/e6PN6az

 

It is 200m resistant, I would put it with the rest of a load in the washing machine. Certainly the G resist claim would be real-life tested during the spin cycle. Repeat as needed.

 

It's 100m WR and has smart crown and buttons. So i won't wash whole watch. It may survive, but given overall 5 buttons and crown i won't take risks here. Crown is plastic and if only it remains smelly i won't have huge problem with that.
I thought about washing strap on low temperature cycle.

 

I want to thank you for many suggesting again and some suggestions seem very doable and have shown me new directions. I dealt a lot with dirty watches and straps specifically been problematic. But i never had problems with plastic high end strap and cigarette stench.

Nylon straps are easy and i restored quite a few. Velcro also not a problem. Leather goes into garbage. Plastic these either been wash and fine or crack and ...

 

Can we see pictures of the watch, obviously you can’t smell pictures but I want to see the watch 🤣

 

Also here is chatGPTs response


To remove cigarette smell from a Casio Pro Trek band, here are some effective steps you can try:



1. Soap and Water:

• Detach the watch band if possible.

• Clean it with mild soap (like dish soap) and warm water using a soft cloth or toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly and dry it completely.

2. Baking Soda:

• Place the watch band in a small container with baking soda. Close the container and leave it overnight, as baking soda absorbs odors well.

• Shake off any excess baking soda, then wipe it with a damp cloth.

3. White Vinegar Solution:

• Mix equal parts white vinegar and water. Dip a cloth in the solution, then wipe down the watch band.

• Rinse with water and dry it completely. The vinegar smell should dissipate as it dries.

4. Activated Charcoal or Coffee Grounds:

• Put the watch band in a sealed bag with activated charcoal or coffee grounds for a day or two. Both are great for absorbing smells.

5. Sunlight:

• Place the band in a spot where it can get some indirect sunlight for a few hours. The fresh air and sunlight can help dissipate the odor. Avoid prolonged exposure, as it could affect the color.



Try one or a combination of these methods, and repeat if necessary. Let me know if you’d like additional tips.

 

I would submerge it in a soapy solution with liquid ammonia on it, and would leave it for a while in it.

This is what I use in my ultrasonic cleaner and works to strip any dirt and grime.

Cheap and effective.

 

Try a denture cleaning solution. Polident tablets dissolved in rather warm water, submerge your watch/strap for 3-5 minutes.

 

Kind of off topic story.
I went to Diefenbunker

Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum

Experience Ottawa's immersive history destination. A former Cold War communications headquarters, now a one-of-a-kind museum and national historic site.

diefenbunker.ca

And during the tour several stories been told. One of them been about smoking. Which was kind of norm at the time. They had to replace or seriously clean all ceiling tiles and literally everything because you not just can smell it. You can not guess original colour of the paint or material so smoked it was. Bunker had no prominent smell by the way.
So my though about watch smell origin it was smoke and it was inside closed room. Can't think of anything else giving such strong and lasting load of smell. Also can't imagine how strong would be smell of circa 1960s things.