Asked on Mar 29, 2016

How do you get rid of a "musty"smell from a leather necklace?

B. Devine
by B. Devine
I purchased a lovely necklace that has a leather neck strap. The leather smells musty and I am not able to wear it. The leather cannot be separated from the metal pieces.
I have already returned one necklace and got this one in return but it has the same smell. Any ideas?
  6 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Mar 30, 2016
    You can try placing the necklace in unscented cat litter, or a box of baking soda. Let stay in long enough for the odor to dissipate.
  • Melody McSweeney Melody McSweeney on Mar 30, 2016
    If, you're anything like me with an ultra sensitive sniffer, that smell is never going to go away. More than likely, it's the actual "treated" leather you're smelling. Chances are, the people selling these do not smell it at all! If you can't replace it with something else, find a way to incorporate it into something decorative for your home - wrapped around a rustic vase? or a flower pot? or added to a wall hanging? Preferably somewhere not in your "sniffer" range. . . I once had a silk shirt that I loved but could not stand the smell even after several washings. . . no one else could smell - used it to cover a mat in an art piece I did. . . was still beautiful under glass!
  • Ann Ann on Mar 30, 2016
    Soak it in Nok-Out then use a leather conditioner on it. Nok-Out is worth it's weight in gold! Nothing else works as well for me.
  • Lisa Lisa on Mar 30, 2016
    If it's a musty smell, let it sit outside in the sun for a couple of days. If it's a treated leather smell, you can use any oil treatment safe for leather.
  • Connie Connie on Mar 30, 2016
    Depends also if the leather is actually emitting a musty (mildew) smell from dampness, OR if the leather was not aged, tanned, treated properly and actually is emitting a dead animal skin odor. (once bought a small leather purse, made in China, that stunk of this) I would try white vinegar saturation to get rid of the mildew. Then allow it to dry thoroughly, and maybe treat with a leather conditioner. The other odor, age, sunlight and time may or may not help.
  • Kathy Meador Wells Kathy Meador Wells on Mar 30, 2016
    baking soda sprinkled on it should do the trick