Issue with item Bought at a Dollar Store

[laserguy]

Bought a meassuring tape for $1.00. Great deal, even picked the one with less defects since all of them had some issue but all functional.

One thing I noticed was that all of them smelled like gasoline.

Is there anything I can do to get rid of the smell? leave it outside in the sun for a week, spray it with something? or is is just the plastic that smells and nothing can be done about it?

I guess if I find no solution, I'm going to have to wear a mask every time I use it, ha ha.

[hawkeye16]

Does it smell like the RL's trunk? :P

[Goodview]

Walk into a bicycle shop where everything comes from CHINA and you'll smell the same thing. The 'rubber' tires. Reminds me more of the creosote they use on railway ties.

If you have an air purifier that has an ionizer in it, set it in front for a few days. Those ions seem to be able to neutralize lots of smells.

[rollinhonda]

Leave it out in the warm sun for a day, maybe most of the odor will dissipate.

[laserguy]

Thanks, I will try it.

The smell is stronger than anything you can imagine, it spreads within a 2 square foot radius.

[rollinhonda]

Originally Posted by laserguy

Thanks, I will try it.

The smell is stronger than anything you can imagine, it spreads within a 2 square foot radius.

Take note if bugs stay a way, it may be dual purpose.

[RidgeLI]

Possibly lubricant inside making smell?

[Rickman]

Throw it out!

[oarnold]

They usually also have a supply of air fresheners for $1.oo at those stores.
You'll still be ahead.

[schwejo]

Kind of funny, had the same problem with an inexpensive tap and die set. Everything was coated and packed in plastic. It about knocked me over when I opened it. I can imagine what you are smelling because it was unbelievably strong and it didn't wash off my hands very easily either. Smelled like kerosene but stronger. I even wondered about the safety of it because China doesn't have the best safety record when it comes to some things.

What I eventually did was hose it all down with wd40. That washed off the whatever manufacturing lubricant or protectant they used and the wd40 pretty much evaporated in a day or so. Of course wd40 has its own smell, but it doesn't hang around like the other stuff seemed to. I would think you could do the same with a tape measure because wd40 seems to dissipate pretty fast and not leave much of a residue.