Plastic smell in Vittles Vault

[jbsayers]

I recently bought this to store grain.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002H3S5K/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

There is a plastic off-gassing smell in the container despite scrubbing the heck out of it. Anybody else have this problem? Did you find a solution? I'd hate to stash my grain in there and end up with a Plastic Stout.

Thanks!

 

[HausBrauerei_Harvey]

I was thinking about buying some of those as well, and was worried about this very thing. I have a friend who is a Ph.D. polymer scientist, I'll ping her and see if she gets back to me.

With that said I was thinking my solution would be swishing some very hot water around in it a few times, then just leaving it open for a long time until the smell recedes.

 

[HausBrauerei_Harvey]

So the vittle vault is high-density poly-ethylene (HDPE), here's my friends response, although she admits not working on these types of plastics:

"Ok so I'm not sure if water will help (stuff that happily goes into Poly Ethylene (PE) generally doesn't like water) but one rinse through with hot water may help a bit (melting point of PE should be above 100C) so use hot but not boiling water.
Other than that I would say heat (again not too much) + air flow (heat on the theory its a diffusion problem and heat speeds things up). Unfortunately for you these aren't the right types of plastics for me.

Personally I'd go with the fan on it for a while and see how it goes as the others seem like a pain in the butt. My other option would be to ask the internet but that is always a dangerous rabbit hole to go down...."


She did point me to another acquaintance who worked on HDPE off-gassing, so i sent her a Facebook message, but she is a bit more flaky so i'm not sure i'll hear anything back.

 

[Drumminguy81]

I just left mine open for a few days to air out. Smell went away. They are food grade made to store food I have to believe some sort of testing was done to ensure that..

 

[FunkedOut]

In my experience, time is the only cure.
Heat helps speed things up a little.
Place it in the sun with the lid off for a few days.

 

[Dcpcooks]

I've used them for years without any off smell in my grain.

 

[jbsayers]

I was thinking about buying some of those as well, and was worried about this very thing. I have a friend who is a Ph.D. polymer scientist, I'll ping her and see if she gets back to me.

With that said I was thinking my solution would be swishing some very hot water around in it a few times, then just leaving it open for a long time until the smell recedes.

Already tried that. It decreases slightly but is still too strong for me to store my grain in it.

 

[Chrisbrewbeers]

I never smelt anything in mine or even thought about it, never even rinsed it out. I think don't worry about it because it will smell like grain soon anyways.

 

[jbsayers]

... I think don't worry about it because it will smell like grain soon anyways.

I am mostly worried that that whatever is causing the smell will affect the flavor and aroma of the grain.

 

[jbsayers]

In my experience, time is the only cure.
Heat helps speed things up a little.
Place it in the sun with the lid off for a few days.

Damn! Its already starting to cool off in my area! Give it a shot anyway. Thanks!

 

[jbsayers]

Thanks for all the feedback. Going to try some of the solutions you all suggested and I'll let you know.

 

[Chrisbrewbeers]

I never noticed any off flavors but I feel like I remember how basically odorless mine was when I got it. If you have ever had a new memory foam pillow or mattress would you compare the smell to that because that is strong but it airs out over time until it's gone.

 

[jbsayers]

Update:

Left it outside for several days in 85-100 degree heat and it still smells after having the lid on overnight. I tried hot, but not boiling, water. Still there. Thinking I may just return it unless anybody else has any other suggestions.

 

[lump42]

I don't know about HDPE, but whenever I had a smell in any of my backpacking plastic equipment (nalgene bottles and hydration bladders). I would soak them for a few days in 10% vinegar solution. That would strip out any residual smells and flavors.

 

[HausBrauerei_Harvey]

Update:

Left it outside for several days in 85-100 degree heat and it still smells after having the lid on overnight. I tried hot, but not boiling, water. Still there. Thinking I may just return it unless anybody else has any other suggestions.

bummer! I actually just purchased one of these online yesterday. Since so many report them not having a smell or a smell that goes away after a few days with the lid off I'd be inclined to return it for another one at this point (which hopefully doesn't smell as bad).

 

[HausBrauerei_Harvey]

Update:

Left it outside for several days in 85-100 degree heat and it still smells after having the lid on overnight. I tried hot, but not boiling, water. Still there. Thinking I may just return it unless anybody else has any other suggestions.

you left it outside with the lid off right?

 

[jbsayers]

you left it outside with the lid off right?

lol, yes. Outside, Lid off.