# Tips for de-stinking a walking cast?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [September 16, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917 "2006-09-16T02:27:44Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917/1 "2006-09-16T02:27:44Z")
I’ve been wearing this stupid walking cast/air splint/21st century Velcro-laden torture device of itching sweating Doom since Wednesday before last, and I’m supposed to wear the stupid thing until next Wednesday when I go back to the doctor (and hopefully he’ll tell me I can take the stupid thing off and burn it) but meanwhile the stupid thing stinks to high heaven. I’ve been hosing the stupid thing and my stupid foot down with Odor-eaters spray every time I take it off, and that helps for a while, but then when I put it back on it quickly re-funkifies itself.
My friend suggested putting it in the freezer to kill the stink-germs, but I’m scared of what the smell will do to my ice cream. Any other suggestions?
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### Author:  [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2006, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917/2 "2006-09-16T02:34:17Z")
It stinks so bad it made me post in the wrong forum!
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### Author:  [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2006, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917/3 "2006-09-16T03:09:37Z")
Maybe spray it with Fabreze?
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### Author:  [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2006, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917/4 "2006-09-16T03:43:47Z")
A nice Arm & Hammer dustdown, perhaps?
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### Author:  [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2006, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917/5 "2006-09-16T12:42:15Z")
Moved from Cafe Society to GQ … good luck.
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2006, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917/6 "2006-09-16T13:51:53Z")
“Odor-eaters spray” - Absolutely useless crap. In my experience it stinkifies rather than de-stinks. Try Fabreze - If you have a big enough freezer you can try freezing it overnight as many stink bacteria are heat loving and are more easily killed by cold than heat. This tip also works with tennis shoes.
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### Author:  [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2006, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917/7 "2006-09-16T19:30:45Z")
The one I wore, for an extended period of time, allowed removing the padded section for washing. I put it on “gentle” in the machine and used cool air to dry it.
I also found not having it touch bare skin was better. I wore a boot sock over my foot (which helped keep my toes warm). For my leg I cut the leg off some old medical scrubs and had a scrub tube. I’d put that on before putting the brace on.
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### Author:  [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2006, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917/8 "2006-09-16T19:44:59Z")
Maybe throw it in a garbage bag before trying the freeze method?
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### Author:  [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2006, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917/9 "2006-09-16T23:51:58Z")
Garbage bag! Yeah!
Oh, wait, you mean put it in a garbage bag and still _keep_ the thing.
I tried the Febreeze, and then I drove to work in my un-air conditioned car and got stinky again. I’m wearing a sock and have it on over my jeans. Maybe I’ll try the Febreeze and the freezer tomorrow. Thanks!
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### Author:  [@tygerbryght](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygerbryght)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2006, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917/10 "2006-09-17T00:51:47Z")
> [@Marlitharn](#):
>
> …
>
> I tried the Febreeze, and then I drove to work in my un-air conditioned car and got stinky again. I’m wearing a sock and have it on over my jeans. Maybe I’ll try the Febreeze and the freezer tomorrow. Thanks!
I’m with ExTank; sprinkle it well (especially inside) with baking soda.
> [@Wikipedia](#):
>
> Baking soda helps remove body odours as it absorbs chemicals, apply using a powder puff.
I’m in favor of putting something between your skin and the torture mechanism afterwards to prevent any possibility of irritation. If you have sensitive skin, it’s possible that you could get irritation, since there’s no way for the skin inside to breathe.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2006, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917/11 "2006-09-17T00:55:57Z")
If the cast is walking… 😛
I had some dive booties that I used for kayaking. They tended to get Heinous Bootie Funk. There’s some stuff available in dive shops that kill the bacteria and the smell. I don’t remember what it’s called though.
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### Author:  [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2006, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917/12 "2006-09-17T02:26:50Z")
> [@astro](#):
>
> “Odor-eaters spray” - Absolutely useless crap. In my experience it stinkifies rather than de-stinks. Try Fabreze - If you have a big enough freezer you can try freezing it overnight as many stink bacteria are heat loving and are more easily killed by cold than heat. This tip also works with tennis shoes.
Not true. The freezer won’t kill enough of the flora to be meaningful, but they will repopulate once re-exposed to heat and humidity.
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### Author:  [@prattjunction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prattjunction)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2016, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917/13 "2016-10-01T13:59:44Z")
I tried Fabreze and got an awful rash. Beware what chemicals can get to skin
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### Author:  [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2016, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917/14 "2016-10-01T15:07:01Z")
Baking soda overnight, then brush or vacuum it off in the morning. And I mean a LOT of baking soda. Alternatives to baking soda are activated charcoal, diatomaceous earth or coffee grounds - all four have lots of nooks and crannies which absorb odor producing molecules.
But I’m surprised it’s so stanky if you’re wearing it over your jeans. Has the stank been confirmed by other people, or is it possible that you detest it so much (which I totally understand!) that you’re imagining or enhancing the stank?
Also, check with your doctor that wearing it over jeans is acceptable for your condition. They usually want those things very precisely tightened, and jeans may interfere with the areas of support your leg needs right now.
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2016, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917/15 "2016-10-01T15:20:52Z")
The cast should have come off about 10 years ago, I think.
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### Author:  [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2016, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917/16 "2016-10-01T15:30:34Z")
> [@WhyNot](#):
>
> \But I’m surprised it’s so stanky if you’re wearing it over your jeans. Has the stank been confirmed by other people, or is it possible that you detest it so much (which I totally understand!) that you’re imagining or enhancing the stank?\
You just like saying “stank.”
Zombie thread=Walking (Dead) Cast :o
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### Author:  [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2016, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917/17 "2016-10-01T16:02:00Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#):
>
> The cast should have come off about 10 years ago, I think.
Dammit. :mad:
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### Author:  [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2016, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917/18 "2016-10-01T16:03:13Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#):
>
> You just like saying “stank.”
I do. Stank stank stank…
And apparently I need my coffee grounds in a coffee maker, with hot water, and a cup underneath to catch the resulting coffee. 😛
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### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2016, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917/19 "2016-10-01T17:10:27Z")
Well, it’s a current thread for me; I’ve been wearing a “stupid walking cast/air splint/21st century Velcro-laden torture device” for 3½ weeks now. Always a sock under it & the pants too (if I’m wearing them, as opposed to shorts on the weekend) but haven’t noticed any funky odor yet, even just smelling it now. Yes, there have been days where my pants leg was kind of damp when I took them off at night. I don’t sleep or shower with mine on so I guess it gets a chance to air out overnight???
Hopefully, it comes off the end of next week!
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### Author:  [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2016, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-de-stinking-a-walking-cast/372917/20 "2016-10-01T18:40:54Z")
Yay Spidey!
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