Thread: How to get the Stank out of a Cooler?

Unless it's a good one, throw it out.

Dish soap and hot water, scrub, rinse and then follow up with bleach and hot water soaking. Sunlight will get rid of the bleach smell more quickly it will get rid of the fish smell. Start off with about 1/4 cup of bleach in the water and increase as needed.

I was going to recommend the bleach and water as well. I would also set it air/sun dry and then close the lid with three or four Baking soda boxes inside. Another good smell absorber is charcoal.

Put your left over coffee grounds on a piece of aluminum foil in it over night with the lid closed. This is after you washed
it out with the bleach and soapy water. That's the way a guy I fish with in Louisiana gets the smell out of his bait coolers.
The next day open the lid and let it air dry. Try it, you'll like it.

I would let it stink just to irritate. But, that is me.

Originally Posted by Cane Pole

I would let it stink just to irritate. But, that is me.

Hindsight being 20/20 I now need to use those two coolers on a camping trip. I'd rather my boloney not be smelling or tasting like 2 week old crappie carcasses.

But I guess that is the price I have to pay for trying to get a dig in on the wife.

I left them both open in the garage to air out. They smell bleachy and fish gutty all at the same time.

Vinegar

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I also put in a cup of bleach , close lid and slosh to coat insides . Then fill with water without dumping bleach. Let set in sun for a day or so then dump and rinse well .

They make a product that I still use called "Sink the Stink". Comes in a squeeze bottle and you add to water and and then place wet suits, rubber shoes and boots soak in it over nite then rise and let dry. You can find it on line or in white water kayak shops as when I used to white water kayak a lot, all the river water stank up everything after a couple of days and works like a charm. I use it still now and then to soak backpack equipment iin, that also get smelly. Use it on anything really.