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Trash To Treasure

old suitcase

21 years ago

I curb shopped an old Samsonite hard shell suitcase. It's naugahyde I guess. Does anyone know what to clean the sticky label goo off with? It looks like it's been on a few trips and I don't mind the "beat up" look, but I cant seem to remove the glue stuff. alice

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Comments (6)

jannyfanny
21 years ago
Buy a product called De-Solv-It at your local store. Wal-mart, K-mart, Walgreens, they all seem to have the stuff. It's near the laundry section...runs about $5.00. Wonderful product.
Good luck, have fun with your find.
Jan
Lillie1441
21 years ago
There is also a product called Sticker Lifter by Goo Gone that works really well.It has a little plastic thingy with it to lift the sticker off with.Goo Gone will also work.Both products are available at Wal-Mart.
Lillie
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That turned out really cute. I love miniature things around the garden. The old suitcases are also neat for a mini Xmas village to decorate inside with. By the way, those of you with fairy gardens, browsing eBay I found a seller who has some really pretty little fairies. You can get a set of 4 standing ones that are 4" high, or a set of 4 fairies with unicorns that are just slightly smaller. All look pretty and lot of detail. Perfect for little mini gardens! They run 9.99 for the set of 4, plus shipping of course. When I've bought things like this to put outside, I spray them with Krylon clear finish to protect them. Keeps the color good and also easier to clean dust off them safely. hugs, Karen Here is a link that might be useful: fairy sets
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Saddle soap on the leather is good, but don't clean the inside...I would leave them open to air out for a week or more then put some open containers of kitty litter in them ( the odor absorbing kind) close them up and leave for another week or more and see if the smell is gone. If not, then try Fabreeze and close them up with one of those bags of moisture absorbing stuff you put into closets. And you might try closing them up with a mesh bag of cedar chips. Congratulations on your wonderful vintage luggage! Linda C
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Thanks Sno for ALL of your postings on links to blogs with fall ideas, etc. I don't want to go back and comment on each one but they have ALL been terrific and it is nice of you to give us all the eye candy. This one on the suitcase is something a bit different and would be fun to try. Thanks to you Karen also for posting the link to the Inspiration Album again - I so enjoyed going into the Fall Album and watching the slideshow again.
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The suitcase lid can be the desk. I also meant to add that I have seen some cute re-doing of old vintage suitcases on Etsy, though not sure if any are available now. I trashpicked a really cool round american tourister case last year, with a red satin lining. The outside is gray blue, very hard plastic vinyl type material, would be easy to paint, and I saw one online (etsy again) painted white, with black trim along the edging seams, and then big red poppy type flowers painted on it. Very simple design, even a non-artist could manage it. That would look great on the one I found, especially with the red satin lining. I have also seen many where vinyl decals or stenciling is used for decorating them. The problem with the suitcase I want to do is that it is in perfect condition except for a musty basement smell that I just can't seem to get rid of. No point in doing anything to it if I can't first get rid of that smell!
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lovesjunk
21 years ago
Before buying anything special, try fingernail polish remover (with acetone), or paint thinner. Mayonaise also works for glass, not sure how it would work on the suitcase.
joyfulguy
21 years ago
Varsol might do it - about $5.00 a gal., I think.

Check among friends whether anyone has some that would give you a quarter-cupful.

Alcohol might do the job.

Or ... gasoline would almost certainly do it.

But - be sure to use it outside, and use only a very little with very little rubbing. Let rag dry throoughly before disposal and do so with care.

Hope you find an inexpensive way to achieve your goal - it's sure to be there. Without using expensive customized products, I'm sure.

joyful guy
rosepetal2
21 years ago
I find WD40 takes off goo. Just spray on, wait a few minutes for it to work and wipe goo/stickers away.
mzmarty
21 years ago
I have used cooking oil too.

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