Washing Stinky Weight Plates

[Detrus]

I got two of these standard plates amazon.com/gp/product/B00306YIBS/ four weeks ago and they still stink from some distance away.

These are low quality plates with thicker than necessary paint, sharp edges, paint in the holes. I've already washed them down with water, tried dishwashing soap too.

What could I do to make them lose their stink sooner?

I have other hammertone standard plates that have the same scent but not as intense. They're lighter, smaller plates but altogether have more surface area and the smell was never that noticeable. They also have machined holes and are better quality overall.

[KBKB]

I got two of these standard plates amazon.com/gp/product/B00306YIBS/ four weeks ago and they still stink from some distance away.

These are low quality plates with thicker than necessary paint, sharp edges, paint in the holes. I've already washed them down with water, tried dishwashing soap too.

What could I do to make them lose their stink sooner?

Try wiping them down with Simple Green. If that doesn't work, try a stronger degreaser.

[Detrus]

Try wiping them down with Simple Green. If that doesn't work, try a stronger degreaser.

Well, all I had was Fantastic cleaner, says it cleans grease too so I tried it. Doesn't smell like it did the trick on the hammertone stink, but now there's a new smell of Fantastic.

I have a feeling these plates will always have a noticeable smell.

[KBKB]

I have a feeling these plates will always have a noticeable smell.

It's possible. The plates for my Ironmaster dumbbells still have a smell to them - which I kind of like - and I've had them for over a year.

[Detrus]

But is that smell noticeable 8 ft away?

Now I'm wondering if quality hammertone plates like Ivanko's have these issues.

[KBKB]

But is that smell noticeable 8 ft away?

Whoa. Didn't realize it was that bad. That's definitely not normal. I can understand why you want it gone.

Now I'm wondering if quality hammertone plates like Ivanko's have these issues.

I have some cheap plates purchased from my local Play It Again Sports. They don't have that issue.

[Detrus]

Small cheap plates? I have small standard hammertone plates, 4 20 lbs and 8 10 lbs, they still smell if you sniff them from very close. I was wondering if larger plates have more issues. I've used other weight equipment, there is no smell from the paint whatsoever, only the metal.

[KBKB]

I have some other ideas. Try these one at a time in whatever order you like until you hit upon something that works.

1. Try wiping them down with rubbing alcohol.
   
   
2. Take them outside and heat them up with a heat gun. Hopefully, the heat will cause the volatile compounds to dissipate. Take care though as this could also damage the paint.
   
   
3. If you can't get the stink off, maybe you can seal it in. Try coating a couple of the plates with a product like Krylon Crystal Clear. You'll probably need several coats for it to be effective. If I were doing it, I'd get just one can and try it on a couple of small plates first. No point in doing too much work if it's not going to be effective.
   
   
4. Wire brush off the old paint and repaint them with something else.
   
   
5. Sell them and get different plates.

[KBKB]

Small cheap plates? I have small standard hammertone plates, 4 20 lbs and 8 10 lbs, they still smell if you sniff them from very close. I was wondering if larger plates have more issues. I've used other weight equipment, there is no smell from the paint whatsoever, only the metal.

Here's what my plates look like:





(You can see more of them in this thread.)

I've never noticed any smell from them at all.

[Detrus]

See those are black, not hammertone. Maybe this problem is only with hammertone.

Thanks for those suggestions. I have considered partially covering them up with duct tape. And I will definitely get rid of them one way or another but probably not this year.

I'm amazed how bad equipment can be. This CAP plate and Weider grip plates are the only ones available for 50 lb standards. Doubt I missed out by not getting Weider.

[Kodokan]

what kind of stink are we talking about here? seriously, are you thinking a rat peed on them on the boat on the way from china or what?

[Detrus]

There's a whiff of something burnt and a mix of alocholy metally stink of the hammertone. I can smell the less intense version by sniffing smaller hammertone pancake plates. The big plates just reak of it. It's the paint. It's too thick, wasn't baked long enough, who knows.

[ProtienandIron]

If they are metal then the smell is just something on the top of them. Take them outside, put them on a rubber door mat. Have a bucket full of water and strong washing up liquid. Dip a broom in the bucket and get scrubbing. Hose them off and it should be all good. Dry them off with a cloth and let them dry in the sun for a bit. Leave them outside for a while to let the air get to them, and make sure you air out your gym while this is happening. They should be fine.

[Detrus]

Well I did something similar. Left them outside twice already. Maybe got rid of some of the stink but there's still plenty left.

[Shane502]

Use the smell as motivation to bust out your sets and get out of there.

[KBKB]

Well I did something similar. Left them outside twice already. Maybe got rid of some of the stink but there's still plenty left.

You might try something like this:



I used a similar product from Simple Green (which isn't made anymore) on the second pair of stall mats that I have in my training area. I didn't notice much odor from them when I brought them inside. I also noticed an immediate change in the water beading characteristics after using that product. More information starting here.

Oh, and for what it's worth, I used the easier-to-find Simple Green product that's used for household cleaning on my first two stall mats. Those stank for quite a while once I got them inside. I'm not entirely convinced, however, that the difference in odor was entirely due to the cleaning product used. The weather conditions were different during for each set of mats. It was quite a lot hotter outside and I think that helped to rid the mats of some of the volatile organic compounds which made them stink.

[Detrus]

Use the smell as motivation to bust out your sets and get out of there.

I live in the same room.

I guess a motorsports/automotive degreaser and a tougher scrubbing brush is worth a try. Then I'll tape them up if I still wake up smelling them.

[Detrus]

Well, tried rubbing alcohol. Seems to leave a sticky residue that's hard to wash off, similar to fantastic. Tried a scrubbing brush with dishwashing liquid after. Then tried to scrape off a layer with some sandpapery stuff on top of a foamy thing. Hard to say how much all that did, I still smelled them in the morning from seven feet away.

Couldn't stand it anymore, covered them up with gray duct tape, some made in the USA brand, $4 at CVS and $1 at 99c store. Spent two 10 yard rolls. Duct tape has a subtle smell up close, can't feel from distance. I hope the smell adventure is over.

The plates look better I think, more chromy, space age foil paper like. Although it's a big red flag to potential buyers.

[SDSammy]

Couldn't stand it anymore, covered them up with gray duct tape, some made in the USA brand, $4 at CVS and $1 at 99c store. Spent two 10 yard rolls. Duct tape has a subtle smell up close, can't feel from distance. I hope the smell adventure is over.

The plates look better I think, more chromy, space age foil paper like. Although it's a big red flag to potential buyers.

You wrapped your plates in duct tape? Please take a pic and post it!!!

[Detrus]

You wrapped your plates in duct tape? Please take a pic and post it!!!

Here is a whole photoshoot








They don't look as space age in photos as I'd like. Too sloppy up close.

[KBKB]

...

...
They don't look as space age in photos as I'd like. Too sloppy up close.

From a ways off, they look better than I thought they would.

[fishpat86]

Put them in the oven

[AttyGuy]

Jeebus Achin' Criminey! Dude, WTF? You want to make them lose their stink sooner? Move the out of the room that you keep them in. Is there a garage, deck, basement, etc., where you can work out so that you can sleep and do whatever the else you do in there away from the weights. No wonder you have issues with the smell.

Seriously. And next time, don't buy new standard weights. Buy used!

[jerrymcf50]

I have some old plates that I painted back in the 70s I have this unpleasant feeling that they have lead based paint on them. They have been out the garage for years. Any thought on what to do with them

[jerrymcf50]

cardboard on the floor is a heck of a good idea

[Detrus]

Jeebus Achin' Criminey! Dude, WTF? You want to make them lose their stink sooner? Move the f--- out of the room that you keep them in. Is there a garage, deck, basement, etc., where you can work out so that you can sleep and do whatever the f--- else you do in there away from the weights. No wonder you have issues with the smell.

Seriously. Next time, post ALL the relevant facts before asking a question. And next time, don't buy new standard weights. Buy used!

No there is no garage, basement, etc. I'd have issues with the smell even if there was. It's distracting during workouts. Now it's over though, taped over.

[AttyGuy]

No there is no garage, basement, etc. I'd have issues with the smell even if there was. It's distracting during workouts. Now it's over though, taped over.

LOL. Keep lifting! And seriously, don't be afraid of buying used.

[Detrus]

LOL. Keep lifting! And seriously, don't be afraid of buying used.

I'm not afraid of buying used, I just don't have a car or remember how to drive and can't take advantage of used deals unless they deliver, which is almost never. Buying new weights is cheaper than having a car though. Too bad about the smell on these but I bet they'll still stink years later since the smell barely subsided in two months.

[Squeebo]

I have some old plates that I painted back in the 70s I have this unpleasant feeling that they have lead based paint on them. They have been out the garage for years. Any thought on what to do with them

I believe the scare over lead-based paint is based entirely on the idea that a small child could eat old peeling paint chips and get poisoned. So I would recommend you don't eat the paint chips if they peel, as well as not making a peanut butter and rubber flooring sandwich.

[AttyGuy]

I believe the scare over lead-based paint is based entirely on the idea that a small child could eat old peeling paint chips and get poisoned. So I would recommend you don't eat the paint chips if they peel, as well as not making a peanut butter and rubber flooring sandwich.

Lead can be a problem for you too. If you're going to strip them down, wear eye and respiratory protection. When you are done strip down, shower (at least wash hands and face), and put clean clothes on. And wash your work clothes.