# OK I really screwed up... **URL:** \ **Category:** Systems, Gear, & DIY\ **Created:** [March 22, 2012, 2:21am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810 "2012-03-22T02:21:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tschmidlin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/tschmidlin/32/3857_2.png) [@tschmidlin](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/tschmidlin)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 5:50am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810/21 "2012-03-23T05:50:16Z")
Or you could probably find a fisherman who won’t mind the smell. ---
**Author:** ![punatic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/punatic/32/13656_2.png) [@punatic](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/punatic)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 8:59am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810/22 "2012-03-23T08:59:43Z")
> [@tschmidlin](#): > > Or you could probably find a fisherman who won’t ~~mind~~ **notice** the smell. ---
**Author:** ![tonyp](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/tonyp/32/12198_2.png) [@tonyp](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/tonyp)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810/23 "2012-03-23T16:34:25Z")
so even after the overnight bleach-bath it still smells like death…thanks for all the suggestions but i think this cooler is destined for storing yard tools or something… lesson learned. tony ---
**Author:** ![tschmidlin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/tschmidlin/32/3857_2.png) [@tschmidlin](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/tschmidlin)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810/24 "2012-03-23T16:58:23Z")
No way I would want to store anything in it, even tools.  It’s hard enough to motivate to work in the yard sometimes, let alone having to access the death cooler every time.  I would drop it at the local bait shop. ---
**Author:** ![brewmichigan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cdc98d/32.png) [@brewmichigan](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/brewmichigan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810/25 "2012-03-23T17:01:25Z")
I’m a little surprised it still smells that bad. I have accidentally left grain in my cooler for a week a few times and it smelled horrible but after and good cleaning and air dry it’s back to normal. ---
**Author:** ![hokerer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/hokerer/32/266_2.png) [@hokerer](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/hokerer)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810/26 "2012-03-23T17:15:29Z")
> [@tonyp](#): > > so even after the overnight bleach-bath it still smells like death…thanks for all the suggestions but i think this cooler is destined for storing yard tools or something… Sounds like there might be a Stephen King novel here somewhere… ---
**Author:** ![punatic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/punatic/32/13656_2.png) [@punatic](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/punatic)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810/27 "2012-03-23T17:19:14Z")
> [@james](#): > > Nuke it from orbit, it’s the only way to be sure +1 ---
**Author:** ![tonyp](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/tonyp/32/12198_2.png) [@tonyp](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/tonyp)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810/28 "2012-03-23T18:05:50Z")
> [@brewmichigan](#): > > I’m a little surprised it still smells that bad. I have accidentally left grain in my cooler for a week a few times and it smelled horrible but after and good cleaning and air dry it’s back to normal. This grain was in there for atleast 4 months, maybe thats the difference. It must’ve permeated the plastic pretty deep. The bleach definately lessoned the smell but its still there. I’m just gonna buy a new one so i can get back to brewing, i can always fill it with more bleach or oxyclean and let it sit for a month or so… ---
**Author:** ![euge](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/euge/32/5060_2.png) [@euge](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/euge)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810/29 "2012-03-23T18:26:21Z")
Make sure you get a blue cooler… 😉 You weren’t able to remediate the tun. You’re making the right move IMO. Find an Extreme at Walmart- probably be less than $40. ---
**Author:** ![tonyp](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/tonyp/32/12198_2.png) [@tonyp](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/tonyp)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810/30 "2012-03-23T21:24:29Z")
> [@euge](#): > > Make sure you get a blue cooler… 😉 > > You weren’t able to remediate the tun. You’re making the right move IMO. Find an Extreme at Walmart- probably be less than $40. i called every wal-mart, k-mart, target, lowes and sporting goods stores with 30mi of me and none of them have the one i want, guess its amazon time! ---
**Author:** ![tonyp](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/tonyp/32/12198_2.png) [@tonyp](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/tonyp)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810/31 "2012-03-23T21:25:32Z")
btw, i’m giving it one more shot. I filled it to the brim with water and 10 scoops of oxyclean. gonna leave it sit for a few days and see if a miracle occurs. ---
**Author:** ![tubercle](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/tubercle/32/6256_2.png) [@tubercle](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/tubercle)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810/32 "2012-03-23T21:37:55Z")
[Channeling Billy Mayes] > [@tonyp](#): > > btw, i’m giving it one more shot. I filled it to the brim with water and 10 scoops of oxyclean. gonna leave it sit for a few days and see if a miracle occurs. [/Channeling Billy Mayes] ---
**Author:** ![jeffwasheleski\_gmail.com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2acd7d/32.png) [@jeffwasheleski\_gmail.com](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/jeffwasheleski_gmail.com)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2012, 12:19pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810/33 "2012-03-24T12:19:32Z")
I’d try the baking soda or charcoal after the cleaning. What ever bacteria were there should be dead after sunlight,bleach, and now oxyclean, but their “by products” could be bonded to the plastic. The baking soda or charcoal will absorbe the funk and help. Last year the freezer of my keggerator had a similar event occur and it reaked of death. Unknown to me my parents decided to store beef in the freezer, but it isn’t self defrosting. Needless to say when I unplugged it for the winter and opened the door to the freezer, I was lucky to have my trash bucket next to me. Ended up cleaning it with bleach and putting a charcoal damp rid in it and about 4months later opened the door and no smell at all. ---
**Author:** ![stbloomfield\_gmail.com](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/stbloomfield_gmail.com/32/2417_2.png) [@stbloomfield\_gmail.com](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/stbloomfield_gmail.com)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 12:29am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810/34 "2012-03-27T00:29:50Z")
Hehe…$30 in cleaning supplies later…  ;D ---
**Author:** ![thirsty](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/thirsty/32/10334_2.png) [@thirsty](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/thirsty)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 10:16am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810/35 "2012-03-27T10:16:14Z")
Maybe if the Death Cooler held grain for four months it will have to hold the cleaning solution for four months. ---
**Author:** ![tonyp](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/tonyp/32/12198_2.png) [@tonyp](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/tonyp)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 12:44am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810/36 "2012-03-30T00:44:22Z")
Just an update, I let the cooler ist over the weekend with oxyclean and the smell is now gone! Gonna let it sit for a few more days to see if it comes back. and BTW, i get tubs of oxyclean at the dollar store so i think i spent $2 (the bottle of bleach had been sitting on the shelf for months unused…) ---
**Author:** ![punatic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/punatic/32/13656_2.png) [@punatic](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/punatic)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:03am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810/37 "2012-03-30T01:03:47Z")
> [@tonyp](#): > > Just an update, I let the cooler ist over the weekend with oxyclean and the smell is now gone! Gonna let it sit for a few more days to see if it comes back. > > and BTW, i get tubs of oxyclean at the dollar store so i think i spent $2 (the bottle of bleach had been sitting on the shelf for months unused…) Bleach deteriorates fairly quickly.  Bleach that has been sitting for several months has lost most of its chlorine. FWIW a lemon juice solution works well for removing smells too. It helps is you live where citrus grows.  Lemons are cheap, or free there. ---
**Author:** ![davidgzach](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/davidgzach/32/21101_2.png) [@davidgzach](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/davidgzach)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:01pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810/38 "2012-03-30T13:01:23Z")
> [@punatic](#): > > > [@tonyp](#): > > > > Just an update, I let the cooler ist over the weekend with oxyclean and the smell is now gone! Gonna let it sit for a few more days to see if it comes back. > > > > and BTW, i get tubs of oxyclean at the dollar store so i think i spent $2 (the bottle of bleach had been sitting on the shelf for months unused…) > > Bleach deteriorates fairly quickly.  Bleach that has been sitting for several months has lost most of its chlorine. > > FWIW a lemon juice solution works well for removing smells too. > > It helps is you live where citrus grows.  Lemons are cheap, or free there. > > I would give it a major shot of fresh bleach and let it sit for a day.  Then one more shot of OxiClean. ---
**Author:** ![gmac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@gmac](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/gmac)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810/39 "2012-03-30T13:51:49Z")
Anyone wanna pitch in a buck to buy Tonyp a new cooler?  I’d have thrown in the towel about 30 secs after I opened it. ---
**Author:** ![slowbrew](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/slowbrew/32/8927_2.png) [@slowbrew](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/slowbrew)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:55pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810/40 "2012-03-30T13:55:25Z")
> [@gmac](#): > > Anyone wanna pitch in a buck to buy Tonyp a new cooler?  I’d have thrown in the towel about 30 secs after I opened it. I was thinking the same thing but wasn’t going to say anything because I’ve been known to have my own hard to explain obsessions over the years.  Homebrewing in general comes to mind.  :🙂 Paul [Previous page](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/ok-i-really-screwed-up/9810.md?page=3)