Removing bad smells from cables?

[jaffacakes]

My cat decided it was a great idea to urinate on my setup's cables, and now it all smells like cat urine...

I already cleaned them with ethanol (pink alcool), and while the filth is gone, the smell is still there (even if not as intense as before).

 

Some sites said that using vinegar could work, but I suspect it may corrode the rubber.

Other alternatives where using coffee or tea, which doesn't sound all that great.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Cheers.

[Billy_Mays]

What type of cables?

[Shimejii]

You may have to outright replace the cables if baking soda and other cleaning stuff doesnt get the smell out.

[Howitz]

unplug everything and let them stay in a bowl of bleach for a few (?minutes/hours/days?), but keep the metal parts held by something just outside the bleach.

 

the cables rubber might change color/become less flexible if you leave them for too long so keep an eye on them but i'm sure the smells will go away.

 

i used this technique when my gorilla decided to shit all over my sleeved cables.

[jaffacakes]

23 minutes ago, Billy_Mays said:

What type of cables?

The power cords of my two monitors and PC

[jaffacakes]

20 minutes ago, Shimejii said:

You may have to outright replace the cables if baking soda and other cleaning stuff doesnt get the smell out.

Hopefully not.

 

[jaffacakes]

14 minutes ago, Howitz said:

unplug everything and let them stay in a bowl of bleach for a few (?minutes/hours/days?), but keep the metal parts held by something just outside the bleach.

 

the cables rubber might change color/become less flexible if you leave them for too long so keep an eye on them but i'm sure the smells will go away.

 

i used this technique when my gorilla decided to shit all over my sleeved cables.

You've really got a pet gorilla?

 

I'll try this if there aren't any other solutions.

Would you know if vinegar would ruin/corrode the cables?

[Howitz]

8 minutes ago, The Slimy Pig said:

You've really got a pet gorilla?

 

I'll try this if there aren't any other solutions.

Would you know if vinegar would ruin/corrode the cables?

no, no i don't really have a pet gorilla lol

[jaffacakes]

6 minutes ago, Howitz said:

no, no i don't really have a pet gorilla lol

Would've been pretty cool though haha

[Billy_Mays]

24 minutes ago, The Slimy Pig said:

The power cords of my two monitors and PC

Are they fabric?

[jaffacakes]

1 minute ago, Billy_Mays said:

Are they fabric?

Nope, standard rubber ones.

[Billy_Mays]

Just now, The Slimy Pig said:

Nope, standard rubber ones.

I'd just try using a cleaner on it

[jaffacakes]

1 minute ago, Billy_Mays said:

I'd just try using a cleaner on it

Such as...?

[Billy_Mays]

58 minutes ago, The Slimy Pig said:

Such as...?

I'm not sure just check on google for the correct ones that are safe

[minibois]

1 hour ago, The Slimy Pig said:

The power cords of my two monitors and PC

Are they just regular 3 pole connectors? If so, I would just replace them.

 

[Howitz]

dude just use bleach i don't think you'll break your cables if you leave them for just a few hours, you can also dilute the bleach with water but make sure it's still pretty high concentration so the smell really goes away.

[Patrick3D]

6' power cables are $1.91-$2.47 each on Monoprice, depending on wire gauge (16AWG vs 18AWG)

[Kawaii Koneko]

Okay, as a cat owner who has had a few problem cats, I think I can help you with this one.

 

Go to the store and buy the wild cherry or strawberry scented Suave Essentials shampoo. Mix it in a bowl or bucket with hot water and agitate it really well. Then soak a rag in it and really give the cable a rub down... a very thorough rub down. Make sure to rinse the cable well afterwards.

 

My human nose usually can't smell any cat urine smell after doing this. If you can still smell it, wash it again. This also seems to help prevent other cats from spraying the cable because they smell another cat's scent. It seems to mask it from them, although I may have just gotten lucky.

 

Hope that helps!