How do you get rid of the rubber smell?

[K0k0shka]

I got my chickens one of those very popular black rubber livestock bowls as a waterer. As I've read, it did come with a very (VERY!!!) strong rubber smell. I looked up how to get rid of it, and have been trying to get rid of it, but it just won't go away! I left the bowl outside to air out for a few weeks. I scrubbed it with dish soap. I soaked it in a 50% vinegar solution for 24 hours. I left it outside again. Nothing helps, and it still smells, except now it smells like rubber AND vinegar Has anybody found an effective way to get rid of the stubborn smell? How long does it take for the smell to go away?

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I got my chickens one of those very popular black rubber livestock bowls as a waterer. As I've read, it did come with a very (VERY!!!) strong rubber smell. I looked up how to get rid of it, and have been trying to get rid of it, but it just won't go away! I left the bowl outside to air out for a few weeks. I scrubbed it with dish soap. I soaked it in a 50% vinegar solution for 24 hours. I left it outside again. Nothing helps, and it still smells, except now it smells like rubber AND vinegar Has anybody found an effective way to get rid of the stubborn smell? How long does it take for the smell to go away?


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I abandoned mine. I figured that it the smell is that strong and persistent (and awful), it must be outgassing something pretty potent. I didn’t even want to plant in it.

I wonder where it wound up…

 

[K0k0shka]

I abandoned mine. I figured that it the smell is that strong and persistent (and awful), it must be outgassing something pretty potent. I didn’t even want to plant in it.

I wonder where it wound up…

The smell is strong enough to make me question the safety at first, but these bowls are used on all kinds of farms, rescues, zoos and generally in places where the people have a commitment to the safety and well-being of the animals, so if they deem them safe enough to use, then I trust their judgement better than my uninformed suspicion. I have volunteered at a rescue place and used the bowls there, and they had zero smell whatsoever, so I know it goes away eventually... I just want to know what I can do to help the process (the current staff at the rescue where I volunteered don't know who bought the bowls when and what they did, so that hasn't been much help).

 

[Sally PB]

Maybe try baking soda? It's a great odor absorber.

 

[K0k0shka]

Maybe try baking soda? It's a great odor absorber.

I'll try that next, thanks!

 

[Bigdumogre]

I have seen a lot of people changing over to the metal ones for numerous reasons and studies showing contamination in water and food. They are only a few dollars more for the metal ones, but the only downside is not as easy to get ice out of. Which I personally think is a solid trade off if those studies were accurate.

 

[K0k0shka]

I have seen a lot of people changing over to the metal ones for numerous reasons and studies showing contamination in water and food. They are only a few dollars more for the metal ones, but the only downside is not as easy to get ice out of. Which I personally think is a solid trade off if those studies were accurate.

I thought the contamination rumor was debunked? Either way ice is not an issue for me because I have a separate heated waterer for the winter. I only need something for the warmer months, as I don't want the heated waterer to sit out there year-round (even if unplugged) and shorten its lifespan unnecessarily. Maybe I'll try a metal pan. I've read about people unhappy with metal waterers though, because they heat up a lot in the summer, and inevitably rust...

 

[Bigdumogre]

I thought the contamination rumor was debunked? Either way ice is not an issue for me because I have a separate heated waterer for the winter. I only need something for the warmer months, as I don't want the heated waterer to sit out there year-round (even if unplugged) and shorten its lifespan unnecessarily. Maybe I'll try a metal pan. I've read about people unhappy with metal waterers though, because they heat up a lot in the summer, and inevitably rust...

I haven't seen those yet and will look into it thank you. And that's why i said if the study is accurate lol never know.
I can see them getting hot and rusted. I use a rent a coop waterer so never used the rubber or metal ones personally.

 

[K0k0shka]

I haven't seen those yet and will look into it thank you. And that's why i said if the study is accurate lol never know.
I can see them getting hot and rusted. I use a rent a coop waterer so never used the rubber or metal ones personally.

I've used different style waterers over the years, and have found that I really don't like the closed ones where I have to flip it upside down, or open something to clean inside and refill. It's so much faster and easier to just dump an open bowl/pan and refill. Faster and easier to give it the occasional quick scrub with the retired baby bottle brush, which hangs above it, too. So at this point I'm done with closed waterers, and just looking for a large bowl of some sort.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I have seen a lot of people changing over to the metal ones

If you use a metal waterer do not use vinegar in the water. The vinegar can have a chemical reaction with the metal or cause them to rust. I do not put vinegar, bleach, or anything else in the water so I would not be worried about using a metal pan but for some people metal might not be the best choice.