Trash It or Clean It? WWYD?

lilmama412 · January 2014

We bought a brand new PNP with all the bells and whistles when DS was born, less than 2 years ago. It had the infant sleeper on top that he slept on the first couple months of life. DH is a SAHD, and his mom is a widow who lives on several hundred acres about 40 minutes from our house. DH will go down there a couple times a week to help her out with stuff. He brought the PNP down there after we moved DS to his crib, so that he would have a place to take naps while they were there. MIL chain smokes like a chimney. She also lives in this log home that is heated by a wood stove, so the house constantly smells like bonfire smoke. I just recently found out that she smokes inside when we are not there. It's hard to notice the smell, because the smell of the wood stove is over powering. The PNP is in MIL's bedroom, which is down the hallway from the living room where she smokes. We recently took the PNP with us when we went on a trip, and it REAKS of smoke. Mostly, the smoke from her wood stove, but I think that just overpowers the cigarette smoke. I broke down crying when I found out, because this is a really nice one that I had planned on using for number 2. I didn't want to shell out a couple hundred dollars for a new one, when we had one that is perfectly fine, and piratically brand new. I have refused to let DH bring it back down there since.

WWYD, trash it or try to clean it? The infant sleeper part was stored at our house, so luckily that isn't' smoke filled, but the mattress pad that the baby would be sleeping on was with the PNP. If I were to clean it, how would you suggest going about that?

I am not as worried about the wood stove smoke, that's how people heated their homes for centuries, and still do, and their babies are fine. I am more worried about the cig smoke, that even though I can't smell it, and I don't think she smokes in the room where it was put up, I am pretty sure it is there.

jobabyyy · January 2014

If it were me I'd try to clean it and if the smell doesn't come out just shell out for a new one. I wouldn't want my baby smelling like any kind of smoke.

bacorrea · January 2014

Personally, I would trash the PnP. Sorry.

fourthnlast · January 2014

I'm going to see if I can find it for you, but I saw something on Pinterest about how to totally clean and de stink a PNP. If I recall correctly, it was someone who had a similar issue.

kbatchetee · January 2014

I think I'd make a best effort to clean it before trashing it. Maybe Febreeze, fresh air, and sunshine would help? Not sure if that's an option this time of year in your geographical location. Best of luck.

fourthnlast · January 2014

Here ya go: https://www.alexharalson.com/2013/06/how-to-clean-and-disinfect-pack-n-play.html

lilmama412 · January 2014

fourthnlast said:

Here ya go: https://www.alexharalson.com/2013/06/how-to-clean-and-disinfect-pack-n-play.html

Thank you!!!

pineconey · January 2014

I second the fabreeze!!! It's worth a shot to try and clean. Good luck!!

homediva · January 2014

I would try to clean it first, but you could also look for a cheap second hand one just to replace the mattress itself?

BabyBsMommy · January 2014

I would try to just replace the mattress
and attempt to clean the rest!

lilmama412 · January 2014

AprilMay9 said:

I would try and wash it and see if you can buy a new mattress for it. The one I was looking at had replacement ones. And I would also be a bitch and say I didn't want my kid going to a smokers house.

I was totally dead set against him going over there at first. DH was also a smoker until just a few months ago, and when I was pregnant, I was a totally freak about you won't be holding this baby unless you change shirts after every time you smoke and wash your hands etc. I loosened up a bit after he was born, DH never smoked around him, he smoked outside, and always washed his hands. MIL also smokes outside when he is there. I thought that she just smoked outside all the time until recently, DH and I were out hunting together on MIL's property. She was watching DS and when we came back in she had a cigarette INSIDE with DS running around. Luckily DH freaked out so hard she was bawling her eyes out. I think that took care of that for good! But she really has no one to help her take care of her property, so DH pretty much has to go down there.

katiedidthat · January 2014

I'd buy/rent a steamer and try to clean it before I trashed it. You'd be amazed at what steam can take out and it doesn't leave residue like Febreeze does.

RebeccaY1 · January 2014

I'd try to clean it before trashing it.

spano41 · January 2014

I would definitely trash the mattress and buy a new one at the least. I'm guessing the mattress is probably affected the most and the mesh part probably doesn't absorb the smoke as much so it might be easier to clean.

KendraL86 · January 2014

I would trash it. I am sensitive to all types of smells (including the wood burning smoke smell). It's impossible to get out smoke smells, even with the most diligent cleaning and best products.

RedDawnsRevenge · January 2014

Take it outside and with the car brush scrub it down with Dawn soap. Let air dry as long as possible. Have someone who doesn't know the history of the PNP sniff test it. But in the end I'd probably throw it away. I too would be pissed at MIL. I wouldn't blame you for wanting to get rid of the PNP since second and third hand smoke is a leading factor in SIDS. I might even make MIL buy me a new one. My father smokes 5 packs a day. When DD was born we told him he couldn't hold her until he quit,it's been 19months and he still hasn't quit. We have now increased the bitchiness factor and also will not visit him (or my mom and sisters) at their house until he quits, ( he smokes in the garage and believes there is a magical force that keeps the fumes from spreading into the house). If the PNP has a mattress that defiantly needs to be thrown away and replaced, it can absolutely not be kept.

MalyJ · January 2014

Won't you continue to want somewhere for your little ones to sleep when at your MILs? What if you kept the smoke infested one there and bought a new one for your house?

AcaAwkward · January 2014

Ug, that's a toughie. I might try to clean it... but not just with something like Febreeze. I'd try some sort of Dawn, baking soda, vinegar concoction. I would DEFINITELY buy a new mattress though.

Israfel · January 2014

Honestly, it's pretty unlikely that you'll be able to get the smoke out. I would trash it. Also, you may want to look into the effects of "third hand smoke" (google, and you'll come up with tons of articles about how harmful it is!).

https://newscenter.lbl.gov/feature-stories/2013/06/20/berkeley-lab-confirms-thirdhand-smoke-causes-dna-damage/

I know it's tough, but if I was in your shoes I wouldn't let my LO over there anymore-- the documented long-term dangers of exposure to smoke are just too high for my liking. I would tell MiL she can visit the kids at my house.

"A study led by researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has found for the first time that thirdhand smoke—the noxious residue that clings to virtually all surfaces long after the secondhand smoke from a cigarette has cleared out—causes significant genetic damage in human cells. Furthermore, the study also found that chronic exposure is worse than acute exposure, with the chemical compounds in samples exposed to chronic thirdhand smoke existing in higher concentrations and causing more DNA damage than samples exposed to acute thirdhand smoke, suggesting that the residue becomes more harmful over time."

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