I quit the bong before I even started collecting. Just curious though - what happens if vinyl toys are exposed to smoke? I've only heard that the vinyl sort of "inhales" the smoke. What the hell?

Unfortunately they pick up the smoke smell very easily...

I posted the info in your OTHER thread - http://www.skullbrain.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t=8787

Vinyl sucks in the smells all right - it's a pourous material - the small cells in the vinyl material store the smells from the surrounding enviroment. Smoke, Mold/mildew, Cooking smells, etc....

I once bought a used piece that reeked of cigarette smoke when it arrived. I didn't make a (pardon the pun) big stink about it. Eventually the smoke odor disappeared for the most part.

i buy a lot of vintage toys (mostly dolls) and there is NOTHING worse than opening that box and getting a big whiff of stale cigarettes. I have some who have smelled that way for years.

So disgusting.
I've had the displeasure of getting a few reeking pieces from Japan...it was like the toys themselves had been puffing Larks.

It seems like every box I get from Japan reeks of smoke.

Fortunately it seems to stay in the packing, I haven't gotten a really smelly toy yet.

yeah if i feel comfortable doing so, I'll wash them, but I have actually thrown out a series of plastic toys because even a week in bleach wouldn't get the smell out. it was stinking up my shelf.

wow, that's crazy!! I received a few toys from my Celga shipments that definitely smelled like smoke, but they don't smell up the entire room or anything like that....

The dough boy I painted for el mazs show stunk so bad that even after a acetone bath, the magic eraser and fresh new paint its STILL smelled like it did when I first got it.

That smoky smell some of you are describing may not necessarily be smoke, it could be what I call the "scent of Japan". Sort of a metallic smell, every time I get a package the wadded-up newspaper there reeks of it, and it really brings my memories of the place back. I think that smell may have something to do with Japan being a volcanic island, or it's just because they use slightly different mixes of materials for everything than we do, it's hard to say (or describe).

i also think that cigarette smells are much more noticeable to non-smokers than people who smoke.

My mom (a smoker) and I argue constantly about what does and does not "Stink" I am very sensitive to it. Even just spending a few minutes somewhere with someone who is smoking I will wash my clothes & shower as soon as I get home. I think some of it is perception.

It also can discolor vinyl though, so anyone who values their collection should definitely take the smoke (& other smells) away from their toys.

I Know this smell. I don't even mind it. Its kind of appealing when a big box comes. That goes away, but the smoke is different for me, it sticks in the toys.

I was thinking about this the other day. I usually forget to ask sellers whether the figure comes from a smoke-free environment. I haven't noticed the smell of smoke on any of my figures though.

So, if I have a stinky dog, will my vinyl smell like stinky dog as well? Actually, I wash my dog regularly

I notice the strange smell when I crack open a box from Japan but I just figured it was from a fresh production. the most intense smell I've experienced yet came from the new Exohead figures - toxic yet addictive! The box they were wrapped in still stinks from 10 feet away. Is it bad that I like huffing that shit? Glue-sniffing punks die hard I guess

it's godzilla farts

I keep the EXOs in jewel cases. When I opened one up this morning to reposition, I got lightheaded.

There's definitely a smell that comes off of items from Japan. I remember thinking that it was similar to the smell of kerosene at one point.

I hate it when I get a greasy, vinyl toy. On a lot of the Marmits, it becomes gunky. I have noticed the Japanese "smell" on boxes I get. Forrest Gang was FULL of that funk.

Funny, I was just about to post about this and ask whether or not the smell goes away and was happy to see this topic was already started!

I'm wondering if sticking the figure in a box and dumping a ton of baking soda on it and waiting a few days would absorb the cig smell? I just got a used fig from K-T and it's definitely THE worst smelling one I've ever received. *bleah* (right now I have the figure in quarantine away from all of my other stuff!)

I remember receiving a huge painting that reeked. It was directly from the artist who obviously was a couple packs a day smoker! It did dissipate after awhile. (I know canvas is different than vinyl but maybe there's some hope? ?)

Does the soap and water help at all? I'm willing to try it but don't want to bother if it's not that effective.