Stinky plastic hose

Steve Goldstein · Nov 2, 2018

I need to purchase some plastic hose to replace an unbelievably gross feed line that came with a used print washer. The stuff available at the big-box stores, probably PVC, has an awful odor that makes me feel ill. Is there any quick way to de-stink it so I can use it in my very confined and poorly ventilated darkroom?

AgX · Nov 2, 2018

The best way to de-stink such PVC is to heat it, in a well ventilated area.

But I had a case were some plastic got brittle by heating over a prolonged period before the stank has gone. I had to substitute it by better material.

Before de-stinking a rather simple PCV tube to be bought locally, I would try to source, locally, a hose seemingly made from a different compound.

shutterfinger · Nov 2, 2018

Try soaking the hose in bleach and white vinegar. Rinse well between them if one or the other don't do the job.

bdial · Nov 2, 2018

A soak in water with baking soda has worked for me.

mshchem · Nov 3, 2018

Buy a rubber hose. I have black rubber hoses that fit my print washers. You find them with hoses for hooking up laundry, these, however only have 1 female garden hose fitting. The other end has no fitting. These are not intended to be under continuous line pressure. Just a 5 foot hose for general use. The ID is around 3/8 inch, smaller than standard laundry hoses, and again not intended for continuous line pressure.

The clear PVC sold at Home Depot and other big box stores is miserable stuff. It stinks, gets kinked, and takes a set.

mshchem · Nov 3, 2018

Here's what I bought

https://www.menards.com/main/plumbi...640-c-9414.htm?tid=2101411427945081305&ipos=2

Sal Santamaura · Nov 3, 2018

PVC stinks when new and oozes sticky plasticizer when older. I had enough of the mess and replaced all my darkroom tubing with this:

https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/i...MI5sbJnoS53gIVULjACh0RkAm0EAQYASABEgI6svD_BwE

After a decade or so, it's just like new. Expensive, but a near-lifetime investment. Worth the cost in my opinion.

AgX · Nov 3, 2018

The best I could get locally at industry suppliers off the roll was plain rubber and silicone rubber tubing. However clear silicon tubings seem to attract fungus even at taps.

Good hint at Tygon. I would have to pay 6-times than what your supplier asks.

Sal Santamaura · Nov 3, 2018

AgX said:
...Good hint at Tygon. I would have to pay 6-times than what your supplier asks.

I have no idea what it would cost to have the tubing shipped to Germany, but they do list an email address for international order information on this page:

https://www.usplastic.com/content/contact.aspx?clickid=sitemap

mshchem · Nov 3, 2018

Sal Santamaura said:
I have no idea what it would cost to have the tubing shipped to Germany, but they do list an email address for international order information on this page:

https://www.usplastic.com/content/contact.aspx?clickid=sitemap

Tygon should be available from dealers in the EU. That particular grade is good stuff. NSF approved for food contact, it's a proprietary polyolefin. It's used in wine production so taste and odor would be important.
General purpose Tygon tubing is PVC, it is far superior to the cheap stuff sold in big box stores.
I'm happy with my black reinforced rubber hose. Tygon has a great product line, when I worked in a chem. lab we bought several different types in 50 foot boxes.

Steve Goldstein · Nov 4, 2018

Sal, Thanks for mentioning Tygon. It had slipped my mind, but I remember it well from my graduate school days. I just ordered some from US Plastics, a 10' roll will take care of all my current needs with a bit to spare.

Stinky plastic hose

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