Flex Molds-------Terrible smell!

[Ziva]

I ordered 3 Flex Molds from Mann Lake earlier in Dec. They arrived a couple weeks ago and when I opened the bags they were in the bad smell about knocked me over. Wasn't expecting it! I live in a tiny place and the smell was so strong I took them outside. It's a very strong chemical smell that I can't identify.

I called Mann Lake. The first person I talked to said she didn't know what it was and put me on hold to ask someone else. The second person said some molds have that smell and I just needed to air them out for about a week and they'd be fine. She didn't know what the chemical was either, but said it wasn't any type of mold release agent.

Well, they've been "airing out"----outside---for nearly two weeks now and the smell is just as strong as ever. I don't want to put beeswax in them because the wax will absorb the smell and the candles would be ruined. NO ONE would want to burn candles with that smell.

I asked Mann Lake if I should wash them (to get rid of the odor) and they said it "probably wouldn't do any good".

Anyone else have this happen with Flex Molds from Mann Lake?

Since airing them out is not working, I obviously have to try washing them with something. Any suggestions what I should use? I don't want to use anything that would ruin the rubber (or whatever it is they're made from).

Thanks for any suggestions!

[David W.]

Mann Lake recommended to use Dawn dish detergent when I was trying to get rid of the smell that was in one of my molds after making a scented candle.It worked but had to do it a couple times. I have bought a few molds from Mann Lake and have never had any strong smells,maybe just a slight smell that went away shortly after opening the sealed bag.

[Ziva]

Thank you for your reply David.

Mann Lake used the same words, "slight smell", when I talked to them. They said, "Some molds have a slight smell, just air them out and they'll be fine." But I told them it was definitely not just a "slight smell", which is why I called them.

Also, after touching them, my fingers feel like there's a coating on them, like a thin layer of glue, but it's not sticky or oily or waxy. It does wash off my fingers. I'll go ahead and try washing them in Dawn, and see what happens......

[berkshire bee]

wash them and use them a few times and they should be okay. I did notice the the outside kept it's sticky feeling for some time. My guess is that it's the material they are made from

[Ziva]

I haven't washed them yet because I've been bottling honey in the kitchen and the smell from the flex molds is still so strong that I didn't want them near the honey. I will wash them, but I hate the thought of wasting beeswax to use them a few times to get the smell out. I was thinking about using paraffin wax a few times to see if that gets rid of the smell. I don't care about wasting paraffin.....

The weird thing is that the outside of the molds don't have that strong smell (only a slight smell)-----it's the inside where the smell/odor is soooooooo strong.

[DBeeCooper]

I would try this Hint from Heloise:

"If you have plastic bowls or dishes that smell simply make a paste of baking soda and water and rub all over the surface. Let set overnight then rinse well."

[kbfarms]

I personally would not use those molds. If you can smell chemicals then you are inhaling chemicals that cannot possibly be good for you regardless of what the manufacturer states ( just like the pesticide companies state their chemicals are safe). I'd stick to metal molds.

[KQ6AR]

Search some of the older threads on the topic. There where some returns because of problems last year.