Harps and Pets

[brook-boddie]

This past weekend, I picked up a L&H Prelude 38 from a local musician who is no longer playing. He asked me to take the harp so that it would be put to good use. The harp needed some cleaning and general TLC, along with a new set of strings. It now looks and sounds wonderful. However, the harp has a fairly strong pet odor (a nice way of saying that it smells like urine) that I have not been able to get rid of. I don’t think the owner’s dog actually went to the bathroom on the harp; maybe it’s a result of being in a home where that odor was present. I’ve wiped down the exterior of the harp with a damp cloth dipped in warm water with a very small amount of soap. However, that did not seem to help much. Does anyone have any experience with this particular situation? I guess it would be similar to removing smoke odor from a harp that has been in the home of a smoker. Thanks in advance for any suggestions or advice!

[Jerusha Amado]

Hi Brook!
I don’t have any experience with this problem, but I just wanted to say that those are a couple of beautiful-looking harps!

[kay-lister]

Hey there Brook!

I don’t have experience in this either, but would suggest maybe trying to place dryer sheets in the back/down by the base, or a string pouch of baking soda which might absorb the oder. OR (just thought of this one), maybe a pouch of cat litter.

Good luck!
Kay

[brook-boddie]

Yes, Jerusha, I agree! I definitely didn’t mind the fact that it is ebony (my favorite, of course). With the new strings, it has a sweet, warm sound. I don’t know how long I’ll get to baby sit it (maybe forever), but it’ll definitely be put to good use while I have it. Kay, those are very good suggestions–thank you! I’ll try the dryer sheets tonight and see how that works.

[john-strand]

Check out NPR’s Click and Clack website – they often get calls about removing odors from car interiors – one of the worst was someone who had left a car in summer in outdoor storage and there was a stick of butter in the glove compartment that melted and turned rancid – I don’t remember what they suggested – you can also try carpet cleaning places – they should have various items to take care of pet odors –

[Sherri Matthew]

Hi Brook,
My kitties have never done anything bad to my harp, but there’s been a few carpet accidents (my 12 yr old Isabelle is diabetic) that I’ve learned to clean up without residual smell. 1/2 solution water and vinegar followed up by baking soda and hydrogen peroxide eliminate any urine odor from the carpet, and that on a hot humid day. The question is, what would these chemicals do to the finish of a musical instrument, even if sparingly applied? Maybe someone else here might know? You might be able to dampen a cloth and wipe it down and hopefully it would not damage the varnish or color of the wood. Don’t know. Good luck to you!

[Donna O]

Brooke, I use a product called Fresh Wave Odor Removing Crystals. No need to apply anything to the harp, just leave it set up next to it. I have a dog so I use this stuff to keep my house from smelling ” doggy” It really sucks up bad odors. We bought it at our local Ace Hardware. Not sure if you have those in La. It might be worth a try. It does take some time to work. Btw: I concur, those are gorgeous harps. Good luck

[jimmy-h]

Gorgeous harp.

I think a week of airing it out will help immensely. Using baking soda to help absorb the odors is a great idea. I’d also give the very bottom of the harp another cleansing, maybe a light vinegar solution wipe on the very bottom.

A bag of coffee will also go a long way towards covering the smell up. If all else fails play the theme from The Exorcism on it.

[iris-linkletter]

I think the Baking Soda would work well there are packs (in Canada) designed to be opened and left where the odor is but it is still safely contained in the package. Essential oils can help a drop on a cotton ball in the interior would not harm it but I am thinking it will only mask it not remove it. Good Luck and lovely harps I am trying to purchase a harp right now as I have been renting and only started playing in May this year, time to get my own I am thinking. I am open to ideas and suggestions of favorites….. my instructor is leaning towards Stoney Ends’ but I am wanting at least 34 strings and they only have one option the Marion…Good luck with the smell.

[carl-swanson]

Brook- Can you tell where the odor is coming from? The harp may have stood on a smelly carpet, in which case the odor would be coming from the bottom of the harp. Put your nose right on the harp in several places and see if you can isolate where the stink is coming from. I would suggest soaking some rags in ammonia and stuffing them into the body of the harp. Ammonia is a good odor remover. I would also wash the bottom of the harp, preferably with some ammonia in the washing water.

[jessica-wolff]

Trouble with ammonia is that if a cat has been urinating somewhere, the ammonia is practically an invitation to do it some more, because ammonia smells like cat pee to a cat.

[Angela Biggs]

Brook — an enzymatic cleaner (like Nature’s Miracle) removes smells well enough that a dog can’t identify them anymore. It’s a liquid and it needs to be applied directly, so you might try it as a last resort.

[brook-boddie]

Thanks so much for your suggestions, guys. I don’t have any pets myself, so I won’t have to worry about animals being attracted to it. The odor is slowing going away, but I still may try some of your suggestions if it doesn’t vanish completely. I really appreciate your help!

[fay-marie-reinhardt]

Brook we bought a subaru that reeked of cigarette smoke. Someone advised us to use cat litter (the kind that absorbs smells) we placed it in a sock and left it under the seats. It worked, after a few weeks the car was odourless.

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