Help - Schoolbag smells like sour milk

[*Ang*]

With all the wisdom of a 6 yr old DD, on Monday, decided to put the rest of her strawberry milk in a drink carton back in her backpack to "save for later".

Of course this wasnt discovered till Tuesday morning by which stage it had leaked all into her bag.It now STINKS like sour milk. I have washed it out including using stuff like disinfectant, had it out to dry in the sun and wind and yet it still smells.

It is a school issue bag worth around $50 so I am really reluctant to discard it just yet, especially since she has only had it since the beginning of the year (yr1).

Any hints please to get rid of the stench??!!

[Trillian]

I have no idea but would like to know - DD5 put a half eaten tub of yoghurt back into her insulated lunch box and like you, it was there for a weekend. my bad I know! i should have checked but who thinks to put a half eaten tub of yoghurt BACK into their lunchbox? So we have the same problem.

[squidipa]

could ya put baking soda in bad and put it in sealable tub (large plastic ones) with more baking soda to absorb oda and or ground fresh coffee about 1-2 cups? that might do it

Update: wash with soapy water per bags instructions and or wash with vinger first wipe it all down dry then do top step

[Jewel]

My DS1's lunch bag thingie is the same. Must be the age. Lol.

I've given vinegar a go but it didn't really work that well.
Do you think if I repeated the vinegar wash/wipe deal a heap of times that would work?!?

[squidipa]

My DS1's lunch bag thingie is the same. Must be the age. Lol.

I've given vinegar a go but it didn't really work that well.
Do you think if I repeated the vinegar wash/wipe deal a heap of times that would work?!?

ild try warm soapy water dry then place in container with item covered in baking soda for a day then rinse/wipe and dry.

[Jewel]

Thanks. I'll give it a go.

[*Ang*]

i should have checked but who thinks to put a half eaten tub of yoghurt BACK into their lunchbox?

Only laughing cause DD has also done this too on a number of occasions, once again to save for later - luckily I have caught those in time!!

Righto am off to wipe down with vinegar then cover in baking soda...this better work!!!

Another mum at school said that would teach DD a lesson and she should have to live with it...But I couldnt do that to her. Instead, as this is not the first time she has done this and we have told her not to, she has had $2 taken from her savings to help contirbute towards cleaning - she is saving for a DSI so this devastated her and I dont think she will be doing it again!!!!

[Netix]

I would have suggested vinegar, spray on and leave to dry...

[jmmum]

This happened with DD's daycare and insulated lunch bag. I just put them through the washing machine with normal laundry detergent. No probs! I do have a policy in my house that if it can't go in the dishwasher of washing machine it goes out. My single mum survivor instinct.

[squidipa]

how did ya go???