help unsmelly my samsonite please!

[randomrainbow]

I bought an old Samsonite silhouette similar to this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300213575368#ebayphotohosting
for $4 at an antique shop and I want to use it (I'm still deciding if I want to paint it or leave it plain), but it smells like that awful smell that I can only describe as old person .  You know that smell that you get when you walk into areally old persons house(If you don't, be glad its quite nasty), well anyway it fills the entire room when I open up the case.  If anyone has any ideas as to how I might get rid of it I would really appreciate the help.
                          Thanks ahead of time 

[little me]

Eeeww, I know that smell very well. Stuff it w/newspaper (wad it up & fill it) & put it in the closet for about 2 weeks.  The paper will absorb all odors & you just have to throw it away (or recycle). Sucks tho, you'll just have to wait 2 weeks until you can craft w/it.

[ycallahan]

I know that smell. I haven't had to do something like this, but can you try baking soda? I don't know what's exactly inside but can you sprinkle baking soda in it, or soomething like that?

What are you gonna do with the bag? It looks pretty cool!

[randomrainbow]

Thank you for the ideas, I think I may put baking soda in a stocking and shove that and newspaper in it for a couple of weeks and see what that does.  I plan to maybe do what they did in the winter 07 issue of Adorn Magazine which was modge podge travel stickers and maps to the top and paint and put sparkles and stickers in the bottom, it looked pretty boss.

[batgirl]

kitty litter is another way to absorb odors!

[Shotgun_Bettie]

Sunshine.. sunshine will immediatly take the smell out of anything.. seriously.. other then that.. make sure it's not mold or mildew, in which case you'll need to clean it with a bleach and water solution to kill the fungus..

[batgirl]

That's true, if you have any sunshine where you are! It's in short supply here at the moment!

[SpottedFrog]

I've picked up a couple vanity cases, one that needs airing, nice tips! The other one smells like my grandma (in a good way- like the body powder she used to use- pleasantly perfume-y but not overwhelming). Haven't decided what to do with either one long term yet, the nice smelling one is holding my yarn atm.