Glass "kerr" brand mason jars, weird smell?

[Elements001]

Hey all, I recently bought some "kerr" mason jars (i couldn't find any "ball" ones) for my upcoming harvest in two weeks. When I opened them, I smelt this really odd smell. I think it's some kind of shitty plastic coating on the lids used for sealing the jars.

I washed one and let it soak in hot soapy water for a few hours. Thought it got rid of the nasty smell, jar smelt fine. As soon as I put the metal lid on it (has that rubber seal thing on it too), I noticed the smell coming back.
I then washed all of the jars in the dishwasher on the pots and pans setting, and that seemed to work slightly better, but the smell still returns after sealing the jars.
My next step was going to be to soak the lids in rubbing alcohol to hopefully dissolve whatever is making this nasty ass smell that I KNOW will ruin my harvest if I throw them in those jars to cure.
If that doesn't work, I figured I'd just maybe put like a plastic bag over the top, then put the outer rim over that to seal it.

Any thoughts/suggestions? Is there a better jar I should buy? Where can i find it?

 

[Midnight Tokar]

I bought some 1/2 gallon Ball jars recently and when I opened them they had a funky smell. Kind of like a new inner tube you buy for a bike. I just wiped the lids good with a dry cloth and let them air out til needed. That seemed to work just fine.
I also thought it was the seal for the lid that smelled, I wonder if they recently changed the rubber compound.
I wouldn't use plastic instead of the lid, my thoughts would be that you have killed the benefits of the glass jar if you do. Maybe you can find some replacement lids somewhere or you can even turn the lid upside down and tighten the ring good thus removing the rubber compound from inside the jar.

 

[Scottish Research]

No, just rinse them with warm water or with warm water diluted soap. Fine. No problems.

R.Fortune

 

[Pinball Wizard]

I love that new jar smell in the morning

 

[Elements001]

Maybe you can find some replacement lids somewhere or you can even turn the lid upside down and tighten the ring good thus removing the rubber compound from inside the jar.

Thats genius man, didnt even think of it. I've been letting them kinda air out ever since I washed em again. Not gonna put the lids on till harvest in a couple weeks. Hopefully thats long enough.
Turning them upside down. Simple and genius, Thank you!!!!!

 

[joe guy]

Agreed with the replacement lids they sell by the 12 pack on both rings and lids they wouldn't have gone thru he same process as the jars with lids attached thus removing the favor of any lube being present I'd imagine but I'm a red neck and use my jars over and over again lids and all but the whole grease lube idea sound pretty damn ideal to be honest rep + for ever said that

 

[BOMBAYCAT]

Yeah me too. I recently bought a case of Kerr so I popped the lids and got that musty rubber smell like when you pump up a mountain bike or car tire. Also if you run a finger around the inside of the jar it feels really oily or slimey somehow. Right now I am washing every thing in the dishwasher so I am hoping that gets rid of it because the dishwasher detergent is some stout stuff.

 

[Elements001]

Dishwasher definitely cleared up the jars, but the residue seems to have gotten impregnated in the rubber seal. I;ve read around and heard that letting them sit and air out helps, but takes awhile. Another one is to leave them sitting in direct sunlight, that apparently helps too. Think I'm justt gonna leave em out, seal side up, and put it by the window to get some sun. Hopefully they'll clear out by then.

Think I'm just gonna buy some replacement lids, best bet overall Im thinking.
Do you get those in a store, or is it best to just order some online you think?

 

[joe guy]

I see them directly above the cases of jars along with the pectin and other canning tools at Wally World there a real small box just big enough to hold 12 lids the rings I'm not sure if they even come in 12 packs but they are quit a bit bigger and eaiser to spot usually have to look for the lids ...

 

[Elements001]

sweeeeeeet, thanks bro!

 

[NorCalDreaming]

No, just rinse them with warm water or with warm water diluted soap. Fine. No problems.

R.Fortune

That's my experience. The 'new car' smell of mason jars sucks. Scrub out, dry and never had any residual problems. It's the rubber seal on the lids that's causing any issues. Just clean and let air out. I haven't had any problems once I started doing that.

 

[DinosaurCocks]

lol! wash them! who buys new glassware and just uses it right out of the box? you always run them through the dishwasher first that's common knowledge...you know there is absolutely no difference between ball and kerr right?

 

[Elements001]

I have washed them, as I posted in the first place. The smell remained afterwards, which was the whole reason I started this thread. I wasnt sure if the kerr company/packaging used different materials in their lids that, say, the ball company did. I bought some replacement lids.. The ones that came with the jars still have that horrible smell after repeated airing out and runs through the dishwasher. Washing did not help.

 

[rives]

Sunshine maybe? It works pretty well for my dog's bed.

 

[Joedoe555]

I have noticed that the boxes of 12 replacement lids and rings do not have the same rubber bike tire smell as the lids that come with the jars. I think that is because the replacement lids are in a cardboard box that is not air tight and are stored in warehouses and store shelves for at least several months if not a few years. That causes the smell to disipate.