Old furniture can often carry a musty, unpleasant odor that can make any room feel less inviting. Whether you’ve recently acquired an antique piece or are dealing with furniture that’s been stored away for some time, getting rid of the odor can be a challenge.
However, with the right approach and a few simple tools, you can effectively eliminate odors and restore your furniture to its former glory.
Here are some tips on how to eliminate odors from old furniture:
CLEAN ALL SURFACES:
The first step in eliminating odors from old furniture is to clean every dang surface. Start by removing any loose dust or debris with a shop vac.
Next, it’s time to put on your gloves and roll up your sleeves. You’ve gotta get in there. I’m talking inside of drawers, drawer pockets and undercarriage. Grime from even the surfaces you can’t see can accumulate over time and contribute to the odor.
I personally love to start with a big bowl of dawn dish soap and water. Grab your old rags or even a scrubby brush (like the one linked below). I’ve also used drill attachment brushes for pieces that are particularly intricate.
Other great products, aside from Dawn being Krud Kutter which is another great degreasing product.
Oak and Grain Refinishing is a reader-supported blog. At no extra cost to you, I may receive commission if you click and buy through links on this site. Please review Terms & Conditions.
VINEGAR, AIR & SUNSHINE
If the odor persists after cleaning in the first step, let’s move onto some more deodorizing tips when it comes to stinky furniture. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water, and use a cloth to apply the solution to the surface of the furniture. Let the solution sit for several hours out, and if possible, let it sit out in the sun. Remove the drawers so all surfaces can breathe. Then wipe it off with a clean, damp cloth. Once dry you should have a much more neutral smelling piece of furniture.
BAKING SODA
Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and can effectively eliminate odors from furniture. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda inside the drawers. I often times will leave it in for weeks while I’m completing a piece’s exterior. Afterward, vacuum up the baking soda and you’ll notice a big difference!
SAND
Along the same line of thinking as cleaning every surface to eliminate grime, sanding can accomplish the same removal of odor build up, but in a more aggressive manner. If you have a stubborn stinker, consider sanding every surface with a 220 grit paper. This will essentially eliminate the most superficial surface of the wood helping to get rid of the years of odor.
SEAL WITH SHELLAC
Another great method for removing musty smells from wood furniture is to seal it up. There are a lot of great product options for this process including stain and odor eliminating shellac primers that can help cover up the odors. Clear shellac is what I use most – it comes in a spray can so it’s very easy to spray the inside and underside of the furniture before you go to painting or refinishing. If painting and I need of a primer anyway, opt for one that has some stain and odor eliminating properties. I’ve linked a few of my favorites below.
ADD FRAGRANCES
My last tip for how to get old furniture to smell like new includes some smelly goods. I only recommend these for the last step, after you’ve actually successfully removed the odor. These products won’t eliminate the smells themselves, but they will add a luxurious touch on a freshly refinished piece.
In conclusion, eliminating odors from old furniture requires patience and persistence, but with the right approach, products and tools, it’s a task that can is totally doable! Whether you opt for natural remedies like baking soda or vinegar, or need to whip out the sander and some sealing agents, your furniture will soon be smelling fresh and clean.
Girl Behind the Blog
I’m Jess, the creator of Oak & Grain. A mid-west girl at heart who now resides in Raleigh, NC. I love finding old things and giving them new purpose by way of refinishing or incorporating unexpected, overlooked thrift store finds in the modern home. I work full-time in medicine and I love dipping into my creative side and in the process, keeping my sanity. Follow me on Instagram and YouTube to see more behind the scenes action.
6 responses to “Eliminating Odors from Old Furniture”
I was given a lovely cedar trunk. However the previous owner used camphor balls in it and the smell will not go away. Such a shame.
Any ideas? Will srubbing, sanding etc get this smell out do you think ?
Kitty litter was suggested also.
I’m confident the vinegar cleaning & light sanding trick will help! Keep me posted & good luck!
Love following you on IG, your makeovers are fab! I’m 74 and you inspire me, haven’t tried anything yet but I’m inspired to do do! Admire you and the other women in the Collective, keep up the good work ❤️
Thanks so much for this kind comment! Love to hear that you’re inspired!
Would washing the piece down with Dawn or Krudcutter require that you then refinish the furniture or after cleaning could you use some of your tips from “Refreshing a Piece without Sanding”? Maybe just a matter of trying it to see what happens?
You could absolutely follow it up with some tips from the no sanding blog! You won’t be required to do a full refinish just with washing it. But a little polish up would well for minor dings will help if it looks a bit dull after cleaning. Thanks for your question!