a

23/07/2006 7:16 PM

Musty smell in old furniture

Hi,

Just bought a very nice dresser, but it has that old musty smell.

Are there good ways of getting rid of it?

Thank you very much!

Aaron Fude


This topic has 16 replies

a

in reply to [email protected] on 23/07/2006 7:16 PM

23/07/2006 9:04 PM


Leon wrote:
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Hi,
> >
> > Just bought a very nice dresser, but it has that old musty smell.
> >
> > Are there good ways of getting rid of it?
> >
> > Thank you very much!
> >
> > Aaron Fude
> >
>
> Lowe's sells a product called Natural Magic. It is in a round plastic jar
> about 3" wide and 3" tall. It contains an odor absorbing gel. Stick one
> inside the piece and leave it a few days. Costs about $4.
>
> Stupid simple!

Thank you for the suggestions.
I will probably go with this suggestion, but I'm wondering whether the
smell would come back when the jar is removed. Sounds like it
eliminates the odor rather than the cause of the odor.

JG

"Jeff Gorman"

in reply to [email protected] on 23/07/2006 7:16 PM

24/07/2006 7:56 AM


<[email protected]> wrote
>
> Just bought a very nice dresser, but it has that old musty smell.
>
> Are there good ways of getting rid of it?

Though I haven't tried it, cat litter is reputed to work.

Jeff G

--
Jeff Gorman, West Yorkshire, UK
email : Username is amgron
ISP is clara.co.uk
www.amgron.clara.net

bw

"billcha"

in reply to [email protected] on 23/07/2006 7:16 PM

24/07/2006 7:44 AM


[email protected] wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Just bought a very nice dresser, but it has that old musty smell.
>
> Are there good ways of getting rid of it?
>
> Thank you very much!
>
> Aaron Fude

Soak with Gasoline and put a light to it

a

in reply to [email protected] on 23/07/2006 7:16 PM

24/07/2006 8:28 AM


Phisherman wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > Just bought a very nice dresser, but it has that old musty smell.
> >
> > Are there good ways of getting rid of it?
> >
> > Thank you very much!
> >
> > Aaron Fude
>
>
> Fill a mesh bag with charcoal briquettes and store this in the dresser
> for a month. And, make sure to remove granny's bloomers.

You mean the kind for the grill?

And put some in each drawer?

Where do I get a mesh bag. Even my wife doesn't have one.

a

in reply to [email protected] on 23/07/2006 7:16 PM

27/07/2006 3:48 PM

Hi, thank you so much for the good advice. Can you answer the follow up
questions, please?

>
> 1. Wipe down the inside with Listerine or other such mouthwash. The thymol
> will kill off any remaining mold and mildew.
>
Should I use a liberal amount or just a damp cloth? I'm concerned that
the moisture will hurt the wood.

> 2. Fresh air and sunlight.
>
Is there a risk that the sun will dry the wood out and damage it? Does
it work if the sunlight passes through a window first? Also are you
talking about persistent exposure or just a couple of hours here and
there?

> 3. Lastly, seal the inside with shellac followed by a very light sanding.
> The shellac step may not be necessary depending on how successful you are
> with the first two steps. The light sanding removes any roughness while
> still keeping the wood sealed. Clothes will not snag on any rough wood.
>

Shellac as opposed to poly?

> Good Luck.

Thank you

ll

in reply to [email protected] on 23/07/2006 7:16 PM

05/08/2006 3:52 PM

At the upscale antique shop I worked at we would wash down the insides
of musty pieces with ammonia solution (maybe a cup per gallon,
sometimes straight up if it was bad). It worked well and the ammonia
would evaporate in a short while. The only piece it wouldn't work on
was an old pine server found in some barn. Inside we found the remains
of some raccoon dissolved into the boards. Nothing would get that smell
out and it took many many coats of chellac to seal it in. Hell knows
why the customer still wanted it.

HR

[email protected] (Ross Hebeisen)

in reply to [email protected] on 23/07/2006 7:16 PM

24/07/2006 2:19 AM

put it on ebay
ross

Pn

Phisherman

in reply to [email protected] on 23/07/2006 7:16 PM

24/07/2006 11:00 AM

On 23 Jul 2006 19:16:58 -0700, [email protected] wrote:

>Hi,
>
>Just bought a very nice dresser, but it has that old musty smell.
>
>Are there good ways of getting rid of it?
>
>Thank you very much!
>
>Aaron Fude

Allow sunlight into the drawers.

Bp

"Baron"

in reply to [email protected] on 23/07/2006 7:16 PM

26/07/2006 8:22 PM

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
>
> Just bought a very nice dresser, but it has that old musty smell.
>
> Are there good ways of getting rid of it?
>
> Thank you very much!
>
> Aaron Fude
>

1. Wipe down the inside with Listerine or other such mouthwash. The thymol
will kill off any remaining mold and mildew.

2. Fresh air and sunlight.

3. Lastly, seal the inside with shellac followed by a very light sanding.
The shellac step may not be necessary depending on how successful you are
with the first two steps. The light sanding removes any roughness while
still keeping the wood sealed. Clothes will not snag on any rough wood.

Good Luck.

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to [email protected] on 23/07/2006 7:16 PM

24/07/2006 3:01 AM


<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
>
> Just bought a very nice dresser, but it has that old musty smell.
>
> Are there good ways of getting rid of it?
>
> Thank you very much!
>
> Aaron Fude
>

Lowe's sells a product called Natural Magic. It is in a round plastic jar
about 3" wide and 3" tall. It contains an odor absorbing gel. Stick one
inside the piece and leave it a few days. Costs about $4.

Stupid simple!

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to [email protected] on 23/07/2006 7:16 PM

24/07/2006 1:20 PM


<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
gel. Stick one
>> inside the piece and leave it a few days. Costs about $4.
>>
>> Stupid simple!
>
> Thank you for the suggestions.
> I will probably go with this suggestion, but I'm wondering whether the
> smell would come back when the jar is removed. Sounds like it
> eliminates the odor rather than the cause of the odor.
>

It does not eliminate the cause but furniture sets for long periods
accumulating odors. If it is new furniture the smell is probably off
gassing of the materials and finishes. This will eventually stop. Old
furniture sets for years accumulation odors. Either way, the odor absorbing
gel works very well but may need to be used now and again.

This is what you are looking for.

http://www.naturalmagic.com/gels.htm You can also order it from here
however Lowe's is about the cheapest place to buy the product and much
cheaper than direct.

n

in reply to [email protected] on 23/07/2006 7:16 PM

24/07/2006 4:10 AM

Zinsser Seal Coat all interior surfaces.

On 23 Jul 2006 21:04:49 -0700, [email protected] wrote:

>
>Leon wrote:
>> <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> > Hi,
>> >
>> > Just bought a very nice dresser, but it has that old musty smell.
>> >
>> > Are there good ways of getting rid of it?
>> >
>> > Thank you very much!
>> >
>> > Aaron Fude
>> >
>>
>> Lowe's sells a product called Natural Magic. It is in a round plastic jar
>> about 3" wide and 3" tall. It contains an odor absorbing gel. Stick one
>> inside the piece and leave it a few days. Costs about $4.
>>
>> Stupid simple!
>
>Thank you for the suggestions.
>I will probably go with this suggestion, but I'm wondering whether the
>smell would come back when the jar is removed. Sounds like it
>eliminates the odor rather than the cause of the odor.

Bp

"Baron"

in reply to [email protected] on 23/07/2006 7:16 PM

05/08/2006 5:21 PM

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi, thank you so much for the good advice. Can you answer the follow up
> questions, please?
>
> >
> > 1. Wipe down the inside with Listerine or other such mouthwash. The
thymol
> > will kill off any remaining mold and mildew.
> >
> Should I use a liberal amount or just a damp cloth? I'm concerned that
> the moisture will hurt the wood.

A fairly damp cloth. You appear to be aware of the problem with what
might happen if it is too wet.

>
> > 2. Fresh air and sunlight.
> >
> Is there a risk that the sun will dry the wood out and damage it? Does
> it work if the sunlight passes through a window first? Also are you
> talking about persistent exposure or just a couple of hours here and
> there?

The sun will not dry out the wood as it is already quite dry and will
adapt to it surroundings. I suggest a ful day. Just be aware of the
possible bleaching effect if it is a dark wood or a darkening effect if it
is a light wood.

>
> > 3. Lastly, seal the inside with shellac followed by a very light
sanding.
> > The shellac step may not be necessary depending on how successful you
are
> > with the first two steps. The light sanding removes any roughness while
> > still keeping the wood sealed. Clothes will not snag on any rough wood.
> >
>
> Shellac as opposed to poly?

Do not use poly. It takes way too long to fully cure and will cause the
inside to smell of the solvents forever. Shellac is cheap, dries fast, and
is readily available at hardware stores.

>
> > Good Luck.
>
> Thank you
>

AD

Andy Dingley

in reply to [email protected] on 23/07/2006 7:16 PM

24/07/2006 8:05 PM

On Mon, 24 Jul 2006 07:56:05 +0100, "Jeff Gorman" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Though I haven't tried it, cat litter is reputed to work.

Grey fuller's earth cat litter, and not scented. The expensive sorts
and the red clay sorts don't work.

Ball mill it before use (shake it in a bucket with a couple of rocks)
and spread it out thinly on baking trays or plates.

Pn

Phisherman

in reply to [email protected] on 23/07/2006 7:16 PM

24/07/2006 3:19 PM

[email protected] wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Just bought a very nice dresser, but it has that old musty smell.
>
> Are there good ways of getting rid of it?
>
> Thank you very much!
>
> Aaron Fude


Fill a mesh bag with charcoal briquettes and store this in the dresser
for a month. And, make sure to remove granny's bloomers.

LH

Lew Hodgett

in reply to [email protected] on 23/07/2006 7:16 PM

24/07/2006 2:26 AM

[email protected] wrote:

> Just bought a very nice dresser, but it has that old musty smell.
>
> Are there good ways of getting rid of it?

Same as last time.

Rent an ozone generator.

Lew


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