My wooden cupboard with dividers for trays and cookie sheets smells bad. It is a combination of rancid odor and mustiness. The odor has permeated the wooden serving trays.
So far I have used soapy water and Lysol inside of the cabinet. We washed the wooden trays and set them out in the sunshine. We are considering rubbing them with fresh lemon juice to remove odor.
What would you suggest?
By John F. Meinel from Phoenix, AZ
Spray them with pine oil and water. Mix 1/4 cup in a spray bottle with water (Windex) or get one from Dollar store for a dollar. I use it all the time in kitchen, good luck.
The lemon juice won't hurt but I suggest spraying a test spot with Easy Off oven cleaner. Wait a few minutes and if you see a cleaner spot when you wipe it off you will know that your wood has absorbed grease from your years of cooking.
I would try white vinegar and water solution, perhaps mix in a few drops of dish soap. Give it a good cleaning. Then I would place white vinegar in a bowl or if the drawers are small a votive holder and leave it in overnight.
You might want to try this. Go to your nearest pet store and buy a package of activated charcoal (used in aquariums). Place an opened package in your cupboard overnight or longer, with the doors closed. The charcoal should absorb the odors.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I bought a cabinet, that is old, for my bathroom and there is a musty odor inside. I have tried baking soda and vinegar and it didn't work. Please help.
I have had luck with charcoal briquets in the back corners of a musty shelf, DO NOT use the self lighting charcoal
I have a great old wooden hutch/cabinet that was musty. I tried baking soda in a pan, then a baking soda/water paste scrub, then ground coffee and nothing worked.
I found that if you put a container of Damp-Rid in your cabinet and empty often, then refill as needed with the granules, it will take out the musty smell. Try putting a clean cloth with vanilla (real extract) and it should also help. Also there is a carpet/freshener that is a powder vanilla scent that works great on carpet, could sprinkle that inside, it is made by Glade Carpet & Room deodorizer.
I am not 100% sure, but I think the cabinet is made from cedar. I need to get rid of the smell, but don't want to damage the wood.
It was made by my late father-in-law, but I can't use it for much because the smell is too much.In a lot of cases you can mix 1/2 vinegar with 1/2 water and start to wash the wood in the cabinet. When it is still a bit wet sprinkle some baking soda on this and rub it in really good.
First give it a good cleaning with mild soap and water. Wipe down with vinegar or sit a bowl of vinegar in each section for 1 to 2 days to absorb smell!
I am going to a little place in the country (nothing fancy, so no point in talking to the management) for a much-needed, once-a-year holiday at the end of this week. The only bedroom furniture is a very old, wooden (maybe pine, not sure) dresser. The drawers are always terribly musty-smelling; it's suffocating!
I always end up having to leave them ajar, trying to air them out (it doesn't work!), and I hate putting my clothes in there. Please help! Does anyone know how to definitely get those drawers un-mustified so I can actually use them, this year? Thanks very much in advance.
By Anna
Why bother with the odor that you will not be able to eliminate in a short visit? Put some dryer sheets in the drawers and forget about using them, and at the very least, you won't have to smell the musty odor. Bring along some cord, rope, or even better, bungee cords and "S"-hooks to create a make-shift closet where you can hang your clothing. Not great for entertaining guests but hopefully you'll not have to do that while on retreat.
Have a nice trip!
I am with Pinksa and any clothing you don't need to hang up just keep them in your luggage. Why not just make life simple and enjoy your holiday instead of worrying about things that, in the whole scheme of things, really don't matter.
Charcoal helps with this but I think it takes a while to work.
Bring along some of those products used for cancer patients to remove odors and spray drawers so room smells OK, but keep your clothes in your suitcase, just ask for a suitcase stand or set up on top of dresser. If I'm on retreat the look of the room is not the most important thing on my list. just "vegging" out. Oh yes, be sure to open the windows wide to air out the room, too. Fresh air does wonders for the soul, too.
What if, weather permiting, you set the drawers outside to air out for the night when you first get there, then sprinkle them with your favorite powder, or use a dryer sheet like Pinska suggested.
Charcoal, dryer sheets, baking soda, and good old free sunlight work. But like the other poster, just don't put your clothes in there. Best of luck to you on your trip!
I like to buy decorative lavendar soap at stores like Marshalls or Ross and put these in my drawers to make them smell nice. You could also try febreeze in the drawers and let them dry for a few hours before putting your clothes in them. Febreeze in good for carpets, upholstery and bedding you could probably use it just fine in a dresser drawer too.
I have an antique mahogany table and an antique chest; I am not sure what type of wood it is. These items were stored for several years in an area that became damp and moldy. The table has what looks like mold spots trying to bleed through. The chest has a bad odor, but I don't notice any mold spots. These are over 100 years old and I can't just dispose of them. Can you give me some ideas? Thanking you in advance.
By Patsy B
Air out well. Spritz bleach water on the spots. Let them dry out well. You can put baking soda and charcoal in the chest to help absorb the smell. Hopefully the spots are mildew and not mold. You can wear a mask and lightly sand them to remove. Most likely you will need to refinish the peaces to get all the smell out, as the varnish will absorb some of the smell.
Put activated charcoal in the drawers
I have a china cabinet that smells like something died in it. What can I use to get the odor out of the wood, without damaging the wood?
By Trish
Sam's Club sells a product called "OdoBan" ... this will work great to remove the odor. I had an chest that wreaked of cigarette smoke and I used it straight out of the bottle to the wood and had no damage what so ever. I've recommended the to several friends and they've all sent "thank you"s.
I have a table leaf that got wet on one end. I didn't notice until it was bad. Any help?
By Dawn J
What did it do to the table? Is it just musty, or did the wood swell? If its musty and moldy, dry it and you may have to sand and refinish it to get the damage out. Even the varnish will hold in a musty smell.
How do I get rid of a musty ordor in wood hatch?
How do I remove a very strong musty odor from a wooden hutch?
By CA
My daughter kept some African masks in her basement and they now smell of mildew badly. How can we get rid of the mildew odor and ever use them in our home once again?
By goflos
This is a page about cleaning a musty antique dresser. Although antique furniture can be beautiful, it can also be tricky to clean and deodorize.
