Looking for a way to remove odors from wood furniture? This post will teach you the way I get rid of stinky smells from antiques!
I know you know – you find the PERFECT piece of furniture at the thrift store. You excitedly pay a bargain price for it and then get it home, only to discover that it doesn’t smell nearly as good as it looks.
Old furniture stink. It’s a thing, my friends!
Is it the smell of stale cigarettes? Grandma’s basement that nobody’s been in for 34 years? Cats? All of the above? Nobody really knows.
But thankfully it’s not too difficult to eliminate odors from wood furniture. And, you probably have several of the supplies in your pantry already!
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How to Get Smells Out of Old Wood Furniture
So . . . let me guide you through my process for getting the smell out of furniture. Of course there are other ways of doing this, and other products you could use, but this is the way I do it.
Step One: Clean the Furniture
You have to start by cleaning the furniture.
I like to use Krud Kutter because it’s a gentle, non-toxic cleaner that doesn’t leave behind any residue. Because of that, it’s perfect for using on pieces that are going to be painted or left as natural wood.
If you’re not planning to paint the furniture, you could also wash it with Murphy’s Oil Soap – a classic!
Step Two: Wipe Smelly Furniture with a Vinegar Mix
Next, at a 1:1 ratio, mix vinegar and water. (Note: I used grocery store 5% acidity vinegar, but if you have access to a higher acidity vinegar, that will work great!)
Gently wipe down the furniture with this mixture, taking care not to oversaturate it.
I know vinegar is a little stinky, but it works wonderfully for removing furniture odors that linger on the surface of the piece after cleaning!
You Might Find These Other Furniture Posts Helpful, Too!
Step Three: Apply Baking Soda to the Wood Furniture
Open a new box of baking soda (not that one you’ve had sitting in the back of your fridge for eight months), and sprinkle it all over!
The insides of drawers are a perfect place to sprinkle baking soda, and you can also apply it to the tops of dressers, tables, etc.
As much as you can, work it into the wood. Then let it sit for several days. It will absorb odors in the wood furniture.
When you’re ready to be rid of the baking soda, vacuum as much of it up as you can. Then use a damp rag to wipe away the rest of it.
Step Four: Apply a Furniture Salve
Finally, this last step will not only help the furniture smell great, but it will also revive the wood.
Apply a scented furniture salve (like this lemon furniture salve I use), to parts of the wood furniture that will NOT be repainted or stained. So – you may want to use it inside of drawers, on the edges of drawers, etc.
The salve hydrates the wood, which gives it a nice shine and depth. It also helps replace any lingering odors with a pleasant scent.
Other Products To Remove Odors from Wood Furniture
If this sounds like too much work for you (no judgment), there are products on the market that claim to remove odors from wood furniture. I haven’t tried them, but they get good reviews! So, I thought I’d pass them along just in case they help.
Also – always remember to spot test first! You don’t want to ruin any furniture with these products.
Zep Smoke Odor Eliminator
This says it can be used on wood furniture to remove cigarette smell. The reviews mention using it in drawers especially!
Zero Odor Pro
This is a commercial-grade odor remover product. It claims to remove the most stubborn of smells, so if you’ve got a really stinky piece, it might be worth checking out.
Charcoal Odor Absorbers
These charcoal odor absorbers not only take care of stinky smells (like in drawers), but they also remove any moisture in the furniture that might be contributing to odor.
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Remember, friends don’t let friends live with stinky furniture, so share this post with anybody who might find it useful!
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