Damp Musty Smell From Chest Of Drawers

[silliemillie]

A friend gave me an old chest of drawers he's had sitting in his garage for a while as he knows I like to upcycle furniture as a hobby.

It did smelly a bit damp but I thought the smell would go.

I have now sanded, painted and waxed it but I can still smell it.

Any ideas how I can get rid of it?

[tonyav]

Try putting some charcoal is the drawers for a few days, it should draw the damp.

[stuey]

How about placing one of those things in each drawer that people put in their cars to keep them smelling fresh...Pine, for example.

[stuey]

That's a good idea, Tony. Rice might even work.

[SirOracle]

Just make sure that it is not dry rot milie, or even damp rot.

[tonyav]

It may do, stuey. Anything that will draw the damp.

[jomifl]

take the drawers out and put it all somewhere where fresh air can blow around it. It will be more effective than odour absorbers.

[stuey]

I can see someone coming along and saying: "But, silliemillie, if you follow their advice you'll have a set of drawers smelling either like a barb b' cue or a rice pudding." :)

[tonyav]

LOL, nooooo stuey once the charcoal / rice has done it's work she could put some of those car freshener things in the drawers for a few day's.

[Quizproquo]

Shouldn't you take the wax off first? If there are pockets of trapped moisture that can't be good surely?

[jomifl]

QP, things can have a strong odour without being damp..

[stuey]

Can you still buy moth-balls? I doubt it. I used to love the smell of those when I was a kid.

[silliemillie]

Thanks guys, a few good suggestions to try, Quiz - I was worried about that also, hope I haven't sealed it in.

[stuey]

I would think that the odor comes from inside the actual drawers, and I can't see you painting and waxing the interiors.

[silliemillie]

No Stuey, I haven't painted the inside of the drawers, that's a good point.

[tonyav]

stuey
Can you still buy moth-balls? I doubt it. I used to love the smell of those when I was a kid


All sorts now, stuey.

https://www.google.co.uk/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=SkEQVPPqAemG8QfUuYDYDA&gws_rd=ssl#q=moth+balls&tbm=shop

[stuey]

OK, I thought they'd been banned. Whenever I get an antique/vintage clock to work on, I just love the aroma (not smell or odor) when you open the case: it's part of the clock's history.

[Mosaic]

You might also try burning a scented oil in the room with the chest of drawers. I think at least part of the aroma is simply 'someone else's scent'. Every family has their own scent - I bet you've noticed this but felt it was impolite to mention! Most are good but different, some are just plain pongy. You might have acquired a pongy piece of furniture. Over time and exposed to new sources of scent the pong will fade, but it may take time and encouragement.

[ummmm]

What about tumble dryer sheets?

[Tilly2]

How's she going to get it in the tumble dryer, Ummmm?