How do I get rid of the wood smell from a bureau / chest of drawers?
Question:I bought new bedroom furniture eight months ago. The problem is, the drawers still have a woody smell -- just as strong as the day they were moved in.
I've tried dropping Bounce dryer sheets in with the clothes. But, it hasn't worked -- the clothes just smell like wood and bounce.
Any tips for getting rid of this smell? Is there something I can buy that will get the smell out?
Answers:
You can't get 'wood' out of 'wood'. And as you have already found out you can't add something else and expect it to cover the wood smell. Get a sealant paint and seal the wood. Something like KILZ will seal the wood smell and prevents mold/mildew. It has little odor of its own. Make sure you allow it to dry well before replaceing the drawer.
Get some nicely-scented gift soaps and put a bar in each drawer. The smell will mix with the wood smell on your clothes and make them smell better.
It could be that your drawers are made of red cedar. This wood is used -because- of its smell, which keeps moths away.
Go to a hardware store, or even a bedding store, and buy some activated charcoal odor absorbers...heck, you could probably use the ones made for shoes in a pinch, empty the drawers, pop them in and wait 48 hours. If this doesn't do the trick I don't know what will.!
Put cedar chips in it for a few days and leave the doors closed, like the stuff they use in hamster cages. I know it sounds like it wont work but it will, cedar chips soak up smells including moth balls worked good 4 me. Just open the bag spread someon a plate and put it in a closed empty draw for a few days
* A clear sealer put on inside of drawers. Dry throughly before returning drawers. Avoid getting in on top edge of drawer or it might hinder the ease of open/close of drawers.
* Cover the outside finish of each draw in newspaper & scotch tape to sides. Set drawers outside in sun for 1 day or so. Sunshine can actually remove skunk smell from plastic shower curtains, shoes, etc... That usually takes 2-3 days.
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