7 ways to get the STINK out of OLD FURNITURE!

Often times vintage and antique furniture pieces are STINKY! Whether it’s that old musty odour, the stench of animal urine or cigarette smoke, getting the FUNK out of wood furniture is HARD. Here are my top 7 methods to deal with these common smells.
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[@JamiRayVintage]

You are my spirit animal. You have a list a mile long, but then you see free roadside finds and you gotta get them

[@salvagedbykscott]

😂 I just can’t help myself!

[@WhoWhatWhereWhenWhy7]

I had no idea that humans could be spirit animals. What an epiphany! 😻

[@suzannebritt1607]

So glad you are getting settled, but not giving up your gift for flipping/restyling furniture.

[@tishellefrancois7840]

As a student on a rain water budget this really helped. My clothes don't reek anymore.

[@jennifercobar2673]

Thinking of doing mine, which step worked for you? 🤔

[@SharonaKian]

Best way: buy an ozone machine and put it in near the furniture in an enclosed space. Let it run for a few hours. Don't stay in the room or have any animals or plants nearby. Use the garage and put a tarp around it. It works like a charm. I also have a 20 year old car. I do this twice a year and never have that gross musty smell

[@ap2179]

Can you please share what type of ozone machine you use? Thank u!

[@DrgnTmrSirGawain]

@@ap2179 kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYfPkql_bL2DZ5I check this guy out

[@RachelDee]

I can't see the reply. Could you tell me which ozone machine you use as well?

[@tnijoo5109]

What about the smell of the ozone? Is it very noticeable?

[@mrs32509]

@@tnijoo5109it’s a faint odor compared to what you’re masking, like cat urine in my case.

[@dystopiaisutopia]

My duplex stinks from decades of cigarette smoke. It took me 5 months to figure out where the smell was coming from, and I finally figured out it's coming from the kitchen cabinets which are all raw wood and not even sealed. I am going to seal them today.

[@joebrown1310]

Гӏубаьхъӏминттар рагъ

[@shelleyrenee4889]

Searched "How to get smell out of wood dresser and your video came up. Great information, tried the baking soda already and will move on to the newspaper. Had to laugh when you said "If you have stinky drawers" ! I guess my mind wandered to laundry day ! Great information, I did subscribe and look forward to checking out more of your videos. Very well done !!

[@savanabatt9712]

Very helpful. Your tip videos are always gold.

[@lynnelucio9125]

Love your vision and skills with furniture restyling

[@RuththeTruther]

Thank you! And congratulations on your move to the ocean! Hope you enjoy it and have a lot of fun.

[@gracesheldon6583]

👍glad to see your getting settled in to your new home and that back posting 😀

[@ericamar1241]

Thanks for these tips. Looking forward to all your new projects!

[@selenap7339]

Awesome information. Much love to you and your family

[@honeykat1]

Thanks for these great tips. I'm looking forward to see your new upcycles!!

[@phyllishume5854]

Glad your move went well and you are in your new home.

[@Whitesnakejen]

Good stuff, Katie! I will be using your tips!!

[@ChicAntiquebyHolly]

Thank you for sharing all these tips!

[@jodirauth8847]

My grandfather would redo old furniture. He would mix equal parts ammonia, white vinegar, alcohol or vodka together with a squeeze of dish soap add to this mixture to water in a spray bottle or bucket. You can dilute with alot of water or a little depending how dirt it is. If you use it full strength on really gunky dirty stuff but you ust rinse with a good amount of water.

[@giseleblais9380]

Wow Katie you're going to get it as usual tank's fot the tricks and saving furniture. Can't wait to see how they gone turne out.

[@ariananyhart7648]

Baking soda will also help dry up the wood!! 😁 removes the odor and will help remove the moisture behind them. Great to do in addition to any of these methods

[@rockshot100]

Thumbs up. You forgot to mention to be sure that wood is absolutely dry before applying shellac. Yes Girl, you can get some pretty cruddy furniture, but don't let that stop you. May I detail my method for the most disgusting furniture? On a dry windy, sunny day, take the drawers out in the driveway or somewhere like that. Get your leaf blower out and all hooked up. Fully spray every nook and cranny with undiluted bleach, also make sure your garden hose is on and hooked up. YOU MUST BE FAST! No distractions or phone calls. Fast and methodical are key here. Before the bleach application, blow out everything. Apply bleach, even on the undersides, everything, everywhere. Be methodical work from left to right. Do not get confused or space out. Now, with hose on full, blast it all and rinse fast. ONE pass only, a light rinse only. Grab the leaf blower and blast the water out. Leave the pieces to completely dry in the sun, being sure to rotate. It is a big "NO, NO" to get wood wet, the idea here is to get the bleach on (you could mix TSP with bleach, but no other chemicals, not even DAWN) and rinse before the wood knows that it got wet. I have never had any problem, what so ever. NOT recommended for people who cannot concentrate. Mold, mildew, smoke, and God-knows-what, gone. These things are only on the surface, this is the easiest way for me. Direct sunlight on all surfaces cannot be emphasized enough. As you mention, shellac is the best way to seal in the odors and mold. That gets expensive at least for me and I want all that ick gone and sanitized.

[@DrgnTmrSirGawain]

nice!

[@kathyjenkins4067]

Would painting the whole furniture kill the funk

[@rockshot100]

@@kathyjenkins4067 Personally I would prefer to clean it all off.

[@lilyali9831]

Great advice. I’ve tried them all and they work

[@pwdrpuff49]

Thank you for the tips. I have not refinished a chest of drawers and was afraid I would be stuck with the funk.

[@lindapate8965]

Thank you for your help. I’ll be trying one of these methods to get out the musty odor of my grandmother’s old chest

[@BlaqueMamba52]

Thank you. I will be trying two or three of these on this Zenith console. It smells like my sisters storage garage in the back yard lol. So this helps a lot.

[@moonlightdancer08]

I think you gave ideas to some that thought their odored piece of furniture was past saving. Can't wait to see the results.

[@lolastockmaster822]

Thank you for inspiring me to try painting some of my furniture that needs to be updating. I always wanted to take woodshop in school, but couldn't because I was a girl. Now I can't wait! I'm going to hijack my husband's tools.

[@helpmesaveit]

Love your creativity !

[@lyndagreenwald3909]

So glad to follow you in your move!

[@msjen_nay]

Thank you! Just bought a dresser and it reeks! Even after washing it. So I will be trying one of these methods. 👍🏻

[@farmers_wife]

Thanks Katy! If you live somewhere that features cold winters and you have some time and space, you can freeze out the odor in a good old Canadian winter

[@galebecker3487]

Hi Katie, so great to see you. Thanks for all the odour tips. Im sure when you have completed the makeover the drawers will look amazing. Pleased you look so happy. I cannot wait to see all the renovations and upcycling you will be doing in your house. Love your channel, I think your work is FANTASTIC. Take care Gale x

[@lorifurlott2306]

Good tips! Plan on trying next time I have a stinky piece.

[@leasamurphy411]

Great tips, I have also had success using ground coffee (unused) like you used the baking soda

[@jeannehelmick9572]

Excited to see the final results

[@jaid7594]

So helpful & informative !!

[@wolfewerks]

You’re amazing! Having just moved to a new house, unpacking and organizing, you must be exhausted! But…ready to upcycle furniture! ♥️♥️♥️ I have tried almost all of your suggestions. I find the one that is the ‘tried and true’ guaranteed to work for that old, musty smell or smoke is some form of shellac. Looking forward to the follow up video.

[@SugarBeeFarm]

Can’t wait to see how you make these over 💕✌️🌱

[@doddnejadfard3251]

Can’t wait to see the journey to finish these ,,,,,,

[@susiemcgough9917]

Thanks so much for the information!

[@kayhenry6293]

Great odor removing tips; thanks.

[@carolvalentine2407]

Great tips! Thanks!

[@toriamonkey11]

I literally got a piece yesterday that came from a log cabin that stinks and immediately started googling. I just hopped on KZbin today (already a subscriber) and saw this!!!!

[@laurelarmstrong4535]

Thanks for the tips. I’ve helped clean out homes in house flips that were sitting closed up for years. The smell in everything is overwhelming. I’ve been tempted to dump items but will try these instead. 👍anxious to see how you refinish these.

[@DivineSource444]

Great video! Very helpful! Thank you!

[@4everyoung24]

Good information. I have a wardrobe that has a musty smell and I just never could get it smelling good. I just keep a bowl with a couple of tablespoons of coffee in there and change it out every month or so.

[@christienglandhill7039]

Thank you for sharing ❤

[@highpsi11]

This is helpful. I'm trying to get rid of mothball smell in an old chest.

[@marywiklander-williams6493]

Excellent tips.

[@allysonpeacock3850]

Thanks for the tips. The smell issue I happen to have is man stink lol sweat.

[@nelllee57]

Thanks for the tips 😀

[@clairewright8153]

Thanks for all the tips really helpful. I find sunshine best for musty items but cigarette smoke and nicotine ewww the worst. Looking forward to watching all your new projects.

[@HelenaFleming-ls7xe]

Fantastic. Just what I needed to de-stink a second-hand night stand. Thanks.

[@colourfulsaz]

Very relieved to find this video after smelling my very strong smelling new to me wardrobes 🤢🤢🤢 thank you for this video !!!!

[@breimagined2199]

Awesome list!

[@conniesisco6468]

In the intro I was was laughing so hard when you started with, “ I’m a worn out…” I wasn’t sure where you going with that for a second but I was totally relating to it. 😂😂😂 Then “washing your stinky drawers”. I must be in a mood this morning. 🤣🤣🤣

[@salvagedbykscott]

I’m 1000% worn out too 😂

[@conniesisco6468]

@@salvagedbykscott Lol!!! I would even go as far as admitting I’m a tad bit outdated as well!!

[@nicolejones2815]

super helpful advice, thank u

[@marymcleod5551]

Great info. Thanks

[@valeriehowden471]

Great list. I have old steamer trunks with that lovely musty smell. Best thing was removing the inside paper lining and glues with vinegar and water then drying them in the sun. The wood and the external painted canvas covers didn't smell after that treatment. Going to line them with cedar for long term use.

[@anurturednest6275]

Great tips! Cannot wait to see the end result. What’s up with the designs on the drawer fronts? Why do you suppose they don’t all match?

[@kellyevans8321]

I can’t wait to see which one works best. I’m guessing that you ended up using your Zinser BIN But I’d love to know if the other ones helped at all with the smell and even with the stains. Glad you’re getting to settle in.

[@gatnewbreedvlog5539]

Thanks for info😊

[@pamboone6921]

Woohoo,,,,,love all your tips! When I sold Tupperware years ago, we were told to tell our customers if their Tupperware form a smell to put charcoal in them to sit for a week or so, does it work on wood?, not sure but be worth a try cause it pulls moisture out also! I’m so excited Katie for y’all. Can’t wait for the next video ❤️

[@kikiscomment]

I use an ozone machine first, then move on to some of the tricks you demonstrated like vinegar. Lysol on interior surfaces can help as well.

[@claudetteb5019]

awesome video. Thank you

[@gregtorre6513]

Great video, thank you

[@cindybunker4918]

Katie, thanks for the tips! When all else fails I use Odor Bully. I buy it at Menards in the US. Good luck with these pieces. I'm looking forward to see how you recreate them!

[@salvagedbykscott]

Cool! I’ll have to see if it’s available in Canada too. I’d love to give it a try.

[@guylainepetrin830]

Very good information

[@BrothaMoe]

Good ideas so thank you

[@deborahmatatall]

I am delighted you are settling in! I love that you had to check out bulk trash pick-up treasures! I’m interested to see what you do with those night stands. Since you used all the tricks, please let us know which worked best. When it smells like cigarettes, I wash it down with Krud Kutter. That seems to do an excellent job of breaking down the tar residue. I also use clear shellac and I brush it on.🌸

[@salvagedbykscott]

Shellac is always the way to go for me! These will be getting a few good coats 😉

[@kaihandren9309]

The sign said ," Must wear clothspin " The lights dimmed as the drawers opened ....and ,"ouch" up went the clothespins !! Wood hugged noses tightly as the mouth-breathing began The spotlight blinked on the Professor ... She adjusted her glasses as her voice squeaked as she pinched her nose Weeks of turmoil had landed us all here ... here for the final reveal ... all breaths were held as we leaned forward in our seats .... "And now we shall..." with a sudden wave and snap of a drawer ..... ( To be continued ...)

[@christinereed1837]

Great tips

[@ginamartinez6308]

So helpful ❤Thank You

[@kathyjenkins4067]

Excellent video!

[@JerrTheHooman]

I'm gonna try this for inside/under my cabinets. I moved into an 80s house and the cabinets all have that "stuffy grandparents house" smell

[@floramcplant129]

V. helpful. Thank you🌸

[@gardenboots7464]

I'm also fond of using house brand original formula Listerine, in a spray bottle. It has alcohol and essential oils.

[@patriciamoore3166]

good luck with your new home! How amazing that the neighborhood just happened to have a cleanout weekend right after you got there! Great karma!

[@ashleyosborne6239]

Can’t pass up that roadside find, Katie! My daughter (our 19yo) dreads bulk trash day bc she knows there’s a good chance Mom’s going “dumpster diving”😂 (no actual dumpster, just in the driveways of our ally). BUT this past week she came in with a perfectly good barstool from our neighbor’s bulk trash! Thx so much for the tips. Always great to have options in our toolbox.💜

[@gottathinkupanewone]

If it's mostly the drawers that stink, you might have to take at least the bottom off the drawers, so you can clean out the grooves that the bottom plate fit into. Mold can build up there after years of use. Spraying with the enzyme odor remover you get from the pet store can help, too. Just wipe it off any finished surfaces in the first few minutes, so it doesn't damage the finish.

[@britvic4334]

I'm so glad I found this channel. I recently brought a large chest of wooden drawers, and the top one especially is stinky! Fish like and I'm disgusted. They have been aired outside, sprayed with vinegar solution, bicarbonate soda scrubbed in with my hands and left for 5 days, then filled with fabric softener sheets. I then used washing powder detergent again rubbed in with my hands NOPE nothing has worked! I haven't been able to use the drawers and I'm so angry. I even brought drawer liners but nothing, even little pots of bicarb and essential oils but nope it's still stinking. Omg please help me 😢

[@mcm.walnuter3479]

I have a MCM buffet I got from an online auction. Man it stinks old and musky. I will try these tips. Thanks

[@Peajay007]

thank you so much for this!! its spring here in Australia and the smell from my found bedside table is pretty bad. I'm going to go with vinegar and sunshine. if that doesn't work i have 6 more solutions! im so glad i found you!!!

[@salvagedbykscott]

Good luck!!

[@Peajay007]

@@salvagedbykscott thanks!!!

[@SherieVu]

Thank you

[@kimberlythompson1835]

Thanks for covering such an important subject. Have you ever tried Odoban? I'm buying some today and bcus it has thousands of amazing reviews. And I would never use bleach, but that's just me. And I like to use clear shellac for surfaces that I don't plan to paint.

[@salvagedbykscott]

I have tried Odoban a few different times and it has not worked for me.

[@saraadcock4144]

I've used all of theses methods too. Shellac is best for the bad ones I think

[@JackieBluXO]

I got upper kitchen cabinets from home where they smoked. I used Simple Green and water twice and let them dry in the sun for a few days, stink was gone.

[@AngieWilliamsDesigns]

Great tips. So... did you do all these on each of the drawers? I'm curious how well they worked?

[@selenaalvarado1563]

I’m trying to buy an old small dresser I have never diyd any furniture one is $20 it’s in pretty rough condition but it’s beautiful (idk if it’s real wood) other one is $80 it’s pretty rough as well and a leg is split in half, the other one is in beautiful condition but it is $200🥲 idk which one to choose I will have to paint which ever one I get though to fit with my bedrooms furniture, if I could send you pictures I would😭😭😭😭 just barely found your channel today

[@leentjiepayne2180]

I know in the US Dixie Belle makes a lovely buttery orange beeswax thst you can buff on the inside of the drawers, (I would love to get Debi's DIY wax for my work, but can't get it in SA🇿🇦). After a vinegar clean and a lot of sun, I use beeswax, add orange or lemon essential oil drops and buff it inside the drawers, if absorbs heavenly and the wood looks renewed and smells great, none of it comes off on clothes once cured, I also do the underside of the drawers and the inside panels. You smell it when you enter the room but not on your clothes, but then I álways personally use tissue paper as drawer liners. 🦋

[@lindseymoloney9636]

thanks for tips! I'm trying to get moth ball smell out of some furniture we got. I did vinegar and water and am now trying alcohol. I hope I don't have to shellac the entire interior or dresser and all the drawers!

[@deborahmannino3775]

Me too! I have to tackle this job in the fall. Not looking forward to it!!

[@juliej5917]

Congrats on your family move! 🎉

[@angkeats3685]

Welcome to NB 😊

[@judyspaulding3727]

I think I'm going to try to use the clear shellac on a rotten piece of bedroom furniture dresser drawers! What is your advice to getting into the rattan????

[@ninas992]

Vinegar! my favorite

[@someuser4166]

i have a chair made out of synthetic leather and it smells like very strong cologne. ive had it out in the sun for a week, washed it with soap, alcohol and even some blue spray thing they use to clean car seats but it just wont stop smelling like cologne...

[@user-hc7jj6iz7p]

So if you do a good clean with krud kutter or soap and water and the smell is still there, can you just immediately jump to the shellac? I have a dresser that has some blackish spots on the inside of the drawer and not sure if its mold or what it could be.

[@dinafarag38]

Can lemon oil polish (like old English) be used inside and around old stinky drawers? Also, I find the wood of the drawers to be so brittle, what can I apply around the drawer upside of them to strengthen the wood fibers? Conditioner like odie’s oil?

[@dot2dal]

Good tips! Love big trash days on the east coast! My sister and I furnished out apartment while attending Acadia University from big trash day! Hope you’re settling in ok.

[@debbieb4702]

Great tips. Thank you! How do you like that tool you used to get the hardware off, you had my attention with that…my arthritis is over the manual way..lol have a link to it if you like that tool?

[@salvagedbykscott]

That’s my HOTO tools 3.6v screwdriver! I LOVE IT.

[@cliffordbaines3425]

Does this method work for wood chairs as well?