Eliminating Odors from an Antique Chest of Drawers - Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture Restoration

Tom Johnson of Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture Restoration in Gorham, Maine utilizes a number of techniques in removing an offending scent from this nineteenth-century chest of drawers. Tom has been restoring furniture professionally since 1979. Visit our website at www.thomasjohnsonrestoration.com, or write us at [e-mail]. And for those on the west coast looking for custom framing, be sure to check out Tom's daughter's shop, www.emcollier.com (@emcollierframes on Instagram).

[@Staceyintampa]

Love your videos, even watching 6 years later. Everything I learned about restoration came from my dad, who patiently restored boats, cars, homes, and everything in them. When I need to know what he would do on a project, I come here. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@johnsonrestoration]

You're welcome! I often think of my Dad, who was also a furniture restorer/finisher. I love the fact that I can help you think about your Dad too.

[@azhardhawan7390]

Upon unboxing, I was immediately upset at how the rails were very noticeably bent. But I kept going, all tools needed to assemble were included kzbin.infoUgkxqtX4Dxs6aecAZEuz6GY5-d81YecKCshn and I had it set up in about 30 minutes. Honestly I love this thing, make sure to read the measurements and measure your space so you know if it'll work for you. I bought this to put inside my closet, underneath where I hang my clothes and it is absolutely perfect! It is VERY sturdy and all drawers glide easily and mine are stuffed, and they are still flush when closed.

[@johnsonrestoration]

?

[@amyeff7279]

​@@johnsonrestorationthis is spam, you might want to delete it.

[@kerrygreenlees1102]

It's so nice to see someone who puts so much care and pride into their work. I can't smell anything either, haha.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! Yeah, getting used to all the smells of chemicals can't be good. In fact certain smells, like a combination of shellac and turpentine odor bring back memories of my father's shop, I love it!

[@shortsweettoo]

When I realized I needed to get rid of a bit of antique furniture mold, I knew right where to look. Thanks Tom!

[@johnsonrestoration]

You're welcome! One thing I've learned from the comments though is that bleach is not the best for mold, white vinegar does the trick

[@AndrewMcMillenium]

Dear Thomas, I really like the beginnings of your videos with animals and background noise )))

[@johnsonrestoration]

+Andrew McMillenium Thanks Andrew! I love my animals too!

[@5tonyvvvv]

Tea tree oil worked well on my old furniture, rats got in my cabinets leaving it out in a barn for years.

[@southsoundhomepros861]

I love that, too!

[@judithhosang3237]

Incredible attention to detail and respect for furniture. Wow!

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thank you very much!

[@davefoster6156]

Amazing attention to detail. The piece is good for another 100 years.

[@johnsonrestoration]

It sure is! Thanks!

[@TheLubowski]

A fellow Mainer! Small world, and JUST the video I needed! Thank you kindly!

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! Happy to help!

[@NewEarthBlog]

Thank you, Tom! We're going to give your methods a try.

[@johnsonrestoration]

You're welcome! Good luck!

[@cindystecker2698]

This was different and amazing....loved it...

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thank you so much 😀

[@johnrogers1794]

Thank you Tom.... This works !!!

[@johnsonrestoration]

You're welcome!

[@rosalindaestrada5314]

Great job, Tom.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks!

[@MrsMelissaNewcomb]

Thanks for the video Sir! Cheers from another Mainer! ( Eastport)

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! Hi t Eastport! Haven't made it up there yet!

[@His.Heart.]

Thank you for sharing this.

[@johnsonrestoration]

You're welcome!

[@billfromelma]

Hey Tom, Wow , what an excersize in determination ! Its a beautiful chest and really worth the extra effort ( reglue ) . Great editing got to see a buch of "take apart" and put back together. It looked awesome with thesun on it , showing the grain pop. Nice job.

[@johnsonrestoration]

+billfromelma Thanks!

[@JusticethenPeace]

I so appreciate your in depth thorough demonstration of clean & restore antique wood drawers. Your video is exactly what I was looking for to help my problem antique musty smelling drawers. I have tried, with very limited success several antique furniture wood cleaning and waxing products. I will retry your method and formulas. Thanks so much

[@johnsonrestoration]

You are so welcome! I still do have a definitive technique for odors. One thing I've had luck with since I made this video is charcoal. You can get activated charcoal in packets for this purpose

[@cajunfid]

Great tips! I just wanted to let you know how much your videos have inspired me to take on various projects I would have shied away from only a few years ago. Last year I restored an old handmade mahogany trunk that belonged to a carpenter around the late 1800's to early 1900's and at some point it ended up with a ton of pipe cutting oil on the bottom. My friend insisted on turning it into a cedar chest for all of her various Mardi Gras costumes but no one she brought it to was interested in working on it. After a good cleaning on the outside with some TSP, to get rid of the smoke smell, I got rid as much of the old built up oil as I could with some scrapers and a few TSP cleanings. After it was obvious the smell was not going to go away I put down three coats of leftover shellac I had from another project. The shellac totally eliminated the oil smell and allowed me to line the inside with some 3/16th thick aromatic cedar. The outside was in remarkably good condition but I had to replace the handles with some cast iron ones that were almost the exact same as the originals. The trunk turned out perfect and if it hadn't been for your tips on shellac and TSP, I probably wouldn't have agreed to take the project on.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Wow! It sounds like you did a great job! Also, for oil stains, I've found Dawn detergent works really well. Thanks for watching!

[@user-qr1sn3hf6e]

Thank you Tom for a great video. I recently bought a chest of drawers from a thrift store. Properly cleaning was my main concern. Tks for being so thorough. I now feel confident in tackling my project.

[@johnsonrestoration]

You're welcome! Good luck!

[@MrPinnocci]

You're my inspiration.

[@johnsonrestoration]

+Kristijan Pinosa Thank you, that's very flattering!

[@nancyjm79]

Your videos are so informative and really inspire me to do a good job when I work on my own pieces. Thank you.

[@johnsonrestoration]

You are so welcome!

[@nancyjm79]

I'm actually working on a dresser I got for $10 that looks nearly identical to that one in your video. It's very old and smells really bad with mildew. I've washed it with the bleach, enzyme cleaner, sanded. Still smells. It has a what looks like water damage on the back leg. I haven't given up on it. I'll try the entire process again until the smell goes away but I am afraid to take it apart.

[@billballeza377]

Whew! You're a sanding fool, TJ! Love your work and am dreading reaching the end of your library of videos. I'll just rerun them. though.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! And I'm making more!

[@gretchenburton7184]

Very thorough. I have a dry sink which has a musty smell when I open a drawer. Looks like a major project🎉

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks Gretchen! Some odors will go away quickly with a treatment (I'm currently liking "OdoBan"). Sometimes the odor can be quite persistent. Clean and treat the insides of the cabinet and the drawer

[@kevinwallis2194]

i love that old furniture kind of smell. I have 1700s and 1800s clocks and i can judge them just by smelling them.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! I know what you mean but it depends on the odor, this piece was very offensive, I'm not sure what caused it

[@judithfairchild8620]

Getting rid of bad odors is a real problem. Thanks for showing us how.

[@johnsonrestoration]

You're welcome!

[@laurenh5299]

I wish KZbin had recommended this video to me a few weeks ago! This looks like such a thorough job and you look like you’ve been doing this for years and really know what you have been talking about. My parents bought me a Heywood Wakefield dresser about 10 years ago now and sanded and restained it for me. I’ve been collecting mid century pieces since then and fixing them up with their help. But my dresser over the years has retained an “old wood” scent. I just fixed up a second Heywood Wakefield dresser and really tired to get the scent out. I vacuumed it out then wiped down every interior surface like you did (although I didn’t take any drawers apart) with diluted Murphy’s wood soap. I let that dry out in a garage overnight and then had to wait a few weeks for a new product I’m trying. Big Mamma’s Butta from Dixie Belle paint company. I put it on all interior surfaces because I saw someone use it to help with the old wood scent. I put it on top of the exterior over my stain as well and it added a nice shine. It looked like I had just cleaned it with pledge. If this works to get the old wood scent out I’ll do it to my first dresser but if it doesn’t work I’ll have to try out the method you did in the video! I have to say I love that piece you were working on. I love furniture like that where it looks like it has a bit of history in it.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! These odors can be tough! I'll have to check out "Big Mama's Butta" I assume it's a wax?

[@laurenh5299]

Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture Restoration it is a wax/oil combo. It did not get rid of the scent so now I am waiting for a sunny day to bake the dresser and drawers outside. I would rather not wash the interior again and loose the shine that the Butta provided but I will if the sun is unable to bake the scent out

[@LostMountainRestoration]

Thanks for another great video. Outstanding effort, very thorough. It's exceptionally difficult to get such odors out, and you showed just how hard it is. Cleaning out the dadoes just shows where that stuff will hide. I'm sure the owner will appreciate your efforts. Love the videos, keep 'em coming!

[@johnsonrestoration]

+Lawrence Jackmin Thanks!

[@JAMaxeRestoration]

I found this a very helpful video.

[@johnsonrestoration]

That's great! Thanks

[@johnmontgomery560]

Love your videos

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks!

[@phooesnax]

Nice job! thank you

[@johnsonrestoration]

+phooesnax You're welcome!

[@bobmcbride7058]

Great video.

[@johnsonrestoration]

+Bob McBride (McBride Woodworking) Thanks!

[@tomblanco2001]

Great work! I admire your thoroughness and patience. When I see mold in one place the first thing I think of is, "where else is the mold hiding?" That stuff is very pernicious. If in your place, I would strongly recommend to the owner to have his house checked by someone with experience to see if there is mold anywhere else in his house. Mold exposure has ruined the health of many people. Love you videos. Cheers.

[@johnsonrestoration]

+tomblanco2001 Thanks, and yes, can we ever get it all?

[@kathyphillips9482]

I agree that a thorough cleaning is often the fastest way to get rid of odors in cabinets, dressers & trunks... and that bleach & water or a pet odor enzyme cleaner are both very effective. However, many of the old trunks I've done are lined with antique paper or fabric that such treatments would destroy. In those situations, I've found an old ice tray filled with plain charcoal placed in the bottom and left (lid closed) for a period of time (usually a week to a month) will erase that musty smell. Use filtering charcoal from the pet store (in the aquarium dept)... not the treated briquets for the grill. Thanks for sharing your wonderful projects!! I so appreciate watching you apply your knowledge with such care and skill !

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thank you! Yes, I've been using charcoal a lot lately, in our basement and closets etc. I use the all natural charcoal pieces for the grill, Royal Oak. They're nothing like the pre-formed briquets

[@donaldschaefer6860]

Thank you for the cleaning tip. I used dish soap and water, then a disinfectant and water mix to clean an old oak dresser that had mold inside and out (and lots of dust). The piece is drying now. I think I'm going to have spray it like you did.

[@johnsonrestoration]

You're welcome. These problems can be tough

[@tomicajovevski]

I had very bad issues mith mold in one room. i get rid of the mold of the walls,insulated the walls,but then i realise that the furniture by that wall wass soacked in mold smell. Then i cleaned thoroughly 2-3 times with a solution of 80% water and 20 % home bleach. It worked very well, but then a had to wait for about a week or two for the bleach smell to evaporate well. But i newer thought of a white wine vinegar like someone bellow mentioned it. Great work and a pleasure to learn from you. Keep up the great work teaching us.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks, I will! But once again, every piece is different and we never know why one particular treatment works on one and not another. Often it takes 2 different treatments. There's too much chemistry going on - why didn't I pay attention in high school chemistry class?

[@dragonmaid1360]

That must have taken so much time to do.. So worth it

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! Yes

[@petenash7994]

Hi Tom - I use white wine vinegar, just paint in on with an old 2" brush and leave it. The vinegar smell is almost gone after 24 hours and completely gone in 48 hrs. Great channel and only just found you - great videos thanks. Pete

[@johnsonrestoration]

Vinegar's a good thing. It would make sense to always try that first

[@kbld1]

@@johnsonrestoration Vinegar doesn't kill mold like bleach, does it?

[@Coopogers]

@@kbld1 no, it doesn't but hydrogen peroxide does

[@censusgary]

It smells pretty good!

[@johnsonrestoration]

Yes! Thank you

[@ninawade3055]

Nice job thank you

[@johnsonrestoration]

You're welcome!

[@chantommy2735]

I know it is all experiences when it comes to wood identification. But it is so cool & good to know what types of wood a piece of furniture had been made in. Can U do a video to teach us amateur how to tell the wood ? Wood grain is definitely a clue but I find difficulty in distinguishing oak vs teak. Tks

[@johnsonrestoration]

That's a good idea for a video, but still it's always difficult and I continue to be fooled occasionally

[@bookgrub]

Missed opportunity to finish the video with 'smells pretty good' instead of 'looks pretty good'. Pleasure to watch as always, though!

[@johnsonrestoration]

+Joshua Lyndon Yes, I blew it! Never occurred to me. I've got to think more

[@jill552]

Just what I was thinking 😂

[@MrMusic32150]

@@johnsonrestoration Hello from Newport, Maine Tom. In closing, you said you didn't seem to smell any offensive odors and were confident you had solved the odor problem. That's good enough for me. Thanks for the video and for furthering our reputation for thorough and quality workmanship in this beautiful state of Maine.

[@timhickman3407]

Nicely said Joshua! 😂😂

[@kbld1]

Just before saying "It looks pretty good", Thomas stuck his nose in the drawer, said he didn't detect any odor and felt the process did the job. Works for me!

[@harrynewell912]

Very nicely done. Good tip there on the 10% bleach solution.

[@johnsonrestoration]

+Harry Newell Thanks for watching!

[@patrickcamusat2798]

Hello, Japanese people seem to use bamboo vinegar Japanese Bamboo Vinegar "Chikusakueki" for a number of things : ( description by Dictum : One of the oldest cleaning agents in Japan, bamboo vinegar can be used for the following purposes: As a fat-dissolving cleanser (either undiluted or with water added) in the kitchen, bathroom or workshop. Particularly effective on cutting boards, work surfaces, knife blocks, etc. For eliminating mould and insect infestations in storage areas, textiles or Tatami mats. For treating plants with infested roots or leaves or as a fertiliser; simply add some when watering. For extinguishing unpleasant odours). Have you tried it ?

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! Not the Japanese vinegar, but I've heard all the same claims for our regular white vinegar. I need to use it more often

[@DCPorter71]

Great tip there. Years ago we bought a second hand wooden wardrobe and we needed to get rid of it because of the smell. It just smelt like an old persons home (sorry best way to describe it). We tried waxes and all cleaning products with no success. You obviously know what your doing, and I'm really learning a lot from your videos. Was great to see how you tackled this problem. :)

[@johnsonrestoration]

+DCPorter71 Thanks! Odor is difficult to deal with!

[@jcrefasi1]

@@johnsonrestoration have you tried vinegar? We bought seafood and it leaked into the carpet of our car. Had the carpet professionally cleaned yet the odor returned. My grandmother suggested white vinegar which I used 1:1 with water and soaked the carpet and let it dry. Was pleasantly surprised! We were going to try charcoal if the vinegar didn't work

[@MystiqueULH]

My mom had some furniture that were very old. She kept certain things in it including Easter deco etc. Bringing those furniture over here to the US from Germany the smell inside never went away and each time I opened it there was a little bit of home and my childhood. But it was a good smell. Smell of fresh washed Linnen, Table cloth washed with Persil and chocolate candy and other nice smells. It all kind of mixed together and smelled of home.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks Ursula! They say that the olfactory memories are the strongest, and I believe it. Sometimes my shop will smell exactly like my Dad's shop and wow, I am right back there

[@blackburnparty]

Perfectionist

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks!

[@robertthornhill4379]

hi thomas video is interesting and therefore it a 10/12 bob in the uk

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks!

[@agerundajr]

Terrific learning video. I tripped over your playlist library while researching furniture restoration as I have a few pieces that I'd like to tackle myself. I'll admit, I was surprised to see you using water and other liquids so liberally. Isn't there a risk of warpage, especially with such an old piece? How is it that the old wood in that dresser maintained it's shape and reassembled so well?

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks for watching. I've never had water damage anything, assuming you wipe it off right away, don't let anything stand in water or have pools form on any surfaces and sit there. Warpage is call by the moisture content of the wood, which is not affected by washing, but rather the humidity levels of the environment. Good luck with your projects!

[@heartstormer3]

Hi Thomas, Vodka in a spray bottle is amazing ! It will kill the mold and is odorless. and baking soda with vinegar will kill the smell. I hope you try it. The Vodka is amazing!

[@johnsonrestoration]

That's a great idea! I will try it! (one for the furniture - one for me - one for the furniture - one for me........)

[@babycakes8434]

@@johnsonrestoration Sounds like an awesome idea😂I will try that on my dresser😂

[@fdort3971]

I had an antique jewelry box damaged by a flood from a friend...1st thing I did was wash everything with warm water and anti bacterial dish soap...it washed off the river but still reeked of mold. I sanded every non shelacked surface and washed again. Left to dry in the sun...no more odour

[@johnsonrestoration]

Great! Its so gratifying when you can get rid of difficult odors

[@katier0se]

I'm so glad I found this. I used vinegar on all areas inside the dresser, but for some reason there are gray spots appearing on one side of the dresser. (I also started by spraying it down and scrubbing with lysol but it didn't do anything to any of the other pieces of the dresser). Perhaps scrubbing a small section with steel wool caused it or is it mildew? :( help!

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! The mold and mildew should be dead after the vinegar, but it might not look like it. Lately I seem to have luck with charcoal absorbing the odors. You might also have to do the interior. You need to wash everything down, inside and out!

[@mrknittle532]

I started watching this video this morning before you released today's Friday video, so I get some extra Tom Johnson today!!! I'm converting an Art Nouveau-ish Art Deco receptionist desk that was bound for the junkyard (read: unrestorable without tons of time and money) into a vanity for my bathroom. However, there is an indication that mice lived in the drawers for some time, as well as it being in a barn for an unknown number of decades. In this case, would it be best to sand first, then bleach, then shellac? I would think that sanding first would remove the top layer of gunk to better get to the pores of the wood.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! I would have a tendency to bleach or use white vinegar over the entire piece, inside and out to be sure all mold and "germs" are gone. I would shellac the drawer boxes and the interior of the cabinet too. All that will help too, the piece living in the bathroom

[@kathybarth4863]

The word THOROUGH comes to mind.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Yes! Thanks!

[@sandywebster5667]

ground coffee in a low pan like a pie pan put inside the drawers can take odors away. Also add in some cedar in side

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! I will try that!

[@m.j.9627]

I have to wonder if using a hepa vacuum, rather than an air compressor, might have been a better/healthier option. Beautiful and thorough work overall.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! Good idea

[@highpsi11]

Wow - this is a deep level cleaning! What a lot of work for a modest old chest of drawers. Do you have any tips for removing the smell of moth balls on wood that has contained them for decades? Superficial cleaning doesn't do much because the porous wood has been deeply impregnated with the odor.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! I would start with a lot of fresh air! It should dissipate. Sprinkle with a generous amount of baking soda

[@ReneeRenz]

This is an inspiration to me to tackle several family heirlooms including a buffet and multiple dressers and chests of drawers. I was wondering if the shellac inside and outside of the drawers hinders their movement? or the layers are so thin it doesn't matter? Thanks for your feedback.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! It should help with the movement, or help it maintain equilibrium and not move. But of course the purpose was just to seal in the odors. I'm assuming you mean wood movement and not the moving of the drawers as they're opened and closed

[@marm2371]

Thank you for taking the time to show us how to eliminate the odour from these old beautiful pieces. I am in Canada otherwise I would be dropping my two french provincial pieces to you for help :) I am on round two of wiping them down with white vinegar. I have not taken any of them apart just wiped all spaces I can see and reach with undiluted white vinegar. I have taken the dresser and tallboy and the drawers out to sit in the sun too. While the awful mould/mildew stink has reduced, it's still there. I have not started to refinish them (repaint them) on the outside yet as I want to tackle the smell first. Should I try this bleach solution next? What should I do after that? Thank you for your time :)

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! Be sure to get the undersides of everything with the vinegar. Then wipe everything again with an enzymic odor control like Nature's Miracle www.naturesmiracle.com/. Plenty of fresh air and sunlight are good too. Good luck!

[@marm2371]

@@johnsonrestoration thank you so much for taking the time to answer. I got someone to flip the dressers over for me and so I was able to saturate it with vinegar. I also removed the backboards from the dresser and the tallboy and I am replacing it with a thin sheet of finishing wood. Not sure what they are called but I got them in the lumber section and got them cut to size for a perfect fit. I am thinking that replacing these will reduce some of the odour. There was melamine there before and they are just holding the smell. Also, I tested this product on one of the drawers, it's called Zinsser Odour Killing Primer OMG it worked great! Mind you this drawer has had several days of air and sunshine and three heavy white vinegar saturations but there still was a touch of stink left but now it's all gone. This Zinsser product goes on white and dries clear. You can barely tell that anything was put onto this untreated wood. I am going to coat the rest of the furniture and drawers on the inside today. Then move onto the sanding and repainting stage of these pieces. I will send you a pic of the finished products for you. I still need to clean the handles that came with these Andrew Malcolm antiques. Their original finish is white but has yellowed and full of stains so they definitely need some revamping. Have you used this Zinsser product before? Have a fantastic day :)

[@MsRazvan29]

Sie machen wunderbare Arbeit Respekt 🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝❤

[@johnsonrestoration]

Vielen Dank!

[@melissac.5948]

What a lovely chest of drawers. You did a beautiful job! I don’t know if you’ll even see this comment after all these years, but I’ve discovered that bleach is nowadays considered the “cosmetic” treatment for mould, as it is so effective with the staining. Vinegar, however, now has a reputation for being a mould killer that actually prevents new mould from coming back. I would definitely rinse the vinegar off well and let the surface dry completely before using bleach for any stains. Or maybe your oxalic acid would be preferable?

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! Yes, many have told me that, that vinegar is the best. I've been using it

[@jillbrunke3851]

I just saw your video and noticed you have several old trunks. I have an old trunk and it has several removable drawers, but the inside of the trunk has an old smell to it. What can I do to remove the smell? All the drawers are lined with paper. The inside of the trunk is in excellent condition. Thanks for your input

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! Try using activated charcoal. There is plenty available in different forms and packaging. Also good old baking powder can do it. Let me know how it comes out

[@Irwhodunit]

What is the shellac for? Does that seal the pores to prevent the re-occurrence of the mildew? Really helpful. I have a seldom-used chest that has been in my home for my entire life and just last week I put some things away and got that "old-folks home" whiff of odor.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! yes, the shellac is sealing the wood. Try a good cleaning and airing out first, turn it over and clean everywhere!

[@cathuggerniowacity]

Sometimes I would cut and tie stems of Southern Wood (an Artemesia arbrotanum) a delightful shrub, which has a clean, camphor/lemon fragrance and put in the drawers. The plant was called “garde robe” in the Middle Ages, some say because they used sprigs of it the way we use toilet paper, hence “garde robe” protecting their clothing.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! That's a really good idea. I can get aromatic cedar and maybe camphor wood. I'll have to try it. I've been finding activated charcoal does well too

[@doloresonorato6178]

Wow it is so impressive the attention to detail you take. Great work. I am beginning to buy old furniture and repurpose or refinish. I have a question for you. Do you think all furniture can be restore or are there times when it is too far gone? So to be more specific, before i found this video i bought a pretty little piece. It a small desk or console table. It had a terrible musty and mildew odor. I couldn’t even have it in my house it was setting off my allergies like crazy. So i put it on my covered patio. But somehow the rain got in and it go really wet. The top is very swollen which is interesting because with the expansion the mold is even more prominent. Is it too far gone?

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks for watching! I always hate to say something is hopeless but it sounds like this is the case. Once things start to swell they are next to impossible to repair. And it already had the problem of the odor. Get rid of it!

[@samanthapeters8314]

Water can cause wood to warp out of shape. You can't fix warped wood.

[@10ashagirl]

Excellent job! The only thing that matters is what the owner said after it was taken and used.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! That reminds me, I should call her and see how it's doing years later

[@zahria]

You have the patience of a saint ! Thank you so much for your advise. I have a Chinese cubbord that smells like tobacco as well. Its awfull. Cant use bleach on that. I started with vinegar..

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! Good luck!

[@pkunkbwok]

About halfway through I started to have flashbacks of Mr. Wolf from Pulp Fiction. "All those little pieces of brain and skull, you gotta pick them up outta this cabinet..."

[@johnsonrestoration]

Yeah, right! It's a favorite movie!

[@pkunkbwok]

It's way up there for me, too. Really enjoy your work, by the way, both the demonstration and the results. :)

[@johnmontgomery560]

I plan on making a colonial style china cabinet from some butternut. I find butternut has an unpleasant smell would you have any suggestion how to treat the wood. The best I can think of is shellac. although I am thing of lining the interior with white cedar.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! I never noticed any odor, but I haven't worked with butternut very often. Shellac should do it

[@vickyhunt1425]

I have a very old buffet that I inherited from my mother. It has very ornate carving on it. I think I need to do the same thing you did with removing the odor but is there any other thing I can do to seal the surface instead of shellacking? The wood is so beautiful and I'd like to keep it as natural as I can. Maybe linseed oil or something? Any suggestions?

[@johnsonrestoration]

Yes, use an oil finish like Watco Danish oil. Brush it on, go over it with 0000 steel wool while still wet, and wipe it down. The next day wax it. Good luck!

[@mimilong3817]

Wow! I’m asthmatic and watching you blow away the dust with that compressor made me lose my breath. I like to do woodwork also but I use a tack cloth to remove the dust.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! sorry about that! hen you have an air system in the shop you get used to using it for stuff like that! When I'm applying finishes I will use a cloth

[@10MinuteMurder]

was that a slight nod to Jimmy diresta and to Jay bates when reinstalling the back? great video, nice detailed work.

[@johnsonrestoration]

+Evensonphx I'm going to have to look them up!

[@danielc9483]

Hi Thomas, I watch your videos frequently and always refer to you when I need help identifying/ understanding/ discovering etc. about antiques and furniture techniques. I have an old dresser that is probably a reproduction and it has a very dark stain on the interior of the dresser and drawers which is transfering to some of my clothes. I am looking to seal this up, since this original finish (or lack there of) has deteriorated with time. I have tried wiping it down several times but the dark stain still transfers to cleaning cloths without any lubricant or cleaning solution. What would be the quickest way to seal the interiors with limited off gasing? I really would prefer not to paint it or use any strong solvents like poly to seal it up. Paste wax? other finishing oils? thanks for your help!

[@johnsonrestoration]

Hi Daniel! I would clean the drawer interiors with a degreaser like Krud Kutter. Let dry completely and finish with 2 coats of shellac, sanding between coats. Keep the drawers out to dry for a few days. That should do it. Good luck!

[@danielc9483]

@@johnsonrestoration thanks so much for your help!

[@123Shazzam123]

I just moved house and bought a dresser secondhand and it smells so musty! I’m struggling with it being in my room. I luckily have access to a garden in my rented London flat but it is January. I’ve so far vacuumed it and cleaned with dish detergent and am planning to use bleach and then vinegar and then sand down the piece and reseal. Do you think this will work? The weather is cloudy and 6 degrees Celsius and the sun sets at 4pm which is what I’m also struggling with. It’s frustrating as i have just moved and haven’t been able to unpack due to this. What do you think? Should I make a brave attempt or just cut my losses and buy an IKEA dresser?

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! Airing it out is always the first step, clean with white vinegar - 2 parts water,1 part vinegar. This should kill any mold. Then use activated charcoal packets sold for this purpose. Good luck! sealing the inside would work too, but try the charcoal first

[@Frisenette]

UV light from the sun is on it's own also a potent deodorizer.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Yes, it's got to help. This one was pretty bad though

[@Irwhodunit]

Fantastic comment. With over 40 days of consecutive 100-degree heat in S. Texas, I have sun!

[@mechminded2207]

I've had to do the first part in rented accommodation before. All I could smell for weeks was bleach. Used a bit more than 10% though.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! Yes, I've had the same problem. It will dissipate (I hope)

[@auroracampos8244]

I have a beautiful table I am working on and the smell just won’t budge. Would I have to stain it prior to using the shellac?

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! Yes, stain it first. Most of the odor problems I have seen emanate from the inside and undersides of the piece. Don't overlook those areas

[@MsRazvan29]

Bravo 🤝❤🤝❤😍

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks!

[@rachellevandruff6576]

I have a dresser that reeks of moth balls. I am going to give these steps a try. Thanks for sharing!

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! Yes, airing it out is the number one thing. I don't do it in this video, but try charcoal too. Put some in a small container in the drawers for a few days, after airing it out well

[@ancanistor7448]

Hi Thomas! I'm educating myself how to properly clean and restore a very old, very big and very problematic credenza. It has woodworm and mold galore and it stinks. Something I saw in your video made me really worry for the first time since I decided to take on this monster project. It was the fact that you noticed that there was still mold in the joints of the drawers and in other joint sections, even after washing the whole chest of drawers with bleach. So it makes me wonder: should I then take my whole credenza apart in order to be sure that I really reach every possible nook and cranny where mold might hide? I had hoped that cleaning all *visible* sides of my piece of furniture would be enough, but now I'm not so sure anymore. The "only" problem is taking the credenza apart literally piece by piece is out of the question, I wouldn't be able to put it back again. (Plus it even has some dove-tail joints.) Any advice welcome. And thank you so much for sharing your craftsmanship.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks Anca! I think you can successfully do it. I've learned to use white vinegar instead of bleach. Bleach evaporates too fast, the vinegar will soak in a bit and do a better job. You can mix the vinegar 50/50 with water. Put it in a spray bottle. Turn the credenza upside down and have at it!

[@michaelpage7691]

Question: When washing the wood with water and bleach, does the wood swell causing problems when fitting drawers back in? Even when drying the wood, it still must retain some water.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! It's not wet long enough to swell. It's really only wet for a few minutes

[@sunny5871]

Wow thanks so much

[@crabbyhayes1076]

The pet sanitizer, which I believe is chlorine dioxide based, works wonders.

[@johnsonrestoration]

I'll look for that, I wonder if the product I use has that in it

[@crabbyhayes1076]

@@johnsonrestoration look for the one ion the gray bottle. Zinsser also makes a similar formulation.

[@CaseyMorris-zc9mw]

Thanks for the video. Can you provide the name of the odor remover you used?

[@johnsonrestoration]

You're welcome! I used "Nature's Miracle", you can get it at a pet supply store. Also, I'm finding that charcoal works well too. Also, an open box of baking powder can help. Good luck!

[@MrGoldenwaffler]

i can understand wanting to eliminate mold smell, but the oakey scent that old furniture has is part of the charm imo. when buying antiques maybe be prepared to know whats involved and dont expect it to smell like new cheap ikea crap. just a thought.

[@johnsonrestoration]

I know what you mean, but it's a question of degree. This cabinet smelled really bad. You would not want to put your clothes in it.

[@brettknoss486]

Terrence Gold I came here to see how to get the smell out of old kitchen cabinets that held food.

[@joanconnelly116]

I have an old dresser, probably from the 50's that my husband refinished years ago. Now it is starting to smell on the inside of the drawers like paint!! What should I do? It is making my clothes smell like paint!! I have small bars of soap in each drawer to help with the smell..HELP!

[@johnsonrestoration]

That's strange! Why would it start smelling now? Start by airing it out, then treat with a product like Nature's Miracle

[@chandarussell]

The last time I bought an old piece of furniture that smelled I stuck a small bowl full of ammonia in each drawer and left them for 24 hours. Problem solved. But then my piece didn’t have mould in it.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Interesting! I've heard of that but forgot. I will try it

[@officermeyer]

Would you mind kindly to leave a link to the odor eating spray you used please? TIA 🥰

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! I was using Nature's Miracle sold at pet supply stores. Recently I discovered "OdoBan" which seems good too, so far

[@tkucey8689]

Anyone have a suggestion to get rid of the smell from Ikea furniture that is out-gassing?

[@johnsonrestoration]

Wow! That;s a problem. You should put it outside on a nice day in the sun. Or, finish the entire piece, inside and out with shellac. I realize that is not realistic. Can you exchange it? It is defective, it was never allowed to dry properly at the factory

[@kokei_sekken]

When and how did you learn the way to deal with problems of antique furniture?

[@johnsonrestoration]

+ヒロマサ Hi, thanks for watching. My father was in this business, and I along with all my brothers started working in his shop when we were 13 years old. I came back to it full time when I was 25, and started my own business when I was 28. My oldest brother still has my father's original business, and my youngest brother has his own restoration business.

[@kokei_sekken]

Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture Restoration thank you for your answer. I realized that I cannot do the work like you forever...x( I'm looking forward to watch your next video.

[@stevenbushnick7745]

What's your secret for taking care of the various brushes you use?

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! No big secret, just clean them really well, and wrapped in newspaper to dry to the original shape

[@andybyerly5629]

I'm curious. Have you ever restored a vintage steam trunk?

[@johnsonrestoration]

Yes, I have: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJS2pZRng8Sgmrc

[@cliffhanley2120]

What was the name of the odour removal spray used?

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! I used "Nature's Miracle" www.naturesmiracle.com/products/dog/stain-and-odor/stain-and-odor-remover.aspx

[@healthnut3433]

Man, that's a lot of work! For mold, I'm thinking furniture needs to always be disassembled, cleaned and reassembled. Mold is so pervasive. Are you passing your expertise on to following generations for when you and your brothers are gone? It seems there are fewer and fewer woodworkers left... Thank you.

[@johnsonrestoration]

Well, making these videos is the best I can do. But how long will You Tube exist? Will they keep them "forever"?

[@lavenderfields5188]

Tom- You are the last of a fantastic generation. I am a 36 year old woman from New Jersey and I'm so glad to find someone who truly does this for a living be able to pass this onto people like myself. Not everyone is built for college. Skilled Trade "Blue-Collar" jobs are lacking in America because they have been frowned upon for too many years. As Mike Rowe from the show Dirty Jobs put it in his TED TALK (google it) "Blue-Collar people are happier & more fulfilled. Blue collars Jobs are very fulfilling for people like ourselves. College is not for everyone. Some of us are meant to be creative & work with our imagination & hands in one at or the other. #MAKINGBLUECOLLARCOOLAGAIN!

[@barbarapiazza-georgi3831]

Please advise. How do I get rid of the smell of naphtalene from my antique wardrobe?

[@johnsonrestoration]

Wow! First of all air it out. Take everything out, open doors, put a fan on it. After that, use activated charcoal packets made for this purpose. Good luck!

[@frauleintrude6347]

Old wood is always a bit smelly. It soaks up and stores everything..Now that the mildew is gone, the only thing left to do and what helps just fine is to put a little bit of cedar wood into the drawers. I also use aromatic smelling satchels. And for all of my wooden furnitures and stairs I use a lavender beeswax polish from merry old England. I love the smell, so refreshing and clean. I also own an pharmacy cabinet from 1800 and the drawers still smell of the goods they stored mainly herbs and roots. They all are labelled. Two are really funky smelling: Valerian and Sennae.. but I will do nothing about it, the smell of history..

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! That is good! I find the packets of activated charcoal work well too. I like the fact that you like the pharmacy smells!

[@BeaSides]

Will this help with mouse smells? Or do those require some other, meaner solution?

[@johnsonrestoration]

I'm not positive, but I would expect that it would

[@BeaSides]

Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture Restoration Thank you!

[@Tsb702]

What is the enzymatic spray used that is mentioned?

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! I used Nature's Miracle www.naturesmiracle.com/

[@pamscott3993]

Are you using wet sandpaper with the bleach mixture?

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! I'm using a grey Scotch Brite pad

[@unfortunatebaskets4727]

Did you re-use the old, original nails?

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! I always try to reuse the nails. I also buy nails from the same factory that made the original nails Tremont Nail www.tremontnail.com/

[@thegoodbyegirl27]

I'm just curious do you reuse the same nails it comes with it so you use new nails and why?

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks for watching. I try to put the same nails right back where they come from.I'm talking about period antiques that might have the original hand forged nails, things like that. But sometimes you have to substitute longer nails or slightly bigger nails to make it work. I save old nails and have new reproduction nails (I buy nails from a company in Rhode Island that's been making nails the same way since 1820 or so)

[@grannypantsification]

I love the smell of pipe tobacco. It reminds me of my great grandfather. I suppose you wouldn’t want to remember someone else’s great grandpa though😜

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! I love that smell too!

[@lindamorris8706]

Where can I buy the Shellac sealer please. We have just bought an old chest of drawers, it smells horrid. Tried everything, next step is bonfire 😢, unless we can find some shellac clear sealer xx

[@johnsonrestoration]

Thanks! Shellac is sold as Zinserr Universal Sanding Sealer, it is available at your local hardware store. First I would clean the entire piece, inside and out, turn it upside down! with 1 part white vinegar and 1 part water. Let dry, spray everything with Odoban, from you r local hardware store, let dry, and then 2 coats of shellac, sanding between coats

[@lindamorris8706]

@@johnsonrestoration Thanks John. We've tried bicarbonate of soda. Washed it down with a bleach solution. Used white vinegar. Aired it for a month. Honestly, we just feel like burning it now especially as we bought it to store newborn baby items in. Xx