Get Rid of the Musty Smell in Old Furniture

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[@skeeter1]

I inherited my grandmother's 2 stranger trunks. One has a curved top, and one is like yours. I love them. The flat top one had been used for years in my home as a coffee table. Great tips.

[@sarahreinhardt1414]

Thank you! THANK YOU!! A neighbor has been selling one for a while and I have been shying away because of the inside. I think I'm ready to take the leap of faith now!

[@georgiabowen7037]

I have the same trunk, in the same condition. My brother found it on the side road on trash day. Someone else’s trash, my treasure. Great video.

[@parisday9631]

I hope everyone is having a beautiful Saturday! I’ve been using Murphy’s Oil Soap (original) cleaner to knock out the old, musty smell from my husbands grandmothers beautiful furniture pieces.

[@Lovely-sv1ye]

Hello there, I have a question about this - does the Murphy’s Oil Soap smell linger afterward in a closed space? I have a wooden chest that smells musty and I want to eventually store bedsheets in it, so I need something that will clean but not leave its own smell residue!

[@parisday9631]

@@Lovely-sv1ye Happy New Year!!! So, the aroma will linger for about an hour. Also, be very generous, you’ll know it’s getting clean when the surface feels very smooth and the odor dissipates.

[@Lovely-sv1ye]

@@parisday9631 Happy New Year to you too! That’s great to know, thanks so much 😄

[@davidkenzo1965]

I realize Im kinda off topic but do anyone know a good place to watch newly released tv shows online ?

[@randyelliott2494]

@David Kenzo i use Flixzone. You can find it on google =)

[@donnacalvert311]

Yes! I would love your tips on decoupage !! I love where you put the trunk and how you decorated the top. Thank you for sharing.

[@thepennycrafters7616]

Love the trunk, love the advice, and absolutely love the idea of decopauge!!! Please do that 🙏🥰🥰

[@BettsiLedesma]

Yes to the decoupage! How fun that would be and it would look so cute!

[@laineychristman9014]

Great tips! Would love to see the decoupage as I have a trunk with the same problems. Thanks for all the great videos!!

[@lesleyoliver5582]

Love the chest but consider wearing a mask when sanding unknown products. You could be inhaling poisons or toxic material.

[@TheDrewdakin]

It's unclear whether this sublayer is a asbestos containing fiber. I recently started a project myself on an old trunk and stopped because there is little known about the material used

[@sherryhudson9075]

A lovely old trunk. What charm and uniqueness

[@monicamartinez7871]

This is exactly what needed to see. Thank you!

[@sallymoffit3751]

Remember Odor Eaters inserts for stinky shoes? I tossed a pair in a stinky dresser and it worked. Thanks for the inspiration. I'm procrastinating on an old trunk myself.

[@dee6075]

Definitely interested in watching your tips on decoupage, especially in regards to inside drawers etc

[@mcremeans7778]

This was helpful for me. I appreciate knowing how you buy and use sandpaper. Those were great tips. I've always been in a quandary with what grit to use. Thank you.

[@susandenniscook9271]

Zinsser BIN is the BEST! We’ve been using it for years and love it so much!

[@pamelabrown3439]

What a lovely trunk ! I have used vanilla scented candles (unlite) in a cabinet, under sink areas in kitchen, in bathroom, and in musty closets. I have given Mulberry scented potpourri and sachets. (A boss I had years ago, said it took smoke smell out of her car.)

[@SJ-gj7mx]

I love those green and gray plants in the background. Really beautiful

[@Liz-lw6ht]

The trunk is lovely! Decoupage tutorial would be splendid!!

[@LulluBelle28]

I just got a steamer trunk and it smells HORRIBLE!!! This is a great video! I would love to see how you decoupage this!🤗💕

[@reneeadolph1309]

I have one with a smell! Definitely trying this!

[@tinekejoldersma]

It was the paper inside lining that made the smell, it was slowly molding. Would have loved seeing you use a transparent coat but white it is. ;>D

[@cindymarie2475]

Thank you for the great tips!🍂🍁🌻

[@heatherannekennedy9368]

Oh I love this!!! My kids would call this a 'redeemed' trunk ... because it's been brought back to usefulness and beauty with a little TLC! I too have a trunk that needs a transformation - it has a fun family history but it just smells too bad to be truly useful! Thanks for all the tips and tricks - you give me confidence to try to redeem my old steamer trunk!

[@SheHoldsDearly]

I hope it works, Heather!

[@lovinlife5461]

Beautiful. I have successfully deodorized an old table with coffee grounds. I speed the grounds on the underside of the table. Let sit for two Days vacuumed off and repeated twice more. (Fresh ground coffee). Also smells Amazing when it is in the vacuum. Haha

[@Opal_Sky]

I love steamer trunks! So classic and useful.

[@johnnacrist8715]

Thank you!!! I just bought an antique dresser. I need to get rid of the musty smell.

[@laura9855]

Thanks for the tips !😊

[@elad54chris64]

I'm cleaning up an old trunk and frankly was kind of inspired by your decoupage idea. My old trunk held old WWII newspapers and magazines inside that are not in such good shape, and I thought, "I could use these as a decoupage lining inside the trunk!" The drawback is that the trunk itself was smelly enough and though most of the smell is gone the newspaper and magazines smell too!

[@SheHoldsDearly]

Darn! Well let me know if you try it! I wonder if the process of decoupage would cover up some of the smell of the papers?

[@elainebernier]

Good work, young lady!!

[@ninajohnson6578]

Great video. Thank you

[@brendaporter7564]

This was perfect for me because I got an old cedar chest for $5. But this was sitting in a barn and it really smells ba thanks

[@RVBadlands2015]

I have three steamer trucks. It was the liners inside (fabric) that made them smell. I removed the liners painted the inside and replaced the liners. I use the large one to store blankets and pillows. One as a coffee table with a granite remnant that we had cut for it and the third my husband made a wooded top to set plants on.

[@ginamaria2579]

Really nice trunk !

[@lisaeldred2299]

If you like the beautiful raw color of the wood, there is clear shellac also. I use it all the time. I also dilute it down to use as a sealer.

[@kathryn5742]

Sarah, LOVE your creativity and great advice! Question about a previous video. Do you remember the color of the IKEA butcher block you chose for your kitchen and son's desk? Thanks so much!

[@mimilong3817]

Excellent! Thank you so much!

[@SheHoldsDearly]

You're very welcome!

[@lilybecerra2035]

Ty !!!

[@thomaswebb9562]

I have my great grandmotthers steamer trunk. It's musty smelling. It's in fairly good shape. Th trunk is musty smelling. Thanks for the help, you're a very beautiful lady.

[@franceswitham8214]

Please do the decopodge. I have two fabulous antique trunks that were my great grandmothers.. The have a bad mildew odor inside and you've convinced me to try your project. Thank you so much.

[@SheHoldsDearly]

Done! Here's the video : kzbin.info/www/bejne/on23faSlp7OCmJo

[@cameliafranco4497]

Yes please I would love to see how to decoupage🌾🍁🌞

[@ChristianBaloga]

Thank you!

[@SheHoldsDearly]

You're welcome!

[@melodybowen3927]

You can still purchase trunk replacement parts, they have websites to show you how to restore them. I heard but I don't know for sure that Lowes had parts also.

[@Christie-gp2cy]

Great idea. Thanks for the ifo. I too have tried EVERYTHING to rid cedar chest of moth ball smell. UGH. I tried paint stripper, paint thinner, bleach and water 1:1, oven cleaner, Mr. Clean, Oxyclean, wood chips, mulch, coffee tgrounds, nail polish remover. So frustrating. I will definitely try this method. Thanks for sharing!

[@SheHoldsDearly]

I hope it works as well for you as it did on my trunk!

[@athenathegreatandpowerful6365]

Try getting a palm sander and after the inside smells of cedar, rub it down with cedar oil.

[@kaybonette]

My son in law and daughter flip homes and have gotten some really bad ones smoke etc. He went on Ebay and bought an ionizer. They are only about $30 for a cheap one. We bought a buffet for our dining room that had been stored in an outside shed in NC. We also bought an ionizer and opened all the drawers and doors and left the house for the 3 hours we left it running. Those things are amazing. It worked so well...smell gone. My hubby holds his breath when he goes back in the house to turn it off. You're not supposed to breath the air when it's on. Next time we will plug it into one of those boxes that you set to have a lamp go on and off when you're going to be out of town. Probably a more expensive model would have a timer on it. Good for smelly basements but there the effect only lasts about a week and you have to do it again.

[@abutterfly7975]

Ionizers are VERY unhealthy to use.

[@SPICY_BEAR]

I don't have any old trunks. But I build brand new ones! 😎 Nice restoration/cleaning job! Looks great! ☺

[@SheHoldsDearly]

Oh, what a neat job/hobby!

[@Whiskey_Jane]

Going to try this on a trunk I have. It is also painted green on the outside any recommendations would be much appreciated.

[@YSLRD]

Dollar Tree sells a pet enzyme spray that works miracles on musty smells. Their supply comes and goes. A name brand spray like Nature's Miracle might work the same.

[@kimberlydrake8463]

Hi ...did you paint, stain or shellac the outside? Looks darker in your home? Turned out very nice....maybe an essential oil you like will keep it fresh! Thanks for sharing😊k

[@this12006]

There’s a can of stuff you can get from Walmart for your car to remove smoke smell , it works wonders !

[@jaynebrown693]

Nothing worse than falling in love with a “ stinky item”...☹️ I have found that “ Peroxide / Baking Soda / and a little liquid hand soap” takes out smells , especially pet smells👍 Spray it on the area and let it air dry. What a beautiful trunk! And yes....please share the decoupage process! That would be beautiful .

[@gayemarianesfox2405]

The trunk is beautiful. I’d leave the outside alone..

[@judytaya4347]

I once bought a piece (corner cabinet), from the 30's that WREAKED of nicotine. I tried everything over the years to get rid of the smell of cigarettes that soaked into the wood. I never could. I painted it several times, used sprays, etc. I got so sick of that smell every time I walked by the piece. I finally ended up having to put it on the burn pile. It made me sad to have to do it but nothing worked to remove that smell in the piece.

[@dominiquejones6758]

I just bought an old trunk and it smelled. Need this video

[@SheHoldsDearly]

So glad! I hope this process works for you, too!

[@oldchicken1170]

Couldn't you have used a clear shellac? It would drive me nuts leaving it white so I'd definitely follow up with decopauge or even some old wallpaper.

[@r.c.miller6161]

Odoban is an enzyme spray for neutralizing pet odors.

[@seriouslyreally5413]

That is a stain blocker primer. Primers bond paint to hard to stick surfaces or block stains from bleeding through your expensive paint. You still need to top coat it with paint.

[@leannglasman3748]

I would love to learn how to decoupage!

[@beautifulbuddy3322]

Me too please

[@ginatreadway8413]

Vinegar works I restored furniture that had been in a fire scrub. With vinegar then sand then repeat with vinegar then shellac also when your done you can wax with a citrus wax

[@brendafalk5162]

Nice cean up of this oldie. Do you think a second coat might have gotten it to 1005 odor free?

[@TheDrewdakin]

What is the black linning under the paper? I am doing a similar restoration job and am afraid it might contain asbestos

[@pj7948]

I used the same product on an antique but my research indicates that you need to paint over the primer or it will chalk over time.

[@shellyorr3097]

The smell comes from the glue they used to use on these old Steamer Trunks and other furniture. The only way to fully get the smell out is to remove the fabric by wetting it down, pull it off, spray the glue with your favorite cleaner, literally scrap off the glue from the furniture, and (finally) give it a light sand with fine grit sand paper.

[@lisamarutz9772]

Somethings you get a bad smell in old books, and it is always the glue😬

[@kristigregory6636]

I tried painting mine with just regular paint. Would you recommend sanding that off and using Shellac? Or do I need to sand off old?

[@SheHoldsDearly]

Painting over the paint with the shellac might work...?! Let us know if you do try it!

[@DixieGirl9876]

Vodka did the trick for me with an old chest of drawers that smelled strongly of cigarette smoke, but of course that was a wooden surface not sure if it would work for paper/glue and the like.

[@parisday9631]

DixieGirl9876 Very interesting! Vodka certainly is strong enough to penetrate.

[@DixieGirl9876]

@@parisday9631 Before that I had tried many things, leaving it to air dry, hot soapy water, Lysol, baking soda, I had decide if the vodka didn't work I was done with it.

[@parisday9631]

DixieGirl9876 I perfectly understand!

[@sandybeaches1490]

BOOM IM BOUTA USE THIS IDEA. I HAVE AN UNDRINKABLE BOTTLE OF EVERCLEAR SOMEWHERE.

[@dalilacunha5287]

We just bought a dresser from a consignment store and didn't realize until we got home that the prior owner used toxic detergent (like Tide) when laundering their clothes. All the drawers reek of toxic detergent, it's horrible. Any suggestions?

[@sharonmcmann-morelli4896]

i have 3 of these beautiful trunks, one flat and two woman’s with rounded tops.

[@paraflightjoe1053]

Thank you'' thank you.. I'm fighting the funk' now...

[@jnicole6266]

I would have used clear shellac and kept that pretty wood interior look.

[@braddull8058]

I've tried baking soda, distilled vinegar, shellac, paint-overs, soapy water with vinegar, bleach water, bleach water with soap...Nothing will remove the smell of old wood, or that musty smell. No paper lining, it wash washed before each application of the above. What do I do?!

[@EnergizeVitalize]

I was told to spray vodka directly on material to rid the smell of musty or smoke or exhaust smell. I got rid of an old trunk years ago that had moth ball smell. I wonder if this might have helped... seal paint product. Thank you 🙏

[@SheHoldsDearly]

Thanks for sharing

[@user-wy5jv1ho2k]

Ozone. O3 One with Ionization is better. Hotels & Spa’s use this to remove odor & sanitize rooms.

[@anaitam1357]

Ozone is not legal in all states and where it is legal you must use caution to remove food and all living organisms including pets and plants and you must not overuse it. Yes it works (decomp clean up companies use it for that very reason) but it must be used with caution ⚠️

[@mikeburnette7046]

Try cotton balls soaked in vanilla extract.

[@kathbiddle-dutton7069]

Hi ..I have this problem…can I ask you how is the chest odor now after 2 yrs. Mine is a dresser n I won’t put clothes in until smell is gone..thanks 🥰

[@SheHoldsDearly]

This solution has worked great!

[@kathbiddle-dutton7069]

@@SheHoldsDearly.thanks Awesome…I’m thinking the combination of years of your cleaning to get rid of smell plus removing lining plus sanding and then the B I N Primer did the trick 👏👏👏 thanks I’m going to do ALL that this spring when it’s sunny n warm out. ❤️ …hum does primer dry clear or stay white ?

[@dianapearson1771]

It still smells bad after you removed the paper lineing? Did you leave the inside that white color?

[@SheHoldsDearly]

Removing the lining took away almost all the smell! I ended up decoupaging inside the trunk a bit later : kzbin.info/www/bejne/on23faSlp7OCmJo

[@pl6035]

Could you line it with cedar planks?

[@SheHoldsDearly]

That's an interesting idea! I ended up decoupaging my trunk, but would be curious to see if anyone else has lined theirs with cedar! sheholdsdearly.com/how-to-decoupage-for-beginners/

[@debbiegreenough8135]

Merle Haggard music 🎶 your music on this at the beginning.

[@debbiegreenough8135]

🦋💐

[@lindabrown1417]

What would you use inside a brand new chest of draws musty smell

[@pamelagreen8819]

I have an 30 year old chest that smells horrible anything I put in it takes on the smell. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[@SheHoldsDearly]

Did you try removing the paper inside and coating with the product I used? So far this was the only thing I was able to do that worked! h

[@jaynenewman7691]

Decoupage! Please!

[@SheHoldsDearly]

Update, I did it! kzbin.info/www/bejne/on23faSlp7OCmJo

[@r.c.miller6161]

Leaving pieces outdoors just makes the odors worse, especially must and mold.

[@hisforever4937]

* steamer or water tip; Steam or spray the water on material, then leave it for at least 30 minutes come back to your project and you won’t have to labor so much to scrape off at all

[@SheHoldsDearly]

Thank you for sharing that!

[@CynthiaBryantify]

Vodka kills everything. Antique shop owner that lives above her shop shared that she uses Vodka to get the musty smell out of the antiques in her shop. Have you heard of or tried this remedy?

[@mariettedemarest5173]

Seal the inside with clear polyacrylic.

[@ashleycrager7886]

I wouldnt put your dog's food in that trunk. It could be mold or like you said, some type of chemicals and could totally get into your dogs food.

[@notdelilah1237]

I think I’m going to skip all the other room ideas and try this one first. Actually, I tried to catsand one and it’s just taking too long.

[@alisedelacey7138]

Lucky you to inherit such a nice chest..smell and all..😊

[@Orsucci82]

I love it but hate seeing the beautiful wood painted white.

[@mariasurvey2511]

Essential oils work for me

[@diamond6256]

I would leave it natural instead of decoupage. BY_THE_WAY did the smell go away???????

[@SheHoldsDearly]

Yes, the smell is gone!

[@robertjames-life4768]

Kind of ironic that you steamed a steamer trunk. 😉

[@SheHoldsDearly]

It had to have gotten it's name from somewhere....haha

[@stormychavez4018]

Great staging of chest

[@dianejohnson7235]

I love that chest!

[@darladutton2661]

A bag of charcoal in a pillowcase

[@apriljo1968]

I was given an old cedar chest. Someone put moth balls in it!!!! I can't get rid of it!

[@rixplace1374]

Moth balls

[@alexvids9232]

You could get an electronic hand sander for $15 - 20. Much better.

[@jaromejacksan6934]

Woodglut scripts contain most of the woodworking plans you can find.