Why do my dresser drawers smell

A few years ago, I acquired a beautiful dresser. I loved the vintage lines and hardware the minute I saw it. Once the dresser had been painted, waxed and sealed, I thought I was done. But something about the smell coming from the drawers really bothered me.

Given wood is porous, you honestly just have to trust your gut and decide if the extra work is even worth it.

That said, there are a few things you can do to try and remove smelly odors from piece of furniture that are still in relatively good shape but have been sitting a while, waiting to be refreshed! Here are 7 tips to help remove smelly odors from old dresser drawers…. As soon as I bring a piece of furniture home, I immediately get out the shop vac. I get rid of all of the cobwebs and any lose dirt, debris or flaking paint. Allow the drawers to air out in the sun. Place a small cup filled with borax or baking soda in each drawer and close the drawers.

Let the borax or baking soda absorb the odors for a few days if possible. Dryer sheets work best if the smell is tolerable and not overwhelming. After a good scrubbing, sometimes the wood inside the dresser drawers can become parched and thirsty. Feed the drawers with a wood conditioner that smells pleasant. After taking the drawers out, use an odor eliminating spray like Febreeze or safe spray of your choice, inside the body of the dresser.

Make every effort to clean these areas as well as you can then use the odor eliminating spray in a well ventilated area. You may only need to use one of these tips or as in my case with this dresser, I had to do all 7 steps. Either way, it will be worth the effort. Some pieces just steal your heart and you know they deserve a second chance.

To see all the posts sharing our painted furniture makeovers from start to finish, head to the Painted Furniture Category here. Both products will deodorize, kill the bacteria, germs, mold and mildew. Since either is an excellent choice, you can use whichever one you already have on hand.

Borax is a disinfectant, natural deodorizer anti-fungal and insect repellent. Borax is a white chalky mineral that you can find in the cleaning section of the supermarket. Because it's a mineral, wipe the drawer surfaces thoroughly after cleaning to avoid leaving a white stain or discoloration on the wood. I like using Borax for odor control in a drawer because it does not have the odor that vinegar does and it is a great disinfectant.

Borax is a mold and mildew fungicide which means it kills mold and then also controls it and stops it from returning. It's an acidic, natural deodorizer and absorbs odors by breaking down bacteria. Vinegar does not leave a residue, and the sour smell goes away as it dries. Vinegar is a mild antibacterial as well as an anti-fungal. It kills most molds and mildews and is a natural deodorizer. Vinegar will work well on musty, moldy drawers to remove the odor as well as kill the bacteria.

Some people do not like the odor of vinegar, but it will dissipate as it dries. Handy Cleaning and Disinfecting Tip: When using either of the above methods, a great way to ensure success is to do this process on a sunny day. Follow the same steps above and wipe the drawer dry. Place the drawer outside in the sun, and the air and sunlight will dry the drawer quickly, further deodorize and sterilize the drawer. After disinfecting, a deodorizer will remove any remaining odors especially moldy-mildew smells that have penetrated the wood.

Deodorizing also helps to keep the clothing and other items in the drawer smelling fresh. Borax is a great deodorizer. If there is any remaining odor after wiping down the drawer using the disinfecting method above, here's what you do:. If there is any odor left after disinfecting and the drawers can remain empty, sprinkle baking soda in the drawers and vacuum them out a few days later. If you want to keep your drawers smelling fresh and odor-free, place one new box of baking soda in each drawer.

I like to lay the box down and just poke holes in the top for ventilation. This way it does not spill when the drawer is open and closed. Over a period of several weeks any remaining odor should dissipate.

Activated charcoal is pure carbon. It absorbs odors and acts as a filter and removes impurities. Charcoal absorbs odors and impurities. Activated charcoal has been treated to have increased absorbing capabilities. Note that activated charcoal is not the same thing as charcoal briquettes.

Although regular charcoal briquettes also absorb odors, DO NOT use lighter fluid pre-treated briquettes. Place several pieces of activated charcoal in a container and set inside each empty drawer.

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