How to Rid Wood Furniture of Musty Odor
- 1). Wash your furniture with a good wood soap, preferably an oil-based formula. Use a clean rag and work into all the crevices of the wood. Remove handles if necessary in order to get underneath them. Wood soap is designed to kill bacteria, which may remove the musty smell without the need for further treatment.
- 2). Dehumidify your wood furniture. Keep it in a controlled environment with a dehumidifier running and the door closed, or set it outside in the sunlight, bringing it in at night. You may start to smell improvement in just a few days.
- 3). Strip the furniture and allow the wood to breathe. This may be as simple as sanding down a lightly-stained end table or using paint stripper to remove layers of latex paint from an upright piano. Let the stripped wood dry well before repainting or staining it.
- 4). Place a bowl of coffee grounds or crushed charcoal in the drawers of musty dressers, tables and armoires. Both are odor-absorbing substances that work to draw the musty smell out of your furniture. Replace the bowl every few days until the smell is gone.
- 5). Spritz your wood furniture with undiluted vinegar. This natural mildew fighter can help remove musty odors from your wood furniture. Wipe down your furniture after treating it with vinegar and allow it to dry in the sun.
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