Paula said, “I have a problem with every closet in my apartment with the wood shelves they smell awful, and they all smell the same, what can I do to get rid of the smell, and it’s not mold or mildew?”
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Although 
we tend to think of wood as being solid and sturdy, it is actually a porous material that can absorb odors or bacteria. Giving it a thorough cleaning may be enough to remove these odors, but there are some other ways to deodorize wood as well. Follow the steps below to remove the smell.
Removing the Odor
You Will Need:
- Dish liquid
- Water
- A cloth
- White Vinegar
- A spray bottle
- Hydrogen peroxide
- A bowl
- Coffee grounds
- Baking soda
- Dustpan and brush
- A vacuum
Steps to Remove the Odor:
- To generally clean the surface, use dish liquid. Dip a cloth in soapy water, wring it out so that it’s not dripping, and wipe the surface of the wood clean. Wipe the area with a damp cloth with only water on it to rinse, then pat the wood dry with a dry cloth. To save time, combine steps 1 and 2 by adding mixing some white vinegar into the soapy water.
- Combine 1 part white vinegar with 4 parts water. Put the solution in a spray bottle, spray it onto the wood, then wipe the spray over the surface with a cloth. Wipe the area with a damp cloth that has only water on it to rinse. Pat the wood dry afterward.
- Another way to disinfect the wood is to use 3% hydrogen peroxide. Pour it into a spray bottle, spray it onto the wood, then wipe the spray over the surface with a cloth. Wipe the area with a damp cloth with only water on it to rinse, then pat the wood dry with a dry cloth.¹
- After cleaning the wood, leave the closet door open for as long as needed to allow the wood to air dry completely, as well as to help it air out any remaining odors.
- If any odor remains once the wood is dry, leave a bowl filled with either white vinegar or coffee grounds near the wood or on one of the shelves overnight with the closet door closed. Keep in mind that although the coffee grounds will remove the odor, they will deposit a coffee odor in its place, whereas the vinegar smell will go away. Repeat this process as many times as needed for the odor to be completely removed.¹
- Another option for deodorizing the wood is to sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over it. Let the baking soda sit overnight, then sweep it off or vacuum it up. Repeat this process as many times as needed for the odor to be completely removed.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Always test a cleaning solution on a small, hidden area of a surface first to ensure it is safe for that specific surface.
- It is important to dry wood quickly. Do not allow moisture to sit on the wood without patting it dry, as water can cause the wood to crack or warp.
- Some odors are obvious like cigarette smoke or mildew. For those, see the article How to Remove Cigarette Smell from Wooden Furniture or How to Remove Mildew Smell from Wood Doors.
- If the wood is made of particle board or plywood, which cabinets and furniture may be, the wood probably has had pesticides applied to it and it likely contains glue that is made with formaldehyde. If the smell won’t go away, it’s possible that this is the cause, which would mean replacing the wood completely. You may be able to control the odor by keeping a deodorizer, such as a bowl of baking soda, near the wood at all times and replacing the baking soda regularly.¹
Sources
- Super Natural Home by Beth Greer
How to remove the odor of wood stain from a piece of shelving?
Patti,
Any of these methods could work. If the shelf is large, it may be easiest to use one of the powder methods (just sprinkle it on, let it sit, then vacuum it up). If one method doesnt work, you can guve it another try or try something else. Good luck!
I have small crystal particles that blew in all my new dresser drawers because my husband had our electric heater facing my dresser. I’m allergic to whatever it is after trying to wear a shirt. Any help is appreciated.
Deborah,
Allergies are often (possibly always) caused by proteins, which are organic, so you can try cleaning the dresser with an enzyme cleaner as they eat organic proteins. Nature’s Miracle Hard Floor Cleaner is an enzyme cleaner that is specifically made for use on wood and other hard floors so that might be a good choice. It can often be found at major petstores and some supermarkets. There are also enzyme detergents you can use for the clothing, such as Biz. If the particles are in all of the drawers and the space heater is old whereas the dresser is a new item, it’s likely that the particles originated in the dresser rather than getting blow into it. Point being, cleaning out the drawers may not be enough – if the crystal particles you are describing are something you can see, then cleaning may be enough, but if they are a sensation (you feel like there are small crystal particles making you itch), then it could be that you are allergic to the type of wood used in the dresser or perhaps a finish used on the wood if there is one. Even if you can see the particles, they may actually be wood dust from construction of the dresser (again meaning an allergy to the dresser and therefore meaning you should return it). Good luck!
Source: American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology – Food Allergy
Source: American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology – Skin allergy
Source: Nature – Nickel allergy tracked to a single receptor
I have a chest of drawers that was my MIL’s; she used large amounts of body powder everyday for at least the last 20 years. That combined with being sealed up in the house for the last 10 years has made the chest smell like the body powder. It has be airing out for the last 5 weeks outside on the carport, we have washed with a 1:3 vinegar/water solution, and have tried some odor absorption packets from Home Depot. I don’t want to paint the chest. Any ideas on what else to try?
Thanks,
Mary
Mary,
Wood is extremely porous, and baby powder is extremely fine, which means that the powder is likely deep within the wood. Here are some ideas.
1) You could try more washings with the vinegar water to flush out the powder. However, work in small sections at a time and immediately dry off each area after washing to protect the wood from water damage.
2) Another option that might work is Nature’s Miracle Hard Floor Cleaner; it’s an enzyme cleaner and the talc in baby powder is an organic mineral, so the enzymes might work to eat it up. It’s available at most major pet stores and some supermarkets. Follow the instructions on the label.
3) Otherwise, coffee grounds may work, but they will replace the baby powder smell with a coffee smell, which is why I’m suggesting coffee as opposed to plain deodorizers like baking soda or activated charcoal. Sprinkle the grounds over the top, around the base and into some of the drawers, then cover the chest with a tarp. It doesn’t have to be tightly sealed, just enough to generally prevent the grounds from blowing away and hold in the odor. Leave the grounds in place overnight, then brush them off and repeat if needed.
4) You can also put sachets in the drawers to try replacing the baby powder odor with a more pleasant one.
5) As an alternative to painting, you could just refinish it and if you want, stain it. Refinishing might lock in the odor.
Good luck!
Just bought a second-hand dining table. It has an over-powering scent that is quite fragrant. After a few days, it has become annoying and quite a turn off. Someone has applied an oil or wax finish on the surface that needs to be removed. I don’t recognize the odour, because I am not familiar with such products such as tung oil, or Olde English or Murphy’s Oil, so could be one of those. All I know is I want the smell gone. What should I do? The wood is pecan and has the fake “distressed” look.
Rudi,
This is the guide you need: How to Remove Furniture Polish from Wood. If there is still a smell after removing the furniture polish, try the methods here for deodorizing wood. Good luck!