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Many of you thrift-store, yard-sale junkies are like me (high-five!). You’re likely to bring home random pieces that need some TLC and love. Let’s face it, furniture can have a funny smell. This post will help you solve that problem, my friends! Here are 5 ways to get rid of that musty smell in old furniture. I know what you’re talking about: the musty, stale smell of a nursing home that often accompany beautiful antique furniture. It’s ain’t good. It won’t go away no matter how much soapy water you use or how long you spend in the sun. My mom mentioned some old-fashioned methods that can be used to get rid of that musty smell. Today I have combined her suggestions with some things that worked well for me in the past. These tips will help you no matter what level of stinkiness you are dealing with. You can trust me to take care of all levels of stink. Let’s get on with it!
Dryer sheets
This tip is the easiest and most effective. It works best if your problem smell is around a four-tenth of a yuckiness scale. Although it won’t completely mask the smell, it will at least make it less noticeable. Line an old dresser with dryer sheets, or find a way for a few vintage trunks to store them in. This little trick is great for many unpleasant smells.
Baking Soda and Carpet Powder
This one is suitable for milder to moderate odors. Put some good-old-fashioned baking soda in a bowl, and then place it in your furniture. You will need more baking soda if the piece is larger. If you are working on a dresser, you will need to have a bowl in every drawer. You can leave it open for up to a week. If you have a serious smell, it may take up to two weeks. Baking soda will absorb the smell like magic. Another option is to use one of the odor-eliminating carpet powders such as this one. It can be used in exactly the same way as baking soda.
Vinegar & Water Solution
This old trick works great for funky smells. It’s best to use white vinegar, but you can also try apple cider vinegar if you don’t have it. Mix water and vinegar in a 1:1 ratio. Then wipe down the furniture and let it air dry. You can also use the solution to spray down furniture. This stuff works. Vinegar works well as a natural cleaner.
Murphy’s Oil Soap
Murphy Oil Soap Wood Cleaner – Have you ever heard? This stuff is amazing and can be used to clean wood and remove unpleasant odors. It’s easy to use, just pour the mixture on a damp cloth and rub it down. It’s easy to use and really works.
Use a powerful primer to paint
This one is best for strong odors that won’t go away. It had that musty smell when I purchased it from Salvation Army last summer. It smelled terrible. It was a horrible smell. I used the KILZ Multi-Surface Primer to paint it. It sealed the furniture and gave me a new canvas to work from. Primer is a great primer to try if you are willing to paint furniture even the interior. If your furniture is prone to a bad odor, this primer can be used. It worked great for me!
These are my top five tips for getting rid of musty odors from old furniture. It’s not the most exciting topic, but it is something that comes with owning a lot vintage furniture. You have to deal with it! This post is a resounding success. This list is especially useful now that yard sale season has officially begun. I would love to know your tricks. I’m sure you have great wisdom and ideas, so don’t be afraid to share them with me. It would be a pleasure to hear your thoughts!
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