Removing smell from wood

Annie Duncan
by Annie Duncan
I just bought a wood and stone sofa table from a thrift shop, and it smells terrible. Any suggestions for how to get rid of the smell?
  9 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Oct 05, 2015
    Put a ox of baking soda inside and a bowl of white vinegar this will help absorb some of the odor
  • Gill Moreton Gill Moreton on Oct 05, 2015
    I'd wash it with vinegar then rinse and dry. You could sprinkle baking soda on the stone and leave for a while. Then wipe off. If that doesn't work, maybe wash with bleach solution ? Good luck!
  • set it outside in the sun is another alternative
  • Sheila Sheila on Oct 05, 2015
    For the wood parts (not the stone) lightly sand with 320 grit, clean off with vinegar and water mixture and then lightly spray with shellac all over including bottom, back etc.
  • Jonnie Hammon Jonnie Hammon on Oct 06, 2015
    I would use a lemon oil, and vinegar mix to scrub it down, on the underneath side as well. Then rub it down with an aromatic oil, as is used in aroma therapy. I would go with eucalyptus oil. The scent is not male, or female, and the smell is a great stress reliever.
  • Sarita Sarita on Oct 06, 2015
    I bought a sewing machine table from Craigslist that reeked of smoke and tobacco. I washed it several times with white vinegar, and at one point, I remember I made a "scrub" with baking soda and the vinegar. This helped. It no longer stinks up my room. So the vinegar will initially take care of the worst of it, and just a couple of more wipe downs with anything else you decide (baking soda, lemon, aromatic oil), should do the trick. It didn't work after just one time. It took me about three times.
  • Sarah Burnell Sarah Burnell on Oct 06, 2015
    I wish I'd seen these responses before I chucked an old chest. I tried all sorts of things (even putting coffee beans in it - apparently, they absorb bad smells) before declaring it dunso.
  • Karen Karen on Oct 06, 2015
    Even though I checked a linen storage piece the store for odors, when I got it home, yuck. I tried vinegar, Febreeze, charcoal pellets, baking soda, the sun .... nothing worked. I finally placed small dishes in each space and drawer, containing cotton balls soaked in an essential oil mix of clove, lemon, eucalyptus, and tea tree. That finally overcame the stale perfume odor, and I refresh as needed --- which isn't very often.
  • Annie Duncan Annie Duncan on Oct 06, 2015
    Thanks to all who responded with your helpful tips! Annie Duncan