Cleaning smelly, smokey furniture
by
Patti
+16
Hello I purchased a set of 1940s furniture as shown below and unfortunately it's stinks of smoke and an old smell. I'm currently trying vinegar and bleach to get rid of the smell but it is really permeated through the wood. I plan on painting this already painted set. I would love to have your suggestions about how to get rid of smells, if possible. Has anyone had any success with any methods?
One of the pieces from the 1940's smelly bedroom set.
18 answers
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My go to is always baking soda.
Janet Pizaro
on Aug 21, 2016
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Try Dawn Dish Soap first. I also keep TSP to clean really dirty stinky furniture. If it stinks or is greasy I use it. I rinse but a lot of people don't rinse it. I also think after you paint it it will kill the smell. I always try dawn first because it's cheaper. A lot of times when you clean it off you can see the smoke stain and just removing it helps. : )
Sherrie
on Aug 21, 2016
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http://homeguides.sfgate.com/remove-smoke-sme..., http://www.woodmenders.com/removing-smoke-sme..., Finally, once you have most of the odor out, seal everything with Spar varnish.
William
on Aug 21, 2016
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Charcoal briquettes worked for an old dresser that I inherited. Just place them inside the door, or, in my case, drawers, and leave them there for about 24 hours. It worked for me. Just a little messy, but smell is gone.
Janice Heinzle
on Aug 21, 2016
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I second the charcoal, works every time.
Dande,OR
on Aug 21, 2016
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I used Cascade on my grandmothers things that were in a house fire. Creosote from burning pine etc. it seemed to work wonders but try inside a drawer first.
Elizabeth
on Aug 21, 2016
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after our house fire we used vinegar apple cider seem to work best also we found that dollar tree sells a product call awesome for just a dollar a quart that did wonders too
Patricia wieck
on Aug 22, 2016
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Charcoal inside, and a furniture man told me to wipe with a very damp rag of ammonia water. It worked for me when my father-in-law lived with us. He was a very heavy smoker.
Martha Farlow Lewis
on Aug 22, 2016
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Dry ground coffee left inside the drawers. We used this in our car after our male cat got locked in overnight.
Barbara Bills Pabst
on Aug 23, 2016
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Put a coat of Zinsser's Shalac before painting. It seals in odor.
Cindy
on Aug 23, 2016
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Thank you, I've tried vinegar and baking soda thus far, but it hasn't helped. I failed to mention that the smell is from heavy cigarette smoke/nicotine.
Patti
on Aug 23, 2016
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I will be starting with the dawn and also trying the shellac.
Patti
on Aug 23, 2016
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Also open it up and leave in the sun on a breezy day after spraying down with vinegar (super strength) Personally I would saturate it with vinegar inside amd let it dry then seal in a large bag with activated charcoal... Space bag maybe! maybe you could try
Elizabeth
on Aug 23, 2016
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You need to remove the source of the smell and cigarettes leaves a yellow film remove that the you can stuff charcoal I believe they use a deactivated charcoal like the kind you use for a fish tank. Honestly cleaning it should do the trick. My father smoked when he passed away I cleaned his house repainted the walls and got rid of the smell. I did have to have the rugs cleaned twice to get the smell out. But if your painting this it will kill the smell any ways. I always clean the piece before I paint so you will remove the source of the smell then.
Sherrie
on Aug 25, 2016
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Thanks everyone. It's been quite a process instill working on the dressers, and some still have a cigarette smell in the interiors and backs. I've used dawn, peroxide, bleach and sunlight. I also added vanilla and peppermint to some of the paint. Might be using ammonia next on the dresser that I am currently working on. Next time, I will do the "sniff test" before purchasing furniture.
Patti
on Aug 29, 2016
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My husband's grandma passed away and we were able to pick a piece of furniture. I picked this lovely kidney shaped antique ladies desk with a marble top. However... it reeked of 50 years of cigarette smoke. I cleaned the whole thing inside and out thoroughly with a strong cleaner like Lysol spray. Then I took it outside in the sun with the drawers removed. I placed the desk and the drawers out in the sunshine. That sunshine did wonders. After the day outside, I brought it in and did not smell the smoke anymore.
Leah Ladner Parks
on Aug 31, 2016
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Do the best cleaning you can, thoroughly sun-dry, then prime every wooden surface on it with Kilz (inside and out, top to bottom, front to back). That will seal the wood and any residual smell left in it.
Ag Castor
on Aug 31, 2016
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charcoal
Nancy Mangano
on Oct 01, 2016
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