How to get gross smells out of old furniture

Actually, the better title might be, "How do you get the 'dead' smell out of furniture?

But don't call the cops on me; this question came from the cops, a CSI friend of mine.

She wrote: "You can imagine that crime scene investigators like me get interesting questions. However, tonight's, though forensically sound, is more appropriate for my Atta Girls. Neighbor: "How do you get the smell of 'dead' out of furniture?" Seems a 78-year-old, sentimental chest of drawers in her garage became home to a decaying critter without her immediate knowledge. She's tried Fabreeze and bleach, which not only didn't work, but also warped a thin, wood packing crate her father used to craft the piece. Any suggestions?"

I gave my pal some suggestions for getting the stench out of old furniture and thrift store finds, which you can read on my blog, Atta Girl Says. But I also wanted to post the query here at Hometalk.

What are your solutions for removing gross from furniture? #Bestof2012 #springcleaning

To see more: http://www.attagirlsays.com/2012/09/06/how-to-get-gross-smells-out-of-old-furniture/

75 Comments Displaying 25 of 75 comments | See Previous

Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

Do not drink, or very little. I fly airplanes as a hobby and never know when I have a chance to get into the air. And DUI for aircraft flying can ruin your day pretty fast.

on Sep 08, 2012 · Like 3
Sharron W Memphis, TN

@WE It's not the long fall....it's the abrupt stop....Fly careful.....LOL

on Sep 09, 2012 · Like 2
Atta Girl Amy Greensboro, NC

Lots of great comments here. Thanks for all the tips. I'm definitely sharing these with my friend, her neighbor and the readers of my blog! The Hometalk community rocks!

on Sep 09, 2012 · Like 1
Atta Girl Amy Greensboro, NC

I am also going to suggest some of these tips to my next door neighbors. They have a new baby, and last night, I opened up the trash can where they toss his dirty diapers. Toxic waste dump! Stinky city. But he's awfully cute, so I think they'll be keeping him. :)

on Sep 09, 2012 · Like 2
Sharron W Memphis, TN

Yeah, I don't recommend the diaper genie...talk about never breaking down in a landfill!

on Sep 09, 2012 · Like 0
MARY T Fountain, CO

Thank you for the suggestions. I usually go to baking soda for things, but at least I have more options, especially where the drawers and such are concerned.

on Sep 09, 2012 · Like 1
Carroll A Coos Bay, OR

Sorry you can't get that new baby smell out until they are about 3. No matter how hard you try.

on Sep 10, 2012 · Like 2
Tee Lynden, WA

Maybe this is too late but when I worked in fire restoration services for items that couldn't be cleaned conventionally, we used an ozone room. Perhaps a subcontract with a local restoration company can be arranged. Anyone who's ever had even a small fire knows that you can't get smoke smell out without professionals on your side...secondly, I would try using a pet stain carpet treatment. They are based on the premise of using active enzymes to break down the actual 'matter' that is ...»
'turning.'from Tyla @ www.obscurecreationsbytyla.blogspot.com

on Jan 20, 2013 · Like 1
Jeanette S Atlanta, GA

My "baby" just turned 50 on Jan. 1 so all of you know I raised infants (diapers days) before those things they use now. I have absolutely no praise for the cloth diapers and I think the throw-aways are wonderful...but, we did not let our kids stay in diapers for 3-4 years like today. At 2, they better have been trained or no diaper would hold the load. (And there were rumors a couple people had been killed by having stood too close to a diaper change...no proof was ever found, but I ...»
believed it!) With my gag factor being almost over sernsitive, once the kid started eating at the table like the rest of us, they started using a "potty" like the rest of us. And there is something to be said about processing diapers on a regular basis to keep down odor! A washing machine can do a small load and get that smell out of the house!

on Jan 21, 2013 · Like 1
Sherry R Lubbock, TX

I just got a tip about using Oxi-Clean on my carpet to remove pet ordor and it did a
super job. Try mixing warm water and Oxi. Mix pretty strong, scrub and pat dry.
I think Oxi-Clean is great stuff, plus the smell is very clean. Worth at try !!

on Jan 27, 2013 · Like 0
Atta Girl Amy Greensboro, NC

Great tip, Sherry R . Unfortunately, I have an older dog and sometimes have a need to remove pet stains and odors.

on Jan 27, 2013 · Like 0
Atta Girl Amy Greensboro, NC

@Jeanette S, I believe it that the smell from a diaper bin could kill someone. And you are so right. life is so much easier when they are potty trained. I don't miss diapers at all.

on Jan 27, 2013 · Like 1
Sherry R Lubbock, TX

Atta Girl- don't be afraid to use a strong mix. It actually brighten my carpet
Not bleached or anything, just brighten. Love it, will use again.

on Jan 27, 2013 · Like 0
Jeanette S Atlanta, GA

Unfortunately when pet urine soaks all the way down to the subfloor after years of having pets, the carpet has to come up! That is why I don't care for carpet with pets. We put down laminate and love it. But whatever you do, either cut out and replace the soaked subflooring or seal it...or the odor will return. By the way, our rescue 10 month old black lab that adopted us in 2007 has never had an accident in the house! I don't know who had her before us, but they did a fantastic job in ...»
teaching her manners! She was someone's most beloved pet! And she has been a blessing in our home!

on Jan 28, 2013 · Like 1
Vicki Binger-Gowen Belleville, IL

All of your comments are wonderful & the humor that you bring to the conversation is delightful!! If we could all meet in a "geograhically centered" area for "tea & crumpets", the resulting tape of the round table discussion would be an instant hit on the comedy tour!!
@Jeanette S: I agree about the cloth diapers issue...at 60, and having raised 3 boys that were all allergic to those earlier versions of disposable diapers, I do NOT EVER want that smell in the ...»
house again! Alas, I have 9 grandchildren, so it has been known to grace my home on occasion! Solution now: Send them and the dirty diapers home with the parents!
Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com: Don't consume the Vodka, it raises heck with the depth perception in the air...had a pilot pal that took out a shed at the end of a runway that way, though he swears he never consumed before flying!

I recently had a "boarder" that was evicted from our home... now I am left with re-habbing the room, and the hallway and the stairwell leading to the room... well, I have all the wall prep and painting and caulking and wood repaired, now I must tackle the carpeting. They had bags of garbage over-flowing in a couple corners and growing.. it looks like nail polish and polish removers in one or more spots... coffee stains or rust stains, not sure which... candle wax, cigerette ash and butts (even though I have a "non-smoking" house rule!), spilled cheap perfumes...a longer list of stains and smells than I can envision.

So, the question is: will that black light suggestion help to identify more than just pet stains? Baking soda and bowls of charcoal left in the room have helped with most of the first bunch of odors, but they probably will return when I hit the carpet with a carpet cleaner! I will definitely try the Oxi-clean solution as Sherry R. suggests... but any other suggestions would be a plus!!

on Jan 28, 2013 · Like 3
Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

The black light will react to the salts that are in urine. Not sure about much else. I know some mold does glow pretty bright when exposed.
Ideally if you can get your hands on a true Ozone generator. Some are pretty low cost when you look on the internet. I have a more advanced type that cost several thousand dollars. Ozone is not to be played with, but properly applied it can destroy all sorts of odors and remove all sorts of ...»
pests. And one great thing it gets into walls and cavities that regular cleaning cannot do.

on Jan 28, 2013 · Like 2
N C Marshfield, MA

ODORMUTE!!! Buy it online. It is the very best odor remover. Skunk, old attic, musty, pet, urine, anything and everything. I got this when my dog chased a skunk and met the business end of his new found friend. I tried everything , even the peroxide,baking soda and Dawn recipe, which is great to use after, to remove dirt, grease etc.
It is an enzyme powder you mix with warm water. Depending on the strength of the odor, you can ...»
mix more powder . Spray, pour, saturate the liquid on the offending item. Let it dry. Odor should be gone. I have had great results with this.

on Jan 29, 2013 · Like 2
Atta Girl Amy Greensboro, NC

Thanks for the tip. A friend just said her cat peed on her boots and all the usual remedies didn't get the smell out. Wonder if Odormute would be safe for leather books, N C

on Jan 31, 2013 · Like 0
Atta Girl Amy Greensboro, NC

That should have been "leather boots."

on Jan 31, 2013 · Like 0
Sharron W Memphis, TN

Atta Girl Amy I don't know if odormute is safe for leather boots, or the stuff they sell at SAM's called Odor OUT, but my thoughts are...she can't wear them the way they are so she really has nothing to lose by trying...and after she's sure it IS out...tell her to polish them with mink oil water proofing, cream shoe polish. That way any further "accidents" can be cleaned off more readily...

on Feb 01, 2013 · Like 0
Sheri Mounds, OK

I purchased my first home all by myself in 1998. An elderly lady had lived alone in the house for years. Unfortunately I forgot & learned a valuable lesson to open every cabinet in the house. One of the bathroom cabinets which was a cloths hamper. After purchasing it & getting ready to move everything into it, I opened that hamper closet. I have never smelled a more consentrated urine odor. Any way, after using all the type of oder removers that I find in Walmart, etc. I came across a post ...»
on the internet that said simply to place a bowl of vinegar in the cabinet & shut it up for awhile. I was never a vinegar fan until then. The smell never returned.

on Feb 20, 2013 · Like 3
N C Marshfield, MA

yes, you can use on leather, but after use, need to recondition the leather ie: leather cleaner, or conditioner.hope she tried it.

on Feb 28, 2013 · Like 0
At The Picket Fence Florence, KY

You are so awesome Amy! Love this! ~Vanessa

on Apr 03, 2013 · Like 0
Corrina Guymon Ossmen Rigby, ID

lemon oil, worked on a old leather recliner after someone borrowed it tha smoked. also on old dressers.

on Apr 05, 2013 · Like 0
Tammy@Deja Vue Designs Amherst, TX

I've used cat little inside old musty things before...haven't tried it for dead smells though. Good luck. Let everyone know how you do it!

on May 30, 2013 · Like 0