How do I get an odor ?

Here are 5 ways to remove the musty odor:

https://sarahjoyblog.com/5-ways-remove-musty-smell-old-furniture/

Start by putting it out in the sun, add bowls of cat litter to the drawers and close them for a few days, add bowls of vinegar and close the drawers for a few days. Other options are vinegar or coffee grounds.

How about an odour absorber like this

Make Your Own Odor Absorber / Air Freshener | Hometalk

Hi Victoria, odors can be absorbed by baking soda or charcoal. I've used charcoal briquettes used for barbequing in the past with great results. Just place either product in a n open container in the drawers of your dresser. Change out for fresh product once in a while. The vinegar mentioned earlier is also a great start.

Victoria

Here is some info I found

https://sarahjoyblog.com/5-ways-remove-musty-smell-old-furniture/#:~:text=Vinegar%20%26%20Water%20Solution&text=Just%20mix%20water%20and%20vinegar,This%20stuff%20definitely%20works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP9tcEyq6Js

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsI_9dnBSmY

Crumple up newspaper and fill the drawers loosely but full. Leave it a bout a week. The smell will still be there when you open the drawers...but not after you remove the newspaper! The smell goes in the trash bag with the paper.

Wipe it down completely with bleach water damp cloth or spay it on and wipe off. put coffee beans in a bowl in the drawers and then put some drys air which is used in campers to extract moisture.

If all else fails you can seal the odor in

How to Eliminate Odors in Wood

Your best hope for sealing in any odors is shellac. It makes an excellent barrier coat over all wood species, and it sticks to almost anything. Zinsser makes a great product for this purpose, called Bullseye SealCoat. It’s a clear dewaxed shellac that you can apply to those drawer interiors easily with a brush. It dries quickly and should help to diminish mice, mildew, musty, smoke, urine smell. And since it doesn’t contain wax, you can apply other finishes like lacquer or varnish over it — they’ll stick just fine. SealCoat is also handy to have around the shop as a general purpose wood finish and sanding sealer. So, I’m sure you’ll find other uses for what’s left of the quart you buy.

Perhaps this information will help:

https://sarahjoyblog.com/5-ways-remove-musty-smell-old-furniture/#:~:text=Just%20mix%20water%20and%20vinegar,whichever%20your%20little%20heart%20desires.

Also, I agree, putting it outside on sunny days will work wonders!

Bacteria and germs can permeate porous wood causing awful “old-smell” odors. To eliminate the smell, kill the bacteria and germs by cleaning the inside of the drawers and all surfaces with a sponge dampened with vinegar, Murphy's Oil Wood Soap or any Anti-Fungal Detergents. Then let dry in a well ventilated area.

I had a chest that was old and had a musty smell. Here's a post I wrote about it https://chascrazycreations.com/how-to-get-rid-of-odors-around-your-home/

Please consider popping by this bloggers website for her wonderful furniture rehabs. She details useful repair products, techniques and has a nice result. Many of her furniture items are from the thrift store or furniture pieces donated to her. She also has tips for removing furniture odors and how to treat the interior drawers.

I believe she is is a product called boss for musty odor‘s and I think she has used vodka also to reduce odors in old furniture.

including a link below of all of her projects and a gallery fashion.

Best wishes with your furniture rehab.

https://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/diy-gallery/

Hi! When I redid my antique trunk, I sanded it inside, scrubbed it, air dried it in the sun, and then sealed all the wood with a clear drying sealer. It's been years, and it's still fresh and clean smelling. Stay safe!

Dampen newspaper slightly and let sit for a week inside the old dresser. You can purchase newsprint paper at craft stores.

Clean with odoban. You can place activated charcoal as an odor absorber.

Hello Victoria,

Maybe you could Wash it out and then sprinkle "Shake & Vac" inside and leave for a day or two for it to freshen it up. Good luck!

I use this stuff for my 200 year old dresser and it really worked I have no smell. But it took repeated times and after a month the smell is gone.

Clean with odoban. Home Depot, and Costco sell it. Then crumble up newspaper and put some charcoal briquettes with baking soda in the draws. Leave it outside in the sun for several days. The odor should be gone. Then seal it with a good wood sealer

You could try a small bowl of vinegar in the dresser. Also just take all the drawers out and just let it air out.

Hi Victoria, hope these help you out,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP9tcEyq6Js

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VlavI7XP10