How do I get rid of smoke smell from wood buffet?

EmeryLou
by EmeryLou

I bought an old wood buffet that was stored in someones garage. It is very smokey smelling. I washed it with soap and water then wiped it down with a water/vinegar mixture. It still smells. Any suggestions? Thanks!

  6 answers
  • Bijous Bijous on Aug 16, 2018

    Hi. Use a sealer: either wax or liquid such as lacquer or polyurethane. That will stop the smell. Good luck.

  • Barb Malloy Barb Malloy on Aug 16, 2018

    To remove the smell of cigarette smoke without leaving behind another odor, place open boxes or shallow bowls of natural baking soda inside closed drawers and cabinet doors. Allow the baking soda to work for several days to absorb the smell of cigarette smoke before removing.

  • EmeryLou EmeryLou on Aug 16, 2018

    I plan to restain or paint it and wasn't sure if that would help get rid of the smoke too. Thanks for your response!

  • Michelle Michelle on Aug 17, 2018

    use charcoal for a few days then seal with shellac or varnish before redoing your buffet

  • Melanie Melanie on Aug 17, 2018

    Air sponges for smoke. You can buy them at home improvement stores and some dollar stores. They come in a small plastic container. Place in your cabinet for a few days. These work great.

  • William William on Aug 19, 2018

    If you can't get the odor out you can seal it 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.