Asked on Nov 23, 2016

Turpentine odour

Kar2279993
by Kar2279993
I have used turpentine to kill bora in a set of drawers. I aired them in fresh air for 3 days . 3 coats of chalk paint, followed by 3 coats of cabots varnish to seal drawers. But I can still smell a strong turpentine smell from them, I did varnish all the inside too , any suggestions anyone please?
  7 answers
  • Sandra Lawton Sandra Lawton on Nov 24, 2016

    cut some onions in 2 & place pieces thruout the areas inside cabinet & leave for a few days - then throw them away .....they will absorb any other smells & germs too ....

  • Steve Boccalatte Steve Boccalatte on Nov 24, 2016

    Sunshine is the way, open them up and let the sun do the work 48 hours is enough.

  • John Biermacher John Biermacher on Nov 24, 2016

    I am guessing you put the varnish/other coatings over the turpentine before it was completly evaporated to now it is trapped below the upper layers. The fact you can smell it means it is slowly making its way out and will eventually dissipate/disappear. Don't know where you live but you can speed up the process by warming it up- try placing the dresser in the hot sun. If you are in cooler weather, try placing a light bulb (trouble light) into the drawers to warm things up.

    • See 2 previous
    • John Biermacher John Biermacher on Nov 27, 2016

      Hope the odor clears. I failed to mention that the project came out really nice.

  • Savfam Savfam on Nov 25, 2016

    I don't know if this will work for your problem, but it does get rid of musty smells so it might be worth a try: Fill disposable aluminum trays with charcoal briquettes (yes, the bbq kind but not the easy starter ones) and place it inside with the doors closed. Leave until the odor is gone. You can use them for your next cookout after.

    • Isobel Isobel on Nov 26, 2016

      I would recommend putting about half-a-cup of Chlorine powder [for the swimming pool, that is] in each drawer for a couple of days. If nothing else worked this far, this might do it. We had the nasty smell of a bottle of milk spilled on our car mats that went bad, and somebody gave us this advice - it worked like a charm!!

  • DB DB on Nov 26, 2016

    What is Bora?

  • Gue12113441 Gue12113441 on Nov 27, 2016

    I don't know if this will work, but I have used vinegar to get rid of smells to great success, by pouring some into a container and leaving where you have the smell. Very cute piece, by the way.


    • Maudyfish Maudyfish on Nov 28, 2016

      Make sure you get a professional who knows his chemistry before mixing vinegar fumes with turpentine fumes.

  • Suellen Hintz Suellen Hintz on Nov 28, 2016

    There are several things to try but you'll probably have to do them multiple times before the odor is gone. Put cat litter in containers and put them in the drawers. Use the kind with baking soda. Use the same containers and put charcoal (the kind used in grills). You can wad newspaper up and stuff the drawers. Leave any of these in the drawers for a few days, then throw the smelly stuff away, putting fresh in. Baking soda to remove odors also. If you can tell one works better, just use that method until enough odor is removed. You can also just put it in your garage, with the drawers open, for a length of time until the smell goes away.