Asked on Feb 22, 2014
Vintage dresser from a smoking house
by
Mabeline
+13
Next month, I am picking up a vintage dresser and plan on turning it into a buffet. I already made the deal for the piece, but just found out that the household is a heavy smoking environment. Yuck! Any suggestions on how to clear the smoke odor out of the wood furniture???
10 answers
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I have heard that if you paint with shellac it will seal in the odor. Then you can paint with whatever is your final color. Best to check at a paint store. Good luck
Judy
on Feb 22, 2014
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Try wiping it down with vineger,maybe use fabrize?
Teresa Krauterbluth
on Feb 22, 2014
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If you plan to paint or refinish it, you might give TSP a try if the vinegar doesn't work.
Katie
on Feb 23, 2014
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I would let it air out in the sun. the sun has a way of eliminating odors. do not leave out overnight to get moisture/dew on it but put outside on a sunny day each day. Also try to clean the piece since it will have residue from the cigarettes smoke on it. Then if you want to keep the piece in its original finish then get Howards Feed n Wax. this stuff is awesome. good luck cigarette smoke stinks and is very hard to get rid of so be patient it will be a process.
The Garden Frog with C Renee
on Feb 23, 2014
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If you are going to paint it - after you clean it - there are primers that address this issue, you could try one of them. Just ask at the store.
MM&D
on Feb 24, 2014
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I am fighting the same battle and it is SLOW! I will say right off, leave it somewhere not in the house while you work on it...a garage, a covered patio, etc. (I see you are in California so you probably are having better weather than the rest of us). I have used Oust (until I ran out and they don't make it any more), Febreez, vinegar, soda, washed it with soap and water, cleaned the wood with Pledge Spray, screamed, cried and generally gotten disgusted. After all of that and 3 months later, it is still stinking up my living room. (I actually sat it on an old sheet to keep the smell out of my wool rug...which I am also spraying just in case! It is a stunning cabinet in perfect shape and I love it...but am just before taking an ax to it!
Jeanette S
on Feb 24, 2014
- See 1 previous
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P.S. Remember, you have to clean ALL surfaces...inside the structure, braces, underneath, etc.
Jeanette S
on Feb 24, 2014
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Yes I always do that with every 2nd hand piece I find. Thanks for the help.
Mabeline
on Feb 24, 2014
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If you are planning to paint the piece, use Kilz. primer It will seal in the odor. You will have to use it on all surfaces, inside and out, but it will do the trick. Someone also told me to set a dish of ground coffee inside a cabinet and that would absorb odor. It worked with the "musty" smell in an old washstand; don't know if it will work on cigarette smoke, but it's worth a try. Good luck! Nothing nastier than stale cigarette smoke!
Janet Smith
on Feb 24, 2014
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If you live near a Home Depot Store they have the perfect product and it will kill that smoke odor immediately. It is called Smoke Eliminator and it works like you would not believe. It comes in a large can and it is only $5.00. Take out the drawers and then spray it all over the outside and the inside of the dresser and then do the drawers inside and out and leave it set. It will kill that odor and it will not come back. This will save you a lot of time trying to scrub it off and the smell will be gone. Good Luck to you.
Palemoon4
on Feb 25, 2014
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