Asked on Feb 09, 2016

How can I get an old cheese smell out of a 50's laminate buffet?

Mary
by Mary
I bought it in a thrift shop, it's huge and heavy with lots of shelves inside and mirrored laminate outside. When they delivered it and I opened the doors, it has an awful smell of old rotten cheese. I won't put my dishes or anything else in it, what can I do ?
  7 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Feb 09, 2016
    I woiuld wash the furniture down with white vinegar and put open boxes of baking soda to absorb the odors.
    • See 2 previous
    • Joffler Joffler on Feb 10, 2016
      I can confirm a vinegar wash works. I saw a nice little 'girl's' desk on craisglist a few years ago. It looked yellow. I agreed to buy it for $10 and when I got to the apartment to pick it up, the place smelled of stale cigarettes. When I saw the desk I realized it had been painted pastel yellow but was coated in nicotine. In fact, I think everything in the apartment was coated in nicotine, includin the gentleman's fingernails) (sorry to gross you out). I brought it home (luckily I drove a pick-up then) and washed it with white vinegar. a lot of the nicotine grime came off. I then sanded it throughout and the piece looked great but had a strong stench of cigarettes. I filled bowls with white vinegar, set the bowls on top of and under the desk as well as in the drawers and left it in the garage. A couple days later the smell was entirely gone and I was able to paint it. It turned out really nice.
  • MN Mom MN Mom on Feb 09, 2016
    Try wiping it out with liquid Lysol cleaner. Once it's dry I would put a pan of cat litter inside and close it up. You might have to do this several days in a row but I've had luck with this procedure.
  • Moxie Moxie on Feb 10, 2016
    I would put a open box of baking soda in it for a while
  • Queeniecda Queeniecda on Feb 10, 2016
    I too bought from thrift store, with some kind of indescribable smell...I ended up using instant (dry) coffee. Sprinkle in affected areas. I know this is messy, let sit for days or week-until odor gone. Throw away grounds, wipe down & you're ready. I was surprised with results!!
  • Martha Martha on Feb 10, 2016
    I purchased an old chest of drawers that had obviously been in a room with a heavy smoker for many years. I wanted to store my sewing stuff in it. I tried dryer sheets, then baking soda - they didn't work. Finally I purchased some crushed eucalyptus leaves online and they did the trick.
    • Mary Mary on Feb 10, 2016
      @Martha Did the smell of the eucalyptus remain ?
  • CK CK on Feb 10, 2016
    I found a huge wicker basket on the curb. It was a great shape (sort of like an urn) but smelled of animals (dogs, cats, etc.) and cigarette smoke. I washed it outside with bleach and hot water. Let it dry in the sun for several hours and the smell was gone. I never thought of using vinegar but I like that idea too!
    • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Feb 10, 2016
      @CK I use the vinegar all the time. It truly is the cheapest aid for the removal of odor and best of all it does not cover up odor like some products on the market.
  • Martha Martha on Feb 10, 2016
    Yes, the smell stays, but I like it.