Old Window Decor

This information may help:

https://salvagedinspirations.com/how-to-remove-musty-mothy-moldy-smells-from-wood-furniture/

Hi Pattie have you considered putting a clear coat of sealant on it?

One thing that I've found can help is putting an item out in the sun. It helps with fabric that smells weird, so you could give it a try for wood.

Do you mean like a Polyurethane? I'll give it a try. Thank you!

You might try a mild bleach solution to kill any mold and smell. The clear poly coating will also help.

Hello Patti,

You might be able to spray it with Febreze (usually used for soft fabrics) letting it really sink in to the wood. Good lucK! After thought - Maybe it is already too damp and needs to dry out.

Patti: I'd try putting it out in the sun for a week... and maybe spraying with vinegar, front and back, every day or two.

Wash it down with a bleach solution and let dry outside in Sun. Spray down with Lysol mold mildew killer. Let it sit out. If still strong smell lay in on a large sheet of plastic that you can wrap it in. Sprinkle it down with Kitty litter wrap it up and let it sit for at least 7 days. It should pull out all oders. Unwrap, while it down. Should be good to go.

Thank you!

You can seal the odor in the wood with shellac

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.

Put it out in the bright sun on a dry day (bring it in overnight so it doesn’t get damp). Try this a couple of days - flipping the window over. If it still smells Put in a giant plastic bag with some kitty litter inside. Tie it shut and leave it for a couple of days. The kitty litter should draw our the moisture and bad smells.

good luck!

The only things to make the wood still smell after a thorough cleaning would be mold, or mouse of cat urine that permeate the wood pores. Put in the sunshine for a day or two after washing with a good cleaner or vinegar and water.

Thank you!

Leave it outside in the sun for awhile. UV rays can kill viruses, mold, and bacteria that may be causing the odor.