While wood is, perhaps, the most popular material choice for furniture, it’s important to know how to take care of it if you want your furniture to last for a long time. It’s very common for cabinets, drawers, dressers, and other furniture to develop a musty, unpleasant smell. So, how do you get the musty smell to go away?
There are various ways you can remove the musty smell from wood furniture. This includes cleaning the surface with vinegar, letting the sunlight and natural air draw out the smell, using a scent absorber like activated charcoal, or, in the worst-case scenario, sanding and refinishing the wood.
Let’s take a closer look at the various ways to get the musty smell out of wood. We’ll also look at what causes the musty smell in the first place.
How to Remove the Musty Smell From Wood Furniture
There are a few different ways to remove the musty smell from wood furniture. The best method depends on the tools you have on hand and the kind of furniture (for example, you might be dealing with dressers, cabinets, drawers, or something else entirely).
1. Clean the Surface With Vinegar
The first way to remove a musty smell from wood furniture is to clean the surface with equal parts water and white vinegar (which you can buy on Amazon). Often, the musty smell is just on the surface and hasn’t sunk in, so this natural solution can remove it.
Vinegar is also gentle on surfaces, so pieces of furniture like cabinets or dressers with delicate finishings can handle this method.
2. Air Out the Drawers
If the musty smell is in the drawers of a piece of furniture, it might be necessary to take the piece apart and air it out. Take the drawers out one by one and leave them in a space where they’ll get plenty of air for a few days to see if that solves the problem.
3. Use Activated Charcoal
Another great method for enclosed spaces like drawers or cabinets is to use activated charcoal (on Amazon). You can place the charcoal inside furniture to absorb the unpleasant musty smell.
4. Essential Oils
Essential oils (on Amazon) are another great way to absorb the smell if it hasn’t sunk in too deep. They come in a variety of different scents, from lemon to lavender to vanilla, so you can choose the essential oil that fits your personal taste.
5. Bleach and Vodka
If you’re having trouble with more natural methods, you can mix bleach and vodka in a spray bottle and mist it over the cabinet, dresser, or other piece of furniture, and then leave it to dry. You should, however, never scrub bleach into the furniture as this can cause real issues and damage the furniture beyond repair.
6. Sand the Wood
Sometimes, none of the above methods works because the affected layers of the wood have started to develop mildew, and this is where the musty smell is coming from. In this case, you may need to use sandpaper to sand down the wood gently and refinish it until the musty smell is gone.
To do this, you should follow these steps:
- Make sure you have the appropriate safety equipment, like gloves and glasses.
- Prepare the area by laying down drop cloths or newspaper to protect the floor. Remove any hardware or fixtures from the furniture.
- Sand the surface: Start with coarse-grit sandpaper — 80 to 100 grit (on Amazon) — and sand the entire surface of the furniture. Work with the grain of the wood, sanding in long, even strokes.
Once the surface is smooth, switch to finer-grit sandpaper — 120 to 150 grit (also on Amazon) — and sand the entire surface again. - Use a clean microfiber cloth to remove any dust or debris from the sanding process. You should just dust the cloth across the surface, and shouldn’t have to put anything on it.
- If the wood is prone to splotches or discoloration, apply a wood conditioner (on Amazon) to help even out the stain and how well it’s absorbing.
- Choose a stain that matches the existing color of the furniture or a new color of your choice. Use a brush or rag to apply the stain, working with the grain of the wood. Let the stain go through the wood for the recommended time, then wipe off any excess with a clean cloth.
- After the stain has dried, apply a clear finish to protect the wood and enhance its appearance. There are various options, such as polyurethane or shellac. Apply the finish in thin, even coats, using a brush or rag. Let each coat dry thoroughly before applying the next one.
- Once the finish is dry, reattach any hardware or fixtures that were removed from the furniture.
7. Natural Sunlight
Lastly, one of the best remedies for a musty smell in wood is simple sunlight. Take the furniture apart if there are drawers or just open it up as much as you can and leave it in the sunlight for as long as possible. You might be surprised at how effective this can be.
Does Musty Smell Always Mean Mold?
Although many people associate that familiar musty smell with mold, this isn’t always the case. Bacteria can form that isn’t yet mold (or isn’t the kind of bacteria that leads to mold), and it can create the same musty smell. This often happens in houses where there isn’t great air flow or there’s a lot of humidity, so being careful about furniture placement can help the issue sometimes.