Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer General Forum Getting the smoke smell out of wooden furniture

MrsGomer's grandmother passed earlier this week. We brought home an old, solid wood chest/cabinet that has sentimental value. Problem is she smoked, in her home, for 40+ years and this thing smells like stale, musty cigarettes. I have sprayed it down heavily with some "multi-purpose" disinfecting spray and wiped it down really well, then left it in the garage for a couple of days with a fan blowing on it, but no matter what I do, I can't get the smell out.

Every time I wipe it down, the towels continue to end up yellow-ish brown from the decades of built-up nicotine/smoke infused into the wood. We really don't want to get rid of it but right now we can't even have it in the house because it makes the entire room stink.

Anyone have any suggestions?

You wipe it down inside and out? Might just need to sand it and refinish it. Or just start smoking.

Inside and out, multiple times.....each time, the rag ends up nasty as if it's never been cleaned. I'd thought about sanding it down and re-sealing it....but I'd probably have to do that inside as well as outside and that sounds like a colossal PITA. I also wasn't sure if that would even "contain" the smell or if it could still seep out.

I got a rocking chair from my grandmothers house. Same deal, pop smoked unfiltered camels. Everything had the yellow nicotine film on it. Took the rocker out in the drive way and scrubbed it down several times with Murphy's Oil soap. Looked brand new when I was done. Smell was gone also.

You could also build a plastic tent around the items then run a ozone generator in the tent to neutralize the smell.

Baking soda and unscented plain cat litter. Rub it in good, spray with a water mister just enough to make the litter damp, but not sopping wet. Poor excess litter/soda mix in all the drawers. The water activates the cat litter/soda to start pulling odors in. Let it sit for a few days until dry. Shop-Vac, wipe it down.

I’d try vinegar and activated charcoal in the drawers.

It is deep in every crack and pore of that wood then. Try what skinny said.

Gojo original formula hand cleaner. Used it on some 100 yo + pieces and they cleaned up nice and no smell. The Murphy's Oil Soap should work also.

Impossible venture.

Yup this would be the least effort route

I hadn't thought about that, but I do have a buddy with an ozone machine that he uses on cars. I'll probably try the Murphy's oil soap or what skinny said just because that's easier. If it doesn't work, we'll give the ozone machine a shot.

thanks

Sitting them out in bright direct sunlight for a few days helped on some 2nd hand stuff i had gotten.

I got nothing to offer but sorry for your family’s loss. Good luck, sounds like some great ideas in the thread.

UV light is a good general odor killer.

oil paint or oil varnish

Then why to fire/ water restoration companies have ozone chambers they can put a utility trailer loaded down and the smell is eliminated.

Knew a guy that sold used cars and he would put a chlorine bomb in them with the windows up to kill the smoke smell. I'd cover it up with plastic and try one, it would be the cheapest route to try. Auto Shocker is one brand of chlorine bomb that says it's safe and eco-friendly.

Gomer...I went thru the same thing with a piece of furniture of my Mom's......You need to use denatured alcohol and some elbow grease and wipe it down real good.....