Sickley sweet odor in used dressers I bought

13 years ago

I bought a pair of used Drexel bachelor's chests from a store in Georgia. They are probably from the 50's, 60's or 70's. Bought them online and had them shipped.

I love them but the drawer interiors have that sweet bad smell that clothes sometimes get when they hang too long unused in the closet. I hate that smell!

Do you think there is a product that will get this out? Otherwise I will rough up the drawer interiors with sandpaper and wipe on a coat of Bartley's gel varnish.

Thanks. Am posting this on furniture forum too.

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Comments (8)

graywings123
13 years ago
If it is dry in your area right now, take the draws outside and leave them in the fresh air and sunshine during the day for a few days. I would try that before doing anything more difficult.
bigdoglover
Original Author
13 years ago
Graywings, it is dry and sunny (and cold) out today, so out they go on to the deck! Thanks much.

Any idea what caused this odor? (Or don't I want to know?)
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graywings123
13 years ago
Oh, it could be caused by anything from perfume to cigars to who-knows-what they stored in that thing.

I recently helped my MIL start to clean out her basement, and one of the things we did was empty a dresser of lingerie, gloves and other items. We threw most everything away, but I saved a couple pairs of gloves and they have a funky sweet odor.
dilly_dally
13 years ago
In the olden days women liked to use sachets and scented drawer liners. It was popular to store scented soap in drawers to delicately scent lingerie. Or tuck a perfumed scarf in the drawer with sweaters. Mothballs were used too.

The sunlight and fresh air trick will help. I've heard that storing crumpled newspapers in the drawer for a while pull out the scent. Charcoal works best.
jannie
13 years ago
I think sun and fresh air work best. Good luck.
bigdoglover
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks all, was gone all day and couldn't get a thing done, but will tackle this early next week again and let you know what worked.
mommabird
13 years ago
I had this problem with a dresser from the 1940's. I took all the drawers out and left them in the sun all day for about a week straight. It did the trick - but it was hot summer when I did it, I don't know if it would work the same in the winter.
bigdoglover
Original Author
13 years ago
Mommabird, this makes me think my dressers may be older than I thought. I might have to wait for summer. I think the Texas sun and heat would definitely bake the blank out of that odor.

Sickley sweet odor in used dressers I bought

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Sickley sweet odor in used dressers I bought

Comments (8)

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