Is it possible to get musty old tobacco smell from wooden furniture?

[reastie]

Please say yes and if so, how? We bought a second hand dresser at the week end but didn't realise until we got it home the previous owners must've been smokers. It is stinking the dining room out. We've sprayed it all over with milton and also polished it but it still reeks. I've had the chefs candles on in the dining room and am now using the anti tobacco candle but realise this is only temporary while the candle is on. Is there anything that can be done? I am tempted to just paint the dresser white in the hope the paint will cover over the smells and it will look nice enough

is it varnished or what?

It will probably dissapate, but it might take a few months. DP brought a horrible leather chair when he moved in and it stank of smoke, took months to go entirely, but it did.

yes it's varnished. Did your chair actually lose the smoke smell or did you just get immune to the smell do you think

I feel your pain. We bought a leather rise and recline chair last weekend and it must have belonged to a smoker. I have washed it over with soapy water, used a whole pack of baby wipes on it, polished it with furniture polish, then used Dove soap on it. Only now am I able to sit in it without getting a headache, but today it has had the sun shining on it and it has started to smell again!

As it is varnished, I would start by sponging it all over, multiple times, with a sponge or cloth dampened with water and a mild household detergent, and wiping off with a clean rag. The unvarnished surfaces like the back, and the undersides of drawers, will be more absorbent.

If you have the chance to do this outdoors, with sunlight and fresh air, it will be more effective.

No, it lost it. Because I'd randomly walk into the living room before this and get a whiff and think "Eurgh, that's horrible, really must replace that chair" (and then not, because I am that forgetful) or if you were next to it it really smelled. Now even if you're next to it it doesn't smell. And it has been replaced but still sits there...