smell inside old furniture

[shlomo]

I've an old chest of drawers (not antique, about 20 years old), which a relative gave me. The drawers really smell inside - a sort of a musty wood smell - can anyone suggest how to get rid of it?

I love the smell inside old furniture, why would you want to get rid of that smell?

You could rub down the inside with linseed oil, and even add a few drops of essential oil in a scent you like , it will give the wood a nice smell again.

white vinegar is brilliant at absorbing smells. try putting a small dish of vinegar in each of the drawers and leave it overnight - the smell should go. my car gets a bit pongy (have a dog and also sometimes smoke in the car) and leaving a dish of vinegar in it overnight leaves it fresh as a daisy. the vinegar smell doesn't linger very long once the dish is removed.

Cut some potatoes up and leave them in the draws for a bit - they absorb the smell.

If you oil the inside of the draws, then you may find the oil leaves marks on clothes if you put them in the draws.

I know they seem a bit grannyish but draw liners,lavender bags and cedar balls all leave a nce smell.

Try putting a good spoonful of bicarb in each drawer then the next sunny day, air them well outside and brush out all the bicarb.