So you like to collect things that are often found in thrift stores, antique malls or auctions. There are great finds to be had, but when that old hat collection is excavated from Aunt Tildy's basement, you don't want it to smell like the 1950s (or whenever it was packed away). Here's a few tips to lend a hand...
1. White Vinegar: There isn't much the stuff can't do, but one thing I know for sure is that if it can take away the smell of mouse pee in cabinet drawers, it can handle a little must or vintage fumes. Brush it on gently and allow to dry fully. This trick works great for wood and vinyl pieces alike.
2. Baking Soda + Shade: Baking soda does great things for vintage sofas or assorted upholstered pieces. Just sprinkle it on thick and allow the piece to sit outside if possible. In the past I've even used a small nail brush to help grind it into the fabric at hand. Let it sit as long as possible (24 hours would be ideal), just make sure the item stays in the shade as baking soda will act as a bleaching agent in full sun. Yes it has a catch, but it also works wonders on smoke and the smell of someone's damp basement.
3. 10% Bleach Solution: Many vintage cafe tables and chair sets have been cleaned up using a bleach and water solution and a soft bristled brush. Although this works mainly for the slightly yellow stains that can occur, it also does good things for those cushions that smell a little stale. You might not notice until you sit down on them and the air is compressed out. Clean the vinyl and the material that the air evacuates through is now a bit cleaner. Presto!
4. Strip & Refinish: Although no one really wants to tackle this step unless you have to, some pieces are so thick with smoke damage that they're unable to be rescued by any other method. Usually smoke will get stuck (say on a coffee table) in the varnish of a piece and simply wiping it down with vinegar just won't cut it. Read up on the products you'll be using so you can do the best job you can the first time around!
5. Rinse, Lather & Repeat: With the exception of stripping and refinishing your furniture or special finds, repeating the above methods with frequency is a great way to help keep the smells under control. Unless things came from an especially smoke heavy or moisture laden home, you shouldn't have to repeat things more than twice, but often, a second go round is needed.
Do you have a method you've been using at home? Share your wisdom for others in the comments below!
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Related to #4, if you have a smelly wood find that you like the finish on, you can try Bin's clear shallac sealer. It promises to block out oders (including smoke) while maintaining the appearance of the finish and without yellowing. One of my friends has used it with great success on a couple pieces and recommended it to me.
I got a hutch off Craigslist that resisted all vinegar/baking soda tricks (things got better, but it still really smelled of smoke) and I'm going to try this on it. I painted the outside of it already (the veneer was quite chipped and in general bad condition) but the inside is lovely wood that I want to keep. I'll be applying the clear sealer inside of it today or tomorrow!
I have a super cool green chair that is wool. I have used Febreze but will try the baking soda suggestion. Thanks.
I always put the piece of furniture in a closed room with an ozone machine for 2-3 hours. They're pricey to buy but you can rent them for a reasonable amount of money. I've used it on MANY vintage pieces of furniture and it's eliminated all of the funky smells.
Am I the only one worrying about bed bugs when thinking about purchasing upholstered old furniture?
I just got a really nice (used) couch and love seat and the original owners had a dog...wah wah So on my list of things is to lint roller the whole thing, vacuum thoroughly, baking soda it many a time, and a finally wash with a deodorizer. We'll see how that all works.
For old smooth leather, a wipe-down with a little liquid saddle soap and water will often do the job.
Kinsey, I've never even heard of an Ozone machine. Thanks for the 411. ;o)
The shellac doesn't always work, everything. I scrubbed an old desk with baking soda & vinegar (as prescribed by a refinishing website), then followed up with a shellacking, but the odor returned. I'll wipe it down with vinegar and see if that works second time around, then do a second shellac coat.
madampince - My friend who recommended shellac said to do a minimum of 3 thin coats (so that you make sure that it's really 100% encased), so hopefully another coat will work for you!
I forgot to mention that you should also make sure everything's covered, including under the desk, in drawers, etc. Raw wood especially seems to pick up smells.
Also, make sure it's actually shellac and not poly, because poly will still breath (I've seen that mentioned several places online, haven't tested the difference personally).
My hutch smells much better even with just outside painted (a layer of shellac based primer followed by several layers of paint) and I think it's mostly because the unfinish wood on the bottom is now covered (just smelling it before, the bottom was noticably stronger).
Also just washing it very well with 50-50 vinegar water helped a lot, as did leaving baking soda and vinegar inside for a couple weeks. I think it probably helps to get rid of a majority of the smell before you try to paint over it.
I've had great success deodorizing upholstered pieces with a product called Pureayre. One spray application removed all dog odors. I made sure to spray all sides well. It's expensive and I had to order it, but worth it. While you spray it it smells like good mint gum, but that smell goes away within 24 hours. They have a Pet solution and a home solution. The Pet one is easier to find. It is non-toxic and can even be sprayed on the dog. It was recommended to me by a professional home stager.
I have no connection with the company, and only wish it were more readily available.
I have one word: Pinesol. Wipe down everything you own that smells with this product. I have been very pleased with the results.
Suggestion: START with vinegar. It remedies the issue 90% of the time. A bonus: it's also the least expensive.
Does anyone have experience using vinegar on leather? I have some coats I can't get that must smell out of - tried saddle soap, airing them outdoors, Febreeze etc & nothing has worked but may give the vinegar a go. I hope it doesn't hurt the leather?! Of course it's a risk I will take because if they stink so badly that I can't wear them anyway, what does it matter?
Lem, I have cleaned up old leather handbags with a 1:1 mixture of vinegar, olive oil and a few drops of lavendar oil with success. No guarantees, but it seems worth trying.
In general, if the musty smell is from mould, you may have to kill the mould to stop it - in addition, or as alternatives, to vinegar or weak bleach, or a disinfectant (like pinesol), you can try putting the item in the sun or the freezer (not really possible with a chair, I know). If you can clean the mould off the surface (like on vinyl or leather) it will be much easier than if it is inside fabric or linings.
Eucalyptus oil can help too (it cleans and disinfects), but the scent can be strong itself.
@possumlady I'm with you. I've stayed away from used upholstered furniture since my son had a bedbug infestation in his apartment.... 500 miles away from me.
I just don't think I could ever convince myself that a piece of furniture was "clean."
I think vinegar is best for removing musty odors from upholstered furniture. I spray it on, liberally, then stick the item outside for a few hours (or longer).
It won't smell like vinegar when you are done, and you don't have to worry about the bleaching effect of baking soda.
Sometimes I also add a few drops of essential oil, but it's not necessary.
I'd do an ozone machine as well, if you can get your hands on one they're a real wonder, worked like a dream on my grandmother's chair that had been in storage for many years.
My back-up for upholstered items is always a de-skunker for pets. I only purchase one where I like its fragrance but it removes pretty much every smell imaginable (even took smoke out of clothing after a fire). For upholstery, I then set the item in the sun to dry, so you'll need to test for colorfastness on a scrap piece (say on the underside of a chair), but it's a great item to have in your laundry area.
In theory, you should be able to kill any bedbug infestation in an upholstered piece of furniture by heating it to over 120 degrees for several hours before bringing it into your home. Just make sure to give it time to be heated all the way through and maintain that temp for several hours.
Even in theory, most of us do not have heating devices large enough for upholstered furniture :)
Agree on the vinegar + water. Will also work on salt stains for leather jackets. But I'd avoid anything with a strong mold smell, nonetheless.
>Even in theory, most of us do not have heating
>devices large enough for upholstered furniture
Huh? If you have a container big enough to put the item in, you should be able to heat it to at least 120 degrees just using a forced-air heater (at least during summertime). You can also rent commercial forced-air heaters.
I'd be more worried about something getting burned (or damaged from the heat) than about getting it up to 120. That's the easy part.