Removing Odors from Wood

Your woodwork projects could include the need to remove unwanted smells from your wood.

Wood, including wood floors and wood furniture is lovely, but it does have a drawback. Wood tends to soak up odors from anything that has been in contact with it.

If you have wood floors and pets, you're likely to find that your floor is reeking with unwanted pet smells.   Similarly, antique furniture that has survived many years is likely to have soaked up odors from mothballs, potpourri, smoke, or from anything else that has been stored in or on it, or spilled in or on it.

You can purchase commercial products to remove odor. This may be particularly helpful if you are dealing with pet odors.

However, if you are looking for a natural diy approach, you might try some of these remedies.

! But first!  The important thing to remember is that when applying moisture in any form, be sure to avoid the joints and edges of the wood.

1 Try wiping the wood with a cloth damped with ammonia. Wipe this off with a second cloth that has been dampened with water.

2. Try making a paste of baking soda and water. Apply the paste to the area with the odors and leave it for a few hours. (Avoid getting the ends and the joints damp).

3. Try sprinkling the area to be treated with kitty litter, or dry coffee grounds. Leave for a few hours or overnight, then vacuum off.

4. Mix  olive oil and white vinegar. Use a ratio of one teaspoon of olive oil to one cup of vinegar. Put this in a spray bottle and spray on the area to be treated. Shake the bottle frequently during the spraying. Do not get the joints and end pieces damp.

5. Use absorbent materials in combination, such as newspaper and charcoal briquettes.  If you are dealing with a drawer, stuff these items in the drawer and leave them for a week or so. Replace them at that time with a new selection of newspaper and briquettes. Leave for a second week. You should be noticing a decrease or elimination of the odor by the end of two weeks.

Here's a video from YouTube that demonstrates a product that removes oil stain and oil smells from wood and other surfaces.

Here's to odor free woodworking projects.