How to get musty smell out of furniture is a question I hear often, especially when someone brings home an older piece from a thrift store, estate sale, flea market, or even their own basement or garage.
And if you’ve ever opened the drawer of an old dresser and immediately thought, “Oh, that smell…”, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
The good news is that a musty smell doesn’t automatically mean you have to get rid of the furniture. I’ve brought home plenty of older pieces that needed a little extra attention before they were ready for their next life.
The important thing to remember is that every piece of furniture is different. The smell could be sitting on the surface, trapped inside drawers, coming from old fabric, or be a sign that the furniture was stored somewhere damp.
So instead of trying one thing and giving up, I like to work through a few different methods and see what the piece needs.
Here are the things I would try to get a musty smell out of furniture.
Start With a Good Cleaning
Before reaching for anything designed to remove odors, start with a really good cleaning.
Old furniture can collect years of dust, dirt, grime, and other things that contribute to that stale, musty smell.
Start by:
- Removing all drawers, doors and shelves that you can.
- Vacuuming the entire piece.
- Vacuuming inside the drawers and the spaces where the drawers sit.
- Cleaning the top, sides, back, and bottom of the furniture.
- Wiping down the surfaces with a cleaner that is appropriate for the material and finish.
- Letting everything dry completely.
Don’t forget the places you don’t normally see.
The back of the furniture, underneath the piece, inside drawers, and underneath drawer bottoms can hold onto odors.
If you’re trying to figure out how to get musty smell out of furniture, don’t skip this step. You want to remove as much of the dirt and grime as possible before deciding whether the smell is actually coming from the furniture itself.
Don’t soak the furniture! More moisture isn’t better when you’re dealing with an older piece of furniture. Be especially careful with unfinished wood, veneer, particleboard, and older furniture that may already have some water damage. Clean the piece, but don’t saturate it. Give it plenty of time to dry before moving on to the next step.
Take the Furniture Outside
One of the easiest things you can do is give the furniture some fresh air. If the weather is dry, take the piece outside and open all of the drawers and doors. Remove the drawers completely if you can. Fresh air can make a surprising difference with an old furniture smell.
This is also a great opportunity to inspect the piece thoroughly. Once you’re outside, you may notice that the smell is much stronger in one area. That can give you a clue about where the odor is coming from.
Use Sunlight to Help with the Musty Smell
Sunlight is another simple thing I like to try when I’m figuring out how to get musty smell out of furniture.
Place the furniture in a dry, well-ventilated area where it can get some sunlight and fresh air. Keep drawers and doors open so the air can move through the piece.
You may need to do this more than once. I wouldn’t leave every piece of furniture sitting in strong, direct sunlight for hours, though. Depending on the finish, paint, or material, too much direct sunlight can cause fading or damage.
Think of this as giving the furniture a chance to air out and dry completely, rather than trying to bake the smell out of it.
Don’t Forget the Drawers
If you’re dealing with a musty dresser, nightstand, or cabinet, pay special attention to the drawers. Sometimes the outside of a piece smells fine, but the second you open a drawer, the musty smell is obvious. Take the drawers out and clean them separately. Vacuum them well and let them sit somewhere with good airflow.
If possible, let the drawers get some fresh air and sunlight, too. You can also place an odor absorber inside the drawers while they’re sitting open or closed, depending on the product you’re using.
Try Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the easiest things to try when you’re learning how to get musty smell out of furniture.
Instead of sprinkling baking soda directly onto the furniture, put some in a small bowl or open container and place it inside the drawer, cabinet, or furniture compartment. Close the drawer or door and let it sit for several days.
For a particularly stubborn smell, you may need to replace the baking soda and repeat the process. The biggest mistake people make with odor absorbers is expecting them to work immediately. Give them time.
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Try Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal is another option for absorbing odors.
You can place activated charcoal for odor removal inside drawers, cabinets, closets, or other enclosed areas of the furniture. This is especially helpful when the smell seems to be concentrated inside a piece rather than on the exterior.
Again, give it time.
If you open the drawer after a few hours and don’t notice a difference, that doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t working. A strong musty smell that has been trapped inside furniture for years may take more than one treatment.
Try My Favorite Furniture Salve
One of my favorite tricks for getting musty smell out of furniture is furniture salve. I’ve used it on many thrifted and older pieces with great success.
Once the furniture is clean and completely dry, work the salve into the wood, paying special attention to areas where the smell is strongest. Don’t forget the drawers if they have that old, musty odor, too.
I’ve found that furniture salve can help remove that old smell while also refreshing the wood. It’s definitely something I would try before giving up on a piece.
Give It Time and Find the Source
Musty odors don’t always disappear after one treatment. Give the furniture time to air out, then check it again and repeat the process if needed.
If the smell keeps coming back, look for the source. Check the back, bottom, drawer cavities, unfinished areas, veneer, particleboard and any upholstery, especially for discoloration, swelling or signs of moisture.
If you find active mold, significant water damage or deteriorated materials, you may be dealing with more than an old furniture smell. Don’t try to simply cover it with paint or fragrance.
Should You Use Vinegar?
Vinegar is often recommended for removing furniture odors, but I wouldn’t soak older furniture with a vinegar solution. Too much moisture can cause problems with wood, veneer and particleboard.
I’d start with the less invasive methods first: cleaning, fresh air, sunlight, drying and odor absorbers.
Don’t Paint Over the Smell
If you’re planning to paint the piece, make sure you’ve dealt with the odor first. Paint may cover the surface, but it won’t solve a smell coming from inside drawers, the back of the furniture or water damage.
And remember, a cheap piece isn’t always worth saving. If the furniture has significant damage or the smell won’t go away after you’ve tried several methods, it may be time to move on.
My Simple Process
When I bring home a musty piece, I start with:
- Take it outside and remove the drawers, doors, and shelves.
- Vacuum and clean the entire piece.
- Let everything dry completely.
- Give it fresh air and sunlight.
- Place baking soda or activated charcoal odor-absorbing bags inside enclosed areas.
- Let it sit for several days and check the smell.
- Repeat if necessary.
- Once it’s clean and dry, use furniture salve if appropriate for the piece.
- If the smell keeps returning, investigate possible moisture or other damage.
Every piece is different, so you may need to try a combination of these methods. The goal is to find the source of the smell rather than simply cover it up.
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