Expert: Kirk Ryan - 4/21/2008

Question
I am receiving an Ethan Allen large oak china cabinet from my dad.  It has sat in his house for 20 years.  He and my mom both smoked,  I need to be able to remove the smell without harming the finish.  This piece is in excellent condition.

Answer
Great question. There are 2 good ways to remove odors from furniture. The first method is a nice furniture oil/conditioner. I recommend using something that has a strong smell. Don't use anything that is wax based. Wax will clog the natural pores in the wood and trap that smoke odor in forever! You may have to oil the cabinet inside-out and quite often to get some good results. But keep at it, and I bet it will get better.

The second thing to do is get some baking soda. Put the whole box inside the cabinet somewhere. Don't pour the soda out or anything. Just have the box inside it somewhere. Maybe hidden in a drawer.

Hope this helps. Good luck.