Expert: Eileen Cronk - 7/28/2007

Question
Hi, I recently bought an older dresser from an antique shop and it has a bad musty smell.  I see no signs of mold/mildew.  The dresser "appears" to be very clean.  I brought it home, cleaned it with orange oil.  Then I wiped down all the bare wood with bleach and water.  It still smells.  I was going to use this dresser in our new baby's room.  I'm not so sure I should now because of the smell.  I do notice that I start to have some allergy symptoms when I am in the room with it. Any suggestions as to what I should do?

Answer
Hi Dawn
Nice to hear from you.
It sounds to me like you have taken all the right steps so far to remove this smell.
Did you do absolutely every inch of unfinished wood with the bleach water? Every single side of the drawers too.
And be a bit more aggressive with the washing maybe.
Then all pieces in the sun for a couple of hours.
Then put drawers back and bring it indoors then place a couple of fabric softener sheets in each drawer. Just leave them there.
Dawn this smell is not from mold as we think of it, and I am surprised it bothers you.
And one thing that will for sure stop the smell is "time".
Once the dresser is in a proper environment, and all the above has been done, the smell will leave.
So don't give up on the dresser just yet.
Good Luck and a great question.
Regards
Eileen