Expert: Eileen Cronk - 9/28/2006

Question
I recently purchased 4 Drexel Heritage dining chairs with
upholstered seats and oval cane backs.  They are about 30 years
old.  When I got them home I soon realized that they smelled of
cigar smoke.  I removed the seats and had the wood stripped by my
local furniture refinishing business. The chairs look beautiful but
there is still a smell in the wood.  Is it possible to eliminate this
smell and what would you recommend.
Thank you for your help.

Answer
Hi Sue
Nice to hear from you.
I find it hard to believe that your chairs still smell of cigar smoke after a complete refinish.
Are you sure the smell was not in the seat?
The cigar smell could certainly permeate the interior padding of the seat.
Heres what I'd do...give Underlying wood (that is any wood under the seat that has no finish) a wash with a mild bleach solution (1/4 cup in 8 cups water).
Then spray the seat tops with "Fabreeze" if the material is cloth and not leather.
There is absolutely no way the smell could be coming through the refinished surfaces.
And certainly "time" is the great healer in this case too as it will eventually not smell if you do nothing at all.
Regards
Eileen