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Cleaning Up:  Mothball Smell in Cedar Chest  |
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Lyndell
True Blue Farmgirl
61 Posts
Leah
Richwood
Ohio
USA
61 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 08 2014 : 3:43:36 PM
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Hello All,
We have a big beautiful cedar chest that I would love to use for storing linens, but at some point a previous owner decided it would be awesome to use mothballs inside it. After doing some research it appears that this practice, while totally unnecessary, was not uncommon *facepalm*.
So far it seems like the most common/effective ways to deodorize are:
1) Leaving it out in the sun and fresh air
2) Lightly sanding to refresh the cedar
It's not really the time of year to leave it out in the sun (as there is none), plus it would be a huge pain to cart it outside and back in again. Our house is not easy to move furniture around in. We might do it as a last resort, but in the meantime I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem and what you did that actually WORKED? Thanks in advance!
http://foxgloveandfolksongs.blogspot.com
Farmgirl Sister #4236 |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Mar 08 2014 : 4:13:10 PM
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Hi Leah - My husband bought me a really neat little chest with a mirror last spring. It had a nasty smell of mildew in the drawers, and no matter what I did, nothing worked. Then last summer I bought some food grade diatomaceous earth for the garden. One of the use suggestions was to get rid of musty smells by filling a cloth with the D.E., tying it up in a ball, and letting it sit in the drawer. It worked like a charm! Maybe that will work for the moth ball smell, too? Oh my gosh, I feel for you. My paternal Grandmother used moth balls in everything. Used to bring tears to my eyes! Good luck! Hugs - Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Mar 08 2014 : 7:37:25 PM
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Regular charcoal the type you cook with in a box so not to make a mess it will remove the smell.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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rough start farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3331 Posts
marianne
The Beautiful Pacific NW
Washington State
USA
3331 Posts |
Posted - Mar 10 2014 : 12:07:43 AM
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You might try filling it with crumpled newspaper. It will absorb a lot of odors...
Marianne |
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SusanScarlet
True Blue Farmgirl
317 Posts
317 Posts |
Posted - Mar 12 2014 : 1:24:02 PM
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| I have exactly the same problem. I can't wait to read the replies. |
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Sarah Blue
True Blue Farmgirl
172 Posts
Sierra Mountains
California
USA
172 Posts |
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Cleaning Up: Mothball Smell in Cedar Chest |
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Mothball Smell in Cedar Chest
