How To Get That Moldy Musty Smell Out Of Dresser Drawers

Posted in Furniture Makeover
How To Get That Moldy Musty Smell Out Of Dresser Drawers & More!
How To Get That Moldy Musty Smell Out Of Dresser Drawers

That moldy, musty smell in old furniture is enough to make you pass up that fantastic salvaged find. Even if it were FREE, it is not worth that smell! What would you say if I told you there’s a simple solution, and you can go ahead and buy that great deal? Let me show you how to get that moldy, musty smell out of dresser drawers and SO MUCH MORE!

* As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases and through other companies as well. You are not charged extra to use any of the links, but any income I make helps me create more amazing DIY projects to share with you! To see my full disclaimer, click here!

How To Get That Moldy Musty Smell Out Of Dresser Drawers And More

With that moldy, musty smell comes a few other problems that old furniture tends to have with time, and I will be addressing them in today’s post as well. You can thank me later!

How To Get That Moldy Musty Smell Out Of Dresser Drawers

SUPPLY LIST:

  • Big Mama’s Butta Scented Big Mama’s Butta neutralizes odors! Both scented and unscented are great for adding extra glide to sticky drawers! Bonus!
  • Natural Bristle Brush The La Petite brush is excellent for detailing and highlighting your project. It features a short unfinished wooden handle, ergonomically shaped for the effortless application of finishing coats of wax, clear coat, or stains on painted surfaces. The bristles are tapered with soft edges that come to a point to assist with working wax into intricate, detailed areas and tight corners with paint or wax. Clean with warm water and soap.
  • Soft Cotton Cloth (t-shirt rags)

What You Need To Know About Old Stinky Wood Furniture

You would think that the moldy, musty smell only comes from inside the furniture. Like the drawers. Right? But the smells are deep down in the wood and not just inside the drawers. It can be hard to eliminate these odors if you don’t know where they are coming from.

I like to start from the outside and then work my way in (inside the furniture). Here are a few things you can do to help eliminate these odors.

STEP 1: Always clean your wood furniture first. CLICK HERE to learn more about ways to clean the things you can’t see.

How To Neutralize Moldy Musty Smells In Wood Furniture

STEP 2: After thoroughly cleaning your wood furniture piece inside and out, I like using a Dixie Belle product that neutralizes the odors. I find it works best when applying it over ALL of the woods surfaces. Not just inside the drawers but inside the furniture as well. You know, the dark inside areas that tend to get moldy?

Use a natural bristle brush to apply the Big Mama’s Butta to help reach the hard to get areas inside and out. Work the buttery smooth paste into the wood using a circular motion to make sure it penetrates deep into the wood. I like to let it sit for a few hours after application.

My favorite scent is Flannel. It’s a clean, fresh smell that lasts weeks after applying. But if you’re sensitive to smells, there is an unscented formula available.

How To Get That Moldy Musty Smell Out Of Dresser Drawers

STEP 3: With a soft cotton cloth, wipe away any extra on the surface of the wood. Now, enjoy the aromatherapy! No more moldy, musty smell in dresser drawers or anywhere else.

How To Get That Moldy Musty Smell Out Of Dresser Drawers

What Else Can I Use Big Mama’s Butta For?

Here’s the more I promised!

  1. ALTERNATIVE TO FURNITURE POLISH: Beautify and revive your old wood furniture. Old furniture tends to get “dehydrated” over time. Meaning the wood becomes dry and brittle. Using Big Mama’s Butta on the wood gives it that drink of water it needed so badly. It also enhances the wood grain and revives and conditions that brittle, dry wood.
  2. REMOVES OXIDATION: Use it to clean old hardware. It helps remove oxidation from tarnished hardware. Simply apply and wipe away years of grime.
  3. STICKY DRAWER REPAIR: Use it on the drawer slides to get that extra glide on those sticky drawers.

This unique blend of all-natural Hemp Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, Beeswax, and Carnauba Wax is buttery, water-resistant, and easy to apply! Your wood furniture will thank you!

Here is how I revive dry, brittle, wood on antique furniture. The before and after says it all.

After Using Big Mama’s Butta On My Antique Sideboard/Dresser

This is the newest addition to my bedroom makeover that is still in progress. I'm using this sideboard as my "new to me" dresser. That is after I eliminated the moldy, musty smell out of the dresser drawers and everywhere else.

Guess what? This sideboard/dresser is the newest addition to my bedroom makeover that is still in progress. I’m using this sideboard as my “new to me” dresser. That is after I eliminated the moldy, musty smell out of the drawers and everywhere else. *wink

Yep, it was a stinky one but not now! Isn’t it gorgeous? Look at all that wood! And adding wicker baskets was a great solution to a broken door.

Thanks for joining me today, and as always, I would love to know that you stopped by. Got a question I didn’t cover in today’s post? Ask me! And don’t forget to pin this solution to your furniture Pinterest board.

Until the next project… xo, Do

Share

14 Comments

  1. Love the fix of baskets for that broken door…and I have one piece that needs a fresh smell! Thanks, always for sharing your expertise!

    1. Hi Leslie! Don’t you just love baskets? It’s my go-to solution for missing dors. Thanks for stopping by. It’s always good to hear from you. 🙂 xo

  2. It is so pretty Donna. I didn’t know you could use it on hardware!?!? Learn something new every day. Thank you!!

  3. Hi Donna,
    Did I understand you correctly that after cleaning inside dresser drawers, Big Mama’s Butta can be used inside of the drawers? Thank you, Bridget

    1. Hi Bridgette, Absolutely, and I highly recommend it. It conditions and deodorizes. I feel better about using someone else’s furniture after giving it a good clean and using this product.

  4. Very informative…. This sounds too easy to be true! You made a comment about the scent fading in time……does the musty odor return?
    Thanks!

    1. Hi Heidi,
      This is a piece that I use as my dresser, and it’s been two years, and no odor has returned. But don’t get musty odors confused with cigarette smoke and other smells that come from sources (spilled liquids absorbed into the wood) other than moldy, musty smells. I also have another post with more info on this subject here. https://www.dododsondesigns.com/how-to-remove-musty-smell-from-furniture/

      I hope this answers your questions. 🙂 xo

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

×