How To Get Smells Out Of Wood Furniture

When we think about hardwood, we think that it is a rock-solid material. But wood is actually a porous material that can absorb liquids, odor, and harbor bacteria. When your household furniture gets spilled on and starts to moist, bacteria can grow and, as a result, can make your furniture stink. It is essential to know how to get smells out of wood furniture and know how to clean the wood thoroughly before fungi start growing. 

Other wooden furniture, mainly those that are used for storage, can vary in cleaning methods. This is because furniture used for storage can derive its odor from its previous contents, thus having no one solution. But we have different approaches to try out to lessen the odor or eradicate it. Let's start with the most obvious way of knowing how to get smell out of wood furniture by talking about commercial cleaners.

Commercial Cleaners

Different commercial cleaners in the market are specifically designed for wood. They do not only eradicate the odor from wood but remove stains and sanitizes the area as well. Urine from pets is best suited for this type of cleaner. This is because the urine from pets can harbor specific bacteria that give out a strong odor. Commercial cleaners also have inorganic chemicals for this purpose and ammonia. 

Ammonia

Ammonia is also a great way to remove pet urine odor that gets to your wooden furniture. It is important to work on a ventilated and spacious area if you decide to apply ammonia on your wooden furniture. Mix it with fresh water, and do not apply ammonia directly to your wood. Use a cloth to blot the most infected areas or the origin of the odor. This also works great with smokey odors. 

Wood sealant

Because wood is a porous material, it can be hard to remove the odor that gets into the wood's interior. To know how to get smell out of wood furniture in this situation, you can seal the odor in. Using wood sealants like shellac might be a solution for some of the harder odors that are hard to get rid of using cleaners.

Shellac is an excellent sealant to use but is not water-resistant. If you are worried about moisture penetrating the wood in the future, you can try a polyurethane sealant. This way, you will not have to worry about moisture or odor penetrating your wood, like your pet's urine in the future.

Household Items That Can Get Rid Of Odor On Wood Furniture

Many different household items are available for you that you can apply to the stinky furniture. To know how to get smells out of wood furniture and sanitize the furniture, you should be able to identify these items and apply them to the spill or odor. Here is a list of household items you can try.

• Oil and vinegar
  This is a simple method that has been effective and passed down from generations. It is mixing one part of olive oil solution to 24 parts white vinegar. You can have the mixture set on a spray bottle to spray in areas where the smell radiates from on the furniture. White vinegar also has disinfecting features, and the oil makes a perfect catalyst.

• Newspaper and Charcoal
  Another great way to remove odors from furniture, especially those used for storage, is to use newspapers and charcoal. These two materials are great at absorbing scents from places they are set. Leave crumpled newspaper and charcoal on furniture for a week before removing or replacing it. The smell should improve over time. This technique is best for a mild lingering odor that keeps coming back.

• Coffee Grounds
  Other absorbents may garner better results than the newspaper and charcoal. Coffee grounds work well at absorbing the odor at the same time, releasing an aromatic coffee smell. The smell will also depend on what coffee grounds you use because coffee beans come in a variety of fruity scents and aromas. It is also ideal to check-on the coffee grounds from time to time because coffee grounds can produce mold.

• Baking Soda
  Baking soda is also an excellent odor absorbent. Mixing it with water creates a paste that you can rub on the affected spot. It is best to set the paste properly to know how to get smells out of wood furniture the correct way. If the furniture is small enough to fit in a plastic bag, do it because it can help the baking soda absorb more odor. Leave the paste on the affected area for around 48 hours.

Things To Consider To Get Rid Of Odor From Furniture

• Strike at the source
  
  
  • When applying your cleaners and deodorizers, strike at the source. Find the origin of the odor and have your cleaners applied directly to that area.
    
    
• Neutralize the odor
  
  
  • If the odor is too strong to get rid of cleaners, neutralize it by using countermeasures and other scents. By influencing the origin of the scent with a more pleasing aroma, you neutralize the odor that provides noxiousness.
    
    
• Seal the problem
  
  
  • If you want a more permanent solution to know how to get smells out of wood furniture, seal in the odor. This may be a lot of work, but this is the most effective.

Conclusion 

For a lot of us, we equate odor to cleanliness. And a clean environment is a factor for a healthy life. Knowing how to get smells out of wood furniture from spills, pet accidents, and moisture is essential knowledge. A strong and foul odor can be distracting, especially when the source comes from the furniture we use every day. Having a pleasant-smelling home is a step to a healthier lifestyle. Here's how to learn more about wood furniture care.

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