Artist Mary Jo Gross revived this once-drab dresser with a creative paint job. Antique dressers make wonderful gifts. They can find a spot in bedrooms, bathrooms, family rooms and offices. But what to do about that musty smell? A sachet isn't strong enough. Ventilation will help some.
Better yet, make a mix of one part household bleach and three parts water, and paint this on all unvarnished surfaces inside the dresser. Then do the usual sniff test. If the odor remains, rinse the bleached surfaces with a wet sponge and let dry. Then apply Febreze or a similar deodorizer that attacks the source of the odor and is sold in supermarkets.
Still smelly? Paint all bare wood with two coats of a water-based polyurethane. This should seal in the source of the odor and is unlikely to smell for long because it is water-based. However, keep the unit well-ventilated while drying. Oil-based polyurethane will seal better, but it will take a lot longer for the smell to dissipate.
-- Homes & Gardens staff
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