Getting rid of musty smell in old wood chest

[Bathman]

I bought a 1930s wooden chest/blanket a few months back to store clothes in, but it's been sat empty as I can't get rid of a strong musty old smell inside the chest - I'm assuming the smell is impregnated in the wood. I've tried a bowl of coffee granules and dehumidifying pouches which didn't touch it. I then decided that maybe if I varnished the interior it would form a 'barrier' that would prevent the smell getting out of the wood. I used an acrylic 'decorators varnish' in dead flat finish - this just soaked in without leaving any visible coating and did nothing to the smell.

I'm now planning to use a thicker gloss varnish which leaves a proper layer once it's dried. Can anyone recommend a type of varnish that would accomplish this (was just going to go with a water based gloss varnish)? Or has anyone had any success removing smell from old furniture by some other method?

 

[jocelyn plummer]

You will have the dickens of a job getting rid of the musty smell--you could try a paste mixed from bicarbonate of soda with water, just stand a small bowl of it inside the chest for as long as possible--white vinegar is another method-- from experience, I very much doubt that you will completely get rid of it--just get used to it !!!

 

[Damon]

Is it possible to put your clothes in those vacuum bags at all? Then you wouldn't have to worry about the musty smell at all then.

 

[plasticpigeon]

How about activated charcoal which I believe can be bought in a bag and used to absorb smells.

 

[Andys]

Or maybe prop the lid open just enough to allow air to circulate. Coasters tend to be used for that sort of thing, levelling-shims etc, in our house.

 

[Bathman]

Thanks for all the replies, I'm going to give the bicarb of soda a go first, then try varnishing it and if that fails I will just put everything in sealable plastic bags before storing! Will let you know how I get on.

 

[Flyfisher]

Assuming the musty smell is caused by mould spores, I'd try taking it outside on a nice sunny/windy day and cleaning the entire piece inside and out with a mild bleach solution to kill off any such mould before rinsing it all down two or three times. Then leave it outside to thoroughly dry before bringing back inside.