My clothes smell like wood after I put them in my dresser.?

Question

I have had a solid oak dresser for over 20 years. For awhile now, when I put chean clothes in- later, they will have a stinky wood type smell. I have tried washing the clothes in the drawer, but the smell doesn't go away.

Answer 1

i suggest buying a new dresser. or maybe putting one of those little air freshner thingies in there.

Answer 2

Buzbob, I don't think putting water in the drawers will help any. Try washing in the machine. I gather the smell didn't get into the clothing for the first 19 or so years? May be something going on with the interior drawer panels. I wouldn't think these are oak although they could be.

I would set the drawers out in the sun for a few hours over a period of several days. Cover the finished front and don't make it so long that the drawers dry out. Check close, maybe with a glass, to see if there are any changes or any mold on the wood.

Throw in a small bag of potpourri for a while after each airing.

Answer 3

This is an old problem. For years people used what was called a cachet. It was a potpourri wrapped in a cheese cloth to sweeten the smell of clothing stored in in closed places. You can make a modern version of this trick with dryer sheets or reproduce the old style. I know my wife has purchased them at Victoria's Secret. Airing out the drawers in the sun for a day will also do wonders for a musty smell.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Leave the drawers slightly ajar when you can. Also, take fabric softner sheets out of the dryer, after you use them, and put them in each drawer. Letting more air get into the drawer is the best solution I've found. On some days, when you leave for the day, just open most of them and really let the air circulate.

Answer 6

Get a roll of drawer liner at your local store. You can sometimes find scented paper is you are lucky. It is sold next to the contact paper. a cachet also helps or you can even put rice in a mess bag or cheesecloth. Anything you can do to elimidate the mosture that is pulling out the oils in your wood.

Answer 7

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You could seal the inside with a clear poly, or with paint. Put then you'd be trading odors. Try taking the drawers out to air for a week or so, maybe spraying with Febreeze before and after you air them.

Answer 8

I had the same problem & my mother told me to put a bar of soap in every drawer. Not only do my clothes smell nice & clean but I know where to go when I run out of soap!

Answer 9

You can leave your drawers a bit ajar. Another idea, though, is to take little pieces of paper and spray your perfume on them and then put the paper in the drawer. If you don't want to waste your perfume then use the perfume samples from magazines.

Answer 10

i would put a box of baking soda in the drawers that would help remove the smell, not just mask it