Open a drawer and get hit with that old, musty smell? Wood furniture, especially antiques, hand-me-downs and secondhand finds, soaks up humidity and odors over the years. The unfinished wood inside drawers and the backs of cabinets is the worst, because raw wood absorbs smells like a sponge. In Florida’s humidity, it can also pick up a musty smell right in your own home. Here’s how to get it out.
First: Musty Smell or Visible Growth?
Pull out every drawer and look at the inside, the back panel and the underside with a flashlight. If you only smell it, follow the steps below. If you see fuzzy spots or staining, that’s a different job: see how to remove mold from wood. For couches and upholstered chairs, see mold on furniture or how to get a smell out of a couch.
Step by Step: Getting the Smell Out
- Empty it completely and take the drawers out. Wash or air out whatever was stored inside; it may be holding the smell too.
- Vacuum the drawers, corners and the inside of the frame with a brush attachment.
- Wipe it down with a cloth barely dampened with mild soap and water. For raw wood inside drawers, a cloth dampened with a mix of equal parts white vinegar and water works well. Test any finished surface in a hidden spot first, and never soak the wood.
- Dry it fully. Run the AC and point a fan at the piece. On a dry, sunny day you can set drawers outside in the shade for a few hours, but bring them in before evening humidity sets in.
- Absorb what’s left. Put an open box of baking soda or a bag of activated charcoal in each drawer, close it, and leave it for several days. Swap it out and repeat if needed.
- Seal the raw wood if the smell keeps coming back. A coat of clear shellac on the unfinished inside of drawers and the back panel locks in old odors. Do it in a well-ventilated area and let it fully dry and air out before using the drawers. For valuable antiques, ask a furniture restorer first.
Why Wood Furniture Turns Musty in Florida
- Humidity. Raw wood takes on moisture from the air, especially in rooms that stay closed or homes where the AC gets turned off.
- Outside walls. Furniture pushed tight against an exterior wall sits in cooler, damper air. Leave a few inches of space.
- Storage. Pieces kept in a garage, storage unit or seasonal home pick up smells fast. See coming back to a musty home after the summer.
When the Room Smells Too
If clean furniture keeps turning musty, the room is the problem: humidity, a hidden leak behind a wall, or an AC issue. See why a bedroom smells musty and what a musty smell means in a Florida home. We offer a free visual inspection with moisture readings and an infrared (thermal) camera. Lab testing is separate if it’s needed. Florida licenses: Mold Assessor MRSA4035, Mold Remediator MRSR4158.
Once any moisture source is fixed, our whole-home odor removal treatment treats the air throughout the entire home, including one AC system and an attached garage. You’ll be out for about 8 hours. It’s an odor treatment only. It doesn’t remove mold or fix leaks, and one musty dresser usually just needs the steps above. Smell something different? See our smell-by-smell guide.
Whole-Home Odor Removal in South Florida: $997
Our Whole-Home Odor Removal Treatment is $997 and includes one AC system ($550 for each additional AC unit). You can buy and schedule it online, or call 877-224-2532 to request a free visual inspection. We answer 24/7; when you call, we’ll tell you honestly when a technician can be there based on that day’s schedule. Hablamos español.
About the author: James Rice-Peña is the owner of FL Cleanup and a Florida-licensed Mold Assessor (MRSA4035) and Mold Remediator (MRSR4158). He has worked in property restoration in South Florida since 2012, and FL Cleanup has earned 200+ five-star Google reviews.
