How to get rid of "new wood" smell?

Home & Garden Discussion and Questions
1

Hello! This is not exactly a craft/making questions, but I figured someone who works with wood might know the answer…

For the first time in my life, I bought myself a brand-new dresser. It’s quite lovely, except for the very pungent “new wood” smell… not sure how else to describe it. It’s strong enough that all my clothes smell like it if they’re in the drawers for more than a week.

I’ve tried airing out the drawers outside for several hours, using a “zero odour” odour removing spray, but the smell remains.

Does anyone know how I can get rid of this smell, or at least diminish it?

The outside of the drawers are painted (varnished?), but the inside looks like raw wood.

Thanks for any help!

1 Like
2

How strange! Most wood used for furniture isn’t particularly pungent, so I wonder if it is indeed lightly varnished (and off-gassing) on the inside or perhaps the main case is varnished on the inside? Since sometimes sunlight is used to help deodorize, I wonder if a UV light might help?

3 Likes
3

mmm… maybe I should just put it outside a few more times? I don’t have a UV lamp.

I think the “wood” that’s smelly is probably chipboard, maybe. Not sure. The IKEA furniture I purchased to make my craft cabinet also has that smell.

Maybe it’s actually the “laminate” they add on top? I don’t know what to call the “coating.”

I’ll try and add a picture later

1 Like
4

I would try the sunshine again, and maybe charcoal odor absorbing packets inside the drawers.

2 Likes
5

Baking soda or used coffee grounds (dry) are both used to absorb smell.

I think it’s indeed a chemical you are smelling, not the wood itself. This week we cut and laid a whole hardwood floor in my craft room, and we only smelled the new wood smell right after we sawed. But I bought a set of drawers from Ikea and built it yesterday, and the whole room suddenly has that new wood smell. I’m convinced it’s either the laminate or the glue in the chipboard.

1 Like
6

Oh. Yes, this is probably adhesives and non-wood materials off-gassing. It’s probably just a matter of finding something else to absorb the smell until it’s done doing it.

2 Likes