My New Dresser Has a Musty Smell

Natural Odor Removal

• Instead of treating the drawers, let the air naturally remove the odors. Sometimes the odors remain trapped and have no way to escape. Simply take all the items out of the drawers and place them indoors in a room with a cracked window or outdoors if the weather cooperates. Let the dresser drawers air out for 24 to 48 hours to allow the musty odors to escape. After the drawers air out, replace them back into the dresser and examine the smell after one to two hours.

Fabric Softener Sheets

• Stores often sell scented drawer liners that keep dresser drawers smelling fresh. While these liners may seem convenient to purchase, you can use fabric softener sheets from your dryer to freshen up the drawers. Remove all the items from the dresser drawers, and place the softener sheets onto the bottom of each drawer. The sheets may move around or appear crumpled, so keep them in place with two to three small pieces of masking tape. After you add the sheets, change them monthly to replace the musty odor with a pleasant scent.

Sandpaper

• You may need to sand down the drawers if the odor remains because the smell can stick to the surface of the wood. While sanding down the drawer may seem like a daunting task, it actually only takes a few minutes out of your day. Rub a sheet of sandpaper on the inside surface of the drawer to lightly sand it. Remove the shavings that remain inside the drawer with a vacuum cleaner before you return the items. Stuff the drawers with newspapers overnight to absorb any lingering odors. A quick wipe down with a washcloth dampened with white distilled vinegar helps neutralize the odors and remove any loose shavings. Do not forget to let the drawers air out so that mold or mildew does not form.

Paint

• While you would not expect a new dresser to contain mold, a slight amount of moisture and the proper humidity can cause a musty odor to develop. Wash the surface with 8 tbsp. of washing soda mixed with 1 gallon of water to help remove mold or mildew. After you wash the dresser drawers, rinse them thoroughly and dry the wood completely before applying a mildew-resistant paint. If the dresser is already painted, you need to remove the paint or varnish from the furniture with a stripper or sand it down completely before cleaning and painting it.