cedar chest smell

[Mike Newell]

I have a old cedar chest that smells like moth balls (from a former owner). Any idea how to get rid of the moth ball smell?

Thank you,

Mike

[Prashun Patel]

The naphthalene can smell for a while. You can leave the chest open for a while. Heating the wood will help volatalize the gasses too.

You can seal in the smell with shellac, but I wouldn't go that route.

You can also mask the odor by using cedarwood oil. I work with cedarwood oil in my profession and would be happy to send you some if you pm me yr address.

The other thing you can try is giving the chest a good washing with VMP naphtha, mineral spirits, orange oil, or to a lesser extent isopropyl alcohol. It's a hydrocarbon, so you'd need something 'oil based' to solubilize and remove it.

[David Christopher]

Mike, I have used murphys oil soap for similar things.. I would try this and leave the top open and outside in the sun if possible and then get cedar oil to bring back the cedar smell

[Mike Newell]

Thank you both for the replies. Shawn thank you for the offer of the cedarwood oil, very nice of you to offer. My parents have some they use on their cedar closet that I can use. I think I will let it sit open a bit and then try the murphy oil if it still smells and then add some cedarwood oil afterwards.

Thank you both again,

Mike

[Jim Becker]

Also try sanding the cedar interior a bit to provide a fresh surface...

[Sam Yerardi]

I was wondering when someone would suggest sanding

[Phil Phelps]

Also try sanding the cedar interior a bit to provide a fresh surface...

Game, set, match.