Replies

1. 
   teabags | Jul 07, 2006 07:58pm | #1

   cat litter UNUSED !!!!!!!!! may well help.  ( I believe cat litter is made with fullers earth)   

        regards Teabag

2. 
   Rich14 | Jul 08, 2006 01:07am | #2

   Moth ball odor clings tenaciously in wood. Leave it open, with nothing in it, in a warm (not hot, not in direct sun), well ventilated place. The odor may dissapate in a year or so (not exaggerating). Not knowing what the other odor may be, all bets are off.

   Rich

3. 
   jazzdogg | Jul 08, 2006 02:55am | #3

   If you don't want to seal the interior with shellac, you may be able to camouflage the aroma with a substitute - e.g., cedar chips, cedar oil, orange oil, potpourri - or try something like Ozium that's sold to neutralize odors in automobiles.

   Please let us know what you decide to do and how well it works,

    

   -Jazzdogg-

   "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

4. 
   gmoney | Jul 08, 2006 04:19am | #4

   hmm, the car reply made me think of something suggested to rid a car of an odor.  it may have been on car talk.  strangely enough, it was coffee, just coffee ground up, unmade.  since there was no ounce of prevention, perhaps a pound of cure! it certainly smells good! i like dunkin donuts, but that's for drinking.

5. 
   Steinmetz | Jul 08, 2006 06:23am | #5

   There's a device you can rent called an 'Ozone Generator'
   It is an electrical device that creates ozone gas from the oxygen in the air. It usually is placed in a closed closet large enough to hold the object needed to de-odorize

   The suitcase sized device is placed INSIDE the box/container/cabinet
   Rent it over a weekend, as it may take a few days to deodorize your cabinet.

   If you've ever examined a 'bug zapper' (Or, an ion generator,) they create a blue spark that oscillates and emits a pleasant 'just after a thunder storm smell'

   Don't add shellac, but leave the wood natural Shellac when enclosed takes up a sour smell.

   I used to know a friend in auto seat cover business. He deodorized autos whose interiors had had fire or smoke damage. Two days and absolutely no smell remained
   Steinmetz.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 7/7/2006 11:35 pm ET by Steinmetz

1. 
   gmoney | Jul 08, 2006 10:29am | #6

   very interesting, i've never heard of that.  if it works that would be a great solution.

1. 
   walker910 | Jul 08, 2006 05:16pm | #7

   I'm afraid this isn't going to be a very encouraging reply, but here goes. . .

   I had the same issue with a cabinet previously used to house an insect collection.  Moth balls had been used to prevent infestation, and the wood absorbed the odor. 

   Through my place of work I had access to a commercial ozone-generator.  Six treatments with that machine over the course of a month made no noticeable difference.  Finally, after several other failed attempts with other methods, I brush coated the cabinet, inside and out, with three coats of varnish.  That lessened the odor, BUT DID NOT REMOVE IT COMPLETELY.  This was a personal challenge, since my wife's health is affected severely by the odor given off by para-dichlorobenzene.

   Eventually, the cabinet ended up in a corner of my garage, in the hope that over time the odor would dissipate completely.  It's been there now a year, and there has been no change.  I'll let you know in a year if it's any better . . .

1. 
   jazzdogg | Jul 08, 2006 06:15pm | #8

   I wonder what would happen if you placed a large quantity of activated charcoal in it?-Jazzdogg-

   "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

2. 
   gmoney | Jul 08, 2006 08:14pm | #9

   perhaps the only solution is to make it into charcoal with matches and lighter fluid  ;)  a little odor humor.

2. 
   byhammerandhand | Jul 12, 2006 01:52am | #15

   If you have trouble locating an ozone generator rental unit, contact "Disaster Recovery Services" They all have them for deodorizing smoke, cadaver, and other odors. A furniture warehouse/delivery/moving company that I frequent also has one. I'm not sure what all they use it for, but I'm imagining mildew odors from storage or shipping containers.

6. 
   Pondfish | Jul 09, 2006 04:43pm | #10

   You can smell moth balls?

   How do you get their little legs apart?

    

    

   couldn't resist...

   Recommending the use of "Hide Signatures" option under "My Preferences" since 2005
7. 
   quack | Jul 10, 2006 03:44am | #11

   Fill the chest with charcoal--yes the stuff used for cookouts-- leave it closed for about a month or two, that should do it! Protect the bottom with a piece of paper. No need to fill it all the way, just about a shoe box full will do it.. Good Luck

8. 
   bldrbill | Jul 10, 2006 05:06am | #12

   I once deodorized a freezer that had become unplugged and all the food inside rotted.  What a stench!! Filled it up with shredded newspaper after washing it out good.  I think it took about three times over about a week to get rid of the odor.  Don't know if this would work with odors absorbed into wood.

9. 
   dhruid | Jul 10, 2006 10:01pm | #13

   Thanks for all of the suggestions, I'll give 'em a try and hope for the best.

   Dhruid

1. 
   gmoney | Jul 11, 2006 04:20am | #14

   hey, let us know if you have any success.  i'm curious with so many interesting suggestions.