Friday, September 21, 2007

Help!

A few weeks ago David and I bought a super good-looking dresser for our bedroom. Perfect color, perfect size, perfect number of drawers. The one problem, that we didn't think about until we got it home, is that the previous owner was a smoker and the drawers all smell mildly of smoke. We tried Fabreeze, which not surprisingly didn't work. I googled something, and we next tried filling the drawers with kitty litter for a few days, which actually worked pretty well. But there is still a slight odor. Does anyone have any ideas of what else we might try? I want to get my clothes into the dresser already.
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14 comments:

  1. RadhaSeptember 21, 2007 at 3:44 PM

    How about a box of baking soda? It works in the fridge...

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  2. Miss ChievousSeptember 21, 2007 at 4:00 PM

    Uh duh. The answer is so simply. You guys just need to start smoking a pack a day and then the smell won't even bother you. Geez. How do you even function in the real world?

    Kisses :)

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  3. RickSeptember 21, 2007 at 11:12 PM

    Try Bounce dryer sheets. It's what I use to get rid of the smells my gym clothes leave inmy gym bag, and a little lysol to kill the germs and bacteria.

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  4. jillSeptember 22, 2007 at 3:05 AM

    i'm with miss c...smoking is the only way to fix that.

    if you can't beat em, join em...

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  5. UnknownSeptember 22, 2007 at 5:32 PM

    I think I heard that plain old newspapers can do the job too...

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  6. AnonymousSeptember 22, 2007 at 10:51 PM

    Gasoline soaked rags would work to rid your dresser of the smoke scent. Just make sure they are dry before you put them in the drawers. ::blink blink::

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  7. ColSeptember 22, 2007 at 11:53 PM

    The b-king soda route is the one I'd recommend, but I'd step it up a notch...

    Make a paste (or a watery slurry) from the baking soda and paint it on the dresser- all over it. Leave it to dry for a few days, then clean it off with a wet rag. I do this when I forget that I added lemons or cucumber to my nalgene and then throw it into the trunk of my car, only to discover it months later and have to deal with the abominable smell.

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  8. jillSeptember 23, 2007 at 12:03 PM

    omg that is ridiculous. a paste of baking soda? just start smoking already so you can't smell anything.

    geez

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  9. CaseySeptember 23, 2007 at 5:44 PM

    I have an uncle that used to sell used cars, they would cut up orange slices and put them under the seats of the cars to get rid of smoke smell.

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  10. RobbSeptember 24, 2007 at 5:26 AM

    What the heck is nalgene?

    I guess I have another reason to support a nanny state that prohibits smoking even in the privacy of your own home, because I'm still paying for someone else's bad habit. I'm a Libertarian until it inconveniences me, and then I'm big brother all the way! ::grin::

    We put clothes in the dresser, and so far it isn't noticable. Most things I've googled says there are ways to mask the smell (i.e. gasoline filled rags, thanks mom), but the only way to really get rid of it would be to use some laquer or something to seal the tar residue into the wood permanently. WAAAAAY too much work.

    We considered taking up smoking, which sadly seems to be the best suggestion. But it seems kind of expensive, not only the stuff to buy but then a lifetime of hospital bills, and I'm way too cheap for that. Also, once my belongings are sold at auction after I die an early death some poor sap is going to be looking on the internet to find a way to get the stink out of his new dresser...I'd like to think there was more to the circle of life than just that, so I'll try and break the cycle here and now. But thanks for the idea, really.

    And honestly, what is nalgene? I'm just curious.

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  11. Miss ChievousSeptember 24, 2007 at 1:03 PM

    If I'm not mistaken, nalgene is something they use in water bottles and other camping gear to prevent the growth of mold so you can use them over and over again without fear of getting poisoned. But, I'm sure you could Google it to verify that :)

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  12. ColSeptember 24, 2007 at 2:46 PM

    a "nalgene" are those tough, reusable hard plastic water bottles you see people taking everywhere, and the throwing into the back trunk of the car to spoil in the sun for months. I was SURE that you, the King of Culture, would have known THAT. pshhh. what a poser.


    ..You DO know what a poser is, right Robb?


    *grin*

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  13. jillSeptember 25, 2007 at 10:45 AM

    nalgene...go to www.rei.com

    and hey...my suggestion was recognized for being the best. woohoo. :)

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  14. RobbSeptember 28, 2007 at 8:24 AM

    Colin, cool kids don't do lame things like go camping with reusable equipment. Recycling is for hippies. Like, duh.

    ::grin::

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