Scented Kitty Litter, Baking Soda Will Eliminate Mildew Odors

Mr. Handyperson: A few years ago I refinished a dresser that belonged to my great aunt. I was very pleased with the results, and now have it in our bedroom. The problem is that it has a bad mildew smell that I cannot seem to get rid of. I have tried baking soda and newspapers in the drawers, but that did not work. We keep our out-of-season clothes in that dresser, but they all need to be washed when we are ready to wear them again, because they smell like the dresser.

The smell is not quite as bad now as it was. I am, however, ready to get rid of the dresser if this smell persists. I would hate to do that since it really is a beautiful piece of furniture.

I would appreciate any advice you might have.

A: Mr. HandyPerson wants you to stop thinking about getting rid of that dresser right this minute! He knows the musty smell can be frustrating, but he also knows how much time and elbow grease is involved in refinishing an old piece of wood furniture, and he doesn't want you to have to part with your family heirloom.

You're off to a good start with the baking soda and crumpled-up newspapers. This alone will often work on less stubborn odors, though one needs to be very persistent about continuing to remove and replace the newspapers every few days for as long as it takes.

Another approach is to place a shallow baking pan filled with scented kitty litter in each of the drawers, discarding the used litter every week or so and replacing it with fresh until the odor dissipates. This usually works for all but the worst cases.

If it doesn't work for you, one final big gun is still out there. On a warm, dry, sunny day, get the dresser into a very well-ventilated area, and wipe all interior surfaces, drawers, top and bottom, and everything you can reach inside the dresser with a rag dampened (not dripping wet) with white vinegar. Do not saturate the wood, as this can damage it or cause warping. Simply wipe off every surface you can reach with the dampened rag, and then let it air out for a few hours out of direct sunlight (which can damage the finish you so laboriously redid). This almost never fails.

If it does, you still have one more option to be able to keep and use the dresser, which is to store the clothing in sealed plastic bags, along with generous padding of crumpled newspapers, changed as often as you remember to do it over the year. Eventually, the smell will go away, with luck, before you're ready to pass the dresser on to the next generation.

The reason, by the way, that the odor is less strong this year than last is because the clothing you've been storing and washing periodically has been absorbing the odor gradually on its own.

Since there is a noticeable difference after only one season, Mr. HP is convinced that you'll be successful fairly quickly using some of the odor-absorbent strategies he suggests.

Mark Hetts' home repair column runs as space allows in the Home/Real Estate section. Send questions and comments to: Mr. HandyPerson, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111.