Mothball odor in a cedar chest - what to do?

[www.4naturalcleaning.com]

Hey all --

Friend of mine got a cedar chest from her sister, and apparantly the sister
kept mothballs in there too. Now the chest reaks of mothballs and she's not
sure how to get the smell out.

Any suggestions? Simply "airing it out" hasn't helped, and I haven't a clue
what to suggest... my mother suggested lightly sanding the cedar to "release
the cedar smell" as she put it. I'm not sure that would get the odor out
though... but like I said, I don't know what to suggest.

tia...
--
- Michael
http://www.4naturalcleaning.com
http://www.MotherEarthHouseCleaning.com

[Phisherman]

On Fri, 4 Jun 2004 01:06:22 -0400, "www.4naturalcleaning.com"
<michael@4naturalcleaningREMOVE.com> wrote:

>Hey all --
>
>Friend of mine got a cedar chest from her sister, and apparantly the sister
>kept mothballs in there too. Now the chest reaks of mothballs and she's not
>sure how to get the smell out.
>
>Any suggestions? Simply "airing it out" hasn't helped, and I haven't a clue
>what to suggest... my mother suggested lightly sanding the cedar to "release
>the cedar smell" as she put it. I'm not sure that would get the odor out
>though... but like I said, I don't know what to suggest.
>
>tia...


Take the chest outside. Allow the sun to reach the inside of the
chest for several hours. Your mother is correct about a light
sanding.

[Leyf]

"Phisherman" <nobody@noone.com> wrote in message
news:cgl0c0tron6rfhcmjna74dcp00d61430hd@4ax.com...
> Take the chest outside. Allow the sun to reach the inside of the
> chest for several hours. Your mother is correct about a light
> sanding.

For cedar (in a closet or a chest) to really function well for pestproofing
clothing, etc. it needs a light sanding on a fairly regular basis (at least
every other year if not every year). You only want to just lightly scuff the
wood, not take off any noticeable amount - after all, you're not going to
paint or varnish it.

Leyf