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I'd wash it inside and out with a barely damp cloth saturated in vinegar. Then I'd leave it open out in the sun for a week. Next, I'd set a bowl of either baking soda or charcoal in it and bring it inside to see how it does. Charcoal removes the smell from old books so maybe it'll do the same on the trunk.
I came to this site when trying to freshen and sell a steamer trunk from the '40s. I tried bleach water spray and fresh air. I tried Spic n Span spray and fresh air. I put bowls of fresh ground coffee in all levels and closed it for days. Once the coffee was removed, the musty odor returned.
Wow I'm so happy i found ur website. I just found a beautiful trunk and it didn't smell at thrift store but when i got it home the oder hit me i have sinus problems and can't bring my beautiful trunk inside. Now i can I'm going to get soap thanks for ur help. Sincerely Linda Smith
I tried every method I found on the internet. None of them worked for me. Then I came up with the idea I stained the wood with oil based stained. I did two coats. Then I did three coats of high gloss oil-based varnish.
They say a bag of charcoal (not saturated with lighting fluid) will remove any smell. Just rip open the bag and leave in the trunk a few days!
I tried it all and within an hour or so, the odor returned. Finally, I placed several opened bars of Irish Spring soap inside (each bar set on top of its own box) and closed the trunk for 5 days.
Spray with lysol and one day in the sun will do it. Then leave the top open inside for a few days or just leave it opened. If you close it, place a bar of soap in it.
Have you tried crumpling up newspaper and leaving it in the trunk for a few days? Or try fresh coffee grounds. Put them in a bowl and leave them for a few days.
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