Cleaning an old chest of drawers typically involves removing dust and grime, tackling any stubborn odors, and potentially conditioning the wood, paying special attention to ventilation and drying to preserve its condition.
Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning an Old Chest of Drawers
Reviving an old chest of drawers requires a gentle yet effective approach to remove years of dust, dirt, and potentially unpleasant smells without damaging the finish or structure.
Step 1: Empty and Prepare
- Remove Contents: Take out everything from the drawers.
- Remove Drawers: Carefully pull out all the drawers from the chest cavity. This allows you to clean both the drawers and the inside of the chest thoroughly.
- Initial Dusting: Use a dry cloth or a soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to remove loose dust and cobwebs from both the inside and outside of the chest and the drawers.
Step 2: Wash Surfaces
- Gentle Cleaning Solution: Mix a small amount of mild dish soap or wood cleaner with water. Dampen a soft cloth with the solution (do not saturate it).
- Clean Surfaces: Wipe down all exterior surfaces of the chest and the interior of the chest cavity. Pay attention to corners and crevices.
- Clean Drawers: Clean the inside and outside surfaces of each drawer using the damp cloth.
- Dry Thoroughly: Immediately follow with a dry cloth to wipe away all moisture. It's crucial that the wood is completely dry to prevent warping or mildew. Allow parts to air dry completely before reassembling.
Step 3: Tackle Stubborn Odors
Old furniture can often hold onto musty or stale odors. Addressing these smells is a key part of cleaning.
- Using Baking Soda: A highly effective method for absorbing odors from within the drawers is using baking soda.
- Action: Generously sprinkle baking soda inside each empty drawer.
- Duration: Leave the baking soda in place for at least 24 hours to absorb smells.
- Repetition: For persistent or strong odors, you may need to repeat this process several times. One person noted doing this several times for particularly stubborn smells.
- Removal: After the waiting period, vacuum or wipe out all the baking soda.
- Addressing Remaining Odor: Even after repeating the baking soda treatment, a faint odor might still be noticeable.
- Solution: If a faint odor remains, add a pretty scented drawer liner to the inside of the drawers. This helps to mask any residual smell and ensures that your clothes or items stored inside do not pick up a bad odor.
Step 4: Clean Hardware (Optional)
If the knobs or pulls are dirty or tarnished, you can remove them and clean them separately using an appropriate cleaner for the material (e.g., brass cleaner, silver cleaner).
Step 5: Finishing Touches
- Condition Wood: If the wood looks dry, you can apply a wood conditioner or furniture polish according to the product instructions.
- Reassemble: Once all parts are clean, dry, and odor-free, carefully slide the drawers back into the chest.
Cleaning an old chest of drawers takes patience, but the results can significantly improve its appearance and usability, making it a pleasant place to store your belongings.
