Hints From Heloise

Dear Heloise: I have a cedar chest that is 70 years old. Before giving it to me, my aunt used mothballs in the chest. The smell has permeated the wood and I cannot get rid of it. I have sanded the interior, let the chest air in the sun for days and even rubbed it with a chemical cleaner.

The mothball odor remains and no one can give me any other ideas. Please help. - Judy Foster, Chester, S.C.

We contacted a leading manufacturer of cedar chests and here is what it suggests.

In a well-ventilated area, preferably outside, wipe out the interior of the chest with naphtha or mineral spirits, following label directions exactly. Read the entire label first, as both of these solvents are flammable. Let the chest air outside in a shady spot (not in the direct sun) until completely dry.

When dry, you may be able to renew the cedar smell by sanding the interior of the chest with 400- or 500-grit sandpaper. Wipe or vacuum up the residue. If this doesn’t bring back the odor, you may want to put small cedar balls or cedar chips in the chest for some cedar smell.

You can also buy cedar oil (usually available from the manufacturer) to wipe down the interior walls. However, if you do this, use caution when putting things back in the chest because the oil may stain. - Heloise

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