I have an old cedar chest, it was the home of what smells like a lot of mothballs over the years. I have tried baking soda, a commercial organic (cats, dogs, skunks) smell remover solution, airing it out in the hot sun all summer, filling it up with crushed mint leaves and stems to mask the odour, it's still there. Is there anything, such as boiling the volatile oils out of the wood with a heat-gun inch by inch, that will work or do I seal it with varathane or some such stuff? Thanks a lot, really enjoy your show, how do you know all that stuff, or better yet, how do you remember it?
Answer:
The varathane didn't work because the joints and cracks in the wood are still holding on to the mothball odour. Check with your local vintner and ask him how he cleans his wooden barrels. He may just let you bring in your cedar chest and give it a go with same equipment.
