How to Get Rid of New Wood Smell

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New wood smell can be strong when wood paneling is first installed.

Some people like the smell of fresh-cut wood, new wood furniture or the inside of a newly built log cabin. If you're not one of these people, the smell of new wood can be an unpleasant presence in your home until it finally disappears. Since it can take a while for the new wood smell to dissipate on its own, use the right procedures and supplies to effectively get rid of new wood smell without harming the wood surface.

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Step 1

Fresh air is an effective deodorizer.

Open the windows in the room affected by new wood smell. Allow the fresh air to circulate through the room for several hours a day, each day, until the smell is gone.

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Step 2

Make a solution containing 1/2 gallon white vinegar and 1/2 gallon hot water. Wash the wood surface with the deodorizing solution. Do not rinse the vinegar solution off after washing -- just wipe the wood surface dry with a clean cloth.

Step 3

Place a wood item small enough to fit in a plastic trash bag inside the bag. Add a few fabric softener sheets and close the bag. Let the wood item remain with the fabric softener sheets for a few days to remove the wood smell.

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Step 4

Treat a larger wood surface, such as a table or floor, by sprinkling baking soda over the surface. Allow the powder to absorb the new wood smell from the wood as it sets overnight. Vacuum the baking soda the next day.

Step 5

Cat litter sachets help absorb wood smell.

Deodorize the room that smells of new wood with odor-absorbing sachets. Cut old nylons at the knees and fill halfway with charcoal-based cat litter. Tie the top of the nylons in knots to keep the litter from falling out. Place the cat litter sachets throughout the room, using three or four to a room to absorb new wood odor.

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