I purchased an old church pew that had been used in a nursing home smoking room. How can I get the smell out?
Answers:
I wouldn't have bought it. That's gonna be tough. Clean it really well with ammonia. Air it. Clean it with lemon. Air it. Spray it with Petrotech Odor Remover (from Petsmart). Air it. Paint it with Kilz primer that seals odors. Maybe twice. Paint it the color you want.
When it is thoroughly dry, sit in it. Then wonder why you bought an uncomfortable old pew anyway.
Other answers:
try bleach and water or baking soda and water.
try bleach and water or baking soda and water.
One thing you should do is sand it down...then try wiping it down with part water part White vinegar...let it air.Let it dry. then FABREEZE..or some cleanser with fabreeze...or Lemon scent. Or try finding someone who specializes in wood care.,and refurbishing
is the smell from the smoke or just old folks smell? LOL
vinegar should do the trick. a friend of mine had an old sewing machine in a wood cabinet and it smelled horrid of mildew and she soaked a bunch of newspaper in listerine and put in there and closed the door for several days and she said it worked. maybe you could try rubbing it down with a rag soaked in listerine.
You might have to paint over it with a primer sealer like Zinsser...
If there is any exposed wood on the pew you will probably need to strip and re-finish it. Once the wood is sealed it shouldn't smell anymore.
set it outside in the air (out of the elements) and clean it with Murphy's Oil Soap. If it has a cushion try fabreeze