Forum Archive

My parents have an antique (circa 1910) wardrobe that has gorgeous inlay. It belonged to my great-great grandparents and has been passed down in my family. My parents have offered it to me and I’m excited to take it, but there is one problem: mothball odor!

My parents and grandparents have used the wardrobe for storing winter clothes for the past 60-odd years. The entire armoire REEKS of mothballs.

I am a 20-something guy and, while the odor of mothballs brings up happy memories of my grandparents, I’m afraid that if I put my clothes in this thing, they will come out smelling like Grandpa (minus the Ben-Gay).

My parents have not used mothballs for about 15 years (so they say) but it still smells.

Is this an odor that I can get rid of by simply airing the piece out? Or has the smell so permeated the wood that the piece is essentially ruined?

The piece is still at my parents’ house, so I’m not going to go through the hassle of moving it to my apartment if the smell is going to be a problem . . .

Thanks!