I received a wooden yarn bowl as a Christmas gift from a friend, and while I really enjoy using it, there's a strong, unpleasant smell coming from it that I can't get rid of. I've tried washing it and leaving it to air out in my backyard for a week, but nothing seems to help. The smell fills up my small hobby room in just a few hours and even affects the yarn stored inside. I suspect the issue might be the finish on the bowl, which seems to have a clear, shiny lacquer. I'm considering stripping the old finish and refinishing it myself, but I'm not sure how to do that. Does anyone have suggestions?
2 Answers
Do you happen to know what type of wood it is? Some woods, like elm, can have funky smells. If the odor is really bad, I’d say it might be best to just part ways with the bowl instead of risking using it for yarn. But if you’re attached to it, maybe try resealing it properly!
It sounds like the finish is what's causing all that smell; it shouldn't linger like that. It might have been poorly applied with too little hardener, which can cause it to remain tacky or even leach out smells. If it's safe and possible, you could try contacting the store where it was purchased to see if they can help, though I get that it's probably not a returnable item if it was a gift. Just be careful with it since some finishes might be reactive and could heat up over time!
Yeah, I don’t think it’s a good idea to return it since my friend bought it last fall, and it's past the return period. I just want to use the bowl as intended or find a new purpose for it if needed. Thanks for your input!
I’m not sure what wood it is, but the smell isn't anything like cat pee or rancid, so I don't think that's the issue. I’d love to figure out a way to salvage the bowl.