I recently moved into a rental with wooden butcher block countertops and an island, and I'm dealing with a horrible rancid oil smell in the place. I found a bottle of "Hope Tung Oil" in the cupboard, which I think the previous tenant used recently. Is there a way to get rid of this odor?
3 Answers
That rancid smell is actually normal while tung oil dries. The time it lingers depends on how much was applied. You might try warming the room to speed up the curing process. Some folks add a bit of Japan drier to speed things up, but if you're not experienced with wood finishes, it’s probably best to leave that one alone. Just keep ventilating!
Since you're renting, it's best to hold off on any major fixes. Tung oil can take a while to cure, sometimes a few weeks depending on temperature and conditions. Just keep the windows open to air out the place and give it some time to settle. It should improve eventually.
Honestly, if you’re renting, this isn’t really your problem to fix. Be sure to bring it up with management; they should take care of it. Don’t hesitate to be firm about it!