• Home
    • About
    • Services & Policies
    • Just the Woods Media Kit
  • Furniture
    • Past Painted Projects- SOLD
  • Shop Products
    • Shop Wise Owl Chalk Synthesis Paint
    • Shop Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral Paint
    • Shop my Favorite Tools & Supplies
    • eBook
  • FREE Stuff
    • Affordable Back Drop Options
    • How to Paint Furniture – A Beginners Guide
  • Learn
    • Video Tutorials & Downloadable eBooks
  • Blog
    • Recipes
    • painted furniture
    • DIY / Crafts
    • Home Decor
    • Monthly Social Blog Hops with the Best DIY Blogs
  • About Me
    • Nutrition & Health Coaching
  • 0 items

Just the Woods, LLC | a Colorful Home & Healthy Lifestyle Blog

a Colorful Home & Healthy Lifestyle Blog

  • Blog
  • Recipes
  • Nutrition & Health Coaching
  • Painted Furniture
  • DIY / Crafts
    • Home Decor
  • About Me

How to Restore an Old Steamer Trunk in a Few Simple Steps

Share & Save for later!

13.6K shares
  • Share143
  • Tweet
  • Email

Steamer trunk restoration project, remove mildew odor, secure old labels and learn How to Restore an Old Steamer Trunk in a Few Simple Steps. 

Have you heard of steamer trunks? Have you ever wondered what is a steamer trunk or what makes it different from any other wooden trunk or chest? A steamer trunk actually got its name because it was designed to be used aboard a steamship, also known as a “steamer”. These sturdy wooden travel chests were popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s for those traveling long distances aboard these ships. Which is exactly where this particular antique trunk came from. Steamer trunk restoration project, remove mildew odor, secure old labels and learn How to Restore an Old Steamer Trunk in a Few Simple Steps. #steamertrunk #trunkrestoration #howtorestoreanoldtrunk #restoringoldtrunks #antiquetrunkrestoration #howtocleananoldsteamertrunk #refinishedtrunk #steamertrunk #removemildewodor #removeodorDisclosure: This post is sponsored by Wise Owl and contains affiliate links for your convenience. Click here for my full disclosure policy. 

how to paint furniture, furniture painting blog, painted furniture blogs, furniture painting techniques

Steamer Trunk Restoration

Materials Needed / Source List:

  • Shop-Vac
  • Furniture Dollies
  • OdoBan
  • Mod Podge
  • Wax Brush
  • Wise Owl Lemon Salve
  • Clean Rag or Old T-shirt

History of a Steamer Trunk

This old antique chest had been used by my husband’s great-grandparents as they traveled back and forth between Italy and Staten Island. Many of the vintage labels are still visible on the trunk. The multiple trips between New York and Europe took a toll on this wooden chest leaving evidence of its history as well, as making it that much more important to be restored.antique steamer trunk, vintage steamer, dirty old chest, wooden trunk

A steamer trunk restoration is easier than you may think once you tackle a few obstacles. There are always a few obstacles. In the case of this steamer chest here are the main issues:

  • spider webs
  • mildew odor
  • labels falling off

Let’s address these issues. First, you want to clean off as much of the dust and spider webs and basic yuck as you can. Grab your shop vac and thoroughly vacuum all of that crud off. Don’t forget to tilt the trunk or lay it down to get the underneath. I avoid using the house vacuum for things like this and use a shop vac dedicated to these furniture projects. The thought of antique spiderwebs in the vacuum that cleans my living room grosses me out. If you don’t have a shop vac you can find one (here) Also, you want to remove some of the dust while not damaging the already delicate wood. Lightly brush the wooden travel chest with a dry paintbrush to ‘dust off’ the dust and dirt. I do not sand or scrub the wood.

Click here to Pin this post for later.

How to Remove Mildew Odor From Wood

This step is a little harder than the first. This antique steamer trunk started with such a strong mildew odor that I would not allow it into my home. It had spent many years in a basement after all of its trips back and forth to Europe. Words can’t describe how bad it was. There are numerous methods for how to remove mildew smell from wood. Im sharing my method.

The first step to rid this large steamer trunk of the stench is to air it out. I left the trunk in my storage unit for a couple of months with the lid open before bringing in to the shop. This helped but certainly did not do the job completely. My next step is to spray the vintage steamer trunk with OdoBan.

odoban, remove mildew scent, remove mildew smell from wood,

The inside of the wooden chest is lightly sprayed with OdoBan. Do not drench the wood. This is done multiple times over the course of a few days, making sure to let the spray dry completely before spraying again. You can find OboBan (here) odoban, eliminate odors, remove mildew odor from wood, restore steamer trunk

Secure Loose Vintage Labels

The vintage steamer trunk is covered in many of the original labels. Most are brittle and falling off. The goal is to safely preserve as many of these old labels as possible.  italy labels, steamer trunk labels, new york travel labels, travel trunk

Grab your Mod Podge and a small paintbrush.

mod podge, glue, craft glue, restore labels, steamer trunk restoration

Very gently apply the Mod Podge underneath the loose labels. apply mod podge under labels, glue loose labels

Next, press the label down and apply more Mod Podge over the labels.

glue, mod podge, white glue, restoration, glue to wood

Let the Mod Podge dry completely.

glue labels to steamer trunk, glue labels to wood, travel labels, tourist labels

Click here to Pin this post for later

Restoring the Antique Wooden Trunk

Now that the small obstacles are out of the way we can focus on the important part, the steamer trunk restoration. My good friend Thea has been raving about her Wise Owl Lemon Verbena and how great it smells and works. Wise Owl was kind enough to send me some Lemon Verbena Furniture Salve to try out for myself. If you’d like to try it too, you can get some (here).

wise owl, lemon verbena, furniture salve

Since this is a furniture salve product I do not want to use the same brush that I would use with my paint. So make sure to use a brush dedicated just to this type of application. Im using a wax type brush. You can find this kind of brush (here).

wise owl, lemon verbena, wax brush, chalk paint brush

Using your dedicated brush apply the lemon verbena to the entire vintage trunk. Work the furniture salve into the wood as well as gently applying over the labels.

restore steamer trunk, restore old wood trunk, furniture salve, restoration

The Wise Owl lemon verbena conditions, seals and protects the wood. But unlike wax, it does not harden leaving a softer and heavenly smelling result. This furniture salve is made with hemp seed oil, natural waxes, cold pressed lavender essential oil and lemon verbena oils. Plus other awesome natural goodness that adds to the strength and superpowers of the salve. You can see here how much of a difference the verbena makes on the steamer trunk. before and after, antique steamer trunk restoration, how to restore a vintage wood trunkWhat a difference, right? As an added bonus you can even use Wise Owl lemon verbena on the metal portions of the steamer. wise owl verbena, salve, restore steamer trunk, vintage steamer, travel trunk

Watch the Restoration in Video

Here is a pre-recorded video done live on Facebook. It’s approximately 30 minutes long, but you are able to fast forward as needed or hang out for the whole video. Many questions can be answered by watching the video, or at least I hope they are.

 

Once the Wise Owl verbena is applied to the entire steamer trunk make sure to go back and buff any excess salve with an old T-shirt. Especially on the metal areas since the product does not absorb into the metal. But here’s a fun fact: Apply and buff well where it’s very dirty to remove the oxidation from metal and remove dirt and debris. How cool! Click here to get Wise Owl verbena. If you would like to check out all of Wise Owls products, including the chalk synthesis paint, primer, wax, glazes, sealers and more you can find them all here: Wise Owl Products.antique steamer trunks, steamer trunk restoration, steamer trunk hardware

If you are a furniture restorer or furniture painter you should also check out How to Save Wooden Drawers with Lemon Verbena. lemon verbena, save wood drawers, preserve wood, wise owl

Restoring an Old Steamer Trunk in a Few Simple Steps

How easy was that? Restored and revived while still preserving age and history. This refurbished steamer trunk can now continue on in our home. My only condition is that it does NOT get filled with toys!

vintage steamer trunks, antique steamer trunks, old steamer trunk

Love steamer trunks but prefer to avoid the restoration process. Looking for a newer version. Find steamer trunks for sale (here)

steamer trunks for sale, old steamer trunk for sale, steamer trunk coffee table for sale,

open steamer trunk, refurbished steamer trunk, large steamer trunk

Click here to Pin this post for later

how to restore a vintage steamer trunk, steamer trunk makeover

what is a steamer trunk, antique steamer trunk restoration

lanterns for sale

steamer trunk, vintage steamer trunk stickers, restoring a steamer trunk

diy steamer trunk, wooden trunk restore, wooden steamer trunk

Love unique home decor but don’t feel like spending hours scouring the internet? Let me do the work for you. Click to be added to the exclusive Home Decor & Fabulous Finds.

home decor deals

Don’t Forget – Follow Just the Woods and Share this post to Inspire others:

FACEBOOK  *  INSTAGRAM  *  PINTEREST

 Stay connected! For more tips and tricks sign up here : 

Steamer trunk restoration project, remove mildew odor, secure old labels and learn How to Restore an Old Steamer Trunk in a Few Simple Steps. #steamertrunk #trunkrestoration #howtorestoreanoldtrunk #restoringoldtrunks #antiquetrunkrestoration #howtocleananoldsteamertrunk #refinishedtrunk #steamertrunk #removemildewodor #removeodor

Steamer trunk restoration project, remove mildew odor, secure old labels and learn How to Restore an Old Steamer Trunk in a Few Simple Steps. #steamertrunk #trunkrestoration #howtorestoreanoldtrunk #restoringoldtrunks #antiquetrunkrestoration #howtocleananoldsteamertrunk #refinishedtrunk #steamertrunk #removemildewodor #removeodor

More from my site

  • How to Decoupage Painted Furniture with Gorgeous Floral PaperHow to Decoupage Painted Furniture with Gorgeous Floral Paper
  • How to Refinish Furniture to its Original Amazing FinishHow to Refinish Furniture to its Original Amazing Finish
  • Painting Fabric Furniture – an Upholstered Chair MakeoverPainting Fabric Furniture – an Upholstered Chair Makeover
  • How to Paint Furniture the Easy Way with Wise Owl PaintHow to Paint Furniture the Easy Way with Wise Owl Paint
  • How to Create Amazing Textured Paint on Furniture with Salt WashHow to Create Amazing Textured Paint on Furniture with Salt Wash
  • How to Paint Furniture with a Fun Boho Drippy Paint EffectHow to Paint Furniture with a Fun Boho Drippy Paint Effect

Share & Save for later!

13.6K shares
  • Share143
  • Tweet
  • Email
« How to Make Delicious & Easy Vanilla Almond Cake Balls
How to Save Wooden Drawers with Lemon Verbena »

Comments

  1. Linda at Mixed Kreations says

    November 15, 2017 at 5:32 am

    What a lovely old trunk! You did a great job restoring it’s old beauty. I’m glad that you were able to save the labels, that’s part of the history and beauty of the trunk.

    Reply
    • sean says

      January 25, 2018 at 7:30 am

      Is it possible to get replacement lock for my trunk.. have done much aa you suggested..thanks Sean in Ireland

      Reply
  2. Michele says

    November 15, 2017 at 1:43 pm

    Kandice,
    My husband and I both enjoyed the photos of the restoration of your trunk. We are glad you were able to preserve the travel labels. This is now a lovely family heirloom.
    Thank you for sharing the photos and the restoration process.
    Michele

    Reply
    • kandice kullmann says

      November 15, 2017 at 1:44 pm

      thank you so much Michele xoxo

      Reply
  3. Felicia Thomason says

    January 22, 2018 at 10:21 pm

    What are your recommendations regarding where to find replacement parts such as handles & casters?

    Reply
    • kandice kullmann says

      January 23, 2018 at 9:03 am

      Felicia, Id probably try ebay for those

      Reply
  4. Debby George says

    January 25, 2018 at 2:14 pm

    I have inherited my great grandmothers streamer trunk. But before I received it, it was painted black and now I am wondering how to get the black paint off and hopefully get it back down to the natural wood. Any suggestions would be helpful.
    Thank you
    Debby

    Reply
    • kandice kullmann says

      January 25, 2018 at 3:21 pm

      You will probably have to strip the paint off. My understanding is that soy gel stripper is the safest product out there and works well top. Citristrip is another. I hope you’re able to save it!

      Reply
  5. Carisse says

    March 11, 2018 at 12:30 pm

    I cannot wait to buy this wise owl. What a beautiful piece.

    Reply
  6. Carolyn Lewis says

    April 27, 2018 at 6:27 am

    I have my grand mother’s trunk from 1904, when she immigrated to America from Finland. I’ve been looking for the perfect restoration answer, I believe I have found that answer right here. My question is, the entire inside of the trunk is covered with paper. I’m trying to decide if I want to leave it, or remove the paper. Will ModPodge help reinforce the paper and preserve it as well? Also, over the years of storage, someone put moth balls in the trunk, even though they are gone, the inside stinks from them. Do you think the OdoBan product will help eliminate that kind of odor?

    Also, I believe the lock does not work, I haven’t tried to push it into the locked position because no one in the family has the key to it. I don’t want it to be stuck locked. Any suggestions you have would be appreciated. Thank you.

    Reply
    • kandice kullmann says

      April 27, 2018 at 11:44 am

      Hi! I would think that the Mod Podge would seal the paper inside the same way that it sealed the labels on the outside of my trunk. I also think the Odoban will help to eliminate the odor – but I did multiple light sprays over the course of a few days making sure to not drench the wood. So I would do the same for your trunk.. baby steps 🙂 .. as far as the lock is concerned Im really not sure. I would probably try to remove it or just not touch it out of fear of accidentally locking the trunk shut lol.

      Reply
  7. Heather says

    December 29, 2018 at 2:22 pm

    How big of a container of Wise Owl did you use for this project?

    Reply
    • kandice kullmann says

      December 30, 2018 at 10:37 am

      I have the 8oz container, I used it for the steamer trunk with enough leftover for multiple other projects 🙂

      Reply
  8. site says

    August 5, 2020 at 6:26 pm

    This will work great on my grandfathers trunk! Thank you for the tips and advice. 🙂

    Reply
  9. Lisa says

    January 9, 2023 at 11:23 am

    So glad I found this article and pics. I’m wanting to restore/preserve my grandfathers trunk with the labels, however it is leather not wood. Would this application process work on leather as well?

    Thank you,
    Lisa

    Reply
    • kandice kullmann says

      February 12, 2023 at 7:27 am

      YES! I haven’t personally used the salve on leather but I do have friends that have and it works beautifully.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Meet the Artist

Meet the Artist – Hey there and welcome to my blog!

Click Here to get to know me better and visit my blog.

Click to Order Furniture Paint

dixie belle, dixie belle paint, chalk paint, chalk mineral paint, order paint, order dixie belle
wise owl, wise owl paint, chalk paint, chalk synthesis paint, furniture paint, non toxix paint

Categories

Copyright

 

All content on this blog is the property of Just the Woods, LLC. You are welcome to share my content (to include one photo only) as long as you provide a link back the original post. DO NOT copy entire posts, or crop, edit, or remove watermarks from photos without written permission from me first. Sharing a post from Just the Woods in a capacity where YOU will be compensated is not permitted. Thank you!

  • Privacy & Disclosure

QUICK LINKS

  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Galleries
  • Contact Us

OUR LOCATION

Saint Johns
Florida
32259
United States
[email protected]

Copyright © 2023 · Market Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

13.6K shares
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email