A friend of mine was so fortunate as to recently purchase a real old-fashioned wooden butter churn. However, the person she bought it from smoked cigarrettes, and the churn smells like stale cigarrette smoke. She wants me to ask if anyone knows how to clean a butter churn in such a condition. She is afraid to use conventional cleaners or detergents for fear that this also will be absorbed by the wood. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

-- Lela Picking (Stllwtrs55@aol.com), January 14, 2002

Answers

Try a solution of vinegar and water? Or salt, vinegar, and water? Or maybe a 5% bleach solution? Maybe try it on a test piece of wood to see which one works best...

-- Karen (karen-reed@uiowa.edu), January 14, 2002.

Most cleaners would be absorbed by the wood if it's a real old churn with lots of use. Then would be absorbed by the butter as well - uugggh! Is the smell on the inside as well, or just on the outside?

My momma used 1 cup white vinegar to 1 gallon water, keep swishing it around every hour or so for at least a day. Then rinse several times with full churn of water. Lastly, fill to top with clear water and let it set for a few hours to absorb last of vinegar, then pitch water in the garden and set churn outside on the porch out of direct sun for a few days.

If on the outside, scrub it with same mixture. Have to do it several times, rinse well, and leave on the porch etc. Just keep doinn' it till it doesn't stink anymore.

That was quite a rare find. The real ones just don't seem to exist anymore. Good luck.

If on outside

-- HarleyinFL (cruisindog@juno.com), January 14, 2002.

I have made a paste of water and baking soda to clean odors from my wooden cutting board. You might try that. Let us know what works.

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhill@eznet.net), January 14, 2002.

All the recommendations you've had thus far are tried and true remidies. IF none of those work, I would lightly sand the churn, then clean with vinegar/baking soda, let dry and oil lightly with a food grade oil. You might have to give the first batch to the pigs or the birds or what-have-you but, once the churn is re-seasoned (like a cast iron skillet) it should be good to go! Enjoy, that is quite a find!

-- Kathy (catfish201@hotmail.com), January 14, 2002.

Wooden butter churns are still available ... thru LEHMANS catalog...

-- Kristean Thompson (pigalena_babe@yahoo.com), January 14, 2002.