I got my son a big plastic Pixar "Cars" twin size bed for his Christmas present (I still have to put it together). All the suggestions online claim to use a piece of plywood underneath the matress - that way the edges are still high enough to keep a 3-4 year old from rolling out (instead of using a box spring, which would make the matress sit higher).

Anyway, I bought a very nice piece of plywood - very smooth finish to avoid possible splinters.

However, even after having it sit outside for 2 weeks, if I put it in my garage, it has a strong enough wood smell to bother my allergies... No way I can put it inside in his room.

Anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of that smell - or at least make it less strong?

I thought about a water sealer, but I don't want a strong chemical smell...

[This message has been edited by MisterShipWreck (edited 12/6/2010 9:28a).]

1. Is it interior/exterior ply, or is it pressure treated exterior?

2. You are allergic to wood?

3. Paint it or varnish it, seal it up.

No. 3 on Mouth's list should do the trick.

OK, thanks for the help guys... I'll use the same paint we have in our house. The smell from the paint always goes away very quickly. I'll give that a shot this weekend. Maybe I'll throw a coat of primer down on it first too.

It's putting out that same smell ya get when ya walk into the lumber section of lowes or home depot.

I did have the sheet cut to fit the bed, so I thought that the smell may have been emanating because of the fresh cuts on the wood. But, I'm not a construction guy and know zero about wood and such.

Water based polyurethane. Cheap and easy.

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You are allergic to wood?

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I am allergic to pollen, dust, and pretty much anything outdoors. I can touch furniture and such - but I do itch if I touch unfinished wood. And, the smell bothers my allergies whenever I go into Lowes or Home Depot and stay in the store for too long.

My hands were itching after I handled the wood, actually.

I honestly do not remember - It was like $25 or $28 a sheet. It was some of the higher end stuff. I did tell the guy about what I wanted it for (indoor on a bed), and we found the smoothest finished one. I got it at home depot.

I will try painting it this weekend, and then let it sit outside until Christmas. After a few days, I'll sit it in my garage for a little while and see how the smell is. If it doesn't work, I'll go back and pick something else up.

[This message has been edited by MisterShipWreck (edited 12/6/2010 10:13a).]

Ok, appreciate the info.

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It's putting out that same smell ya get when ya walk into the lumber section of lowes or home depot.

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Just something to keep in mind, using anything but a box spring immediately voids the warranty. I don't know if you care at all about that, but something to keep in mind. Probably not a huge deal with a kid's mattress.

Ok, thanks for the info. For a $99 twin matress, though, I'm not that worried about it.

My son rolls all over in his crib right now, so I prefer to have the flywood, and then the edges of the bed holding him in,

Someone on another forum suggested this:

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Seal it in painters plastic sheet rolls - cut and use duck tape, trap, confine, smells.. done

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I am really contemplating doing this..... WHat do ya'll think?

I don't really feel like painting this thing, and can't get to doing that until this weekend... If I got the thickest grade of plastic sheeting.... Just wondering if it would smell like a new shower curtain does..

or just use something like this:



http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60160217

[This message has been edited by Tree Hugger (edited 12/6/2010 1:21p).]

I wish I had seen that before.

I think I'll do the plastic tonight. If that doesn't work, I'll order that piece from ikea.

It turns out that it IS exterior wood. I see it on the plywood now. Damn guy at the store shouldn't have sold me that. I know zero about wood and didn't know that there was interior and exterior plywood...

I covered it in plastic - we'll see how that works.

[This message has been edited by MisterShipWreck (edited 12/6/2010 6:26p).]

I just got an idea - to cover any possible smell of the painters plastic, I'll get a mattress zipper bag and put that over it. Problem solved.

Anyway, thanks for all the ideas, guys!

Well, I think the 3mil plastic, covered by a $8 plastic mattress bag will be fine for now. I've already got the wood covered for now.

A cheap, non allergy matress bag doesn't cost that much for that size.

As the wood fits INTO a big plastic car bed, surrounded on polymer on all sides, I don't think it's likely to tear.