u/Buttermilk_Bunch

I have to leave my kitchen cabinets cracked to prevent gross smells building up in them. I’m assuming it’s coming from the wood absorbing something or the finish that was originally used. However, leaving them open isn’t a great option thanks to the steady stream of mice here. What sealant should I use if I don’t know what is already on the wood? I don’t want the new coat I put on the peel off because of something underneath it, and I certainly don’t want to spend a bunch of time sanding the old coat off. The cabinet doors are knotty pine, and I have no idea when they were added to the house. I’m sure the doors are coated with shellac, but I’m not sure if the inside of the cabinets are the same.