How to Get Rid of New Carpet Smell? Is this Smell Safe?

Adding a new carpet to your room can spruce it up instantly, but that new carpet’s smell can be very off-putting! Here’s how to get rid of it.

One of the easiest ways to give new life to an old room is by adding a new carpet. Carpets can come in all sizes and colors, so you can customize the room exactly how you like it.

Whether you want a pop of color to the whole floor, or want to add a fluffy and comfortable accent piece to a room; all you need to do is go out and pick a carpet that will fulfill your needs.

Unfortunately though, adding a carpet looks great, but new carpets don’t have the most pleasant smell.

As you enter a room with a new carpet, it becomes quite obvious that there’s something different, even before you see anything!

The good news is that it doesn’t take much to get rid of that new carpet smell. Here’s why your carpet has that new smell and how to get rid of it:

Why Do New Carpets Have a Smell?

Carpets are made in layers. These layers include the backing and a few more that require adhesives to be put together.

Carpets also have dyes and anti-static agents and other such solutions to make the final product. All these chemicals and solutions are the reason your carpet has that smell.

Your new carpet gives off these smells because of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that are being broken down and releasing off-gasses.

Volatile in the case of VOCs means that these compounds evaporate when they come into contact with room temperature air.

From the moment you put your new carpet into your home, it is going to start giving off these fumes.

These fumes are the same that are released from paint, vinyl flooring and other such substances and fixtures that you put in your home that have a similar off putting smell.

Is This Smell Dangerous?

These fumes released by VOCs aren’t particularly dangerous as long as you keep your room well ventilated.

However, some people do feel the effects more than others. The fumes can cause asthma like symptoms, nausea, itchy nose and throat and headaches as well.

Luckily, you can follow the steps below to ensure the smell is gone as soon as possible so you won’t have to deal with these annoyances.

How to Get Rid of New Carpet Smell

We don’t want these fumes hanging around in our newly carpeted room. For that reason, you need to remove the smell from the air and the carpet itself. Here are ways you can do both:

Cleaning the Air:

Start by ensuring that your room is well ventilated. Open all the windows and keep the ceiling fan on. If you don’t have a ceiling fan, you can put a pedestal fan in the room to make sure that you are directing the fumes outside. Keep the door to the room closed so the fumes do not enter the house.

If you have an air purifier, put it in the room to further speed up the process. Make sure it is one with an activated carbon filter.

These are also present in some ACs, so if your AC has it, switch that on as well.

Other steps you can take are adding certain plants to the room that can break down VOC emissions.

These plants include bamboo palm, English ivy, boston fern and spider plant.

Cleaning the Carpet:

The most effective way to get rid of the smell is by getting it steam cleaned by a professional. This will get rid of all the chemical residue left on your new carpet that wasn’t washed away by the manufacturers.

If you do not want to get a professional, you can even rent a steam cleaner from your local home improvement store and steam clean it yourself.

If the smell is not that strong, a simple home remedy can help as well.

Sprinkle baking soda all over your carpet and let it sit for 30 minutes; the baking soda will absorb the chemical smells.

Use a vacuum cleaner to remove the baking soda from your carpet. You can repeat this process in a week if you think the smell has not dissipated completely.

You can also place a few bowls filled with vinegar in the room overnight to further absorb any fumes released by the carpet.

If you are particularly sensitive to the smell of new carpets or VOC emissions, there are carpets that exist in the market that are low-VOC or VOC-free.

Carpets in general do not release many VOC emissions, it is just the sheer size of the carpeting that makes the smell strong.

Look for carpets with natural dyes to further reduce the smell they give off. These are great options for those who find the smell unbearable. If not, follow the steps above and your home will be odor free in less than a week!