Some people hate the smell of a new carpet. This article elucidates how one can remove this smell in simple and easy-to-do ways.
We generally lay carpets in our drawing rooms or may be even bedrooms and bathrooms. The main reason being, enhancing the beauty of the room. Besides adding to the beauty of the room, they also help keep the floor clean which otherwise would get dirty. Also, the feel of the carpet is very likable. Many people might just like the smell of a new carpet, but I am sure most of them develop nausea towards it. People might just become allergic to odor as well.
If you are confused as to how a new carpet carries this irritating smell, then I must mention that it is a industrially processed product. It’s quite obvious that it will smell of the chemicals used during its manufacturing. As a matter of fact, carpets are made from synthetic fibers and other chemicals like latex, soil repellents, flame retardants, anti-static sprays, artificial dyes, urethane, and mainly VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) like formaldehyde, acetone, benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, styrene, etc., which are supposed to be highly toxic in nature. These are often the cause of nausea, fatigue, hair loss, headache, dizziness, irritation, nerve damage, respiratory disorders, allergies, rashes, asthma, loss of memory, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), Environmental Illness (EI), nervous system disorders, etc.
During warmer temperatures, off gassing of these volatile compounds, in the form of vapors, occur. These vapors persist in the rooms when you buy the new carpet and can well extend to remain in the area for a number of months and years. These chemicals are also known to be carcinogenic, so just be careful when next time you go to buy a new carpet. Carpet adhesives are latex compounds, usually styrene butadiene, and 4-PC (phenylchlorohexene) generally used for backing the new carpet. These are again highly toxic and detrimental to our health. Along with adults, these odors are generally said to affect children or pets more, if you have any at home. So make sure you buy a good quality carpet which will be nontoxic and serve you the purpose as well.
Removing Smell From a New Carpet
- Firstly, make sure you buy a carpet having Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Green Label and Green Label Plus tags on the carpet. These are highly recommended, since they have been tested in the laboratories for off-gassing.
- Make sure you ask the manufacturer about the chemicals that have been put into use in the making of the carpet.
- Tell the contractor to air the carpet for at least 2-3 days so that the odors of the volatile chemical compounds go off.
- Make sure you buy carpet brands which have less synthetic chemicals.
- Make it a point to nail the carpet rather than gluing it. Gluing the carpet will increase the number of chemicals, which is not advisable. Also the smell of glue is irritating.
- Make sure you use nontoxic carpet sealant from AFM SafeCoat. This one is highly effective in reducing the odor emitted from a new carpet.
- Spread baking soda on the carpet and keep it overnight. Vacuum the carpet the next day.
- Say, if you are dry vacuum cleaning the carpet by using Steam Carpet Cleaner, then make sure you add vinegar and hot water to it, and then clean the carpet. Vinegar is a natural odor-killer so it will do the needful.
- Make sure you vacuum clean the carpet using HEPA filters which are available with very minute pore size. The air which they release is highly sterile and without any contaminants.
- Keep whole onions or apples soaked in water overnight in the room having the new carpet. These are proven to absorb the nasty odors of the new carpet.
- Place some potted plants in the room so that there is sufficient fresh air prevailing in the room.
Make sure there is enough ventilation and circulation in the room. Switch on the fans and keep the windows open for the same. Lastly, instead of buying synthetic carpets, you can go in for woolen, or hem carpets or rugs, which are equally good. Sisal and Sea grass rugs are very popular nowadays. If the odor prevails even after you have thoroughly cleaned your carpet and taken the above mention measures, then call in a professional carpet cleaning service. The service will cost you extra, but the price is worth it.
