New carpet smell is a non-toxic aroma caused by Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs. The best way to get rid of new carpet smell is through proper ventilation during install and for 72 hours after.
Why Does New Carpet Smell?
That new carpet smell is caused by chemicals known as Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs. These include chemicals frequently used in the manufacturing of household products like paint, vinyl flooring, wall coverings and floor finishes. “Volatile” means that they evaporate at room temperature. So, as the new carpet fumes gradually release, or "off-gas," the chemicals, they enter the air where we can smell them.
Is New Carpet Smell Toxic to Inhale?
The new carpet smell is unlikely to be harmful long term, though it can cause some short-term symptoms in the form of headaches, dizziness, and mild nose and throat irritation. Sensitive groups, like newborns and those with a history of respiratory issues, may react more strongly. Proper ventilation is key to clearing up the smell, and symptoms should go away once the smell is gone.
How Long Will New Carpet Smell Last?
With proper ventilation, the new carpet smell should only last a week or two. Our tips below can help get rid of the smell sooner!
How to Get Rid of New Carpet Smell & Odors
Time will get rid of the new carpet smell. But if you want to get rid of the smell faster, try these tips.
Before You Purchase
Choose a carpet that has a Carpet and Rug Institute Green Label and Green Label Plus tags on it. These are highly recommended as they "off-gas" low emission chemicals.
Unroll & Air Out
Before your carpet is installed, unroll it in a dry, well-ventilated room for about 3 days. This helps it "off-gas" most of its chemical fumes.
Avoid Carpet Glues
Ask your installers to staple or tack down your carpet instead of using glue. Gluing carpet down will increase the number of chemicals used, and the smell of the glue can be irritating.
Ventilate During & After Installation
Ventilation is the best way to eliminate the new carpet smell. During and after installation, open your windows, turn several fans on the high-speed setting and point some at the windows to help push the fumes outside.
Keep this going for about 72 hours or until the odor goes away enough for you. You can consider running your air conditioner or heater as it will increase air ventilation, but it will run up your electrical bill fast.
Use an Ozone Generator
Ozone generators take in oxygen molecules from the air and give them an electrical charge, turning them into O3, or ozone. These O3 molecules then attach themselves to pollutants like bacteria, germs and odors and destroy them. This makes ozone generators highly effective at removing new carpet smells.
To use an ozone generator, make sure there are no people, pets or plants in the room and run the generator for 30-60 minutes, depending on the size of your room. Allow it to ventilate for an additional 1-2 hours before returning to the room.
Sprinkle Baking Soda & Vacuum
Baking soda can help absorb odor. Just sprinkle some baking soda on the carpet, leave it overnight and vacuum it up in the morning.
Use Air Purifiers & Natural Absorbents
With the help of a few items you have around the house, you can absorb odors naturally.
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Place small bowls of vinegar where the carpet chemicals smell the strongest.
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Slice a couple of large onions in half and place the halves in small bowls with a small amount of water. Then place these bowls around the room and leave them overnight. The onions will help dissipate the scent and speed up the reduction of the odor. (Just make sure they are out of the reach of children or pets!)
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Slice several apples into halves and place them on saucers or in small bowls with a small amount of water. Place the bowls around the room and leave overnight. The properties of the apples will help remove some of the scent and give the room a cleaner smell.
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Get house plants, as they can help filter chemicals from the air.
Cleaning Your New Carpet
For really stubborn odor, steam cleaning your carpet can help by rinsing away any chemical residue that might be left in the carpet fibers. Doing it yourself with a basic steam cleaner is a good start, but having a professional carpet cleaning is better.
You should always frequently vacuum your carpet, even if it's not new. However, vacuuming often when you get a new carpet can help reduce the smell. Try to do this every day or every other day to see if it eliminates the odor.
Also, make sure you vacuum the carpet right after it's installed, since there may be debris and loose fuzz on the floor.
Get more carpet cleaning tips.
Finish the look
Now that your new carpet is installed, it’s time to give the rest of the house some love! From custom runners and area rugs to window treatments, we can help bring your design goals to life.
Area Rugs & Runners
Most of our wall-to-wall carpet styles can be made into a custom rug or runner. Let your new carpet inspire you to bring your style into other rooms of your house!
Window Treatments
Add a finishing touch to your room with custom blinds, shutters and shades.
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