How to get rid of the smell of new furniture. Instructions, tips and tools

A new interior attribute can cause an unpleasant odor in the room, which is not only annoying, but also causes a deterioration in overall well-being.

Even the most expensive pieces of furniture do not guarantee the absence of stench, which completely blocks the joy of a new acquisition. There are several simple recipes that will help quickly eliminate the smell of new furniture and speed up the commissioning process.

Where does the smell come from?

The desired set or designer bed has finally arrived at its permanent location, but after assembly, something is wrong. And instead of joy, the happy owners begin a collective search for the place where the unpleasant aroma comes from.

The reason for the appearance of such a stable train is the peculiarity of the material from which the furniture is made:

Chipboard is a mixture of sawdust and formaldehyde-based adhesive solutions. The latter not only ensures the integrity of the canvas, but is capable of releasing vapors with a characteristic odor.
Varnishes and paints have multi-component compositions that weather for quite a long time.
Leather elements emit the smell of paint that was used during the furniture making period.

Naturally, the cheaper the furniture, the brighter and more unpleasant the smell emanates from it and the longer the weathering process will be. And, if at first this causes irritation, headaches, loss of strength and problems with the respiratory system will appear in the future.

Consequences of breathing polluted air

Toxic substances contained in new furniture can become so ingrained in the elements of the frame or upholstery that they will cause discomfort and unpleasant symptoms for a long time. Even if the aroma has passed or you have already gotten used to it, this does not mean that the danger has passed completely. Vapors of harmful substances enter the air, and even over time are deposited on other furnishings that are most susceptible to absorbing odors. This usually does not pose a direct threat of poisoning, but the cumulative effect leads to breathing complications or irritation of the mucous membranes and skin.

The most dangerous thing is that some manifestations will most likely not be associated with the true cause of their occurrence, but will be attributed to random temporary changes in weather or mood. Here are some symptoms that occur when there is high levels of formaldehyde in the air:

dizziness, migraine;
worsening sleep;
skin rashes, itching, irritation;
fatigue, weakness;
inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes;
attacks of nausea.

On a note!
Sometimes foreign odors seem insignificant or even pleasant; in such cases, it is still worth carrying out at least minimal elimination procedures to avoid negative consequences.

What to do first

It is best to assemble furniture with the windows open.

When a piece of furniture has arrived in a living space, experts recommend assembling it with the window open. This will help to quickly remove the initial smell that the furniture absorbed during the manufacturing process and storage in the warehouse.

After assembly, be sure to go over with a damp cloth to remove dust and debris. It’s good to add a little sea salt, which not only has a disinfecting effect, but also absorbs odors.

It is not recommended to use furniture intended for a living area immediately after its installation. You need to give it a few days to air out well, after which you can start using it.

If we are talking about soft sofas, armchairs, and beds that have rag upholstery, it would be good to go over it with a vacuum cleaner. Mini vacuum cleaners designed for cleaning car interiors are ideal for these purposes.

Regular ventilation

Obviously, to eliminate the “fragrance” from new finishing materials, first of all, ventilation can be recommended. It's easy and affordable.

New furniture with a base made of particle boards is inexpensive and durable, but it contains synthetic resins, antiseptic additives and other harmful components, so take the removal of the “amber” emanating from it seriously. To begin, lay out your leather or fabric sofa, armchairs, or any other purchased piece of furniture, and then open all the windows in the room. Maintain the longest interval possible, and repeat the procedure several times.

Since the stench emanating from wood materials is deeply absorbed into the upholstery, ventilation alone is not enough. Be sure to combine it with the other methods below.

If the smell is very strong

Some furniture that I really liked in the store emits a simply impossible aroma in an apartment. This is all due to low-quality materials, which emit a catastrophically unacceptable aroma in a confined space.

Think about it:

Is it worth buying cheap furniture, knowingly putting the lives of family members at risk? No! It’s better to save up the required amount and sleep, as they say, peacefully, in every sense of the word.
Should I return the headset if it stinks unbearably? Costs! Because at first the smell will not seem so disgusting, but then addiction occurs, which can cause the development of asthma and allergic reactions.
Is it possible to get rid of the smell of new furniture without harming it? Can! But for this it is important to take into account the characteristics of the material from which it is made.

Expert opinion

Krasnova Ulyana Vasilievna

Cleaning company manager

If no methods of eliminating the smell help to improve the situation, then it will be cheaper to refuse such furniture than to fight for your own life and health in the future.

Simple ways to get rid of unpleasant “furniture” smell

When the furniture is assembled, you can use the following recipes, which will help quickly dissipate unpleasant odors.

Vinegar

For 1 liter of warm boiled water, take 1 tablespoon of vinegar (not essence). The resulting mixture is poured into a spray bottle and sprayed onto the furniture at a distance of 1 m. Cabinet furniture can be wiped with a soft rag soaked in this vinegar solution, and then allowed to dry completely.

The nuances of using vinegar are as follows:

You should not wet upholstered furniture abundantly, as it will absorb excess moisture, which can cause the formation of dampness.
Treatment is carried out daily for 5-7 days.
The room in which work is carried out must be well ventilated.
The acid concentration should not be exceeded, as this may have a negative effect on decorative elements.

Vinegar not only quickly removes any odors, but also suddenly disappears. With good ventilation, even the most persistent odors will disappear after several treatments.

Fabric bags

Soda

Small bags are made from thin fabric into which baking soda is poured. They are laid out in cabinet furniture drawers and in the middle of a soft set. Baking soda perfectly absorbs not only odor, but also moisture. The product will help get rid of high humidity after treatment with vinegar.

The nuances of using soda to eliminate unpleasant furniture odors are as follows:

The bulk mixture should be placed only in cotton bags. If you don’t have time to make them, then socks are ideal.
The soda needs to be changed daily, which will significantly speed up the process of absorbing odor and moisture.
You can add coarse table salt, which will also remove unpleasant odor and dampness.

To enhance the effect, add a few drops of essential oil to the baking soda. The following work well to neutralize odors:

rosemary;
lemon;
eucalyptus;

tea tree;
pine.

In addition to a pleasant smell, essential oils have a bactericidal effect and will help suppress pathogenic flora located on furniture, no worse than chemical disinfectant properties.

Lemon peels

Orange peels

Citrus fruits are peeled, cut into small strips and placed on furniture, after laying down a newspaper or bag. This product has proven itself in getting rid of unpleasant odors in upholstered furniture. Many housewives leave the crusts until completely dry, which prevents the appearance of moths and other parasites.

As citrus fruits dry, they can release oils, which in turn can leave stains. A paper or polyethylene backing must be placed under them.

Coffee beans

Fragrant Arabica quickly absorbs unpleasant odors and creates a unique atmosphere in the living room. Coffee beans are laid out in all areas of the furniture, having previously laid some kind of substrate. Change this product once every few days. To enhance the aroma of the grains, you can fry them in a dry, well-heated frying pan.

Ammonia

For 1 liter of cold water, take 1 teaspoon of ammonia, mix well, moisten and squeeze out the rag as much as possible. They pass it over the surface of the furniture. The pungent smell of ammonia quickly removes unpleasant furniture odors. After several procedures, the result will be noticeable.

Fuel pellets

Wood granular filler

The product consists of large granules consisting of pressed sawdust. They perfectly absorb moisture and unpleasant odors. The granules can be additionally irrigated with drops of your favorite perfume or essential oils. They are convenient to lay out on the surface of furniture and also to remove.

As an alternative, wood granular cat litter may be suitable. Some specimens come already flavored, so you just need to spread them out and wait for the result.

Soap

You need to take several packages of any fragrant bar soap and place them in furniture drawers, and also leave them on the surface. A simple product quickly eliminates unpleasant odor without any hassle. When it comes to upholstered furniture, a few bars of soap can be left in pockets or the bottom, which will ensure a pleasant smell in the room without the use of air fresheners.

Activated carbon

The tablets are opened from the protective packaging and placed on a paper backing in all possible areas of the furniture. Every other day the tablets are changed. Because charcoal can stain, it should be handled with care. The product works well to get rid of excess dampness in fabric coverings.

Absorbents

There are many proven methods for removing irritating fumes from a new purchase. Use substances that can absorb moisture and aromas - absorbents (absorbers). Activated carbon, baby powder or coffee are all odor neutralizers.

It is enough to place them in fabric bags or bowls around the entire perimeter, as well as in drawers, shelves and other accessible places. Moreover, if these are wardrobes and shelves, do not forget to leave all the doors open, the sofas should be wide open. In just a few days, any of these tools will remove the stench.

After all the procedures, you should thoroughly ventilate the room and additionally treat the items with a weak solution of lemon juice or another odor destroyer.

Products for leather furniture

Black loose leaf tea

Sea salt

If the unpleasant smell comes specifically from furniture with leather upholstery, then black loose leaf tea and sea salt will come to the rescue. Furniture should be disassembled, drawers and removable parts removed. Lay a cotton cloth on a horizontal surface and spread a thin layer of salt on top. Tea leaves are placed on top of the salt. Allow to stand for 12-15 hours, after which the fabric is carefully removed. If necessary, repeat the procedure with the window open.

Caring for leather furniture involves using special oil-based products, to which you can add a few drops of essential oils of lavender, patchouli or rosemary. This way the skin will absorb a pleasant smell, and the aroma of freshness will remain in the room for a long time.

Expert opinion

Krasnova Ulyana Vasilievna

Cleaning company manager

It is not recommended to use chemicals with aggressive components that can harm the skin and lead to the formation of microcracks. Sooner or later, the unpleasant odor will disappear, and excessive use of such products will shorten the life of the furniture.

How to add a pleasant aroma

To give things a special smell that is pleasant to the owners, the simplest methods are used - regular washing, aromatic substances.

Cleanliness support

The best and most reliable way to make things smell pleasant is to keep the entire contents of your closet clean. Worn items should be stored separately. For them, it is better to allocate a separate chest of drawers, a bedside table, and not a shelf in a common wardrobe.

It is also useful to keep things that are no longer used in another place. When stored for a long time, they acquire the specific aroma of stale laundry.

Periodic revision of clothing

Everything in the wardrobe must be ventilated regularly. This applies not only to fur products, which protect against moths in this way. It’s worth setting aside a day and taking out all the things from the closet and shaking them out. Unused items should be thrown away or moved to distant mezzanines.

Humidity level

To reduce humidity in cabinets, use salt, soda, silica gel, rice, and zeolite. Special moisture absorbers are produced, which are used if other methods do not help.

Scented soap

Soap has long been used to protect clothes from moths and give them a freshly washed scent.

Coffee beans

The aroma of coffee can overpower many odors. The grains need to be roasted and placed in the wardrobe, whole or ground. Wooden cabinets preserve the coffee spirit for a long time; clothes and linens are also saturated with it.

Citrus

Dry citrus peels retain the aroma of fruit for a long time. Bags with crusts are placed in different corners of the wardrobe.

Empty perfume bottle

The remains of your favorite perfume in an empty bottle will add a light scent to your clothes. It is better not to use it if men's and women's clothing are stored together in the wardrobe.

Vanillin bag

The remaining vanillin in the bag will add the aroma of baking and women's perfumes to things.

Essential oils

Your favorite essential oil is dripped onto the fabric and left in a closed wardrobe. Gradually, all things acquire this aroma.

Ozonizer

An ozonizer joins the fight for cleanliness and freshness of air in a room with new furniture. This device passes air through itself, removing harmful particles. With its help, you can not only eliminate unpleasant odors from furniture, but also destroy pathogens contained in dust.

If this device is available, you cannot do without it when installing new furniture. If not, then you should not buy specifically for these purposes. An ozonizer is quite expensive, and with frequent use it quickly breaks down and in most cases cannot be repaired.

Common cleaning mistakes

Materials such as silk, velor, flock cannot be cleaned with home remedies - special compounds are needed for delicate coatings.

Important! Do not use cleaning agents without testing their effects on an area of the surface that is not visible to the eye.

The most difficult stains to remove are blood and wine stains. When treating such stains, many make the fatal mistake of spreading the stains over the surface of the upholstery with a damp cloth. After such procedures, contaminants are absorbed into the fabric even more strongly, and the stain is not only not removed, but becomes larger.

Have you ever had to clean blood and wine stains from your upholstery?

Not really

Special products for removing odors from furniture

If you don’t have time to bother with unfolding aromatic bags and drying citrus peels, you can always turn to household chemicals, which offer a number of special products that quickly kill unpleasant odors from any type of furniture.

The most effective of them are:

DuftaFresh

An aerosol product that is sprayed over the surface of furniture. After complete drying, you need to walk with a soft cloth to remove any possible stains. The line includes cleaning products for products made of natural and artificial leather.

OdorGone Professional for Home

The drug has a natural base and copes well with damp odors. Suitable for cleaning furniture made of various materials, including combined ones.

Natures Miracle

The composition contains components that can oxidize strong odors and completely neutralize them. Well suited for furniture that was bought secondhand.

Any product has instructions that must be followed. This will allow you to get the desired result without harm to health and furniture.

General tips and tricks

To avoid becoming a hostage to the unpleasant and toxic smell of furniture, you need to:

Always pay attention to the condition of the seams of interior items. If there are chips and damage, then the risk of a foul odor increases significantly. This is especially true for PVC furniture.
Don’t be shy about smelling furniture, especially upholstered furniture with fabric upholstery. If you spend a long time in a trade exhibition pavilion, there is a risk of bringing home an unpleasant addition along with your comfort.
Do not buy furniture at sales, and especially in warehouses where all manufacturing and storage conditions are violated. Wood and fabric perfectly absorb dampness, which in most cases is difficult to remove without special means.

What products do you use to combat furniture odors?

FolkChemical

Do not be afraid to return the furniture to the seller if its unpleasant odor cannot be removed by anything, and if the ventilation is closed, it constantly intensifies.
Buy furniture from trusted sellers who have quality certificates and are responsible for the interior item.

To summarize, it is important to note that an unpleasant odor can accompany both expensive leather pieces and cheaper fabric analogues of upholstered furniture. If conventional treatments do not give the desired result, you can try special products.

Within 3-5 days, the furniture should adapt to the new conditions, and any “furniture” smell should go away. If this does not happen, it is cheaper to return such a piece of furniture than to fight every day.

The main reasons for this problem

Formaldehyde vapors from laminated chipboards pass only through the untreated ends of the boards. Therefore, if there are uncut edges (and manufacturers usually only trim the front edges to reduce the cost of products), the product will smell.

Sometimes the varnish or paint that covers interior items smells. Therefore, even solid wood products can be harmful if the manufacturer has skimped on paint and varnish materials.

If storage rules are violated (for example, the product is kept in high humidity conditions for a long time), it begins to smell musty.

Even natural leather upholstery can smell unpleasant because it is often treated with chemicals. This is one of the most difficult situations, since the “aroma” is usually tart and difficult to eliminate.

Important! Evaluate the character of the air when entering a furniture showroom. You may not feel any obvious chemicals, but you will still find it difficult to breathe. This is also a bad sign.

The causes of discomfort may be special substances with which the upholstery is impregnated, as well as components of laminated panels and decorative tiles used to decorate household items. They are especially harmful for the elderly and children, in whose rooms the furnishings should be extremely natural and simple in design.

In addition to untreated edges, sources of formaldehyde fumes are holes drilled by the manufacturer, of which there are many in IKEA products.

Harmful substances evaporate more intensely under the influence of heat, so it is highly not recommended to place chipboard products near heating devices.