Getting a new carpet is a great way to update your Minneapolis home. New carpets are soft, clean, and make your home look better. Unfortunately, many new carpets have a specific smell. This smell is usually caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are chemicals that manufacturers use to make carpets. Once the carpets are rolled up to ship, some of the chemicals are trapped in the carpet to be released during and after installation. In most cases, VOCs are just smelly and annoying, but people with asthma and allergies might get symptom flare ups. Every part of the carpet can contain VOCs, so mediating the impact it can have on your home is important. There are a few things you can do to get rid of these compounds and the smell.

Ventilate

The most recommended course of action is to ventilate your space. Opening windows, setting up fans, and creating airflow in your home is essential to getting rid of the VOCs in your new carpet. It takes a few days of ventilation to make sure your carpets are safe and clean for your family. No matter what you choose to do to get rid of the smell and chemicals, keep your windows open to get fresh air in your home.

Vacuuming

Increasing the number of times you vacuum after getting a new carpet reduces VOCs. Vacuuming right after installation will help clear up the debris from installation and start getting rid of the smell. Typically, carpets should be vacuumed once a week, but new carpets should be vacuumed every other day until the smell is gone. 

Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to the room the new carpet is in greatly helps clear the VOCs in the air. Air purifiers capture and filter out the particles in the air that are harmful. This includes the VOCs that are released from the new carpet. Running it until the carpet fumes are gone can ensure that your home has great air quality throughout the process.

Vinegar and Baking Soda

Firstly, we have to note that you should not mix these ingredients in your carpets. The vinegar should be put into a bowl to counteract the smell of the VOCs. It can also be used while steam cleaning as an addition to water to help with the smell. The baking soda should be sprinkled into the carpets and vacuumed up. It is best to leave the baking soda in the carpet overnight, but it is not recommended for those with pets.

House Plants

Putting up house plants in the same room as your new carpet helps clean the air as the plant takes in VOCs and releases oxygen. While it’s not a quick remedy, leaving the plants out overnight can significantly help with the carpet fumes. Be sure to pick safe plants if you have animals. Some safe plants include the money plant, money tree, hoyas, and others.

Home Remedies 

Other home remedies include onions and apples because they are able to absorb the smell of the VOCs while releasing their own scents. Cut the apples or onions into slices and leave them out in a bowl overnight around the area that the new carpet was installed. Adding water to the bowl helps increase the effectiveness of the slices. Remember to be careful with this solution if you have pets!

Professional Carpet Cleaning

Professional carpet cleaning is the most effective way to get rid of new carpet fumes and VOCs. The deep clean from professional grade cleaning equipment and supplies to get to the chemicals that are down in the foam padding, removing the fumes sooner than any other solution.

The best way to make sure your home is safe and smells great is to get your carpets professionally cleaned. If you got a new carpet that has a lot of VOCs, give us a call. We will make sure your carpets no longer have new carpet fumes safely.