You know that when you buy a new carpet, there’s a smell that comes with it. So sleeping in a room with a new carpet might not be a good idea because the smell usually comes from the chemicals used to make them. People buy new carpets, so does the new carpet smell dangerous? Do you need to detox your new carpet?
At Trending Up, we provide top-quality modern lifestyle products like smart home essentials, pet gadgets, home gardening items, and many others.
Due to our line of work, we often come face to face with many homeowners who have questions about the toxicity of their new carpets. So we thought we should address this issue. In the following passages,
we will talk about all that you need to know about the new carpet smell and whether or not it is safe for you to sleep in a room with one. New carpets contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which emit pollutants through evaporation at room temperature.
The odor seeps into the air in your home and then goes inside you when you breathe in that air. Fumes from the new carpets are dangerous for humans and can cause dizziness and nausea.
When you see how carpets are made, you will understand why sleeping in a room with a new carpet isn’t safe. Creating new carpets includes adhesives and dyes, which introduce toxic chemicals to the carpet.
In the following passages, we will dive deep and explain why it’s dangerous and what you can do to make your home safer. So without any further delay, let’s check it out!
Do New Carpets Have Formaldehyde?
Yes, it does. Formaldehyde is a VOC, and manufacturers use it to make the resin harder. However, different manufacturers make carpets differently, so it’s hard to determine how much formaldehyde is in a new rug.
Also, companies haven’t used this chemical directly on carpets since 1978, but it can get into the carpet through the padding and the adhesives during installation. So we recommend not gluing your carpet as glues have formaldehyde.
Is The New Carpet Smell Dangerous?
The new carpet smell is also known as off-gassing and is often a challenge for people who are sensitive to smells. However, others label it as just a foul odor. But you should be aware that some carpets do produce VOCs like 4-phenyl cyclohexane (4-PCH).
4-phenyl cyclohexane (4-PCH) is a latex binder used to hold the carpet backing together. You can even find VOCs in household items like vinyl flooring, paint, and pressed-wood furniture.
So when you vacuum or do other activities like walking on the floor coverings, VOCs can escape into the air, making it dangerous for humans. Here are the two most common symptoms that VOCs are responsible for:
- Respiratory tract irritation
- Eye irritation
It would be best to be very wary of VOCs because these chemicals are known to impact the central nervous system.
Can The New Carpet Smell Make You Sick?
If you have wall-to-wall carpets, you should know that these are made from synthetic materials derived from petrochemicals. Also, if you use adhesive to attach it to the wall, it will off-gas and produce odors.
While the amount of VOC released is low, the fumes can still cause symptoms. Here are some of the signs that the new carpet smell and fumes can cause:
- Dizziness
- Light-headedness
- Burning eyes
- Wheezing
- Coughing
Because various chemicals outgas from new carpets, including the cleaning agents, make the new carpet in your home the primary source of indoor air pollution. That means the smell from the new carpet can be dangerous.
How To Detox Your New Carpet?
As you can see, the new carpet smell is dangerous for humans, so you shouldn’t be sleeping in a room with one. However, if you are getting a new carpet for your home, you should detox it before sleeping. So here are some ways you can do it. So let’s check them out!
Using Air Purifiers
One of the best options for detoxing your new carpet is using an air purifier rather than an HVAC system. While HVAC systems work, air purifiers trap the VOCs and purify the air to make it clean and healthy to breathe. However, if you want to use HVACs, you will need to install special filters to remove the chemicals from the air.
The TCL Air Purifier is a fantastic option for getting rid of these odors that you can check out. However, you should keep the room size in mind when buying an air purifier.
Proper Ventilation
It would be best if you started ventilating the carpet area as soon as possible. Proper ventilation will take about 48 hours to completely get rid of the new carpet smell if you start right after installation.
So make sure your home is well-ventilated at room temperature. Remember, it usually takes around five days for the odor to dissipate.
Using Fans During Installation
One of the best ways to detox your new carpet is using fans when installing the floor covering. That will reduce the odor and prevent outgassing when sleeping in the room.
Consider Getting Rid Of Wall-To-Wall Carpeting
We highly recommend getting rid of the wall-to-wall carpeting and synthetic area rugs in your house. There have been many reports where people had severe reactions to the chemicals. So if you are sensitive to chemicals, you should consider this option to avoid further health complications.
Try Non-Toxic Flooring
One of the most practical options you can take up is replacing the entire carpeting with prefinished hardwood or ceramic tile. These are non-toxic flooring options that won’t get you sick.
However, these alternate options cost more than carpeting, but they will get rid of the new carpet smell and won’t make you sick. Cleaning these non-toxic flooring options is also very easy, and they don’t have any VOCs that can harm your respiratory system.
Conclusion
As you can see, sleeping in a room with a new carpet can be harmful to humans as the smell usually indicates it contains VOCs, which are dangerous. These chemicals can lead to many ailments, including headaches, dizziness, and burning eyes.
So make sure there’s plenty of ventilation if you install a new carpet, and we suggest investing in an air purifier. If you are looking for an air purifier or any other smart home essential, we at Trending Up can help you out.
We have a wide range of lifestyle products to elevate your home to a whole new level. So contact us, and we will hook you up with some fantastic products.
Also, if you have any lifestyle questions or want to ask us about our products, you can drop them in the comments below or hit us up on our socials, and we will answer them all for you. And with that being said, that’s about all we have for you. We will come back with something new for you soon. Until then, see ya!
