If your new carpet is giving off a smell, chances are you have nothing to worry about. The small amount of chemicals in that odor is unlikely to make you ill, and the odor should be gone within a week or two as long as you properly ventilate the room.
The “new carpet” odor is the 4-PC off-gassing, which can cause eye and respiratory tract irritation and may also affect the central nervous system. The adhesive used to affix the carpet to the floor typically contains benzene and toluene, some of the most harmful VOCs.
Chemicals used in some new carpets, carpet pads and the adhesives used to install them can harm your health. Some of these chemicals and glues are made with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which emit odors and pollutants.
Most of the VOCs present in carpet dissipate within 24-48 hours after installation. Ventilation during and after carpet installation helps to reduce that length of time.
Can your new carpets make you sick? Probably not, but research indicates that some people are more sensitive than others to the fumes from household products, including carpets. Rashes, watery eyes, a sore throat, headaches and fatigue are possible symptoms from breathing chemical emissions, researchers say.
You can also sleep in another room during the first two nights after installation. Don't be shy to ask your installer to roll out the carpet in their warehouse first, so that it can air out before it's brought into your home. Try to avoid gluing down carpet to the floor and stay away from adhesives if you can.
Baking soda is a natural compound that is very effective in getting rid of unwanted smells. Sprinkle some on your new carpet, allow it to sit for a day or two, and then vacuum it up. If you still notice unwanted smells, repeat the process a second time.
The new carpet smell is due to volatile organic compounds – known as VOC – which have a high vapour pressure at room temperature. As these compounds are released into the air a process of carpet off-gassing begins.
The most common reason for a musty smell is water damage in carpet. Any water that gets on the carpet should be cleaned as soon as possible or it risks creating a long-term impact. Other problems can be dirt or even food that gets stuck in the carpet.
New Carpeting
According to a 1995 study published in the Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, new carpeting releases organic compounds into the air, causing eye, nose and throat irritation, neurological problems, and in some cases, death in animals.
Off-gassing doesn't stop when the smell stops either. The 'new smell' may disappear after a week or so but the fumes are still being emitted – they're just much more subtle. Off-gassing can last between six months and five years depending on the household item and the chemicals used to treat it.
Virtually all new carpets will shed a small amount of loose fibres and these should be removed by vacuuming as soon as possible. Otherwise the fibres will be walked back into the carpet and can cause a matted appearance.
Will wet carpet smell go away? Not unless you do something about it! You can temporarily quell the smell with bleach and baking soda, but to cut it at the source, you need professional-grade equipment or full carpet replacement.
Unfortunately, toxic chemicals are utilized when carpets are manufactured and installed. If these chemicals are released, continuous exposure can pose a risk to your health. Older carpets can also be harmful as these trap dust, pet dander, mold, bacteria, and other debris that are not easily removed.
Because carpet water damage affects both your physical property AND your physical health. Wet carpeting is infamous for exposing dander, allergens, mold and mildew spores to the air. For some individuals, mold exposure can cause serious health issues, especially for those with suppressed immune systems.
Mold can grow in your carpet anytime if it has stayed wet for a while, without the opportunity to dry out thoroughly. And if your home had some flooding and the carpet was damp for more than 24 hours, it is the beginning of the threat.
For a small charge, the floor will be vacuumed after the carpet is removed and an anti-microbial spray called Healthinex will be sprayed prior to installing the new carpet. There are also options to treat pet odors if that is a concern.
New carpet that is in a heavy traffic area should be vacuumed daily if possible. Most of the soil in a carpet is dry and can be picked up easily with a vacuum. Soil that is left to find its way deeper into a carpet can actually cause damage to a carpet by breaking down the fibers.
Typically, vacuuming does not damage carpet and is actually a safe and effective tool for cleaning dirt and grime from carpets. Some may argue that vacuums are the best cleaning tools for carpets because they suck deeply embedded dirt and dust from carpets without fraying or damaging the material.
Some of the most common chemicals off-gassed from household items include formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia, and toluene. While off-gassing can be easily identified by so-called “new car” and “new carpet” smells, it can also be odorless. Sound scary?
An air purifier and specific filters effectively eliminate harmful gases and unwanted odors from your indoor environment. A standard particle filter is not designed to remove gases and odors. For gas and odor removal, the air purifier should be equipped with a filter that includes activated carbon.
It takes at least a day, depending on the outside temperature, for the heated air to also heat the contents, materials, and structure of the house. Two or more days at the elevated temperature is needed to achieve a reduction. As the chemicals evaporate into the air the air can only absorb so much.
Some carpet cleaners can contain toxic residues that cats can pick up on their paws and fur and then ingest during self-grooming. Steam cleaning and enzyme cleaners on stains are the safest methods. New carpets can be toxic from formaldehyde fumes and flame-retardant bromide compounds that can harm the thyroid gland.
Teflon won't have the same effects on cats or dogs, he says. They don't have the same type of air sacks like birds do, making them breathe differently. But that doesn't mean they're immune to certain fumes.