How to deal with unpleasant odors in closets and new furniture?

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:

1. 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.
2. Varnishes and paints have multi-component compositions that weather for quite a long time.
3. 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.

Odors in kitchen cabinets

The aromas of food and spices are always present in the kitchen. Due to the large amount of humidity, in addition to the smell of cooking food, sometimes odors of dampness and mold can be detected in the cabinets.

Pests periodically appear in the kitchen cabinet and inside the bread bin, and if it smells bad, this is the first sign that it’s time to take action.

1. You need to start again with cleaning. Empty the shelves and wipe them with soapy water. Wipe with a dry towel and dry. Throw away unnecessary jars and put the rest back.

2. The place where cereals are stored requires special attention. To prevent food moths, store supplies in tightly closed containers.

You can put peeled garlic cloves or lemon slices between the jars. These are folk remedies that prevent the appearance of unexpected guests, but the main remedy for food moths is still cleanliness.

3. Hot water and laundry soap should always be at hand.

First you need to remove dirt, wash all surfaces with laundry soap, treat them with a vinegar solution, then, if time permits, use aerosol insect repellent.

Dry it and only after that, you can begin returning things to their rightful place.

4. When storing food supplies, carefully inspect all jars . If there are traces of mold or moth larvae, then throw it away without regret. You can leave the rest, but check it periodically.

5. Special attention should be paid to the place where bread is stored. Since this is a living product, be sure to wipe the bread box every three days with a cloth soaked in a vinegar solution and, of course, dry it.

Do not leave crumbs and bread on the table; it must be put back in its place.

6. To make the housewife’s work easier, there are always many devices and related things. They also need to be kept clean and processed periodically.

Rinse all colanders and mixers well, be sure to wash and dry every part of dismountable household appliances, then there will be no mustiness or mold in the kitchen.

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.

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Get rid of the smell of new furniture using a specialized product

To get rid of the problem and determine how to get rid of the smell of new furniture the first time, you need to use a ready-made solution.

If the source of the unpleasant odor is upholstered furniture, spread out the sofas and armchairs as much as possible and ventilate the room.

Since odors penetrate very deeply and firmly into the fabric, getting rid of them on your own will be quite problematic.

An ozonator will help to completely get rid of the smell and freshen the air in the room. It works quickly and effectively, also eliminating the odors of old furniture. The principle of operation of the product is based on the elimination of unpleasant odor molecules by spraying ozone into the air.

Removing odors from upholstered furniture can be quite a painstaking task if it smells musty.

Just before you begin the manipulation, check the effect of the products on the back of the sofa, because... Some types of upholstery can be deformed by concentrated liquids.

Look at the percentage of natural composition and give preference to furniture with a simple design.

The ozonizer has an obvious advantage, but due to its high cost, not every consumer can afford it. An alternative is to use a liquid that is sprayed onto the surface of new furniture and forms a film on it that prevents the release of odors. This liquid is not recommended as a remedy for allergy sufferers. In addition, it is not suitable for upholstered furniture. There is also a budget-friendly way to ensure a safe environment in the room.

If a similar aroma is emitted by new furniture, most likely it has been in conditions of high humidity and dampness for a long time.

Simply spray the stain generously with vinegar or odor remover and wait until it dries completely.

A measure to prevent unpleasant odors is to purchase tested furniture.

A measure to prevent unpleasant odors is to purchase tested furniture. While in the cabin, pay attention to the nature of the air. If you have difficulty breathing and feel an unpleasant admixture of toxin, it is better not to buy this piece of furniture so that it does not become your potential enemy. Look at the percentage of natural composition and give preference to furniture with a simple design.

Instead of citrus peels, you can place a saucer with salt in the room or use special aromatic sachets with essential oils.

As a last resort, you can resort to store-bought sachets and air fresheners.

New furniture can emit various hazardous substances - ammonia, methanol, styrene, acetone and others.

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:

1. You should not wet upholstered furniture abundantly, as it will absorb excess moisture, which can cause the formation of dampness.
2. Treatment is carried out daily for 5-7 days.
3. The room in which work is carried out must be well ventilated.
4. 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:

1. The bulk mixture should be placed only in cotton bags. If you don’t have time to make them, then socks are ideal.
2. The soda needs to be changed daily, which will significantly speed up the process of absorbing odor and moisture.
3. 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.

Available means

There are many proven folk remedies that will help clear the air of unnecessary odors. For most of them you will need the most common products.

• Salt. This is a universal method that helps get rid of the smell of both upholstered and cabinet furniture. Bags of salt are laid out on the upholstery or on shelves and in drawers (the doors must be left open). In a few days the effect will be achieved. Afterwards the room is thoroughly ventilated. To consolidate the result, you can treat all surfaces with a solution of lemon juice. You can use baby powder or activated carbon in the same way.
• Lemon, orange peels. Citrus peels will help remove odors from both upholstery and wooden or plastic parts. It is enough to spread lemon or orange peels inside and outside the product and leave for a while.
• Coffee. Absorbs odors perfectly. Helps get rid of odors from upholstered and leather furniture. Fabric breathable bags of coffee should be placed on the surface and next to the product.
• Tea bags. This is another product that perfectly neutralizes odor. They are laid out on the surface or inside furniture that exudes amber. You can additionally place a few bags around the room. After 2-3 days they are removed and the room is thoroughly ventilated. Tea can be plain or flavored.
• Tea + salt. A mixture of loose leaf tea and salt (in a 1:1 ratio) is laid out in small jars and placed on the shelves of a freshly purchased cabinet or kitchen unit. Soon enough, not a trace of the “fragrance” will remain. As soon as this happens, the containers with the tea and salt mass are removed.
• Essential oils. They have earned the recognition of housewives as an excellent product for upholstered furniture. All removable elements are removed from the sofa or sofa and the room is properly ventilated. Then small open containers with aromatic oil are placed inside. You must act carefully so that the oil does not get on the upholstery. Using the same principle, you can use bags with aromatic herbs (mint, thyme, lemon balm, etc.).
• Baking soda. A good solution for upholstered furniture would be baking soda. It is scattered over the surface and left for several hours, and then swept away with a soft brush or removed with a vacuum cleaner.

If the furniture is of good quality, made of materials without harmful additives, and has no damage in the form of chips or defects, for example, untreated open cuts, then these methods will help you quickly get rid of the smell.

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.

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.

Ways to eliminate odors

There are many effective methods for removing odors from furniture. But it is extremely rare that they help the first time. The effectiveness depends on the number of repetitions and the frequency of their use. And of course, from the material of the product that is being processed: the smell of chipboard furniture is eliminated more easily than if this problem overcomes soft products.

And now - directly to the recipes. Smell from new cabinet or upholstered furniture made of chipboard - how to get rid of it using improvised means at home?

A cinnamon stick and citrus peel will do a great job of eliminating cabinet odors.

Ventilation and drying

For new furniture, only ventilation is necessary; for old furniture, which is musty, it also requires forced drying. The product is placed in a non-residential room, all doors and drawers in cabinets and chests of drawers are opened, folding sofas are laid out - you need to make the largest possible area of ​​the product available for ventilation. Then the windows are opened to let in fresh air.

It is ideal to organize a draft: leave both the windows and the door to the room open, but this is suitable if no one will be in the house, since a draft often leads to various colds.

Useful: If ventilation for old furniture does not help or does not help completely, close the windows hermetically to, on the contrary, block the access of fresh air, and use a heater to heat the room for 3-4 hours.

The heating device should not be placed in close proximity to furniture - this can lead to drying out of individual chipboard elements. To improve the effect, you can spread orange peels on furniture - they absorb odors well and replace them with a rich citrus aroma.

Ozonation

An ozonator is a special device that passes indoor air through itself, filters out harmful particles and saturates the air masses with ozone. Buying this device is not cheap, but it is useful. The ozonizer is recommended to be used when one of the family members is sick with viral diseases. It may not be worth buying it purely to eliminate the smell of furniture, but if you already have it, the device can be safely used for this task.

Using an ozonizer you can not only clean the air in the room, but also improve the microclimate at home

Use of chemistry

Household chemicals departments sell special products for purifying the air from unpleasant odors. They help to solve the problem really quickly and effectively and are especially in demand when it comes to furniture in a children’s room or in a house where one of the family members has chronic respiratory diseases.

The product is diluted in water in the proportion indicated on the label and applied to the surface of the furniture. It forms a thin film that prevents the spread of odor throughout the apartment. After the film has dried, ventilate the room - when the smell of the product goes away, the smell of the furniture will also disappear.

The only drawback is that such chemistry is suitable for cabinet products, such as chests of drawers, shelving, sideboards, wardrobes, but is not suitable for upholstered furniture.

Household chemicals for removing unpleasant odors

Gluing the ends

Often a bad smell comes from furniture that has poorly processed or not processed ends at all - it is from these sections that formaldehyde resins find their way out, since on the main part of the surface the paint and laminated coating prevent diffusion. If the smell comes from the ends, you need to purchase furniture edges and glue them yourself, then ventilate the room to “drive out” the remaining smell.

Available means

Products such as tea, table salt and activated carbon will help remove unpleasant odors. All of them have a high degree of odor and moisture absorption. Tea bags and handfuls of salt can be placed in drawers and on the shelves of the product and left for several days, remembering to regularly ventilate the room - this will help effectively get rid of the smell from upholstered furniture. Activated carbon tablets are used in the same way.

Salt and tea are great for removing unpleasant odors

Essential oils

They are powerful flavoring agents. A rag soaked in essential oils and placed inside the furniture will not remove the unpleasant odor, but will kill it. It is definitely better to smell the scent of ether than the smell of chemical compounds or dampness. You can continue to use this method until the furniture stops emitting a smell on its own. The most powerful are the oils of citrus and coniferous plants.

Cleaning leather products

Leather furniture undergoes a different treatment, and, due to the specific nature of this coating, conventional measures against bad odors are more likely to harm than help. There are special recipes for leather sofas, armchairs and poufs. In this case, ammonia with the addition of vinegar will help get rid of the problem. One teaspoon of ammonia is diluted in 1 glass of water and the upholstery is wiped with a soft sponge. But first you need to check how the product works on an inconspicuous area of ​​the product - if it does not change color or texture, you can safely wipe the entire upholstery.

Simple remedies that neutralize the strong smell of new leather

You can also neutralize the smell by placing a container of freshly ground coffee on the product. It is more effective to scatter it over the surface, but in this case, after achieving the effect, thorough cleaning will be required. Ready-made chemicals will also help, but only those intended for leather or eco-leather.

It’s easy to remove the smell of new furniture or furniture that hasn’t been used for a long time. Sometimes it’s time-consuming, but there’s nothing complicated about it. A combination of several methods at once will be more effective, but it is important to use only those methods that are suitable for a specific type of furniture product.

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.

Household methods for getting rid of odor

Many housewives prefer to invite professionals to their home, for example, from a dry cleaner, who can quickly and efficiently eliminate unwanted odors in the house. Only this will require certain costs. You can easily get rid of the smell from new furniture on your own. This can be done in different ways. The main ones are discussed in detail below.

Expectation

Regardless of the reason why the furniture stink appeared, after a certain time, it will go away on its own. To speed up this process, it is enough to periodically create an intense draft in the room. On average, it will take about a month to get rid of an unpleasant odor using this method. In the cold season, weathering will occur somewhat faster. In hot weather, on the contrary, the specific aroma from a new furniture set can linger in the house twice as long.

Expert opinion

Evgenia Taran

It is worth noting that the considered method should not be used to eliminate the smell of new furniture in a child’s room, since chemical impregnation can be harmful to the child’s health. It is also better not to use ventilation if at least one of the family members has frequent headaches, or sudden nausea and vomiting.

Technical solution

To remove the smell from new furniture as soon as possible, you should use special household appliances that purify and humidify the air. Let's list the most common ones:

• air conditioner;
• ozonizer;
• ionizer;
• fan.

It is worth noting that among the listed household appliances, the ozonizer is the most effective. This device will allow you to get rid of foreign odors in literally three to four hours.

You will have to spend at least four thousand rubles to purchase an ozonizer. But the positive effect will not take long. In addition, the device will most likely be useful in the future for air purification, because with proper operation, the service life can be up to ten years.

Purchased funds

Professional purchased liquids, for example: I wash, FOXY F-213, OdorGone Professional, will help remove the unpleasant odor that new wood furniture emits.

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.