Can This Common Kitchen Ingredient Get Rid Of That New Carpet Smell?

If your old carpet has experienced significant staining, discoloration, and wear and tear, buying a new carpet and installing it at home can be a great feeling and make your entire home feel new again. However, while the look and feel of your home will change with a new carpet, one of the most noticeable things in the beginning is the smell of your new covering — it can be pretty irritating and unpleasant. This smell will fade after as little as a day or two but could last for weeks. Fortunately, instead of patiently waiting for the odor to subside, you can get rid of it more quickly.

There are many small habits that will make your home smell better, but a great way to get rid of this new carpet smell is to use a simple food you probably already have in your kitchen. An apple can absorb the odor of the new carpet and help the room smell fresh again. The best way to use this trick is to cut an apple in half and then place it in a bowl in the room with the new carpet. You should do this with several apples for best results — just how many you need will depend on the size of your space. As an alternative, you can also use celery or onions. However, if you use these foods instead, pour some water into the bowl as well. Whichever ingredient you choose, leave it overnight, and in the morning, you should find that the odor has been reduced significantly.

So why is it that an apple helps eliminate the new carpet smell in your home? New carpeting features chemicals on it that are known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These chemicals are used to make carpeting as well as many other household items such as paint and various floor finishes. VOCs are dangerous and even exposure to them in the short-term can lead to headaches and dizziness as well as eye, nose, and throat irritation. You should avoid buying paint with this ingredient, but it often can't be helped with carpeting

During "off-gassing," these chemicals rise and enter the air. This begins once the carpet has been rolled out and installed. As the VOCs are released into the air, it can affect the air quality and make your home smell bad. This odor will continue to be released for days or, in some cases, over the course of a few weeks. This apple hack helps to eliminate this chemical smell because the fruit works as a natural odor absorber. Apples absorb all kinds of odors, and this includes those associated with VOCs. They also have a pleasant, fresh scent that will make your home smell better. While there are other ingredients that can used to absorb odors, apples are very easy to come by and are a great natural option to consider.