How to get rid of chemical smells (new clothes, paint, new car)

Step by step

1. 1

   Name the source

   Work out what's new: clothes, jeans or bedding, fresh paint or varnish, new carpet, pressed-wood furniture, a new car, or products stored indoors such as paint, solvents or fuel.

   Why: Each of these releases VOCs. The fix depends on whether the source can be washed, removed or only aired out.

2. 2

   Wash new clothes before wearing

   Wash new clothes, jeans and sheets before the first use, and again if a chemical smell remains. See chemical smell in clothes.

   Why: Formaldehyde from wrinkle-resistant finishes dissolves in water, so washing lowers it.

3. 3

   Ventilate during and after

   Open windows and run exhaust fans while painting or installing new carpet or furniture, and keep doing it for days afterward. In a car, open the windows or use fresh-air mode, not recirculate.

   Why: Fresh air dilutes and carries away VOCs as they off-gas. Indoor levels can be far higher than outdoors during and right after jobs like paint stripping.

4. 4

   Move stored products out

   Store opened paint, solvents, glue and fuel in a well-ventilated area outside the living space, out of children's reach. Buy only what you'll use.

   Why: Opened containers keep releasing VOCs while they sit.

5. 5

   Seal raw pressed wood

   Seal unfinished edges and surfaces of particleboard, plywood or MDF furniture and cabinets.

   Why: Sealing slows formaldehyde release from exposed pressed wood.

What causes a chemical smell

New materials release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, a process called off-gassing. EPA lists paints, varnishes, waxes, solvents, glues, cleaners, air fresheners, moth repellents, stored fuel and dry-cleaned clothes as household sources.

Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with a strong smell. It's used in permanent-press fabric finishes, pressed-wood products, glues, paints and coatings, and as a preservative in some dish liquids and fabric softeners. New-car smell is dozens of VOCs from carpet, upholstery, plastics and adhesives. Heat raises emissions, so a sun-baked car or a warm room smells stronger.

Why time, air and washing work, and fresheners don't

The smell fades as the material finishes off-gassing. Ventilation speeds the job by removing what's released, and washing removes water-soluble residue from fabric. Studies summarized in a 2022 review found total VOCs in new cars dropped sharply over weeks, and kept falling over months to years.

Air fresheners are on EPA's own list of VOC sources, so they add chemicals rather than removing any. Ozone generators are no better: in an experiment EPA cites, ozone cut some new-carpet odor chemicals but created aldehydes, and total organic chemicals in the air went up.

By situation

New jeans or clothes smell of chemicals

Wash before wearing and repeat if needed. Washing reduces formaldehyde from wrinkle-resistant finishes, though it may not remove all of it. People with a formaldehyde skin allergy may still react to some garments.

Fresh paint smell in a room

Ventilate during the job and for days after, with windows open and exhaust fans running. If the label says to use the product in a well-ventilated area, work outdoors or with an exhaust fan.

New carpet smell

New carpet off-gasses VOCs. Ventilate well for the first days and keep the room aired. Don't use an ozone generator to speed it up.

New-car smell

Drive with fresh-air mode or the windows open, especially after the car has sat in the sun. Heat increases emissions, so air it out when it's warm. It declines over weeks to months.

Lingering vinegar smell after cleaning

That's acetic acid, which evaporates as things dry. Blot or rinse the area with plain water to remove extra vinegar, then ventilate until it's fully dry. This is typical guidance based on the chemistry rather than a published protocol.

Dry-cleaned clothes

Dry-cleaned clothing is on EPA's list of indoor VOC sources. Airing items out before putting them in a closet is common advice.

What not to do

• Don't cover chemical smells with air freshener. Air fresheners are themselves a VOC source on EPA's list.
• Don't use an ozone generator for new-carpet or chemical smells. In an EPA-cited test, ozone created new aldehydes and raised total organic chemicals in the air.
• Don't mix household chemicals to fight the smell. Bleach with ammonia or acids releases toxic gases. See never mix.
• Don't keep opened paint or solvents in living areas. They keep releasing VOCs the whole time they're stored.

Other methods that work

Choose lower-emitting products

Buying only as much paint or solvent as you need, and using products as the label directs, cuts the amount off-gassing in your home.

Stain still there?

Jeans still smell after two washes

Wash again and air-dry outdoors. If the smell persists and your skin reacts, stop wearing them; formaldehyde allergy is the main health concern from clothing.

The new-car smell is worse on hot days

That's expected: heat raises VOC emissions. Ventilate before driving and park in shade where you can.

Safety

• VOCs can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches and nausea, and some are suspected or known to cause cancer. Ventilate and limit time near strong sources.
• Follow label ventilation instructions and keep stored products away from children.

Never mix cleaning products; see chemicals you must never combine.

Questions