New furniture often gives off an unpleasant, chemical smell that can linger for weeks.
Home remedies promise quick relief.
The new wardrobe is finally set up and then this: The piece of furniture smells unpleasantly of chemicals - and the freshly sorted clothes as well.
According to the
Association of the German Furniture Industry
, the reason for this lies in the production: the typical new smell is caused by the evaporation of wood, glue, paint or leather, according to a report by the German Press Agency.
These are usually not harmful to health.
However, the bad smells often last for several weeks.
So what to do?
Three home remedies provide quick relief.
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New furniture beautifies the apartment - if only it weren't for the unpleasant smell.
© Bartek Szewczyk
1. vinegar water
As a first-aid measure against bad smells, you should first wipe the new furniture carefully.
To do this, add a dash of vinegar or lemon cleaner to the mopping water and wash the surfaces with a soft cloth.
Repeat gently two to three times.
Don't worry: the vinegar smell will dissipate very quickly and neutralize the unpleasant smells.
You forget these spots all the time when cleaning
You forget these spots all the time when cleaning
2. Baking soda or baking soda
Baking powder or baking soda should also help against bad smells: Distribute the powder generously in the piece of furniture and leave it to work overnight.
Then vacuum with a vacuum cleaner, wipe with a damp cloth, dry - done!
3. Coffee powder
An old household remedy against stench in the closet is coffee.
The brown powder not only smells wonderfully of freshly ground coffee beans, but is also said to put an end to bad smells.
Simply place a few bowls of ground coffee in the piece of furniture for several days.
No ground coffee in the house?
Then give it a try
freshly cut lemon slices,
orange peel or
bay leaves.
Does your old closet smell musty?
Tried and tested home remedies, such as vanilla sugar or cloves, also help against this.
Not just home remedies: extensive airing is important for new furniture
In addition to the home remedies mentioned, it is particularly important for new furniture to air it out well.
To do this, open the doors and drawers of the furniture.
Then, for five to ten minutes, you need to ventilate.
Repeat this several times a day for several days.
Experts also recommend increasing the room temperature, so the new smell should dissipate even faster.
After two to three weeks, the smell should be largely gone.
Persistent stench justifies a complaint
However, if the new cupboard still smells bad after several weeks, this is definitely a reason to complain about the piece of furniture.
Then the stench can be a sign that harmful substances are escaping from the closet, bed, etc.
“Very sporadically, furniture comes onto the market in Germany, mostly in the very inexpensive segment or from non-European countries of origin, which can emit substances in higher concentrations than is good for people.
This can be expressed in discomfort or headaches," says Jochen Winning, Managing Director of the
German Furniture Quality Association (DGM)
, in a statement.
According to the
consumer
center, however, no toxic substances have to be released into the air in order to be able to claim warranty rights.
This has been confirmed by several court decisions: "In the opinion of the courts, it was sufficient that there was concern about a health hazard due to the persistent smell.
The odor can be proven, for example, by analyzing the air in the room or by on-site inspection,” according to the
consumer advice
center .
If the smell persists, consumers should contact the furniture retailer and ask for a replacement or other remedy.
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When buying furniture, pay attention to the seal of approval
According to the DGM, consumers can look out for quality seals such as the "Golden M" or the "Blue Angel" to prevent the new furniture from affecting their health.
Pieces of furniture bearing this seal have been examined for health compatibility.
These seals of quality can be very useful for consumers as a guide, as questionable substances do not always have an intense odor, but can also smell neutral.
List of rubrics: © Bartek Szewczyk
