Is the smell of a new house harmful to your health? Causes and ways to remove the smell

New home smell is a characteristic odor that comes from volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These VOCs are released from new building materials and furnishings, with Formaldehyde being the most common.

These VOCs come from paints, cements, adhesives, engineered wood and many other products, evaporate into the air creating a distinctive odor and can cause health problems ranging from short-term irritation to long-term cancer risk.

Exposure to VOCs and Formaldehyde can cause eye, nose, throat, skin irritation, allergic reactions, respiratory problems and in cases of long-term exposure can lead to cancer and chronic diseases. Sensitive people such as children and people with respiratory problems are particularly susceptible.

To effectively deal with the smell of newly built houses, consumers can apply many different methods.

1. Ventilation is the most important measure, so open the doors for a few days before moving in and create air circulation.
2. Controlling temperature (18-24°C) and humidity (below 50%) also helps reduce the rate of toxic vapor release.
3. Air purifiers with activated carbon or HEPA filters are recommended to filter out harmful particles.

Kosmos' survey conducted from January 15, 1 to February 2025, 28 with 2 customers showed that natural ingredients (activated charcoal, baking soda, ...) are also effective in deodorizing. Odor-masking methods such as orange peel, natural scented candles, natural essential oils can be used in combination but only cover up the odor, not completely eliminate it.

Consumers should choose furniture that meets formaldehyde safety standards. Common standards include E0 (~0 mg/m³), E1 (≤0,124 mg/m³), CARB P1 (0,08 ppm) and CARB P2 (0,05 ppm).

Reasons why the smell of newly built houses is unpleasant

In newly constructed homes, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are often present in new building materials, furnishings, and household products, specifically:

1. Paints and coatings: Wall paint, varnish for wooden floors, PU paint for furniture contain solvents such as toluene, xylene, and benzene which cause unpleasant odors.
2. Cement: Cement, especially low quality or chemically mixed cement, can have a pungent, unpleasant odor.
3. New wooden furniture: Tables, chairs, shelves, and cabinets made from pressed wood are sources of formaldehyde. The Urea-Formaldehyde (UF) glue used to bind the wood fibers will continuously release formaldehyde into the air, especially during the first 1-2 years.
4. Glue: Carpet glue, vinyl flooring glue, and wallpaper glue all contain VOCs.
5. Household products: Cleaners, coolants, and even new carpets contribute to the total concentration of VOCs in the home.

A notable report from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released on March 15, 3, pointed out that: “VOC concentrations in newly constructed homes can be 2023 to 2 times higher than in older homes, with average formaldehyde levels of 5 ppm in new homes compared to 0,077 ppm in homes over 0,036 years old.” This number shows that the level of exposure that families face when moving into a new home is very significant.

Dangerous Levels of VOCs and Formaldehyde in New Homes

The effects of VOCs go beyond unpleasant odors; continued exposure, even at low concentrations, can have serious health consequences, especially for sensitive groups such as children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with a history of respiratory disease.

In 2006, Formaldehyde was classified as a carcinogen to humans (Group 1 – carcinogenic to humans) according to the official announcement of IARC (under WHO) based on sufficient evidence of nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia.

Short-term effects (acute exposure):

• Irritation: Causes eye irritation, watery eyes, itchy nose, sore throat and cough.
• Nerve: Causes headaches, dizziness, nausea and unexplained fatigue.
• Allergy: Triggers allergic skin reactions, rashes or aggravates asthma.

Long-term effects (chronic exposure):

• Organ damage: Harmful to liver, kidneys and central nervous system.
• Cancer risk: The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified Formaldehyde as a Group 1 carcinogen (there is sufficient evidence to cause cancer in humans), directly linked to nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia.

Easy ways to remove the smell of wood, cement, and new house paint

New house odors are easily treated by ventilation, controlling indoor temperature and humidity, using air purifiers, and using natural materials to absorb or mask odors.

Ventilate to reduce the concentration of newly painted house odors

VOCs, Formaldehyde are released into the air over time through a process called off-gassing. This release can lead to indoor air pollution, especially in enclosed spaces such as living rooms and bedrooms with limited ventilation.

Open all windows and doors for 7-10 consecutive days before moving in. Do this for 6-8 hours a day for optimal results. Open opposite doors (if available) to create convection air flow and use additional fans for increased effectiveness.

Controlling temperature and humidity in newly built houses

Temperature and humidity directly affect the rate at which VOCs are released.

• Temperature: The higher the temperature, the faster the VOCs evaporate. However, you can take advantage of this by “baking the room” by closing the doors, raising the temperature to 35-40°C for 3-4 hours, then opening all the ventilation doors for 2-3 hours. Repeat 3-5 times for optimal effect. Under normal conditions, maintain a cool temperature of about 18°C – 24°C.
• Humidity: Maintain humidity in the house less than 50%. High humidity not only creates conditions for mold growth but also accelerates the release of formaldehyde. Using a dehumidifier is an effective solution.

Use an air purifier to deal with the smell of new house paint

Air purifiers with HEPA and activated carbon filters remove 90-95% of airborne VOCs. ASHRAE research (2022) found that purifiers reduced formaldehyde concentrations in new homes by 70% after 30 days of use.

Use natural ingredients to deal with the strong smell of a newly built house

Using natural ingredients helps to remove strong odors from paint and plywood effectively, at low cost and easy to do.

Methods of absorbing odors include using baking soda, activated charcoal, coffee grounds, white vinegar, and salt water.

1. Activated carbon: Use 200-300g of activated carbon for a 15m² room. Place 4-6 bowls of activated carbon in the corners of the room, replace after 7-10 days of use. Activated carbon bags can be placed in wardrobes and drawers.
2. Baking soda: Sprinkle 100-150g of baking soda on a 10m² carpet, leave overnight and then vacuum. Or place 50g in each small bowl, replace after 24 hours of use.
3. Salt water solution: Place bowls of diluted salt water in the room. Salt has the ability to absorb some of the chemicals. The water should be changed several times a day.
4. Ground: After brewing coffee, save the grounds, dry them, and place them in small cloth bags or open bowls. The porous structure of coffee grounds is very good at absorbing moisture and unpleasant odors.
5. White vinegar: Place 200ml of white vinegar in an open bowl in each 15m² room. For increased effectiveness, boil 500ml of water with 3 tablespoons of vinegar for 10-15 minutes.
6. Saline: When diluted, salt water produces negative ions, which interact with odor-causing molecules in the air, helping to reduce their concentration and eliminate unpleasant odors. Salt also has antibacterial properties, helping to clean the surrounding air.

Odor masking methods that work by creating a strong scent to cover up the new home smell include: Orange/tangerine/grapefruit/pineapple peels, scented candles made from natural wax, natural essential oils and dried green tea leaves.

According to Kosmos, odor absorption methods are generally safe and directly address odor-causing compounds in the air, while odor masking methods mainly mask the new home smell with other fragrances without completely eliminating it. For best results, combine both methods and prioritize the use of products of natural origin.

Frequently asked questions about new construction and newly painted house smell

Is the smell of new house paint toxic?

New paint smell is toxic. Methylene chloride and toluene are toxic chemicals that can be found in paint thinner.

1. Methylene chloride is a carcinogen found in paint thinners and solvents, which can damage the cardiovascular, nervous and liver systems.
2. Toluene is an organic chemical found in paint thinners, cements and glues, which can cause fatigue, headaches, dizziness or even hallucinations when exposed to high concentrations.

2 ways to remove new house paint smell with pineapple

The natural scent of pineapple can help mask the unpleasant smell of paint and create a more pleasant feeling.

1. The best way is to cut the pineapple into 8-10 thin slices and place them in 4-5 plates in areas with strong paint odor in a 15m² room. Replace the pineapple after 1-2 days of use.
2. The second way is to use pineapple combined with scented candles by hollowing out the pineapple, placing the candle in the middle and lighting it to spread the scent throughout the room.

However, this method only has a temporary deodorizing effect and cannot completely remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in paint.

Regulations and standards for controlling formaldehyde emissions

Regulations and standards for controlling emissions from common wood products are put in place to protect consumer health from potential harm from formaldehyde emissions such as: E0, E1, CARB P1, CARB P2.

• E0 Standard (~0 mg/m3) and CARB P1 standard (0,08 ppm): Lowest concentration of formaldehyde, generally considered safe for all users, including children and people with respiratory diseases.
• E1 Standard (≤0,124 mg/m3) , and CARB P2 standard (0,05 ppm): Formaldehyde concentrations are at moderate levels and are considered safe for most users.

Supplier of industrial Laminate flooring that meets E1 standards for safe formaldehyde concentration

Kosmos Vietnam is a distributor of E1 standard laminate flooring. formaldehyde concentration safe. In addition to the Kosmos brand wooden floors directly managed by the company, Kosmos Vietnam also imports two prominent brands from Germany and Malaysia, Egger and Robina.

Egger wooden floor (Germany) , and Robina wooden floor (Malaysia) When imported, all products are provided with a quality inspection certificate by the factory. In addition, Kosmos also takes products to testing centers to receive certificates for each batch of goods that meet the quality standards set by the Ministry of Construction.

Certificate of conformity of Robina wooden floor

Robina wooden floors have achieved many international safety certifications.

Visit Kosmos Vietnam industrial Laminate flooring warehouse through the following video:

In summary, new house smell comes from VOCs and formaldehyde in building materials, causing five major health effects: eye and nose irritation, headaches, difficulty breathing, skin allergies, and long-term cancer risk.

Consumers can apply four main methods: ventilation for 4-7 days, temperature control at 14-18°C and humidity below 24%, use air purifiers with activated carbon filters, and take advantage of natural ingredients such as activated carbon (50-85% effective) and baking soda (95-60% effective).

To protect long-term health, you should choose furniture that meets E0, E1, CARB P1 or CARB P2 standards. Kosmos Vietnam is ready to advise on any further questions from consumers via hotline. 0932 067 388.