Bad smell from new furniture in nursery-how do i get it out?
Question:About 2 months ago my husband and i bought a crib and dresser combo for our baby who is due in about 2 weeks. Got it home and out of the boxes and it smells bad. I cant explain the smell. It doesnt smell like hard wood, its more like a chemical-ish odor from the finish or laquer it has on it. It's making all of his cloths in his dresser small the same way. It's really annoying to me. I feel like ill be putting him in a room full of fumes. Anyone have any idea HOW i can get rid of the smell naturally? I have heard of taking it out in the sun everyday over long period of time to let it breath out and get the fumes out but is that the only way. I dont have alot of time really.
Answers:
I would open the windows in the nursery to air it out. Point an oscillating fan on them as well w/the drawers open (remove the clothes so they don't absorb the scent-give them a wash if they don't air out on their own in a few days). If you have a ceiling fan, turn that on too. The air circulation will help get the smell out quicker than anything else. If you are running your air condition, close the door to keep it out of the rest of your home. This isn't exactly energy efficient, but it's the easiest. The 12 week waiting period for a new crib won't be helpful to because the new one will have similar issues, unless you get a wrought iron crib-but those have their own issues (significant cost, danger of getting hurt on bars, etc).
Volatile compounds (VOCs) used in staining products tend to take longer to dry/cure especially when they are in oil based products. (Also why people shouldn't use oil based paints to paint interior spaces if they are sensitive to smells.)
I assume that you have allowed the mattress to air out also. Most mattresses have a smell to them as well. This also goes for newly installed carpets.
If you plan on using a bassinet/pack-n-play w/included bassinet then, I suggest using that (not in the childs room) in the interim. Your momma super smeller is working, which is a good thing in this case. When you can no longer smell the "new" smell, it will be safe to put baby in the crib.
Congratulations! I hope you have an easy delivery with your son. Btw, I found out w/mine that when they say "bouncing baby boy", they mean when he gets old enough to start bouncing on furniture or whenever they get excited about something :-)
Maybe try Frebreeze & see what that does. It is supposed to get odors out of everything.
I suggest going back to the place you bought it and ask what you should do. I would not trust keeping a child in a crib that smells so strong. I sold children's furniture one summer and I do not remember it smelling of chemicals. Also, see where it is made. I have seen stories in the news about things made over seas that have been made with very bad substances.
Try putting some baking soda in the bottom of the drawers of the dresser and then some shelf paper over the top of that to protect the clothes. It will absorb some of that smell. You could take the clothing out and keep it sorted in baskets as to where it would go in the drawers and pull the dresser near a window, open the drawers and let it air out until your baby is born and you NEED that piece. Other than that there's not much you can do. Some bowls of baking soda around the room will suck some of it up but it will still linger for a while.
I also read a story recently about nursery furniture made with toxic chemicals that smelled strong. I think the article suggested not buying this type of furniture because you don't want the baby to breathe chemical fumes. I'd say return it and get other furniture.
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