Good Questions: New Sofa Stink Control?

Hi ApartmentTherapy,

We just bought a hip brand new sofa that happens to be vinyl and boy does it have that new sofa smell.

My cat is in the house all day and i can't stand to think of what the fumes might be doing!

Aside from keeping the windows open, can you recommend anything to get rid of it faster???

Many thanks!! Angela

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Dear Angela,

Off-gassing of new furniture is NOT good. We don't know the health effects exactly, but you do want to minimize this kind of thing. It can give you a headache if nothing else. That said the only thing we know that you can do it take it outside or open the windows until it is done.

We know a furniture manufacturer in NYC that asks clients whether they would like their furniture right away or if they would like them to hold it in the warehouse while it off-gasses. It's no fun to wait, but the fumes you are putting up with are awful.

Anyone else??

Comments (2)

DO NOT TURN UP THE HEAT WHEN OFF-GASSING! As one posts suggests. This will make the problem of off-gassing much much worse.
for scientific info go to:
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/formalde.html

I know I am late to this post, but the information is still valid. Especially, having just bought a IKEA sofa bed. After a month I still am getting a sore throat. I sure hope this off gassing stops soon. Maybe the sofa was made in China. I shudder at the thought.