Polypropylene rugs are one of the most popular synthetic rugs. Polypropylene fibers are made from pure and soft plastic, which gives them a look that closely resembles wool.
These fibers are treated with chemicals to make them withstand different weather conditions and last long outdoors. These fibers are then woven into rugs using machines.
Polypropylene rugs are machine-made rugs with a backing material. This backside can be made of materials that have chemical compounds in them, thus polypropylene rugs tend to smell at first.
Here is how much polypropylene rugs really smell:
The backside of polypropylene rugs tends to give off a chemical smell when you unwrap a new rug from its packing. The smell eventually disappears, but some people who are quite sensitive might find it intense. The best way to get rid of the smell is to take the rug outdoor for a few days.
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Do Polypropylene Rugs Smell More Than Other Rugs?
The chemical smell that polypropylene rugs give off can be a bit overpowering at first. However, they do not smell more than other rugs. This smell is only present when the rug is fresh from its packaging.
Most of the smell of polypropylene rugs is caused by the VOCs coming from the backing. And the VOCs tend to off-gas, which produces the chemical smell from these rugs.
However, there are rugs that smell more than polypropylene rugs.
One example is polyester rugs that smell quite a lot.
Naturally, polypropylene rugs are resistant to water or moisture, mold, mildew, and UV rays. They also do not get dirty easily. Plus they dry very quickly. All these properties make polypropylene rugs resistant to smell that is caused by dirt, bacteria, and moisture.
What Are Typical Reasons Polypropylene Rugs Start To Smell?
Polypropylene rugs start to smell mainly because of the chemicals used when manufacturing the rug backing.
Synthetic rugs and their backings are often treated with chemicals that are referred to as volatile organic compounds or VOCs.
The VOCs tend to get released at room temperature.
When you unwrap and unroll your brand new polypropylene rug to place it in an area of the house, these chemicals get released into the air and evaporate.
This causes the unpleasant chemical smell that we get from these rugs.
Another cause of the smell of polypropylene rugs is the plastic packaging that they came with. Most plastics are made from artificial compounds and can emit a chemical smell that sticks to your brand new rug.
Do Brand New Polypropylene Rugs Smell More?
Generally, polypropylene rugs are resistant to water or moisture, mold, and mildew so they do not tend to smell when they are old and used.
Polypropylene rugs only smell when they are brand new. The source of this new-rug-smell often comes from the chemical treatment or processing that goes into making the backing material of the rug.
It can also come from the plastic packaging of the rug or from the storage facility where it was stocked prior to being sold.
Does The Smell Wear Off With Time?
While the smell of polypropylene rugs can be a bit overpowering, it does eventually wear off over time.
You place the rug and wait for the smell to wear off on its own. However, that could take several days and you would have to endure smelling the rug.
While the rug is not toxic, the smell can cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea to members of your household who are sensitive to certain smells.
This is why it is recommended that you get the smell out as soon as possible. Here is how:
Sprinkle baking soda on your rug.
The best way to get rid of the new rug smell on the rug is by eliminating it directly from the source. Baking soda is a known product that eliminates odors and smells.
The crystals of the baking soda neutralize the odors on the fibers of the rug.
Just sprinkle baking soda evenly on both sides, covering the rug with it and letting it sit for fifteen to twenty minutes.
After this, shake the rug to remove the baking soda and follow it up with light vacuuming to completely remove all traces of the baking soda.
Once you treat your rug with baking soda, the next step is to eliminate the odor in the air as these chemical smells tend to linger in the room.
Ventilate your room.
Enclosed indoor areas tend to have retained chemical smells because of the lack of ventilation.
When there are smells in the room, they can linger for a few days which can be an unpleasant experience.
If you have a brand new rug that has a chemical smell, air the room out.
Do this by opening the windows in the room to let air circulate. If you have multiple windows in the room, open all of them to promote better air circulation.
Additionally, you can place a fan in front of the window that produces air and have it face the room inward. Doing this will pull the air in through the window in order to replenish the air in the room.
Doing this help will eliminate the new rug smell faster.
Placing a fan is also helpful if your room does not have a lot of windows.
Use odor neutralizers for your room.
While ventilating the room can be effective, you can also use odor-absorbing products.
products will freshen the air in the room and help remove the chemical smell from the rug.
Volatile organic compounds have high evaporation levels, so their molecules can spread in the air very quickly.
This is why odor-absorbing products can be helpful as they consistently fight odor and unpleasant smells.
Odor-eliminating gels are great products that continuously absorb and destroy odor molecules. They are simple solutions that are low-cost and low maintenance.
For higher effectivity, simply place the odor-eliminating gel containers throughout the room.
Use odor-eliminating sprays or air fresheners to get rid of the smell.
Another way of effectively getting rid of the new rug smell is by spraying the room with odor eliminating spray or air fresheners.
The chemical odors present in VOC tend to be very strong. This is why it may also be helpful to treat the air with odor-eliminating spray.
When doing this, opt for sprays without any artificial fragrances as these can be potentially harmful to your household.
Simply spray evenly throughout the room.
The odor-eliminating spray works by absorbing the volatile organic compounds that are present in the air.
How Do You Avoid Smell From Polypropylene Rugs?
In general, polypropylene rugs have properties and characteristics that make them resistant to unpleasant smells once they are past the “brand new” stage.
Polypropylene rugs are made to resist moisture. They do not absorb water, moisture, and any liquid, and in case of liquid spills, they dry very quickly.
They are also resistant to mold and mildew, plus they do not get dirty easily.
With all these characteristics, they do not tend to smell over time, unlike other rugs.
This is one of the reasons that polypropylene rugs are popular. They are great for busy households, especially those with children or pets. They are very practical, and they are not prone to dirt build-up.
They are also very easy to clean and maintain.
You can have kids or pets running around the house with dirty feet or paws, and you would not have to worry about polypropylene rugs becoming dirty.
While polypropylene rugs can emit a chemical smell when they are brand new, they are actually non-toxic and are very safe to have even if there are small children or pets in your household.
Generally, polypropylene rugs only smell when they are brand new.Once the chemical smell wears off, you will be left with a nice comfortable rug that is very durable and can last for several years.
Sources:
Pros And Cons Of Using Polypropylene Rugs That You Shouldn’t Ignore