So your new carpet has been installed, and it looks lovely. The only trouble is you can't breathe, your eyes are burning, and you have a headache that won't quit.
More than likely your body is reacting to the chemicals that are off gassing from the products used in manufacturing and installation of the carpet. Short of ripping the carpet out, here are 4 ideas that will help you cope.
1. Invest in several box fans that you can place in various windows. Place the fans in the windows of the room where the carpet has been installed.
Turn the fan so that the air blows outside and pulls the air from your room outside. This is important because having the air blow into the room will only push the fumes around rather than exhaust them like you need.
2. If possible, vacate the space for 3 or 4 days by staying with friends or family, or use the carpet smell as an excuse to take a vacation. If you have pets, make arrangements for them to stay someplace else.
Leaving them there with the new carpet means they are exposed to it for many more hours than you are, and those that are on the floor have their noses close to it all the time. These chemicals are not healthy for them to breathe either.
3. Depending on the weather outside, this is a perfect time to use the whole house fan. Open windows in the room with the carpet as well as in several other rooms. Make sure you have the same area of window opens as the square footage of the fan.
This will help exhaust the fumes throughout the entire house. However, if you are allergic to outdoor allergens such as pollen, dust, exhaust fumes take care that you don't exchange one problem for another by introducing outdoor air. This is also probably not an option if it's the dead of winter or the height of summer during a heat wave.
4. Using an air purifier with a filter designed to eliminate chemicals is probably one of the best ways to clean up the chemicals from your air but still keep control of air quality.
An air cleaner would allow you to keep the temperature comfortable without introducing outside air and still remove the volatile organic chemicals that are off gassing into your home.
The nice thing about using a purifier is that if it also contains a high efficiency particle arresting (or HEPA) filter, it will also remove sub micron size particles of dust, pet dander, pollen, mold and mildew spores, dust mites and other airborne irritants that can aggravate those who suffer from allergies, asthma and other respiratory conditions.
And unfortunately, this is probably not the last time you'll buy something new and have it off gas airborne chemicals. A cleaner that can run 24 hours every day will eliminate the smells before they have a chance to cause you and your family discomfort as well as potential health problems.
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