There are a lot of sensations that are present when you first purchase a motorhome or travel trailer. One that many notice, especially first-time buyers, is the new RV smell. Just what is it exactly? It is merely formaldehyde, which is present throughout the entirety of a new RV.
Formaldehyde is a colorless gas and is present in almost all of the glues that are produced in wood products. You can also find it in flooring, paint, paneling, cabinetry, and even furniture. It is commonly used to treat durable press permanent fabrics found in curtains. These smells are completely different to the standard new car smell. Now that we know this, how do we get rid of these smells before heading out on the open road?
Start off first with ventilation. Whichever RV type you might have purchased, spend some time opening everything up. Make sure to open the windows, doors, and even the air vents. Open every drawer and cabinet. You can go as far as placing a few fans in there overnight with the windows open to help speed up the ventilation process. By opening everything, this stops the formaldehyde gasses from collecting and it lessens the potent odor.
Another method is turning up the heat! We know it may not be cold enough outside yet but heat up the inside to 80 degrees or higher if you can for several hours. In high temperatures, more gasses are released from the wood and materials throughout the RV or motorhome. This, in turn, speeds up the process, which can take quite a while to do naturally. Depending on the type of weather and where you live, you might be able to do this just by leaving the trailer shut up during the day. Make sure that there are no pets left in the trailer during this process.
Invest in some plants for your new home on wheels. Not only will they start to make your RV feel like a home, but also Boston Ferns are capable of removing 1,863 micrograms of formaldehyde per hour. Looking nice and cleaning the air – win/win!
We hope you’ve enjoyed these simple and effective methods to help speed up the removal of formaldehyde odor in your new RV. Got a secret to welcoming your new unit home? Share your tips with us on Facebook or Twitter!
