Renovations can often lead to elevated levels of formaldehyde in the newly refurbished homes. This can result in ‘Sick Building Syndrome’ and cause varied health problems for every occupant of the new house.
It is also important to keep in mind that formaldehyde is particularly hazardous, especially with prolonged exposure. Thus why starting in 2026, Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) will mandate interior paints sold in Singapore must be free of formaldehyde. This is a part of the ongoing public health protection efforts because formaldehyde is often used in some interior paints as a preservative to prevent bacterial and fungal growth.
If you have recently renovated your home and are experiencing high formaldehyde levels or symptoms of sick building syndrome, this article will help you find the most effective methods for removing formaldehyde post-renovation, ensuring your newly renovated home is safe to live in!
What is Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with a pungent smell, which is commonly found in building materials and household products. Due to its strong and sharp smell, usually formaldehyde's presence in a house can be easily discovered.
As previously mentioned, exposure to formaldehyde can lead to eye, nose, and throat irritation, prolonged exposure can even lead to cancer. Thus, reducing formaldehyde exposure is especially important after renovation, one of the activities that can increase formaldehyde level inside a building. With proper care, formaldehyde levels can be decreased and the odors will dissipate within a few days.
Why Newly Renovated Houses Often Smell Like Formaldehyde?
Newly renovated houses often smell like formaldehyde because many building materials and household products used during renovation emit this chemical.
These are some of the common factors that make newly renovated houses smell like formaldehyde:
- The material in home furniture such as Plywood and particleboard emit this chemical.
- Wall paints and coating often utilize formaldehyde, which can be released during and after application.
- Some types of flooring such as laminate and engineered wood may contain formaldehyde.
- Various building materials such as glues, adhesives, and textiles can contain formaldehyde, which can be emitted during and after installation.
7 Ways to Eliminate Formaldehyde Smell from Newly Renovated Home
Ensure Proper Ventilation
The first thing that you should do to eliminate the formaldehyde smell from your newly renovated house is to ensure proper ventilation inside the house. Opening windows and doors is the simplest method, but very crucial at the same time. Doing this will allow fresh air to dilute indoor formaldehyde concentration inside.
This should be done consistently, especially during the first few weeks post-renovation. Using exhaust fans can also help expel contaminated air much faster.
Utilize Air Purifiers
Purchasing a high-quality air purifier that has a HEPA filter feature can be highly effective for removing formaldehyde after renovation. Purifiers with HEPA filters can capture particulate matter and reduce overall indoor air pollution much more efficiently, although it is important to keep in mind that they do not specifically target formaldehyde.
Additionally, purifiers with Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO) can also be another great solution as they have UV light to break down VOCs, including formaldehyde and other harmless components.
Purchase Specialized Houseplant
Certain houseplants are known for their ability to absorb formaldehyde and other VOCs from the air. This makes them both decorative and functional additions to your newly renovated house.
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum), and the Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp) - are some of the recommended plants that are known for their air-purifying properties and thus are effective at removing formaldehyde.
Use the Seal and Encapsulated Methods
Another thing you can do to reduce formaldehyde emotion from materials and furniture inside your house after renovation is by utilizing sealing and encapsulation methods. Applying low-VOC sealants or varnishes to furniture and wood products can create a barrier that significantly lowers formaldehyde emissions, especially when all surfaces are thoroughly coated. Encapsulating methods such as insulation, on the other hand, can prevent formaldehyde from escaping into the indoor air.
Control the Humidity Inside the House
Maintaining an optimal indoor environment is crucial for controlling formaldehyde emissions, which will increase with higher humidity and temperature. Using dehumidifiers to keep indoor humidity levels below 50% can significantly reduce formaldehyde off-gassing. Additionally, you can also use air conditioners, as they will not only cool the house but also reduce humidity, thereby helping to control formaldehyde levels inside the house.
Try the Cookout Method
If you need the formaldehyde scent to be gone immediately from inside your house, then you can try the cookout method. Formaldehyde off-gasses more rapidly at higher temperatures, so setting your home’s heat to a high level and using a humidifier at the same time; can expedite this process. If you have a heater in your house, simply heat your home, turn on the humidifier, and leave the house for a while.
Hire Professional Cleaners
Last but not least, you can also hire professional cleaners that offer post-renovation cleaning to speed up the process of removing formaldehyde scent. They can effectively remove formaldehyde as these experts use specialized equipment and cleaning techniques to target and eliminate formaldehyde and other VOCs from indoor spaces.
Professional cleaners will thoroughly clean and treat areas that are difficult to reach or might have higher concentrations of formaldehyde. Thus by utilizing professional cleaner services, you can significantly reduce indoor air pollutants, ensuring a safer and fresher living environment that is free from formaldehyde!
The Takeaway
Ensuring that the formaldehyde scent is thoroughly removed from your newly renovated space immediately is important. This will ensure that you not only get a better version of your home but also a healthier space to live in!
