ᐅ My living room smells strongly like KALLAX – how long does that usually last?
Created on: 14 Dec 2024 08:37
S
SekisinHello everyone,
Two days ago, I set up a new KALLAX shelf from IKEA in my living room, but now I noticed that the room has a strong smell typical of the “KALLAX scent.” I’m curious how long it usually takes for this smell to significantly fade or completely disappear. I have done some research and suspect it comes from the freshly lacquered or glued surfaces, but I don’t know the exact time frame.
Can anyone share how long it took in their case? Are there any tips to reduce or get rid of the smell faster? It is also important for me to know if this smell poses any health risks or if I can simply ventilate the room regularly and wait it out.
Thanks in advance for any helpful answers!
Two days ago, I set up a new KALLAX shelf from IKEA in my living room, but now I noticed that the room has a strong smell typical of the “KALLAX scent.” I’m curious how long it usually takes for this smell to significantly fade or completely disappear. I have done some research and suspect it comes from the freshly lacquered or glued surfaces, but I don’t know the exact time frame.
Can anyone share how long it took in their case? Are there any tips to reduce or get rid of the smell faster? It is also important for me to know if this smell poses any health risks or if I can simply ventilate the room regularly and wait it out.
Thanks in advance for any helpful answers!
Hello Sekisin,
It is completely correct that the typical smell of KALLAX usually comes from the materials used, especially the composition of the particle boards and the surface sealing. The emissions are mainly volatile organic compounds, called VOCs, which are released especially in the initial period after unpacking.
Typically, you can expect the smell to significantly diminish after about 2 to 4 weeks. This depends heavily on various factors: room size, temperature, humidity, and of course ventilation. I recommend ventilating for several hours every day, ideally cross-ventilation, to reduce the VOC concentration.
Also, I would like to ask: Is the shelf placed directly against an exterior wall, or is it in a rather warm environment? Is the room regularly heated? These conditions can speed up or slow down the emissions.
From a health perspective, the odors are generally not harmful if the rooms are well ventilated. However, if you experience headaches or nausea, longer ventilation periods are advisable.
In summary, I would recommend:
1. Ventilate for several hours daily
2. Keep the room temperature as stable as possible
3. Maintain humidity within the normal range (about 40-60%)
If you like, you can share more about the room environment so I can offer you more specific advice.
It is completely correct that the typical smell of KALLAX usually comes from the materials used, especially the composition of the particle boards and the surface sealing. The emissions are mainly volatile organic compounds, called VOCs, which are released especially in the initial period after unpacking.
Typically, you can expect the smell to significantly diminish after about 2 to 4 weeks. This depends heavily on various factors: room size, temperature, humidity, and of course ventilation. I recommend ventilating for several hours every day, ideally cross-ventilation, to reduce the VOC concentration.
Also, I would like to ask: Is the shelf placed directly against an exterior wall, or is it in a rather warm environment? Is the room regularly heated? These conditions can speed up or slow down the emissions.
From a health perspective, the odors are generally not harmful if the rooms are well ventilated. However, if you experience headaches or nausea, longer ventilation periods are advisable.
In summary, I would recommend:
1. Ventilate for several hours daily
2. Keep the room temperature as stable as possible
3. Maintain humidity within the normal range (about 40-60%)
If you like, you can share more about the room environment so I can offer you more specific advice.
Palenar schrieb:
Typically, the smell noticeably decreases after about 2 to 4 weeks.This observation aligns with recent studies on emissions from wood-based materials used indoors. The particle boards used for the KALLAX must not exceed certain formaldehyde limits in the EU, yet small amounts of odor-causing substances can still be released into the indoor air.
The best advice is to ventilate frequently, as the odor can persist longer otherwise. Additionally, air purifiers with activated carbon filters can help absorb VOCs.
Important: The odor is not inherently harmful to health but can irritate sensitive individuals.
Conclusion: If there is no improvement after 4 weeks, the cause should be investigated (e.g., damage or defective materials).
KAULIS schrieb:
If there is no improvement after 4 weeks, the cause should be investigated (e.g., damage or faulty materials).Thank you for the precise assessment. The shelf is not placed directly against an exterior wall but rather centrally in the room. The room size is about 25 sqm (270 sq ft), and the heating is underfloor heating, set to approximately 21 degrees Celsius (70°F). I keep the window tilted open several times a day for 15 to 20 minutes each time.
Palenar schrieb:
I recommend ventilating for several hours daily, ideally with cross ventilation.Unfortunately, cross ventilation is not possible for me since there is only one large window in the room. I am considering using an air purifier in addition. Does anyone have experience with devices that specifically absorb VOCs?
I’m glad to hear that the smell isn’t automatically harmful to health, but it is annoying when the whole room ends up smelling like that. 🙂
Hello Sekisin,
I’m happy to give you a brief step-by-step guide for dealing with the KALLAX odor:
1. Ventilation: Airing out several times a day, as you are doing, is good. To increase effectiveness, try to open the window fully rather than just tilting it.
2. Air purifier: A device with a HEPA filter plus an activated carbon filter is ideal for removing both particles and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air. Pay attention to the type of filter when purchasing.
3. Control humidity: Maintaining humidity between 40-60% supports the natural binding of certain pollutants. Air that is too dry can sometimes make odors seem stronger.
4. Temperature: Your 21 degrees Celsius (70°F) is ideal. Higher temperatures can increase emissions, lower temperatures reduce them, though at the expense of comfort.
5. Time: As mentioned, the odors usually fade after 2-4 weeks. An alternative for stubborn cases is the IBM method (intensive ventilation with moderate humidity) – but this can be difficult to achieve indoors sometimes.
I have spoken with small furniture companies who confirm that the smell is noticeably gone after about a month at the latest.
One more tip:
Temporarily avoid strong odor sources like perfume or scented candles, which can intensify or mix with the KALLAX odor.
Hope this helps you!
I’m happy to give you a brief step-by-step guide for dealing with the KALLAX odor:
1. Ventilation: Airing out several times a day, as you are doing, is good. To increase effectiveness, try to open the window fully rather than just tilting it.
2. Air purifier: A device with a HEPA filter plus an activated carbon filter is ideal for removing both particles and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air. Pay attention to the type of filter when purchasing.
3. Control humidity: Maintaining humidity between 40-60% supports the natural binding of certain pollutants. Air that is too dry can sometimes make odors seem stronger.
4. Temperature: Your 21 degrees Celsius (70°F) is ideal. Higher temperatures can increase emissions, lower temperatures reduce them, though at the expense of comfort.
5. Time: As mentioned, the odors usually fade after 2-4 weeks. An alternative for stubborn cases is the IBM method (intensive ventilation with moderate humidity) – but this can be difficult to achieve indoors sometimes.
I have spoken with small furniture companies who confirm that the smell is noticeably gone after about a month at the latest.
One more tip:
Temporarily avoid strong odor sources like perfume or scented candles, which can intensify or mix with the KALLAX odor.
Hope this helps you!
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