ᐅ What helps to get rid of unpleasant odors from new Ikea Hemnes furniture?

Hello everyone, I recently purchased a new piece of furniture from the Ikea Hemnes series and assembled it at home. Unfortunately, I noticed a quite strong smell coming from the wood or the surface. I would be interested to hear about your experiences and especially which methods or products you have successfully used to remove this unpleasant odor from new Ikea Hemnes furniture. I’m particularly interested in environmentally friendly or health-safe solutions, since these are living room furniture items where people spend a lot of time. I look forward to your tips and suggestions!

Oh yes, Dariansar, I know that problem all too well! Especially with Hemnes furniture, the smell of newly applied paints or stains can linger for weeks. What worked really well for me was a combination of intensive ventilation and placing bowls of vinegar or activated charcoal near the furniture. Activated charcoal is very effective at absorbing odors, so definitely give that a try! Don’t give up—sometimes it takes a few weeks, but soon you’ll hardly notice the smell anymore. Good luck, you’ll get it under control! 😊

As an addition: The odors from new furniture often come from solvents and plasticizers in the wood stains and finishes. This off-gassing can last several weeks depending on ventilation and room temperature. Activated charcoal is effective because it adsorbs volatile organic compounds. Likewise, airing out with natural substances like coffee grounds or baking soda in small bowls can help reduce the odors. The most important factor is good ventilation with low humidity, as moisture can increase the emission of fumes. Chemical odor removers are generally not recommended, as they can release additional substances themselves.

PATRICKNON schrieb:
Activated carbon is effective because it adsorbs volatile organic compounds.

I find that very helpful to know, thank you! I recently bought a Hemnes shelf and was quite confused by the smell. So far, I have only tried ventilating a lot, but that alone doesn’t seem to help much. How often should the activated carbon be replaced? And does it also work for furniture placed in smaller, less well-ventilated rooms? I’m a bit worried that I’m just masking the smell by covering it up, rather than actually eliminating it.

Replace activated charcoal at least every 2 weeks.
Ventilate daily and, if possible, keep windows open.
Can also be combined with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).

JONKO schrieb:
How often should the activated carbon be replaced?

Exactly! I replaced my activated carbon trays completely after about 14 days. Otherwise, the carbon loses its effectiveness.

JONKO schrieb:
I'm a bit worried that I'm just masking the odor by layering it, but not really getting rid of it.

That’s a valid concern. The smell usually disappears entirely over time if you ventilate well and use the carbon properly. Fresh air is key! So open windows, air out the room, and small fans can help too.

One more thing: if you have a spot for the furniture that’s not directly in the bedroom, I’d try that first. It’s easier to manage the off-gassing there. You can do it!