What is the fastest way to remove odors and formaldehyde from a new car?
4 Answers
Ventilation is the simplest and most feasible method. Regularly opening windows for ventilation can effectively reduce harmful substances such as formaldehyde and benzene inside the car. Remove the plastic packaging from the new car. If you have purchased a new car, it is best to remove the plastic packaging promptly. You can use materials like bamboo charcoal for adsorption.
Last time I picked up my new car, the smell was overwhelming too! The most effective method I found was sun exposure + open windows: park the car in an open area at noon in summer, open all four doors, and let it bake in the sun for an hour. High temperatures can speed up formaldehyde release by three times, and combined with air circulation, the efficiency doubles. Remember to wipe the dashboard three times with a wet cloth—formaldehyde is water-soluble. Then, place two boxes of activated charcoal under the floor mats, replacing them weekly. Tests showed the concentration dropped to safe levels within two weeks. Never use air fresheners to mask the smell—that’s just fooling yourself.
Just bought a stroller for the kid, but it smelled awful, so I came up with a gentle formaldehyde removal plan. First, remove all the seat protective films—these are the main pollutants. Spray the entire interior twice with 3M professional formaldehyde removal spray, which is decomposition-based and won’t harm leather. Open diagonal windows daily during commutes and use the external air circulation while driving. Here’s the key: place a pot of pothos in the passenger seat and stuff two boxes of activated charcoal in the trunk. After half a month, the formaldehyde levels dropped by 70%. Putting pineapple peels in the car doesn’t work—tested and proven ineffective.
Conducted an experiment with a rented formaldehyde tester: On the day of pickup, the formaldehyde level was 0.35mg/m³ (national standard limit is 0.1). After leaving the car windows open and exposing it to sunlight for three hours, the level dropped to 0.2, but rose again when the air conditioning was turned on. Later, using an ozone generator for half an hour immediately reduced the level to 0.08. Note: Ensure to remove all living things from the car before operation! There’s now a photocatalytic coating that can be sprayed on glass, which uses ultraviolet light to decompose formaldehyde, offering more lasting effects than activated carbon. It’s recommended to purchase a car air purifier with a digital display for real-time monitoring and peace of mind.
