How to Get Rid of Burning Plastic Smell in Your House
An unpleasant smell from burning plastic can harm the overall vibe of your house. The burning plastic smell is usually strong and undeniable. Additionally, the smell can also linger in your house for a long time if you do not take the necessary steps to get rid of it. Note that the smell of burning plastic could result from an overheated household appliance, an issue with the HVAC, or a kitchen accident. Furnaces and heaters may also smell of burnt plastic once their parts are worn out or broken. Apart from being unpleasant and lingering for long, burning plastic smells can negatively affect the lungs and the respiratory system.
According to Healthline, burning plastic can release toxic carcinogens. Some of the health issues most people experience after inhaling burning plastic smell include irritation on the nose and throat. Neurological symptoms such as confusion and dizziness may also occur with prolonged exposure. In addition, if the burning plastic smell is a result of toxic gases emitted after burning plastic materials such as furans and dioxins, the smell can cause impotence, asthma, and cancer with prolonged exposure. The good news is that there are various methods that you can use to get rid of the burning plastic smell in your house effectively and safely.
To get rid of the burning plastic smell, you have first to locate its source. After identifying the source, you should turn off the device that is causing a burning plastic smell and unplug it. You should then ventilate your house. Next, you should open all your windows to allow proper circulation of air. Note that the actual substance contained in the burning plastic smell can be dangerous. Allowing air inside your house will play a part in dissipating smoke particles and any possibly harmful chemicals present in the air. You can also speed up this process by turning on extractors or ceiling fans. It is advisable to allow the air to circulate inside your house for about an hour.
Getting rid of the burning plastic smell
Although there are candles, incenses, and air fresheners in the market that improve a house’s aroma, most of them tend to mask the unpleasant smell instead of getting rid of it. By reading the article, you can find out how you can eliminate this smell without masking it.
General area
The general area could be the entire kitchen, sitting room, bedrooms, and other areas affected by the burning plastic smell. To remove this smell from these areas, you need the following:
- An odor absorber could be in the form of white vinegar, activated charcoal, fresh coffee grounds, or baking soda.
- A plate of bowl
Steps to get rid of the smell
Get an odor absorber of your choice from the list given above. For example, baking soda is ideal for small confined places like microwaves. On the other hand, white vinegar is ideal for larger areas like the living room or the kitchen. If you choose fresh ground coffee, it is important to note that the coffee smell will replace the burning odor.
- Fill the plate or the bowl with the absorber.
- Fix the plate or the bowl in areas where the smell is the strongest. It is advisable to use multiple bowls or plates for large areas.
- Allow the bowls or plates to remain in the areas you have put them overnight or for several hours.
- Repeat the process severally using a fresh odor absorber until the burning plastic smell is no more.
Fabrics, curtains, and rugs
According to Rocky dad, you will need the following things to eliminate the burning plastic smell from your fabrics:
- White vinegar
- Washing machine
- Laundry detergent
- Clean water
Steps to eliminate the burnt smell on fabrics
- You can choose to wash the fabrics by yourself or have them cleaned professionally. If the fabrics are washable, you need to place them into your washing machine and add laundry detergent and a cup of white vinegar to the cycle.
- Leave the fabric to air dry until there is no more smell of burning plastic.
- Repeat the washing process if need be.
- Rugs and carpets
- Requirements:
- Vacuum
- Baking soda
Steps to get rid of the smell
- Sprinkle the carpet/rug with the baking soda and leave it to sit for several hours or even days, depending on the severity of the odor.
- Vacuum the baking soda away
- Reapply if the odor remains
How to get rid of burning plastic smell on a microwave
According to AskingLot, all you need to do to get rid of the burning plastic smell on your microwave is to fill a bowl or a plate with a half-full cup of water and a tablespoon of white vinegar. Microwave this content for 4 to 5 minutes and then allow it to sit inside the microwave for 10-15 minutes while the microwave’s door is closed. The vinegar will absorb the plastic odor.
As aforementioned, candles, incense, and fresheners will only mask the unpleasant burning plastic odor. However, if you still insist on using a deodorizer, the best to go with is plain white vinegar. This vinegar assimilates the unpleasant smell. The aroma of the white vinegar also speedily scatters subsequently. You can mix equal amounts of warm water and white vinegar to create an all-natural odor-removing cleaner. You can put this solution into a bottle and use it as a deodorizer. You can also fill a bowl with the vinegar combination and leave it on the affected areas for some time to allow them to absorb the burning plastic smell. Change the solution for maximum absorption. If you do not like the smell of vinegar, you can add lemon juice, flavored teabags, or vanilla extract to the solution.
Additional ideas and tips
Apart from following the aforementioned methods to remove the burning plastic smell, you can also clear this smell by boiling lemon peels. To be on the safe side, if the burning smell is resulting from melted plastic kitchen utensils such as cups or spatula, you should throw them away because such items can leak chemicals into your food.