Last updated on August 24th, 2023 at 09:46 am

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There’s just something unpleasant about the way new RVs smell. Not only do new RVs have the potential of looking ugly, but they can smell ugly too! If you’re wondering how to get rid of a new RV smell, you’re in the right place.

So how do you get rid of new RV smell? 

There are different ways to get rid of new RV smell, such as airing out the RV, heating it up until the chemicals burn away, or using air fresheners. However, one of the best ways to get rid of a new RV smell is to be patient, and after a while, things should improve!

In this article, we’ll discuss why new RVs smell the way they do, whether the smell can adversely affect you and your travels, and even some tips on how to get rid of new RV smell. Purchasing a new or used RV is exciting, but experiencing new RV smell isn’t the most pleasant, and something you’ll likely want to get rid of quickly!

No matter your budget or experience level, you can get rid of new RV smell and make your trailer or motorhome a place you actually want to spend time in. Let’s get started.

Why Do New RVs Smell?

New RVs smell worse than used RVs because of their recently manufactured products. They are made with many different adhesives, dyes, and preserving chemicals that often adversely affect your sense of smell. No matter the building materials used or the RV manufacturer, there will likely be some potentially unpleasant smells involved in any new RV purchase, whether you’re purchasing a travel trailer, Class A mighty rig, or a toy hauler. It’s a natural part of the manufacturing process, albeit not the nicest one!

These unpleasant smells are released through a process known as off-gassing. This is a natural process where manufactured materials let off their unpleasant chemical smells, but usually over a long period of time. Many RV manufacturers will try to tackle this issue before selling their rigs to the public, but the off-gassing process takes far longer than many manufacturers expect. 

An RV manufacturer can help expedite this smelly process through a few different steps, but most of them chose not to. The majority of RV manufacturers choose to cover up the smells using other chemical smells. You can obviously assume the process of covering up chemical smells with more chemical smells isn’t a good idea. This is why it often falls on the RV purchaser to fix their brand-new rig!

But have you ever stopped to consider what chemicals are producing these unpleasant smells? Now’s the time to discuss this in more detail.

Is New RV Smell Dangerous?

While some RV purchasers may even enjoy the smell of new RVs, it’s important to discuss whether or not new RV smell is dangerous. The answer may surprise you. 

Most new RVs are manufactured with formaldehyde, as this chemical additive has been used in manufacturing since the beginning of RV production. Formaldehyde doesn’t exactly sound like the most pleasant thing to breathe in while you’re enjoying your brand new RV, does it!?

For the most part, formaldehyde is a normal part of any modern manufacturing process. However, the smell has been known to negatively affect many people, in subtle ways. You may notice the following symptoms when dealing with new RV smell:

• Headache
• Lightheadedness
• Respiratory issues (like congestion, wheezing, and sneezing)
• Watery eyes
• Sore throat
• Nausea
• Dry and itchy skin

While not everyone experiences these symptoms, it can be something that happens when smelling any new RV. These symptoms can be exacerbated by the fact most RVs are fully enclosed and compact, leading to more unpleasant smells inhaled.

Why Is Formaldehyde Used In New RVs?

Given formaldehyde can negatively affect us, you may be asking why it’s used in the manufacturing process of new RVs in the first place! Formaldehyde is a common preserving agent used in many different industries. It’s often used in plywood and engineered wood manufacturing, which means it often goes hand in hand with RV construction.

In fact, formaldehyde has been used in just about any RV since the 1950s. This chemical doesn’t have very many adverse health concerns when it occurs in smaller quantities, though some people may be more sensitive to it than others. Many materials that use formaldehyde were banned from RV use back in the day, but this isn’t the case anymore.

Most materials used in RV manufacturing are purchased at a wholesale or budget cost. And most budget-friendly building materials are made with formaldehyde. There are some building materials that don’t use formaldehyde, and you can always purchase an RV with fewer wood-based products. Aluminum trailers are a good way to go, along with fiberglass rigs. 

There have been occurrences of formaldehyde directly affecting people who live in manufactured homes and RVs, so it’s an important thing to keep in mind while shopping. 

How To Get Rid Of New RV Smell (8 Ways)

So you’ve brought your new RV home, installed your home furnishings and brand new RV curtains– and everything stinks. You want to get rid of your RV smell, and fast- here’s what you can do to help with this process!

1. Air Things Out

If you’ve brought your new RV home to a pleasant climate, the first thing worth doing is airing everything out. By this, I mean open up all of the windows throughout the rig, turn on any fans, and let fresh air waft through the rig. If you have a vent fan that sucks the air out from the inside of the RV, now is the time to get those fans working! Don’t worry about using your AC right now- fresh air is best for getting your rig smelling clean and fresh.

Let your RV sit with everything opened up for as long as you can. An entire morning and afternoon during mild weather is best. A mixture of sunlight and fresh air can do wonders to combat any unpleasant chemical smells building up in your RV! Never open up your windows and ceiling vents during times of inclement weather.

Even the smallest bit of water damage can wreak havoc on your RV. The last thing you want to do is ruin your brand new travel trailer or motorhome and have to deal with leaks! It may take a few sessions of airing out your camper before you notice any big changes to the chemical smell. However, if you have ample time before your upcoming camping trip to do this, it’s definitely one of the most effective things that you can do.

2. Heat Up Your RV

Many RV owners swear by the heat technique when it comes to removing new RV smell. This simply means running your RV heater for a few hours after you first bring it home. The idea behind this process is that the heat burns away any unpleasant chemical smells. This can include both formaldehyde scents and any scents used by RV manufacturers to cover up the initial formaldehyde smell.

However, it’s important to note formaldehyde scents won’t magically go away during this process. Heating up all of the fixtures in your RV may help with the initial off-gassing. Having dry heat, like from an RV wood stove, can be one of your best bets for getting things smelling better quickly. Take the time to turn your furnace up to its highest setting, if possible. Leave everything closed up in your RV, no matter how nice the weather is!

Let your rig sit with the furnace running for no less than 12 hours. You can go for a full 24 hours if your RV is in a safe and observable location. Then, turn off your furnace and get your vent fan running so you can totally remove any unpleasant scents that might have built up during this time.

Opening your RV windows after using the heater can also help speed the process along. The heat from a nice summer day can also lead to a less noxious smell, but this isn’t always a possibility. However, mimicking a hot day inside your rig is a good place to start!

3. Cook Something Good

Sometimes, all it takes to get rid of new RV smell is to simply use your RV. And what better way to christen your new camper than through a nice meal!?

Okay, you don’t have to set up your RV kitchen just to cook something. However, using your RV stovetop to cook something memorable and fragrant may be all you need to eliminate some of the more troubling RV smells happening inside your rig. Many RVers bake a tray of brown sugar and cinnamon in their RV oven, should you have one.

Baking some cookies may also be enough, or perhaps boiling a pot of mulled wine spices will do the trick, especially if the holiday season is around the corner! You can also go for a more savory route instead. Bacon is a great choice when used to cover up other smells. If you like the smell of bacon in your home, try cooking some in your RV!

Other savory recipes are useful in this situation as well, such as roasts, soups, and sautees. While it may simply be another way of covering up an unpleasant smell rather than eliminating it, this may be one of your best options if you’re planning on debuting your new RV sooner rather than later. It’s also a natural way of reducing new RV smell, instead of just using other harsh chemicals to mask the formaldehyde smell. 

4. Use Ammonia

Did you know you can use ammonia to eliminate a lot of new RV smells, including formaldehyde? While using one chemical to fight another chemical may seem counterintuitive, this is one of the best processes for fighting formaldehyde. The method of using ammonia to get rid of formaldehyde smell is a bit more complicated, but it may be worth it for the safety of you and your family.

Ammonia can be purchased from many common retailers, and your local hardware store should also be able to help you. Start by removing anything in the RV that might touch the skin. This includes fabrics, cushions, dishes, plants, and more. It’s also wise to turn off your propane and empty your water tanks at this time if you’ve already used your new RV.

After everything is emptied and cleared out, gather 1-4 large, shallow bowls, depending on the size of your RV. The larger the RV, the more shallow bowls you’ll need! Spread them out and fill the bowls with ammonia, about a half gallon in each dish. Ammonia absorbs formaldehyde and other unpleasant scents or chemicals, leaving only water behind. This is why it is such a sophisticated and respected method for new RV owners.

But the process isn’t quite finished…

After setting up your ammonia dishes, you should close up your RV, including all the windows and doors. Like a few other processes on this list, it’s best to leave your RV sitting with the ammonia inside for 24-72 hours. Once this time has passed, vent your RV by opening all windows and turning on the fan. You can now safely dump the ammonia down any drain, as it’s primarily water now.

This process takes the longest time when compared with any other method, but it’s the best process when it comes to fighting formaldehyde specifically.

5. Try Baking Soda (And Vinegar Too)

It isn’t a secret: baking soda and vinegar are an RVer’s best friend! From unclogging your RV toilet to using it as an innovative cleaner, baking soda and vinegar are inexpensive and versatile. You can even use baking soda and vinegar to help with your new RV smell. Many RVers report having success with these two products, or simply just a baking soda solution.

Baking soda is responsible for absorbing odors, which is why many people still keep an open box of baking soda in their fridges! You can sprinkle baking soda on all of your soft RV finishes, such as carpeting and furniture. Allow it to sit and absorb some of the scents before vacuuming it up with ease. 

You can also make a vinegar and baking soda floor cleaning solution, should your RV have hardwood or vinyl flooring rather than carpeting. Be careful with any baking soda and vinegar cleaning solution, as it will foam up when the two materials are combined.

6. Use Candles Or Air Fresheners

Let’s face it, unpleasant smells are a part of life, which is why we regularly employ candles and air fresheners to combat these scents. You can do the same for your RV! Be sure to turn off your propane if you plan on using candles inside your rig. While many RV owners use candles inside their motorhomes without any problems, I think it’s best to turn the propane off just in case!

It’s an added safety precaution, especially if you’re new to RVing and are still figuring out your rig. Simple air fresheners may also do the trick in eliminating new RV smells. You can use air fresheners commonly used in cars, or it may be worth trying an aromatherapy diffuser. There are many different electric plug-in options that can help keep your home on wheels smelling pleasant in the long run as shown in the video of smell-busting tips below:

Febreeze or other fabric sprays can also be helpful odor eliminators. While some of these options are heavily perfumed, many offer lighter scents, and most are designed to absorb and eliminate odors, not simply cover them up. You may need to schedule a few sessions of candle burning before the new RV smell is completely eliminated. However, this method may be all you need to take care of unexpected scents.

7. Purchase Air Purifying Plants

What’s an all-natural method worth giving a go to try and get rid of new RV smell, or any unpleasant wafts for that matter? You can get air-purifying plants, of course! There are many different potted plants you can place around the RV interior able to essentially clean the environment, like the process of phytoremediation, so you can enjoy breathing in clean, crisp air. 

Some popular air-purifying plants include:

• Spider plants
• Peace lilies
• Many palm varieties
• Pothos plants
• Calathea plants
• Ferns
• Rubber plants
• English ivy

While plants may work in ways that are too subtle for you (especially if you have an upcoming camping trip), this can be a fairly easy solution to invest in. It may be especially lovely for those living in your travel trailer full-time. However, it’s essential to note that RVs are always at risk for moisture damage, especially if you plan on traveling or storing your RV in a particularly moist location.

Having too many plants inside an enclosed area can indeed be too much of a good thing. Too many plants can mean more moisture and in turn, can damage the interior of your brand new rig. Try some plants in moderation, and always be careful when watering them!

8. Activated Charcoal 

Speaking of moisture, did you know activated charcoal can help eliminate excess moisture as well as unpleasant smells? You can purchase activated charcoal in many forms, some of which may help you combat the bad scents lingering in your RV from manufacturing. I personally use these bamboo charcoal bags throughout my RV.

They absorb excess moisture, which is something that plagues my RV since I live in the Pacific Northwest. They also help with unpleasant smells too. You can reuse these bags by simply setting them out in the sunshine to air dry, and the charcoal to get refreshed. These are perfect compact solutions to eliminate both moisture and smells inside your new rig!

Will New RV Smell Go Away Over Time?

While purchasing a brand new RV only to find it smells bad can be disappointing, there may not be very much for you to do, at least at first. What’s the best solution for fighting new RV smell? Time. That’s right- time is your best solution to chemical smells inside your trailer, particularly when it comes to fighting formaldehyde. But why might this be?

Well, formaldehyde dissipates over time, usually as your trailer ages, year after year. This is how the chemical is designed, and it gradually lessens as the materials used to build your motorhome age. This is why I never noticed an unpleasant smell in my travel trailer: it was built in the year 1976! By the time I purchased it, decades of formaldehyde and other chemicals had completely disappeared, leaving no scent behind.

This is one of the main arguments for purchasing an older RV. While it won’t help you with your new RV scent, it can be a comforting thought. You won’t be stuck with gross RV smells forever, and any harmful effects from formaldehyde are reduced year after year.

However, if you do suffer from a formaldehyde or chemical production allergy, some of the techniques and tricks used above should help you through this process. You no doubt want to hit the road fast, and these tips can help!

Final Thoughts

There aren’t very many people who enjoy the smell of a new RV. However, if you’ve always wondered how to properly eliminate the smell, hopefully, our post will help point you in the right direction. Have you encountered any tricks to use when it comes to getting rid of new RV smell? Let us know in the comments!