Strong smell in Rv

[Dndfunteam]

A little back ground. We have a 2019 mini lite rock wood. We took it out 3 times up in Ohio no problems with smell. We just became snow bunny’s.
In Florida now. When we go to bed at night close up windows the smell gets a lot stronger. I read that this could be chemicals they use on the cheaper trailers. It’s not egg smell or sewer smells

Question what do you use to get rid of smell?
How long will this keep up?

I read maybe try white vinegar but that smells

[Cabinfever97]

Hard to know for sure what smell you are smelling. My thought it is the smell given off by some new construction materials. "New car smell"? You may not have smelled as much in Ohio since it was likely cooler. Now you are in a warmer climate which is accelerating the off gassing from the new materials. The smell should calm down in time. Our old TT was 5 years old when we sold it. We don't smoke and hardly cook inside so after being closed up for a while it would still have a bit of a new smell. I believe this happens with anything new, no matter the cost.

[ben31]

It's kind of hard to describe smells very well. Unlike a photo, you can't just attach it for us to share. There will be some off-gassing in any RV. One thing that will help with that is getting fresh air circulating through it. When it is nice out, open the trailer up and let the gasses escape. Keep a roof vent open a little to let them out, when the weather isn't so good. After a little while, it will get better, but it never completely goes away. Try febreze air fresheners to mask it in the meantime.

Is it a "wet" or mildew smell? Is it a chemical/wood smell? If the latter, it is normal and will dissipate over time. If the former, you need to do something about the moisture fast.

[TheWolfPaq82]

Two years on our Cherokee and you can still smell outgassing if closed up for a week or two during the summer. Not as strong, but it's still there.

[myxkp]

Originally Posted by Dndfunteam

A little back ground. We have a 2019 mini lite rock wood. We took it out 3 times up in Ohio no problems with smell. We just became snow bunny’s.
In Florida now. When we go to bed at night close up windows the smell gets a lot stronger. I read that this could be chemicals they use on the cheaper trailers. It’s not egg smell or sewer smells

Question what do you use to get rid of smell?
How long will this keep up?

I read maybe try white vinegar but that smells

A slightly sour smell is often the adhesive used in paneling, carpet backing and such. Bad Air Sponge is available through Amazon and there are other similar products.

[cavie]

Go to auto parts store and get an Air Freshener Bomb. Turn on the A/C and go outside for about 20 min. I would use 2. I got rid of cigarette smoke in my truck with one.

[timfromma]

Do you leave your sewer hose connected with the dump valves open? If so, it could be sewer gas from the campground sewer system.

[Dndfunteam]

No do not leave open. I better sure it’s chemical smells from being new. not mold or wet smell. Just curious how long and what to do to get rid of

[CampingGator]

It’s humid in Florida, even in the winter. I don’t know where you are located, but we have rain moving in today. When you have your windows closed, try using your vent fan to change over the air. I just did a quick search on line and see that Lowe’s sells Gonzo Odor Eliminator for $9.98. It says it’s made of non-toxic volcanic minerals, which absorb odors and moisture naturally. Without perfumes or cover-ups. Google it and see what you think. For ten bucks, I’d give it a try.

[dodr33]

Ours went back to the factory and came back with that new car "formaldehyde" smell again...check to make sure the sewer vents under the sink are not stuck open just in case.

[valleyduo]

is the smell more concentrated in certain areas? I know some foam mattresses can emit a horrible smell. I've heard of some that never went away folks had to get rid of the mattress to eliminate the odor of it.

[JohnD10]

My 5'vers build date was in January of 2015, which makes it four years old (wow, I still think of it as new ).

It has spent most of its life in the dry high altitude of Denver, Colorado and the last six months in the Arizona desert southwest.

I full timed in it for the first six months of 2018.

It still has that new car (RV) smell when it is all closed up in storage, but clears out once I open it up to air out.

[Freetyme]

Guessing just construction smells from vinyls, laminates, and such. More pronounced in warm weather. Should get less in time. The water in some parks can stink up a trailer just by opening a tap. Bad condensate drainage from AC or fridge might be worth a look.

[Dndfunteam]

Originally Posted by valleyduo

is the smell more concentrated in certain areas? I know some foam mattresses can emit a horrible smell. I've heard of some that never went away folks had to get rid of the mattress to eliminate the odor of it.

Seems to be more by frig air condition

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Dndfunteam

No do not leave open. I better sure it’s chemical smells from being new. not mold or wet smell. Just curious how long and what to do to get rid of

Odors and those who smell them are a wide target.

Most time when we get a new R/V the DW fusses about the 'new unit' odors which seldom bother me.

She'll then run out and buy some kind of Febreze to mask the odors that will ultimately drive my smeller nuts while she sits there going "isn't that better!?"

Open it up and air it out the best you can.
Floor fans help as does running the ceiling vent fans. (if equipped)

[valleyduo]

Originally Posted by Dndfunteam

Seems to be more by frig air condition

May want to double check your ac and fridge condensate drainage as freetyme mentioned in post 13. Never hurts to just be sure you don't have water leaking in or not escaping as it should. That would most likely cause a musty smell though which I don't believe is what you are describing.

[jimmoore13]

Formaldehyde and other out-gassed (or off-gassed) chemicals typically diminish with time...kind of like on a "half-life" schedule. A few months should do it.

Intense heat and/or high humidity will accelerate the out-gassing process. That's why it's worse in FL than up north. That heat MAY be accelerating the curing process.
Ventilation is your friend. If you are sealed up in a tin can with the AC on recirc so you recycle the same inside air, you our sealing in the contaminants.

Propane combustion also adds formaldehyde to the air. If cooking inside, be sure to use the range exhaust fan to remove combustion byproducts.

One other concern. Occasionally a product will come through that is not properly cured/finished at the factory. Foams in cushions, carpet and carpet padding and so on are particularly likely to be culprits, but so can fabrics, adhesives, laminate flooring, and so on. My mother was chemically injured (leaving permanent scarring in her bronchial tubes and lungs) from improperly cured carpet padding in her home. It took her years to recover a significant portion of her respiratory capacity...she never fully recovered.

These gasses are unhealthy, so you should do your level best to ventilate as much as possible and understand that the process takes time. There is no way to accelerate the curing of adhesives in wood products, foam, fabrics, flooring, and so on.

Most people handle occasional exposure to these chemicals fairly well. But some people are very vulnerable. Let your "nose" be your guide. If the smell is oppressive, limit your exposure. Ventilate, ventilate, ventilate.
BUT IF THAT FAILS, hunt down the culprit. A single bad item, like an improperly cured foam cushion on the dinette or mattress might NEVER cure. That's a manufacturing defect, and the item will relentlessly poison you.
If you suspect that's the case, then it's time to locate the offending item and get it out of your environment.

More on formaldehyde.

Testing devices.

Suggestions for dealing with formaldehyde.

CDC info on formaldehyde.

I am the former executive director of he New York Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides. Our focus stretched to include indoor air contamination from synthetics, insulation, adhesives, and so on. I've testified before the EPA on the subject of chemical contaminants and human health. Don't ignore this. Each person is different, and if the smell is "oppressive" to you, that means it's harming you.

[CaptnJohn]

Air circulation is what will eventually eliminate it but 2nd best is Ozium. Works on about every odor

[Crabman]

Install a strong fan (fantstic fan, Vortex, etc )in the roof vent, open a window partially and turn on the fan. This will draw out stale air through the roof and draw in fresh air through the window and help alleviate the smell.

[Frenchcreek]

I had an unpleasant smell for over a year not long after purchasing a new Class C. It took me a while and the purchase of a gas detector to run down a leaking propane connection under the sofa where the furnace resides. Oddly, there was no rotten egg smell and it never set off the alarm. But the connection was so loose that it must have never been more than hand tightened during the build, and some miles on our highways loosened it further.