How to reduce VOCs in your home: 7 practical steps

September 3, 2026 Guides

TL;DR: To reduce VOCs (volatile organic compounds) at home, combine three things: stop bringing VOC sources inside, ventilate whenever levels rise, and monitor your air so you know what is working. The biggest sources are paint, new furniture and flooring, cleaning products, air fresheners, and stored chemicals. The EPA reports that many VOCs are consistently higher indoors than outdoors, up to ten times higher. Airthings monitors flag total VOC levels above 2,000 ppb as high, which is the point to find the source and ventilate. A purifier helps only if it has an activated carbon filter; HEPA alone does not capture VOCs.

VOCs are airborne chemicals released by everyday products and activities. Because modern homes are built to be airtight, these gases can build up indoors. The good news: most homes can bring VOC levels down quickly with a few practical changes. This guide covers where VOCs come from, why they matter, and seven steps to reduce them. For a deeper explanation of what VOCs are and how they are measured, read our guide What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?

Where do VOCs in your home come from?

VOCs are a large group of carbon-based chemicals that evaporate into the air at room temperature. That "new paint" or "new mattress" smell is chemical off-gassing. According to the EPA, concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors, and studies have found levels of several organic compounds average two to five times higher indoors. The Minnesota Department of Health lists common household VOCs including benzene, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, tetrachloroethylene, toluene, xylene, and 1,3-butadiene.

Source	Common VOCs	Quick fix
Paint, varnish, solvents, glues	Toluene, xylene, other solvents	Choose low- or zero-VOC products; ventilate during and after use
New furniture, flooring, mattresses	Formaldehyde and others	Air out new items before bringing them into living spaces
Cleaning products and aerosols	Various solvents and fragrance chemicals	Use milder, fragrance-free products; open a window while cleaning
Air fresheners, candles, plug-ins	Fragrance compounds	Remove them; ventilate instead of masking odors
Dry-cleaned clothes	Perchloroethylene (tetrachloroethylene)	Air out garments before storing them in a closet
Stored fuels, paint, car products	Benzene and other solvents	Store outside living spaces; dispose of old containers safely

VOC levels: what your monitor is telling you

Airthings monitors that measure VOCs, including the View Plus, Wave Enhance, and Wave Plus, report total VOCs in parts per billion (ppb) and use these bands:

Below 250 ppb — Good: Normal background levels.
250–2,000 ppb — Fair: Levels are elevated. Look for a source and increase ventilation.
Above 2,000 ppb — High: Find the source and ventilate now.

There is no single official US limit for total VOCs in homes, so these bands are Airthings' recommended thresholds, designed to tell you when to act.

What are the health effects of VOCs?

Health effects depend on which VOCs are present, how high the levels are, how long you are exposed, and personal sensitivity. Children, older adults, and people with asthma or other respiratory conditions are more vulnerable.

Short-term (acute) exposure

Breathing high levels of VOCs, such as while painting or using strong cleaners, can cause:

Irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat
Headaches and dizziness
Nausea
Worsening of asthma symptoms

Long-term (chronic) exposure

According to the EPA, some VOCs can damage the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system, and some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans. Formaldehyde, for example, is classified as a known human carcinogen, as summarized by the US National Cancer Institute.

7 ways to reduce VOCs in your home

You can't remove every VOC, but you can cut your exposure significantly by controlling sources and ventilating well.

1. Monitor your air so you know where you stand

You quickly become "nose-blind" to familiar smells, and some VOCs have little or no odor. A continuous monitor such as the Airthings View Plus or Wave Enhance shows your total VOC level in real time, so you can see which activities cause spikes and confirm that your changes are working. Read our guide on how to test indoor air quality at home to get started.

2. Stop bringing VOCs inside

Source control is the most effective step.

Buy low-VOC: When renovating, choose paints, adhesives, and sealants labeled "low-VOC" or "zero-VOC."
Skip artificial fragrances: Air fresheners, plug-ins, and scented candles add VOCs to mask odors. Ventilate to remove odors instead.
Use milder cleaners: Swap aerosols and heavily scented products for fragrance-free options or simple alternatives like mild dish soap, white vinegar, and baking soda.
Buy only what you need: The EPA advises buying chemical products in quantities you will use soon.

3. Air out new furniture and materials

Off-gassing is usually strongest when products are new. Unbox new mattresses, rugs, and flat-pack furniture in a well-ventilated garage or covered patio and let them air out for a few days before bringing them into bedrooms. Air out dry-cleaned clothes before putting them in your closet.

4. Ventilate every day, and more during projects

Opening windows and running exhaust fans dilutes indoor VOCs with outdoor air. A study of VOC levels in 126 homes of children with asthma found that indoor VOC concentrations fell as air exchange rates rose, which shows how much ventilation matters. When you paint, varnish, or use strong adhesives, open windows on opposite sides of the room for a cross-breeze and place a box fan in a window blowing outward. Keep ventilating after the project until the smell is gone and your monitor shows VOCs back at your normal level. Run kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans while cooking, cleaning, and showering.

5. Store chemicals outside your living space

The EPA notes that products can release VOCs while stored, not just while in use. Keep paint, solvents, fuels, and car products in a detached shed or well-ventilated area away from living spaces, out of reach of children, and safely dispose of old or half-used containers.

6. Keep temperature and humidity moderate

Heat and humidity increase off-gassing from materials such as pressed wood. The EPA recommends using air conditioning and dehumidifiers to maintain moderate temperatures and reduce humidity to lower formaldehyde levels. See our guide to ideal indoor humidity levels.

7. Use an air purifier with an activated carbon filter

Not every air purifier removes VOCs. HEPA filters capture particles such as dust and PM2.5, not gases. To reduce airborne chemicals, use a purifier with an activated carbon (charcoal) filter, such as the Airthings Renew, which combines a HEPA-13 filter with activated charcoal. Treat a purifier as a support for ventilation and source control, not a replacement.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take for new furniture to stop off-gassing?

Off-gassing is usually heaviest in the first weeks after unpacking. Materials such as polyurethane foam, memory foam, and pressed wood can keep releasing low levels of VOCs for longer. Ventilate well during the first few weeks, and use a monitor to see when levels settle.

Do air purifiers get rid of VOCs?

Only if they have an activated carbon filter. A HEPA filter removes solid particles such as PM2.5 and pollen, but VOC gases pass through it. Look for a purifier with an activated carbon layer, and keep ventilating.

Can opening windows reduce VOCs?

Yes. Ventilation is one of the fastest ways to lower indoor VOC levels, because it dilutes indoor air with outdoor air. It is especially important after cleaning, painting, or bringing new products into the home.

Are essential oils VOCs?

Yes. Essential oils release volatile organic compounds, just like synthetic fragrances. Diffusing them heavily can irritate the airways of people with asthma or chemical sensitivities. If you use them, use them sparingly and ventilate.

Can I "bake out" the VOCs in my house?

A bake-out means heating a building to high temperatures to speed up off-gassing, then venting the air. It is sometimes used in commercial construction, but EPA guidance raises concerns about its effectiveness and the risk of damaging materials. For homes, steady ventilation and source control are safer and more reliable.

Are VOCs harmful to children and pets?

Children, pets, older adults, and people with asthma or other respiratory conditions can be more sensitive to VOCs. High levels can cause headaches, eye irritation, dizziness, coughing, or worsen breathing problems.

How can I tell if my home has high VOC levels?

Strong chemical odors, frequent headaches, eye irritation, or stale-feeling air can be signs. But some VOCs have little or no smell, so the most reliable way to know is an indoor air quality monitor that measures total VOCs.

Do houseplants remove VOCs?

Some lab studies show plants absorb small amounts of VOCs, but the effect in real homes is very small. Ventilation, source control, and carbon filtration are far more effective.

Sources

Written by Annabel Robertson

Marketing & Brand Manager, Airthings

press@airthings.com