I want to store boardgames on the top of the wardrobe in my bedroom. Unfortunately, there are a few screw and wooden lists on the top of it, which makes it impossible to store anything on the otherwise flat-top wardrobe.
To fix it, I bought a polystyrene plate, which I want to put on the top of the wardrobe (so the screws and lists just digs into the polystyrene instead).
My issue is: The polystyrene plate which I bought from the local DIY retailer smells pretty chemically, so I am unsure whether it would be wise to place it in a bedroom, which usually has its doors and windows closed at night (so the ventilation isn't the best while I sleep). I figured to begin with that I could use polystyrene safely, since it is used for food-packaging, etc.
My question is thus: Is the scent from polystyrene hazardous and is it temporary (since food-packaging does not smell)? Also in case it is dangerous, are there some variation of polystyrene plates, which I can use in my bedroom? (Perhaps the ones I bought was bad for this, since they were low-priced products bought at some DIY centre).
Best Answer
New plastic off-gasses. Leave it in your car for a week, most of it will go away.
None of it is good, and yes, food containers do leach into food.
Polystyrene less than most, but you're not getting heavily processed polystyrene foam, which stopped off-gassing while it was still "sand" in the railcar, before it reached the foaming plant. You are getting solid polystyrene like is used in model airplanes.