Smelly Play Mats ? Toxic? (OT)

I think I shared in an earlier post that we bought a playmat for Cooper for the family room that has wood floors.

It is made out of rubber/foam and has interlocking pieces.  On one side is primary colors (big blocks of them) and the other is a little village/road that he can use some day to play with this cars.

The problem?  IT REALLY REALLY SMELLS !!   I washed it off before laying it out.....  but the strong chemical smell was still there. 

We've had it for a week and a half --- but it hasn't gotten any better.  I put a cloth mat over it -- still no help.

Today Cooper was laying on it (on his back) and I picked him up and his hair smells of this chemical !  I can't get down on it becuase it gives me a headache.  (My husband says "You should work in sheet metal and smell some of the things I smelled".   He thinks I'm a worry-wort.)

My question --  do you think this strong smell is bad ?  Do you use something similiar?

Admittedly we bought it for $25 as compared to the "exercise" mats that we had in school that were at least $110. 

Thoughts?   I don't want Cooper getting some horrible cancer (God Forbid) from the chemicals because I was too cheap to buy a better mat.... 

Thanks!

Cindy

(For now we just go up on the bed to play)

what are the cleaning instructions? Maybe sprinkle it with baking soda and let it sit overnight then bru**** off? Or if they can get wet put them in the bathtub with something that smells good.

Good luck!

PS - I work in a sheet metal shop - the smells can be horrendous! Luckily I work in the office and can avoid it now

1.  Put mat outdoors, on a hosed-off driveway, patio or parking lot. 

2. Hose down the mat with a garden hose.

3. Sprinkle some dry laundry detergent around the entire mat.  We've had good results using Tide brand detergent, but others should work as well.

4. Using a soft bristle broom or brush, work the soap around the mat.  Spread it around and give it a good scrub.  Not too hard, but work the soap in good.  Keep the mat wet so the soap doesn't dry on the mat.

5. Hose down the mat to remove ALL the soap.  Use your broom or brush to make sure you get rid of all the residual soap that may be sticking to the mat as you hose it down. This is important.

6. Rinse off one more time (both sides this time) and lean up to dry completely, outdoors.  

A lot of foam based products off-gas for a while - I don't think it is actually toxic, just quite smelly. usually you just have to wait it out, I find the most helpful thing to be just putting the item outside for a few days.