One of the most frequently asked questions by new owners of spray-painting equipment is how to get rid of spray paint smell. When you paint inside a lot of paints have very high odor levels, and the smell they leave behind can make you want to evacuate your own living space.
Luckily there are a few tips and tricks you can use to eliminate the paint odor quicker so you can get back to living in odor quicker so you can get back to living in our space.
Reducing The Odor Before Permeates the Room
You have probably heard that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is true when it comes to the aromatic fumes created when you spray paint inside the house. Taking preventive measures to stop the fumes from being so overpowering is the best method of removing them altogether.
Ventilation-ventilation-and some more ventilation – the best method of preventing high fume build-up is to make sure the area is ventilated so the fumes can escape as you paint. Open every window, and turn on every vent fan that you can so the fresh air can flow into the room and the paint odor can escape. You can even set a fan up to blow the air from the room out a window or door.
Choose the Right Paint – one of the main methods of reducing the paint fumes is to choose a paint that has a low VOC. The VOC is the number of volatile organic compounds used in the formula of the substance. The higher the VOC is the more obnoxious the fumes can be. Choose paints that are labeled as low odor or choose paints made from plants, milk, and natural minerals or clays.
Paint on the right day – when the humidity levels are high it retards the drying process so the odor of the paint lasts in the room for a longer amount of time. As the paint odor lingers in the room it can be absorbed by soft materials like carpets, upholstery, and draperies. When this happens, the odor is in the room to stay for quite some time. Watch the weather forecast and try to paint on days with the lowest possible humidity levels.
Patience – if you are patient and allow each coat of paint and primer to dry completely before you add another layer then you will reduce the number of paint fumes created. When the walls are damp the odors are trapped in the room and they stay around longer.
Close up the can – as simple as this sounds the act of closing the paint container when it is not in use can reduce the number of paint fumes that penetrate the air. After you fill the sprayer then close the paint container until the next time you have to fill the sprayer.
Getting Rid of Spray Paint Fumes
If you paint then there is going to be some odor. As the paint dries the odor becomes less, but it is not totally eradicated for several days or longer. There are a few things you can do to help wipe out the odor.
Place Baking Soda
Can be placed in shallow containers around the room to absorb the odor. Baking soda eliminates odor in our laundry, our fridge, and our freezer, and it helps with paint odors too. If the paint fumes are really strong you can sprinkle the baking soda on the carpets and furniture and leave them overnight. The next morning you vacuum up the baking soda and the odor that it has captured.
Pour the used baking soda down your garbage disposal to help eliminate odors there. If you do not have a garbage disposal you can place the used soda in your garbage can, or flush it down the sink drain to help stop odors.
Slice of Onion
Onions can be foul-smelling, but they also absorb odor from paint very effectively. To use onion to absorb paint odors take a shallow pan like a pie pan and fill it halfway with water.
Slice the onion in half and place one-half of it in the water with the cut side facing down. You need to leave the onion sets in the middle of the room for at least 12 hours.
Discard the onion the next day, and do not attempt to use it in any cooking.
Used Coffee Grounds
The wet coffee grounds left in the filter after you brew coffee absorbs odors very well. You simply take the grounds and place them on a paper plate and set them in the room where you just painted.
Leave the grounds set out for at least 12 hours to give them time to absorb the foul odors.
You may have to set the grounds out in the room for more than one day before the odor is completely eradicated. Use fresh grounds each day, and discard the ones that have been set out all night in the trash.
White Distilled Vinegar
You pour a small amount of vinegar into a container or bowl and set the bowls around the room. You will need to place several bowls with each one containing about ½ cup of liquid. You can use apple cider vinegar for this, but white distilled is less expensive.
Pour the vinegar into your garbage disposal or down the drain in the kitchen to help alleviate odors from the drain.
Lemon, Peppermint, and Vanilla
You can utilize natural extracts like lemon, vanilla, peppermint, orange, or lime to remove paint fume odors. All you need are extracts or essential oils, and cotton balls.
Take a cotton ball and place a few drops of the extract or essential oil on it. Three to four drops should be plenty on each cotton ball.
Strategically place the cotton balls around the room so that you have several balls all around the room. Then leave the cotton balls out for at least 12 hours. Repeat if the odor is not totally gone.
Professional Tip: You can add a few drops of essential oil such as lemon or peppermint to the paint before you apply it. This allows the odor of the paint to be more agreeable when it is applied and reduces lingering paint fumes.
Place Charcoal Briquette
Charcoal is a natural odor absorber. To use them you need to get small brown paper sacks and charcoal. You can buy the inexpensive kind for this project.
Fill several brown paper bags about half the way with fresh charcoal briquets. Then set the bags around the room and leave them for at least 12 hours.
You can also use deactivated charcoal that comes crushed. You place the crushed charcoal in bowls and set the bowls around the room. Leave the bowls in place for at least 12 hours.
Soy-Based Candles
Burning soy-based candles can help to burn the VOCs that are in the air. You can also burn candles made of natural beeswax but do not burn candles made of paraffin wax because they may introduce toxins to the room and further cause odor complications.
Pro Tips
When you paint use light coats that dry quickly so the paint is totally dry in a shorter amount of time. Paint loses its odor as it dries.
- Do not paint in an enclosed room without a window or ventilation port.
- Clean your paint tools outside to reduce paint exposure
Final Thoughts
Paint odors are problematic to people with conditions like asthma or COPD. If anyone in your home is sensitive to odors try to plan your painting for times when they will not be present.
