How to Get Rid of Paint Smell? Simple Tips and Tricks

Are you curious about how to get rid of the paint smell? We will share the answer in this article.

Painting a house helps to revive the structure and make it look new again. However, oil-based paint can leave behind a strong smell that lingers for days.

And in rooms where ventilation is minimal, the smell of paint can linger for an even longer period of time.

Removing paint fumes from your household is easy with odor-absorbing agents. There are household items you can use to get rid of the smell of paint easily.

If you want an instant effect, there are also chemicals available in stores to do the job efficiently.

If you’re looking for ways to get rid of the paint smell, keep reading…

Most paints contain chemicals that cause adverse health issues, including choking, dizziness, vision problems, and lung irritation.

This is why being exposed to paint smell can be dangerous, especially for kids and the elderly.

There are ways to remove the paint smell and you only need a few household items like a candle, baking soda, water, or charcoal.

Tips to Remove Paint Smell at Home

If you are wondering what to use to remove the smell of paint, here’s what you need:

• Onions

Onions are odor-absorbent and can get rid of the paint smell instantly. On their own, onions have a pungent smell but they also actually absorb smells around them.

What you need to do is slice an onion into halves and place them in separate bowls. Place the bowls in areas where painting has been done.

After four to five hours, you will notice the chemical smell has decreased. A slight smell of onion may remain, but it will quickly clear. It helps to use a fan to improve ventilation exposing more air to the onion halves.

• Lemon and Water

If you want a more desirable odor left behind, you can try a combination of lemon and water. Lemon also acts as an odor absorber. And they are readily available at home, so give them a try.

Slice a lemon and put it inside a bucket of water. Place this bucket into the newly painted room overnight.

In the morning, you will be surprised how much the smell has improved and the fresh lemony odor left behind. You can slice up to three lemons per bucket for a stronger smell and better results.

• Charcoal

The reason why some people put a small amount of charcoal inside a refrigerator is to get rid of the odor. Charcoal is a good odor-absorber and easily gets rid of the smell in a few hours.

Placing crushed charcoal where paintwork has been done can significantly decrease the strong paint fume.

To get instant results, you can place crushed charcoal in the room when the paintwork is being done. Make sure to replace the crushed charcoal each day for the best results.

• Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds also neutralize air, helping remove paint fumes. The result will be slower compared to other agents used, however, it still works.

Put the grounds in little bowls and place them in different areas of the room or house. In a matter of days, the smell of paint will be gone.

• Vinegar

Another option to use is vinegar. Simply place a bowl of vinegar in each corner of the room where the paintwork has been done. Apple cider vinegar or distilled white vinegar works perfectly, without adding toxicity to the air.

Vinegar is an effective odor neutralizer and absorbs the suffocating smell of paint. Let the bowl sit for a few days and you can easily detect an improvement.

Additionally, vinegar also makes the air fresh, despite its strong aroma.

• Candles

Lighting a candle is the easiest solution to getting rid of the paint smell. As the candle burns, it will burn any flammables in the air and the exchange of air through combustion will clear it of fumes.

Make sure to not leave candles overnight to avoid fire.

It is recommended to light a candle from morning until noon to eliminate the chemical odor brought by paint.

• Baking Soda

Finally, use baking soda to neutralize the air and remove paint fumes. Put the agent in small bowls then place them throughout the room or house.

If you have carpeted flooring, you can just sprinkle it onto the floor and let it sit for a white.

Conclusion

Removing the paint smell is not that hard if you have the mentioned air-neutralizing agents. Buying chemicals to combat the paint fumes are not recommended because the use of chemicals may expose you to more harmful effects, instead of minimizing the harm.

Follow the instructions mentioned and make sure to dispose of the agents properly after use.

Cheers!