How To Get Rid Of Paint Smells & Paint Fumes
With every freshly painted wall comes paint fumes. Learn how to get rid of paint smells as quickly as possible using these easy tips.
A fresh coat of paint can make the world of a difference to a room, but not always in the way you want. A lingering paint smell can make being in rooms uncomfortable so follow these tips for getting rid of paint fumes to make your next decoration project a (fresh) breeze.
How to get rid of paint smell in houses
Not sure how to get rid of paint smell in houses after redecorating? All it takes is a few simple steps:
- Open windows when painting indoors and leave them open for a few hours after
- Use electric fans to circulate air if you can’t open the windows
- Avoid painting multiple rooms on the same day so you don’t feel locked out of rooms while they dry
- Use scent absorbers like baking soda to help freshen up newly painted rooms – sprinkle it on carpets and put it in plates and bowls around the room to absorb smells
How to get rid of paint smell in a room with poor ventilation
If you can’t open a window to let the paint fumes out then try using absorbent ingredients as a way to get rid of paint smells.
- Lemon. Place slices of lemon in cold water to replace nasty paint fumes with a fresh citrus scent. This works best when the buckets are place close to the wet paint
- Baking soda. Pour a generous amount onto a plate or into a bowl and put it close to the wet paint. You may need a couple of plates of baking soda for a whole room
- Charcoal. Fill a small bucket with charcoal and place it near the wet paint to allow it to help get rid of paint smells
Top Tip
If the floor of the room that’s been painted is covered in carpet, you can try sprinkling a light layer of baking soda to stop it from absorbing the paint smell.
Key Steps
- Open windows and turn on fans to ventilate the room
- Place bowls of baking soda near the wet paint to absorb paint fumes for a few hours
