how to get rid of spray paint smell

If you have recently completed a DIY project and the smell is unbearable, you may be wondering how to get rid of the spray paint smell in your home.

Well, you are not alone. There are many who battle with the aftermath effects of spray paint smells after completing their home projects or struggle to prevent it from entering their homes.

Before you start looking for an alternative room to stay in for the next few days, you may want to try out these DIY hacks here to help remove the spray paint smell.

In this guide, you will learn the following:

• Why it is not advisable to around spray paint fumes
• The supplies you will need to get rid of the spray paint smell
• The necessary steps you need to take to remove the spray paint smell
• And more…

Before we get into the details of how to remove spray smells, let's first look at why it is not good to get exposed to excessive spray paint smell for long.

Why It is Not Advisable to Be Around Spray Paint Fumes

Paint fumes have a noxious smell that can cause health issues like headaches, dizziness, and respiratory issues. Therefore it is not usually recommended to inhaled it for days.

This is because spray paint fumes can linger on for days or even weeks after the work is done.  To reduce or eliminate the smell, there are some pretty easy steps you can employ to get rid of it.

It is important to limit your exposure to paint smell as much as possible. Because of the issues, it can cause to your health.

So in order to protect yourself and your family from the potential damage, it important to prevent the side effects by been proactive. This means using some of these easy hacks here to get rid of the smell. Some of these tips will work quickly while others may take a day or two to fully take effect.

Also Read:

How to remove spray paint from walls easily

Supplies You'll Need for Getting Rid of Paint Smell

Depending on which method you decide to use, you'll need several different supplies to do this.

• Box fan
• Baking soda
• Water
• Lemons
• Activated Charcoal
• Bucket
• Air purifier
• Shallow bowls
• Coffee Grounds

Not all of these will be 100% necessary, if you try one method and it doesn't work you can try another and so on.

If getting rid of the smell fast is your priority, then it is recommended you use a few of these hacks together to eliminate the fumes as fast as possible.

Tips to Avoid Heavy Paint Fumes From the Start

By addressing paint fumes before you even begin a painting project, you can reduce the odor and make the process easier.

Choose Low or Zer VOC ( Volatile Organic Compounds) Paint Formula

While it is not always possible, the best way to avoid heavy fumes is to select a low or zero VOC paint.

If you must use an oil-based paint or primer, choose those that are marked as "low odor".  You can also choose environmental-friendly paints like those made from plants, milk, minerals, or clay that are less toxic to the environment.

Keep the Room Properly Ventilated

While painting one room, it is good to keep the doors and windows open if possible to allow the fumes to dissipate into the air. However, keep the doors and windows of the other rooms in the house closed to prevent the fumes from spreading into them.

Check Weather Forecast

Another way to avoid heavy paint fumes is to check the weather forecast before you begin. Avoid days of high humidity. High humidity in the air slows down the drying process and paint emits the strongest odor while been applied and waiting to dry.

If it's taking longer to dry, the more chances soft materials like carpet, drapes, upholstery, etc) will absorb more of the odor.

Allow the Paint to Dry Completely

When you allow each coat, allow it to dry completely before you apply the next layer of the paint. When the walls are damp, they can trap paint smell and then emit the toxic gases for a longer time.

How to Get Rid of Spray Paint Smell

Below are some ways to eliminate spray paint smell. Some of the supplies are everyday materials you use at home.

Step 1: Use Low-VOC Spray Paint

Using low-VOC spray paint is one of the best ways to eliminate paint smell. The VOC stands for " volatile organic compounds". These are compounds that contribute to off-gassing and fumes after the paint dries.

Spray paint that is low in VOC is the best way to reduce paint smell in the first place. That is because low-VOC paint is good for your overall health and drastically reduces any health risk associated with paint fumes.

So next time you want to do some spray painting, look for a container that has "Low-VOC" on it.

Step 2: Place Activated Charcoal in the Room

Activated charcoal has been known for generations as an odor eliminator. If you are still struggling with the paint fumes in the room, try placing an activated charcoal bag or pellets in a bucket and place it in the middle of the room.

This is a great way to absorb the spray paint fumes quickly because the charcoal will take on the smell and leave your room smelling great again.

It is important to choose activated charcoal because they are more porous than the normal ones. When they are activated, they are able to fully absorb the fumes or any smells around them.

These types of charcoal can be found at your local fish or pet store. They can also be found on Amazon.

Step 3: Place Baking Soda Around the Room

Baking soda is another common household item that can be very useful in getting rid of paint smell. It acts as a desiccant to absorb odors and fume. This explains why you would find open baking soda boxes at the back of many people's fridges.

You can use it in addition to some of the steps in this guide to help eliminate the spray paint smell. Try placing containers of baking soda around the room or the area.

Step 4 – Place Lemon Water Around the Room

Lemon is one versatile household item. It can be used for a variety of purposes and helping get rid of the smell of paint is one of them.

For a DIY hack to get rid of the smell of the paint, you might try taking a few bowls of water and filling them with slices of lemon.

Depending on the affected area size, you can use more containers of lemon and place them around the room strategically.

Using fresh lemons cut in halves is recommended over using lemon water solution. Because they are more effective at absorbing fumes. Using lemons to absorb fumes will take one day or one overnight to notice any difference.

Step 5: Place Coffee Grounds in the Corner of the Room

This one is close to an "old wives tale" hack, but it works. Coffee grounds and coffee beans not only act as a natural air freshener (who doesn't love the smell of coffee?) but they also act as an odor-absorbing agent.

If you're wanting to eliminate the smell as quickly as possible, try doing steps 2-6 simultaneously overnight. It might look a little strange, but it can't hurt.

When placed in the corner of a well-ventilated room, they make the room smell better while also covering up the strong odors of spray paint.

Step 6: Place Vinegar in Corners of the Room

Vinegar can be used to eliminate spray paint smell. Using small bowls ( about a cup) of apple cider or distilled vinegar will help absorb the paint fumes without adding another form of toxicity to the air. You can achieve this by placing the bowls at every corner of the room.

Step 7: Natural Extracts

Vanilla and peppermint are two of the best natural extracts known to eliminate paint odor and refresh any smelly room.

You can use them to remove paint fumes by placing few drops of the extract on cotton balls and placing them in small bowls or saucers scattered around the room.

Some painting experts even swear that adding a drop or two of the extract directly to the can of paint before starting the painting help lessen the odor.

Step 8: Candles

Burning soy-based or natural beewax candle which are safe to breathe will help burn away VOCs from the air. But be careful of not using paraffin-based candles and they may actually emit more toxins into the air.

It's important to take the necessary precautions if you have pets or children around who has access to the room.

Step 9: Onions

This is another option to use remove the paint smell. Though some people may not like the smell of onions, it is better to smell onions than inhaling fumes from paint toxins into your lungs.

Simply slice at least two medium onions and place them in saucers around the room. when the fumes are eliminated, dont use the onions for cooking because they have absorbed VOCs.

how to get rid of spray paint smell

Source: https://thepainthow.com/how-to-get-rid-of-spray-paint-smell/

Posted by: sotoorgoods.blogspot.com

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