Modernpaint is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

How To Get Paint Smell Out Of House? [12 Effective Methods To Get Rid Of Paint Smell]

Every time a homeowner has a new painting completed on their property or refreshes an outdated paint job, they can instantly move back in. Painting includes home cabinets, doors, windows, furniture, walls, ceilings, etc. 

If you have properly ventilated the space when painting, toxic vapors can build up for a week in the room. The fume of paint remains in the house or the painted furniture for a long time, which is very annoying.

In general, oil based-paints have bad fumes. The fumes from other paints are not as irritating as oil-based paints. The painter frequently works while wearing a mask since the fumes from the paint are dangerous to human health. But, when people enjoy a newly painted house or room, they usually don’t wear masks, which is necessary.

However, the problem of paint smell is going to go away. There are many such procedures by adopting which the smell of paint can be removed from the house. Our article is related to how to get paint smell out of house. 

In this article, we will talk about every possible method which will be helpful in removing the paint smell from your house. So, keep reading the article!!

12 Best Methods for Eliminating Paint Odors

how to get paint smell out of house

1. Coffee Grounds 

Coffee is a common household item found in most households. You, too, can be addicted to coffee. Hence, you can easily use this household product to remove the paint smell in house. Take used grinds from your morning coffee and keep them in small bowls. The containers should then be distributed across the room. 

Coffee grounds have a high absorption capacity. Coffee grinds have a high absorption rate. Coffee beans quickly absorb odors from airborne particles, notably those that produce paint fumes. But, you will have to repeat this process several times to remove the paint’s smell completely.

2. Baking Soda

Baking soda is a good alternative for getting rid of the paint smell. Baking soda is utilized for a variety of purposes. It’s frequently used to absorb odors. It can improve the smell of the refrigerator and eliminate the unpleasant smell that decaying fruits leave behind. Moreover, the product of baking soda is considered a substitute to remove paint odor. Jar and spoonful of baking soda for multiple holistic usages.

To get rid of the smell of paint in your house, take a small bowl, pour baking soda in it, and sprinkle the powder all over the room. You can scatter baking soda on your carpeted floor and then vacuum it.

3. Onions

Onions are an excellent vegetable product for absorbing smell from the air rapidly. It’s also effective in removing paint smell. Slice the onions in half, then distribute the halves around the space. The better the onion, the larger it is. In a limited space, you don’t need to utilize more than one onion.

Our intention is to eliminate the smell of paint from the room. Hence, it is unnecessary to keep more onions in a small room. Otherwise, it will fill your room with the smell of onions. First, keep one or two onions in the room; if it does not work, you can increase the number of onions.

4. Vinegar 

Vinegar is great for getting rid of smells. If you want to clean up the stinky mess of something, vinegar will do the trick. It also works well for removing paint fumes. You can start with vinegar to remove paint smell and then follow up with something less unpleasant, like baking soda.

Before using vinegar, it’s advisable to dilute it with water. You can accomplish this by mixing it with equal amounts of water. You might be able to disguise the smell by adding a few drops of lemon juice to the vinegar.

5. Water 

A couple of cups of water will sometimes suffice for lighter paint fumes. When only a tiny amount of paint fumes is left in the house, work works nicely. Lemon juice can be added to water to make it more effective. 

This will also leave a lovely citrus scent in the room. The greatest option might be to distribute multiple water-filled containers across the space. To increase the water’s capacity to absorb odors, add some salt.

6. Circulation

Circulating fumes of paint out of the room is a simple approach to removing foul-smelling air. You may also use fans to remove odors by leaving the windows open and blowing the air out. But, the great con is that it is incompatible with several other ways discussed.

While utilizing this method, some other sections of your home may smell like fume for a while. But don’t be concerned. The fumes will eventually dissipate outside.

7. Candles

Scented candles work well at removing paint smell from the house. You must set them on fire in the room. The scented candles will mask the odors. Also, the heat will burn the odor out of the atmosphere.

The best option is to use a few candles that you can scatter about the space. Most importantly, it would help if you never left a candle unattended. This is why this approach doesn’t provide as much help as some of the others.

8. Charcoal

You can choose charcoal to remove paint smell from your house. It effectively purges the air of smells and other contaminants. Due to its capacity to absorb odors, charcoal is also utilized in certain air purifiers. With one of these air filters or by putting a bag of charcoal in the space, paint fumes can be easily eliminated.

While it won’t be as effective, it should make a noticeable improvement. It’s very simple to use this technique. For greater efficacy in reducing fumes, put the charcoal in a pan with more air touching it.

9. Natural Extracts 

As a natural paint odor remedy, vanilla and peppermint extract can be employed. Place a cotton ball in a dish, add a few drops of each, and distribute the bowls throughout the space.

Unlike other methods, this one also improves the aroma in the space. To reduce the harshness of the after-smell, combine this with a more powerful technique, such as vinegar.

10. Diatomaceous Earth 

Diatomaceous earth is plankton that has been petrified. It has the appearance of white chalk powder. This type of earth has a high silica content, which makes it efficient at absorbing odors. Food-grade diatomaceous earth is also quite safe to use as an odor removal solution for removing paint odors from the house.

11. Air Purifier 

Air purifiers effectively absorb odors and remove them from the house quickly. Unlike fans, air purifiers do not speed up the drying process,

but the ability to eliminate odors is in air purifiers. So, as soon as you start painting your house or any furniture in the house, you can turn on the air purifier.

12. Fans

Fans contribute to an extent by removing the smell or the paint. Fans will aid in the faster removal of fumes from your house. Hence, when painting, install box fans in the center of the room, angled toward the windows and in the entryway. 

Always keep in mind that while painting in the room, turn off the air conditioning so that the paint smell does not spread to other rooms. Also, turn off air vents in the room to prevent the fumes from spreading.

Useful Tips to Avoid Heavy Paint Fumes From the Start

You can reduce odors by addressing paint fumes before beginning your painting work. Here are some useful tips for dealing with severe paint fumes that you may find useful.

  • It is not always possible to choose a healthy alternative paint, such as zero VOC, so in that case, avoiding intense fumes is the way to go. If you use oil-based paint, look for paint with a low odor. Paints made from plants, minerals, milk, or clay are available in the market.
  • It’s good to examine the weather forecast before proceeding to paint your home. On days when the humidity is high, avoid going outside. The high humidity in the air slows down the paint drying process, resulting in a strong odor when used in your home.
  • It would be best if you allowed each coat of paint to dry completely before shifting on to the next. Damp walls may hold fumes and let them gently release odor for a long time. Place the paint lid on the paint can and cover the plastic brush and paint tray with plastic when not in use.
  • Always keep doors and windows open while painting to allow toxins out of the house. However, it would be best if you closed the doors to the rest of your house to prevent the odors from spreading. 

Conclusion

It is not good for health to breathe in the air filled with oil-based paint, which we mentioned at the beginning of our article on how to get paint smell out of house. 

Hence, try to do everything possible to let out the paint fumes, and then enjoy your freshly painted rooms. Following the methods mentioned earlier, you will get effective results in the solution to eliminate paint odor.

Leave a Comment