Eliminate Paint Smells Inside Your House

Repainting your home makes it look fresh and new. However, one drawback is the overwhelming smell of the paint. Not only is it uncomfortable when you breathe, but it also poses a health risk, especially to children who may be roaming around the house.

So, for the next time you decide to paint your home, here are some useful tips for how you can remove the paint smell:

• Use non-VOC paints. VOC paints are those that do not contaminate the air inside your home. VOC means Volatile Organic Compounds, which are unstable compounds that vaporize in the air and cause air pollution. If breathed into the body, they can cause certain health problems like headaches, cancer, and damage to internal systems.
• Use charcoal. Activated carbon or any ordinary charcoal can effectively remove even the strongest smell of paint and deodorize the room. Place small pieces of charcoal in a wet paper towel and leave it in the room overnight.
• Use an air purifier. The bad smell of paint is caused by the artificial compounds that vaporize into the air. If you purify the air, it instantly cleans your environment by removing the toxins that come from the paint.
• Light a candle. When you light a candle in a freshly-painted room, the flame burns out the fumes. Let it burn for a few hours in the middle of the room and check on it from time to time to be sure it doesn’t start a fire.
• Make use of fresh air. If you are painting a room with two or more windows, open them to allow cross ventilation, which will reduce the paint smell inside.
• Place buckets of water around the room. A bucket of water can also absorb the smell of the paint.  However, it does not work as quickly as a candle or charcoal, so leave the bucket of water in the room until the smell is gone.
• Use kitchen essentials like vinegar, onion, baking soda, lemon, and coffee grounds. These ingredients absorb odors, and all you have to do is leave them out overnight.

Heather & Alan Davis
Oklahoma City Realtors
http://www.alanandheatherdavis.com