Get rid of paint smell with our how to guide

When thinking of redecorating and painting, one of the things that can put many of us off is that nasty chemical smell that comes with a fresh lick of paint. There are a variety of reasons why paint can smell, the number one being the chemicals it contains such as VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Let’s take a look at some of the ways people have suggested to get rid of paint smell and eliminate those unpleasant odours.

How to get rid of paint smell in the home

Ventilation

One of the number one methods on how to get rid of paint smell in the home is proper ventilation. From when you crack that tin of paint open and start painting and until the paint has completely dried out, ventilation is key in keeping the smell to a minimum. This is because a good air flow can help to flush the odour outside and replace the air inside with fresh, non smelling air. 

Moreover, ventilation is important because many paints emit toxic fumes into the air, this can be particularly dangerous to inhale if you have not properly ventilated the room. Inhaling the chemicals in paint can cause nausea, dizziness and even make it difficult to breathe. 

Top tip: Letting a fan run whilst painting and whilst the paint dries can help get rid of paint fumes and smells quicker. Point them toward open windows to help increase air flow and push the odours out of the room.

Candles

Although candles won’t necessarily get rid of paint smell, they can help to mask the odour in the meantime. Scented candles are a great solution, just choose a scent you like and you're good to go.

Baking soda 

Some people claim that baking soda is a good way to eliminate the smell of fresh paint. Simply place a bowl of baking soda in the painted room and it is said to absorb the smell. 

Charcoal 

Another way you can experiment with trying to get rid of paint smell is with charcoal. Activated charcoal is treated with high heat which makes it more porous. Porous materials like charcoal create spaces for nasty smells to get absorbed into, thus reducing the paint smell (or so people say).

Low odour paint

If all of this sounds like too much effort or a bit of an old wives tale,  it may be worth considering a non smelling paint. This way you don’t have to worry about getting rid of that paint smell as there shouldn't be any paint smell to get rid of in the first place! Here at Victory Colours we have created a technically advanced formula with unique properties that make the paint ultra low odour. One of the reasons our paint is low odour is because it contains low levels of VOC. VOCs are one of the reasons paint often smells like chemicals. Here are some of the benefits of Victory Colours paint:

• Ultra low odour
• Low VOC
• Toxic free
• Vegan and cruelty free
• Environmentally friendly
• Durable and washable 

What is the link between VOCs and paint smell?

VOCs are solvents that are put into paints in liquid form for paint application. As paint dries after it has been applied to the surface, these VOCs are released into the air. VOCs are one of the number one reasons why paint has such a strong chemical smell. VOCs can also be found in glue, cleaning products and car fumes (all of which have strong, unpleasant smells). What’s more, many people are unaware of the risks associated with VOCs and the fact that even after the paint dries, the chemicals are still released into the air of your home.    

To learn more about VOCs and the dangers of them in paint, take a look at one of our previous articles such as ‘What is low VOC paint’.  If you want to find out more about non smelling paint, we have articles on that too.