8 effective ways to quickly and easily remove paint smell from your apartment
A side effect of renovations in an apartment or house using paints and varnishes is a persistent odor from paints.
It should be gotten rid of as quickly as possible, not only because of the discomfort it causes, but also because of the harm to the health of residents.
Professional advice in combination with various folk remedies that are always at hand will help with this. In this article, we will look in detail at how to remove the smell of paint in an apartment after renovation quickly and easily.
Content
How to remove an unpleasant odor from a room after renovating or painting the floor?
It is not possible to eliminate strong chemical fumes in a room using conventional air fresheners. This will require more effective measures that are easy to implement.
Ventilation
The first thing that comes to mind is long-term ventilation. To do this, open all windows and doors for a day or longer, depending on the situation.
Additionally, it is recommended to turn on the fan (in case of calm weather), which will increase the movement of air masses and reduce humidity. Then the smell from water-based enamel will disappear within a day, while solvent-based enamel will take a little longer.
This is one of the most effective methods, but it causes a number of inconveniences for residents – they need to move to another place for this time.
Air conditioner
If the living space is equipped with modern air conditioners, then you can quickly restore a comfortable microclimate with their help.
Conventional models of air conditioners only reduce the humidity in the room, which negatively affects human mucous membranes and can cause serious complications.
Pure water or in the form of a solution
This option is no less effective, since water absorbs odors well. It is necessary to place containers with water where painting was carried out.
Just change it for a fresh one at least once every 2-3 hours. To get rid of oil paint fumes, it is recommended to add table salt to the water.
An alternative to basins is a household humidifier. Before turning it on, close the windows and doors tightly. When exposed to moisture, the chemicals will settle down, after which all surfaces should be wiped with a damp cloth.
You can add one of the following to the water:
- mustard powder (1 tbsp per 5 liters of water);
- ammonia or vinegar (ratio 1:5);
- vanilla extract or mint ether (4-5 drops per five-liter bucket).
If such a device is not available and there is no desire to tinker with containers, since the living area is too large, then you can wet fabrics (terry towels, sheets) and hang them everywhere. They are rinsed periodically. Continue the procedure until the air is completely purified.
Vinegar
Vinegar essence perfectly neutralizes unpleasant odors. The simplest thing you can do is soak a rag in it and wipe everything in the room.However, this option is not suitable for painted surfaces.
During cleansing, you should leave the room to avoid poisoning from vinegar fumes. Upon return, open the windows briefly for ventilation.
Onion and garlic, lemon
If the renovation took place in winter and the weather does not allow opening the windows for a long period, they resort to other options for eliminating the heavy odor. You can chop the onion and, together with the garlic, put it in containers and place it around the apartment.
But due to the fact that they emit a specific smell, they do not remain for a long time. Otherwise, he will be absorbed into the situation.
After the room is completely cleaned, the vegetables are immediately thrown away. Then the onion-garlic amber will quickly eliminate itself.
Another quite productive way is to place lemon (orange, tangerine) slices everywhere for a couple of days. Used citrus is thrown away. This will not only eliminate paint odor, but also freshen the air.
Aroma candles
If you have aromatic candles (although regular ones will do), they will successfully cope with the task. They are placed in rooms that have undergone renovation and set on fire. Leave to burn for at least 2 hours. As a result, the heavy odor will evaporate.
Sorbents
Do not forget about substances that can be combined into one group called sorbents.
These include:
- soda;
- coffee beans (ground);
- charcoal;
- silica gel;
- salt.
You don't need to do anything with them. They are simply poured into small containers and placed around the premises. These products should be renewed 1-2 times a day, and used ones should be thrown away.
Since absorbents absorb not only toxic particles from the air, but also moisture, additional humidification should be provided. You can use a steam generator. If it is not there, then pour water into a large saucepan and place it on low heat. While the heating radiators are operating, cups of water are placed on them or damp towels are thrown over them.
Coffee can be pre-brewed and used in the same way. To do this, place cups with a strong and aromatic drink. In just a few hours the irritating odor disappears. This alone will not help remove harmful chemical fumes.
Baking soda is great for removing odors from furniture upholstery and carpets.. You need to scatter it over the surface and leave it overnight, and go through it with a vacuum cleaner in the morning.
Aroma oils
Aromatic oils will not be able to reduce the concentration of harmful particles in the air, but they can mask them until they disappear completely. This method is acceptable only for minor paint fumes.
How can I prevent or reduce intensity in the future?
To avoid a strong spread of paint aroma upon completion of repairs, it is worth taking certain protective measures in advance.
This means the following actions:
When choosing paints and varnishes, preference is given to water-based ones, as they smell less.- A few drops of vanilla essence are mixed into the paint, but a compatibility test is first carried out (mix in a small amount).
- Immediately after completing the painting work, close the jar tightly and wrap it with plastic wrap.
- The brushes are cleaned in the fresh air and immediately soaked in water.
- Painting and painting operations are carried out with the windows open and the fan running, which will minimize harm to the body.
If possible, before starting repairs, remove upholstered furniture, textiles and anything that easily absorbs foreign odors from the room. If this cannot be done, then cover the entire situation with film.
Tips and prohibitions
To achieve the desired result, it is important to listen to a number of professional comments:
- When preparing an aqueous solution, it is unacceptable to simultaneously add mustard with vinegar or ammonia, which will lead to an undesirable reaction (use these components separately).
- Coffee will only kill the unpleasant aroma, but will not protect residents from harmful chemical fumes.
- Laying out onions and garlic for a long time can lead to the fact that all uncovered furniture and clothing are saturated with their smell.
- The ionizer and ozonizer can be turned on simultaneously.
- Do not pour water used for cleaning down the drain (paint particles may settle on the pipes and continue to emit a toxic odor).
It is equally important to follow the rules for storing paint products and brushes after intended use.. It is advisable to keep them in non-residential premises (pantry, basement).
If these are not available, the jars should be closed as tightly as possible, and additionally packed in plastic and placed in well-ventilated places (for example, in a bathroom or toilet).
Rollers, brushes and other tools are also stored in film bags.
To quickly and better clean the air in the room after renovation don’t be afraid to resort to several methods at the same time.
So, along with ventilation, you can place buckets of water everywhere and lay out napkins soaked in essential oils. Then the result will be noticeable in a few hours.
Useful video
Some video tips on how to get rid of paint smell in a room after renovation:
Conclusion
When starting to combat the toxic odor left after repair work, select one of the proposed methods or use several together. It would be better to take care of this issue in advance.
First of all, you need to choose a paint wisely and follow safety rules when painting surfaces.
