No one would recommend wearing a mask when spray painting if it wasn’t for the chemicals in the paint that are sprayed out into the air, they’re powerful and can have a negative impact on both humans and pets if inhaled.
Aside from the health risks, the exhaust fumes from spray paint can carry a rancid smell that will give you a headache if you’re exposed to it without a mask for a short period of time – and do much greater harm if you’re exposed to it for a long time.
It’s an unpleasant smell that you want to get out of your house, garage, or backyard as soon as possible. It’s not recommended to let the fumes linger, and I have a hard time thinking anyone would want that, considering how horrible they smell.
On the upside, it’s actually quite easy to eliminate the spray paint smell. Let’s figure out how you can speed up the process of eliminating the smell when you have finished spray painting.
One of the most effective methods of neutralizing spray paint odor inside your house is by using an air purifier. Air purifiers are designed to filter out allergens, chemicals, odors and are, therefore, efficient when it comes to removing paint smell. Opening windows to ventilate the room and placing activated charcoal, lemon water, and coffee grounds around the area can also neutralize the odor to a certain degree but it won’t eliminate the toxins.
Spray paint contains hazardous chemicals known as VOCs (volatile organic compounds). These compounds are emitted when the paint is released but also during the drying process, and with them comes a strong odor that can linger in the air for a relatively long time if not handled correctly.
You should always strive to eliminate the paint smell as quickly as possible. If you’re having doubts regarding the different methods of doing so, continue reading as we will go through them one by one to make sure you’re capable of reducing the lingering smell and eventually neutralizing it completely.
How Do You Get Rid Of Paint Smell?
It’s imperative to acquire and set up proper equipment prior to spray painting indoors, not only to reduce the build-up of that horrible odor but to protect yourself and reduce your exposure to the volatile compounds which can cause a multitude of health issues – both in the long and short run.
If you haven’t gathered all of the information you may need regarding indoor spray painting, I suggest you read my article on the subject. There are a couple of golden nuggets for those who haven’t done their research yet.
Now imagine that you’ve already painted, you’ve used proper protective equipment, and you’re looking for a way to get rid of the odor that’s lingering in the room. What should you do?
1# Get an Air Purifier That Can Remove Gaseous VOCs.
An air purifier is going to be one of the best but also one of the most expensive ways of dealing with paint odor. I believe it’s a must-have for those who paint indoors on a regular basis or for anyone who has a long-running paint project ahead, but I also believe anyone could benefit from buying an air purifier.
There are a ton of different options in a wide price range, meaning you should be able to find a suitable option.
Not all filters will remove VOCs from chemicals and aerosol spray, some are only capable of removing bigger particles lingering in the air. You’re going to need a HEPA-filter to make sure your purifier filters out as much as possible and then replace that filter as frequently as the manufacturer suggests.
If you go for a low-grade filter that’s made to filter out dust particles you will not remove any hazardous gasses whatsoever. If you’re serious about your health, you shouldn’t be looking for the cheapest options but rather for the best option for your needs.
Carbon air filters are also popular when it comes to the removal of chemical odors but they’re not as effective, and in the long term they’re going to re-emission the odors and pollutants because they’re just gathered on a thick media filter, not neutralized.
Therefore, HEPA-filters and a high-quality air purifier should always be your highest priority when painting indoors to ensure that you can rid your house of toxic pollutants as the paint cures.
2# Use Low-VOC Spray Paint
You can attack the issue from two different angles. The more defensive approach, which can be combined with the purifier, would be to minimize the number of volatile compounds you release by looking for a low-VOC paint.
The fewer volatile compounds a paint contains, the less off-gassing and fumes it will produce as the paint dries.
These paints should come with a “Low-VOC” label on them and are available in most stores. In addition, try to avoid using oil-based paints as they oftentimes have more paint fumes.
3# Keep Your Painting Area Well Ventilated
You should always be able to provide proper ventilation when painting indoors to make sure the fumes are circulated out of the room while you’re painting.
Of course, more fumes will be released from the paint as it dries but by opening up windows, setting up industrial fans, and installing an air purifier, you can make sure that there’s enough air flow to reduce the smell and fume build-up substantially.
Ventilation alone will probably have a larger impact on the odor than it will on the hazardous chemicals. Don’t go thinking it’s safe to stay in the same room as the drying paint just because the smell has disappeared after opening up a couple of windows and pointing fans toward them.
Try opening up as many doors and windows as you can to increase the air flow to the room you’re painting in.
Furthermore, I insist that you do not use a household fan when painting as they can take damage from the chemicals and, in rare cases, start a fire. Instead, look for an industrial fan made for these types of environments.
#4 Place Lemon Water in the Room
Squeezing lemon juice into a bowl of water is a popular trick to eliminate or reduce smell, not only when it comes to paint odor but all different kinds of smells.
It’s a semi-effective method that provides very little protection against the fumes but it may reduce the smell by absorbing it. On the plus side, it’s as simple to execute as it sounds.
Strategically place a pair of bowls around the room, fill them with water, and add lemon juice. It’s preferable to cut a fresh lemon instead of using a lemon water solution.
Let the bowls sit overnight and then analyze the results. Use as many bowls and as much lemon juice as you may need. Start small and increase if you don’t achieve the desired results on the first try.
#5 Place Coffee Grounds in the Room
Coffee grounds will also absorb some of the odors emitted from drying paint, which provides an alternative to lemon water or, even better, a combination of the two that can render even better results. Placing coffee grounds is very much like placing bowls of water around the room.
Use fresh coffee grounds and place them in a part of the room that provides air circulation so the scent from the beans can be distributed around the room, while simultaneously allowing the beans to absorb the paint fumes lingering in the air.
#6 Place Activated Charcoal in the Room
Charcoal has actually garnered great results for me when it comes to removing rancid smells. There are different levels of torture when it comes to exposure to smell and, for me, forgotten seafood and very strong paint smell are on the top of the list and charcoal has neutralized them both.
So, as you may have imagined, a hard vouch for charcoal from me.
What you’re looking for is desiccant bags of activated charcoal, which are available in grocery stores, pet stores, and on Amazon – comfortably enough.
It’s important to remember the difference between a solution that neutralizes the smell and a solution that filters out the toxins. Getting rid of the smell will be comfortable but be careful as there can still linger hazardous chemicals in the room.
Is The Smell of Spray Paint Harmful?
It doesn’t have to be the smell that’s dangerous per se, but rather the chemicals. The smell may, however, be an indication that strong chemicals are lingering in the area.
Sensing the smell of spray paint in small amounts isn’t dangerous, but spending a long period of time in an area that smells of spray paint may actually be.
When spray painting an object you’re definitely exposing yourself to dangerous chemicals that may have a serious impact on your health, depending on the circumstances of the exposure.
In a room with no ventilation, spray paint fumes can leave the painter with a chemically-induced headache, dizziness, and a sore throat.
Wearing no protective gear in a room with no ventilation is just an incredibly bad idea. You will suffer the consequences, some of them straight away and others later in your life.
In fact, spray painting without a mask is straight-out stupid no matter the circumstances. You should always wear proper protective equipment. Wearing protective gear for your skin and a quality respiratory mask for your lungs, eyes, and throat will have you quite covered by minimizing exposure to harmful chemicals.
Spend as little time as possible in an environment where paint fumes still linger. That’s probably the safest kind of guideline I can provide. While it may feel important to get rid of the smell as it’s quite uncomfortable, it’s important to remember that the fumes are of even more importance.
How Long Does Spray Paint Smell Last?
The lifespan of spray paint smell will vary greatly depending on the circumstances. You can expect the smell to last for a couple of days in a well-ventilated room and much longer in a room that’s closed up during and after spray painting.
Typically, the odor will decrease slowly after 24 hours after painting and in 2-3 days, the smell should be gone if you’ve done everything according to plan.
To neutralize the smell as fast as possible, follow the tips and guidelines we’ve talked about earlier in this article. Oh, and it should be noted that these estimates are for indoor spray painting. When painting outside, the smell of paint won’t have the same build-up effect as it is constantly blown away by the wind.
What Does Spray Paint Smell Like?
To describe the smell can be hard but it’s definitely a chemical smell, reminiscent of the smell of nail polish. The odor emitted from spray paint is quite similar to nail polish in certain ways. Furthermore, the smell can differ depending on the brand and the chemicals they’ve used.
I can’t find a more descriptive way to phrase it. If you’ve got one, feel free to comment.
Why Does Spray Paint Smell So Bad?
The main reason why most paints emit a strong chemical smell is because of the volatile organic compounds that the paint contains. Volatile organic compounds are substances containing carbon that vaporize at room temperature and make their way into the atmosphere.
They’re released as the paint is sprayed out of the can, the paint then keeps emitting them as it dries and cures through a process called off-gassing.
To minimize both the odor and the risk associated with spray paint fumes, consider buying low-VOC alternatives as they contain less hazardous compounds.
Some brands even claim that their paints are non-VOC (or level 0 VOC) meaning they don’t even contain any volatile organic compounds and are, therefore, much safer to use indoors.
When possible, always look for spray paint containing low levels of VOC. These paint cans usually have a “Green Seal” logo, indicating that they’re environmentally-friendly alternatives and carry few if any, volatile compounds.
How To Get Rid Of Spray Paint Smell on Fabric
Did you spray paint in clothes you fancy too much to let them carry that horrible odor? I’ve been there! It’s easy for spray paint particles to reach anything surrounding the area where they’ve been sprayed as they travel through the air quite easily, eventually sticking to anything they collide with.
It’s always best to spray paint in an outfit you don’t care about too much because you may think you have protected yourself against stains and smell but somehow it’s still made its way on there. Nevertheless, fancy or not fancy, you want to get rid of the smell as it’s quite uncomfortable to sense it.
Don’t expect regular washing detergent to do the trick when it comes to removing stains and paint odor from your clothes. They may help dilute the smell of paint from your clothes but you need something stronger.
There are a handful of products that are commonly used to remove paint smell from fabric, including baking soda, vanilla, cinnamon, borax, and vinegar.
Letting a piece of fabric soak in a bucket of hot water and cinnamon for an hour or two will definitely reduce the smell but not deodorize it if it’s strong enough.
Instead, opt for a product like EnviroKlenz Laundry Enhancer. It’s specifically made to neutralize strong smells, such as spray paint, and it works really well.