Quickly disperse paint fumes after your next indoor paint project.
Paint Smell Lingering? Here’s How to Clear the Air
Published on Jan. 23, 2025
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Provide Ventilation While Painting
Optimal ventilation creates several complete air exchanges per hour, replacing stale air with fresh air. This is best achieved by opening windows and using fans to draw air in and push air out. “Opening windows to allow fresh air in makes a huge difference,” Pancione says. However, this may not be ideal during colder months, so Pancione recommends waiting for warmer weather if paint fumes are a concern.
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Follow Re-Coat Times
When applying multiple coats of paint, always follow the manufacturer’s recommended dry time before re-coating. Applying a second coat before the first fully dries extends drying time, which prolongs paint odors. Ensure the first coat is completely dry, not just dry to the touch. If the manufacturer recommends four hours between coats, wait that full time. In humid or cool conditions, allow extra time for drying.
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Contain Fumes to One Room
Keep rooms closed off from the rest of the house if possible to prevent paint smells from permeating other spaces. “We will try to keep areas closed off by either closing doors to rooms we’re working on, or setting up barriers using temporary walls of plastic sheeting,” Pancione says. “This set up also allows us to use smaller fans with exhaust ducts to channel the air outside.”
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Use an Air Purifier
Running an air purifier during and after painting a room can significantly reduce paint smells. Air purifiers with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters capture small airborne particles, including harmful chemicals, improving air quality and removing smells. For enhanced odor removal, choose purifiers with activated charcoal filters, which are very effective at adsorbing VOCs and odors.
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Use Diatomaceous Earth
Made of tiny, porous particles, diatomaceous earth is highly absorbent of liquids, oils and moisture. Placing some diatomaceous earth in a room being painted can help remove paint smells faster. Readily available in home centers and hardware stores, look for filter-grade diatomaceous earth, not food-grade, for the best odor-absorbing qualities. However, this product can be harmful if ingested or inhaled, so keep away from pets and children.
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Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal is created by exposing carbon-rich materials, like wood or coconut shells, to high heat. The resulting charcoal is considered “activated,” meaning it develops thousands of tiny pores and a vast surface area. These characteristics make it highly effective at absorbing airborne particles to quickly reduce odors. It’s especially useful for removing VOCs from the air after painting. Activated charcoal products are widely available and come pre-packaged for easy placement throughout your home.
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Baking Soda
Odor particles stick to the porous surface of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) through a process called adsorption, which enhances its ability to neutralize odors. Place a few open boxes of baking soda in freshly painted rooms or sprinkle some in shallow bowls. If you left furniture in the room, or it is carpeted, consider sprinkling some onto these surfaces and vacuuming it up several hours later to remove any paint smells trapped in the porous fibers.
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Onion in Water
I’ve found that placing cut onions in water can effectively reduce paint smells. Simply cut a few onions in half or quarters and place them in a dish filled with water. The strong, pungent odor of the onions helps to counteract the paint fumes, and the onions also seem to absorb or neutralize the odors, helping them dissipate more quickly from the room.
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Paint Scent Additive
There are also additives available for latex paint that give it a pleasant smell. Simply mix some into your paint, then apply as usual. These additives come in many fragrance options and not only mask the paint smell during painting, but many are designed to stay fragrant for weeks or months after drying. They’re especially helpful to mask stubborn odors like smoke or pet smells.
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Buckets of Water with Lemon
Placing buckets of water in freshly painted rooms can help remove paint smells faster. VOCs contain water-soluble compounds like formaldehyde, benzene and acetone which will dissolve in water. The water in the room will absorb and dissolve these VOCs, reducing their concentration and intensity. The added humidity can also cause VOCs to condense and settle into the water. Adding lemon provides a fresh citrus scent, helping to mask any lingering paint odors.
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Use Vinegar
Vinegar is a natural odor neutralizer and is a good choice to remove the lingering smell of paint. Use a 10 percent white vinegar solution as it does a better job of neutralizing paint smells than lower percentage products. Pour vinegar in bowls and place around the room when you begin painting and plan to leave them there overnight to help remove paint smell.
About the Expert
- Shayne Pancione is the owner of Pancione Painting Plus, a full-service residential and commercial painting company in Easthampton, Massachusetts. He has over 25 years of experience in the trade.
