Smell of recent Paint, how to kill it?

[HeavyDrinker]

Is there a good method of getting rid of the smell of recent paint?

I recently had our condo painted but as we don't live there I've not really had the chance to "air'' it too much and the smell of paint is overpowering.

As it now seems like it is now going to be my base for the next month so my World Cup viewing with pals in the wee small hours doesn't disturb the wife.

I've tried incense, air fresheners etc but I'll wager there is some clever old gag for removing it like "Having a bald man leaving out used tea leaves on the second Sunday after Sepatuagisima in a New Moon"

[Crossy]

Cut two large onions in half. Leave them cut side up in the room.

Could be an old-wives tale.

Will probably result in your next question being 'how to remove onion smell'.

[ClutchClark]

I really think the best bet is to air the place out...open windows and sliding doors, get some airflow through there.

I love the smell of fresh paint myself, especially when it was the old oil based paints.

[Riley'sLife]

Charcoal absorbs smells.

[eyecatcher]

Charcoal absorbs smells.

Yes spot on.

I had to repaint the floor of a shower just the other day. I knew I would have customers the next morning.

10bt bag of charcoal with the window open was quite remarkable.

But worse than the smell of paint, is the smell of the thinners that you clean the brushes afterwards....took longer to dissipate than the paint.

The onion doesn't work, but I understand the onion is for absorbing cigarette smoke only.

A block of camphor is also great for getting rid of smells and keeps mossies and cockroaches away.

[brit1984]

another vote for charcoal

[8OA8]

Now just imagine how poor Queen Elizabeth feels. Everywhere she ever goes has just been freshly painted!

[freebyrd]

Cambodians hate the smell of paint. Their method is usually cut up pineapples place at intervals around the area.

[kwaussie]

Any type of fan will certainly help.

[HeavyDrinker]

Cheers gents. I've just thrown all the windows and doors open and hoping for a belting storm to blow through....

[laislica]

Cut two large onions in half. Leave them cut side up in the room.

Could be an old-wives tale.

Will probably result in your next question being 'how to remove onion smell'.

Sliced onion is also supposed to attract bacteria and viruses from the air.

Best not to keep cut onions to use later.

Placed in the room of someone with a cold, supposed to help absorb the free floating germs.

[malt25]

Cut two large onions in half. Leave them cut side up in the room.

Could be an old-wives tale.

Will probably result in your next question being 'how to remove onion smell'.

This is only of the procedure. Take the 2 halves & place in a large container of water, a bucket is ideal. Place the bucket / container anywhere in the room. All paint fumes & smell should be gone in about 24 hours. No wives tale.... it works.

[ezzra]

Yes, bring a goat in to the place,, you'd be happy to smelling the paint

any time after the goat gone....

[shaurene]

Cut a load of onions up on plates and spread them around.

[Goompa]

Have your Thai wife boil up a 10ltr pot of " Pickled Mudfish " -plara . palaa , whatever the pronunciation , then see if not only the paint smell remains but if your neighbours do as well !

Just another option !

[KIWIBATCH]

....Depending on how big the room is place at 3m intervals....bowls of water in which has been placed a cup of vinegar (white or brown vinegar either or).....paint smell gone in 24 hours

[IvanLaw]

Cut two large onions in half. Leave them cut side up in the room.

Could be an old-wives tale.

Will probably result in your next question being 'how to remove onion smell'.

Place cut halves in Saucer of water.

(cut across to show rings, ring side down in water)

Helps to have windows open.

Used meny time & it works

[Suradit69]

Onions

Onions, once cut open, are very powerful absorption tools. Cut a number of large onions into quarters and place them on plates throughout the room. The onions will effectively absorb the paint smell and for those sensitive pregnant noses, not to worry, the smell of onions will dissipate from the room far quicker than the smell of paint would have.

Coffee Grounds

If the paint smells are of a milder nature, you can place bowls of coffee grounds around the room to mask the odour and replace it with a java-lover’s dream scent.

Vinegar

Bowls of white distilled vinegar placed around the room will diffuse the chemical paint odour.

Charcoal

Charcoal is an excellent neutraliser of strong chemical odours. Crush whole pieces of wood charcoal into small pieces and leave it overnight in containers placed around the room.

Vanilla Extract or Peppermint Oil

Vanilla and peppermint are delicious scents with which to fill a room. They are also effective in getting rid of paint smells. Add a few drops of pure vanilla extract or peppermint oil onto cotton balls, or put them into small bowls of water and place them around the room.

Light a Candle

Placing a lit candle in the room for a few hours will burn out the flammable substances in the solvent. To prevent any fire risks, place the candle in a bowl filled with water and keep children and animals out the room so that it cannot get knocked over.

Lemon

Cut a dozen lemons into slices and place them in bowls all over the room for a couple of days. The lemons will absorb any horrid paint smells and should be discarded immediately after use.

A Bucket of Water

Although not as effective as the candle method, placing buckets of water around the room will help with absorbing any solvent vapours.

Bicarbonate of Soda (Baking Soda)

This method will only work if you have a carpeted room. Generously sprinkle bicarbonate of soda all over the carpet, leave it for 24 hours and then vacuum it up in the morning. This will freshen up and deodorise not only the room, but your carpet too.

http://www.jackspaint.co.za/blog/site/how-to-get-rid-of-paint-smells/

[impulse]

Light a few candles.

Oh, wait. That's another smell.

Seriously though- candles will burn off a lot of the solvent in the air.

[wayned]

While you're watching the world cup eat lots of pickled eggs with your beer!

[BadBouy]

While you're watching the world cup eat lots of pickled eggs with your beer!

With the windows shut tight!

[impulse]

While you're watching the world cup eat lots of pickled eggs with your beer!

With the windows shut tight!

Under the sheets- with your sweetie.

[Patmalone]

Soak bread in water and leave in a shallow dish.

[BudRight]

The only way to get rid of the smell is to wait. Hopefully not inside.

[stickylies]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papier_d%27Arm%C3%A9nie

it works for ALL bad smells..................

Edited June 11, 2014 by stickylies

[ClutchClark]

While you're watching the world cup eat lots of pickled eggs with your beer!

With the windows shut tight!

Under the sheets- with your sweetie.

It used to be called "A Dutch Oven".

[impulse]

While you're watching the world cup eat lots of pickled eggs with your beer!

With the windows shut tight!

Under the sheets- with your sweetie.

It used to be called "A Dutch Oven".

We called it "Playing Turtle"

[rhythmworx]

Cook some tandoori chicken in the grill/broiler if your a yank.

[JSPS]

Two words...decomposing bodies

[BWPattaya]

Buy several boxes of matches. Open them all and place them in a pile on a metal tray (or something similar). Close the wibdows and doors. Then light them. The smell of paint is gone.