How To Get Rid of Fresh Paint Smell

There's nothing quite like a fresh coat of paint to transform a home—that is, until you realize just how stinky paint will make your entire house. Whether you’re repainting a room or inaugurating a brand-new home with a pop of color, painting the walls is a much smellier affair than anyone ever anticipates.

And so, we’re dedicating this installment of "Beat the Stink" to helping you eliminate the toxic smells emanating from your freshly painted walls.

We chatted with the experts and got the scoop on everything you need to know about fresh paint smell, including how to get rid of it and how to avoid it altogether. So here's your guide to beating the stink that is fresh paint.

Like so many aesthetic applications, interior paint is chock-full of chemicals. So it's not surprising that some paints are toxic and, yes, smell genuinely awful.

"The volatile organic compounds present in paint can be toxic in high enough levels of exposure," says building biologist Corinne Segura, of My Chemical-Free House. "That's why it's important to use the proper personal protective equipment for the paint type you’re using and to increase airflow while painting."

Like some new furniture, fresh paint has an initial off-gassing period of roughly 24 hours. But some paint smells can linger for about two weeks. That's why you’ll want to be vigilant about limiting your exposure—and mitigating the odor—as much as possible during that time frame.

Here are some expert tips for keeping the stinky toxins of fresh paint at bay.

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Ventilation is critical—both during and directly following painting an interior space—so you’ll want to have the windows open and multiple fans running.

"Ventilation is important as it helps prevent the reabsorption of VOCs into any porous material in the room," says Segura.

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Just be sure that whatever ventilation method you use doesn't increase the humidity in the room, which can make VOCs off-gas more than they otherwise might. In other words, pick a warm, dry day instead of a wet, rainy one for painting.

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A "bake-out" is pretty much what it sounds like—cranking up the heat and baking your home's interior. Combined with ventilation, this can be an effective way to speed up the off-gassing process and eliminate toxins.

"The best way to eliminate fresh paint odor is to perform a bake-out of the house once the paint is dry," says Segura. "Increase the temperature in the room to 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit for three to five days. High heat promotes and speeds up the off-gassing of the paint."

Just be sure that the paint is dry before turning up the heat, as you don't want to apply the paint or have it dry while the temperature is high. So before you touch the thermostat, Segura recommends checking with the paint manufacturer to determine how long your paint takes to dry completely and the ideal temperature range to maintain while drying.

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Another way to mitigate the overwhelming fresh paint smell? By using something called an ozone generator.

"Ozone generators can be an effective way to remove fresh paint smell from homes if used correctly," says Naveen Tikaram, cleaning expert and contributing author at 10 Minute Homemaking. "Ozone generators work by releasing ozone into the air, reacting with certain pollutants and odors, and transforming them into nontoxic molecules."

Just note that ozone generators should be used only in unoccupied spaces and never near people or pets, especially those with respiratory problems.

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If you’d rather keep your painting project as simple as can be, there are several remedies you can try to eliminate the stink.

"Charcoal is a popular choice because it absorbs odors," says Tikaram. "Baking soda is also effective at absorbing odors, and it has abrasive properties that can help scrub away paint residue."

And if you want to raid your pantry further, sliced onions are said to work to combat paint smell. Onions release sulfur compounds that bind with the paint fumes and neutralize their odor.

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While these mitigation methods work, fresh paint smell can still be a pesky one to get rid of thoroughly. So if you want to avoid dealing with these nasty toxins in your home, you always have the option to use non-VOC paint.

"If you’re looking for a paint line that doesn't have that strong new-paint smell, consider trying Benjamin Moore's Natura line," says Andre Kazimierski, CEO of Improovy Painters Glenview. "Natura doesn't contain any volatile organic compounds responsible for that smell."

These paints will be a bit more expensive than the typical paint, says Kazimierski. "But it's worth it if you’re looking to avoid that smell and its effects."

Larissa Runkle is a writer and editor living in the San Juan mountains of Colorado. Her work focuses on unique real estate and lifestyle trends.