How to Get Rid of Spray Paint Smell? – Detailed Guide

Last summer I decided to upgrade my room and thus, used lilac paint to add colors and vibrancy to the room. However, the smell accompanied by the paint fumes made it difficult for me to stay in the room even for five minutes. All of this was because of the excessive rains during that time, which affected the fume’s dissipation process of the paint.

Thus, after researching it in detail, I ended up using charcoal and scented candles in my room to speed up the process. Charcoal not only helped with smell absorption but also absorbed the fumes to a great extent. The candle on the other hand generated a floral scent in the room which was nerve-calming and soothing.

So, after thinking for some time I decided to share some tips on how to get rid of the spray paint smell as it will be highly beneficial if you also find yourself in my shoes.

How to Get Rid of Spray Paint Smell?

There are a variety of practices that can be adopted to get rid of the spray paint odor, especially from your hands. Working with spray paint will inevitably leave a strong smell in your home as well as on your clothes and body, which can be extremely difficult to get rid off. But, don’t worry as I have brought you some secret tricks that will help you get rid of the paint smell without wasting unnecessary time.

Methods to Get Rid of Spray Pain Smell

1. Candles

Trust me, candles can be your best friend if you want to get rid of foul and strong odor caused by excessive exposure to spray paints and other related materials. It is best if you have a scented candle as it will leave a nice and soothing fragrance on your body alongside the elimination of the unwanted smell.

Just light the scented candle in your room for a few hours and the fragrance of the candle will overcome the pungent smell of the paint. I highly advise using fruit or flower-scented candles as they can feel refreshed and will improve your mood significantly.

2. Charcoal

Next up on our list is charcoal. You might have heard about the outstanding abilities of charcoal in getting rid of impurities and dirt from a variety of surfaces because of its excellent adsorption.

However, besides this, the specified carbon compound is also highly effective in getting rid of the unwanted odor and will remove the paint fumes from the surroundings effectively. All you need to do is to use the charcoal in your room and it will absorb the strong paint smell along with the fumes and will leave your room smell free after a few hours.

3. Coffee Beans

Coffee beans have also been proven to be highly effective, especially for the paint that has been applied recently and there is an intense smell in your surroundings. Similar to charcoal, coffee beans are also capable of absorbing the fumes generated by the paint besides the smell and therefore, will help you get rid of both if used properly.

In addition to this, the fragrance of the coffee has a calming effect and can help you sleep better and relax in incase of tiredness. You can place coffee beans in the newly painted room and it will help in absorbing the strong paint smell within a few hours.

4. Baking Soda

Baking soda is another substance that is readily available in your home and can be used for the purpose of reducing the paint smell. The best part is that it is extremely affordable in nature and will not cost you a lot of money. A bowl of baking soda is enough to absorb the paint smell in a large room and you do not need a large quantity of the material for this purpose.

All you need to do is to take out a bowl of baking soda and place it in the room which has the strongest smell. The soda will absorb all the odor free room and will leave you with a smell-free room within a few hours. The only downside is that you will not get any fragrance in return as in the case of coffee beans and scented candles.

5. Water and Lemon

The combination of water and lemon has multiple benefits ranging from weight loss to cleaning abilities. This mixture has been used for years to help individuals lose weight. But, do you know that there is another secret use for water and lemon? Yes, you have guessed it right. The mixture can be used to remove the strong odor generated after the application of paint in a room.

You can prepare it by adding slices of lemon inside a bucket and then placing them inside the newly painted room. It has dual benefits. The lemon water will absorb the pungent smell of the paint and will keep your room odor free for long hours.

Whereas, the lemon slices will produce a nice citrus fruity smell that will feel refreshing and will also soothe your nerves that might have become sensitive because of the strong paint smell. I recommend leaving the bucket inside the room overnight for best results and calming effect.

FAQs about Spray Paint Smell

How long does it take for the spray paint smell to go away?

The spray paint smell can be annoying and does not fade away easily. In proper conditions with ideal weather and required ventilation, it takes around 2 to 3 days to completely achieve smell-free surroundings. However, you might observe that the smell has decreased significantly within one day. But if you live in an area with harsh conditions and bad weather then expect the smell to fade away in a week or more as weather can significantly impact the paint smell dissipation.

What neutralizes the smell of the paint?

White vinegar is highly effective in neutralizing the paint smell. The acetic acid present in the white vinegar can effectively absorb the smell of the paint in your surroundings and will offer you a smell-free room within a few hours. Similarly, if you want even faster results you can use household white vinegar, which contains around 10% acetic acid to speed up the absorption process and get rid of the unwanted smell from your surroundings.

How long until the paint fumes are safe?

Paint fumes can be harmful to your health especially if inhaled in large quantities. It is best to let the fumes subside on their own within two to three days after the application of the paint. During this time avoid going inside the room and also prevent young children from moving inside as inhaling them can lead to health issues and even death in severe cases.

Final Thoughts on Getting Rid of Spray Paint Smell

Painting your room can improve its overall outlook and can make it appear new. However, on the downside, it can also leave your room smelling for days. While some individuals might like the smell of the paint, based on my experience, most of us do not like it and therefore, are often looking for solutions to make the smell fade away immediately.

Well, keeping the room ventilated is the key and along with it, you can use some home-based substances to accelerate the rate of smell dissipation. In this article, I have discussed such materials in detail along with the benefits to help you achieve the desired results effectively.