Are you looking to transform your house with a refreshing coat of paint? Fumes are a problem with any large painting job. Today we’re going to look at a few things to keep in mind when painting indoors
First, ask yourself if it’s safe. Pregnant women or those with delicate health should not expose themselves to paint fumes. Even if you are healthy, if you’re painting a large area or one that is poorly ventilated, consider contacting a professional painter.
If you’re going to be painting in your house, here are some best practices that you can follow in order to reduce your risk:
- Be sure you select indoor paints. Read product labels in order to select a product that will generate less harmful fumes or VOCs, such as water-based paints.
- Read safety information on the product label carefully. Note any warnings, first-aid information, or if protective measures like gloves or goggles are required. You may want to use a respirator to lower your risk of inhaling VOCs.
- Always paint in an area that’s well ventilated. You may want to wait for the weather to be dry so you can open some windows. Consider using a box fan in the window to help direct airflow to the outside.
- Take frequent breaks to allow yourself to get some fresh air.
Once you’ve finished painting, it can take from hours to days for fumes to clear. Here are a few pointers on how to speed the process.
Ventilation
Fresh paint releases an odour which occurs due to the evaporation of solvents within the paint itself. This means that the faster the paint dries, the faster the fumes will disappear. So what has ventilation got to do with it?
Through increasing the ventilation and the air circulation in the room that has been freshly painted, you can assist the drying process. This can be done by using a fan and opening al of the windows in the room.
Natural Products
Attempting to mask the odour with deodorizers which have a chemical component will only add extra chemicals into the mix of fumes. There are plenty of natural products which you can use to help the elimination of the fumes. These include:
- Charcoal: This is an odour absorber. This includes crushing wood charcoal and placing it in bowls around the room. Within a few hours, you will notice a decrease in the smell. Leaving it overnight can eliminate the smell altogether.
- Coffee Grounds: Again, placing coffee ground beans in bowls around the room will have the same effect as charcoal, and will instead leave a scent of coffee around the room.
- Onions: Placing a few cut brown onions in small bowls of vinegar helps to soak up paint fumes and cleanse the air.
- Baking Soda: A very well known method of odour removal includes placing baking soda in bowls around the room. You can even sprinkle a little on the floor or even carpet. Allow it to sit for a few hours before vacuuming it. Baking soda is extremely effective in neutralising the pH of paint odour.
Through using these simple but effective tips, you will see the fumes and smell of paint eliminated. You will quickly see that painting your rooms has become less inconvenient.
If this all sounds a bit daunting, don’t worry! Grand Painting are professional painters that are skilled in completing even the most difficult jobs quickly and with professionalism. Contact us for a free quote today and save yourself a lot of time, money, and inhaling paint fumes.
