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.
What exactly is fresh paint smell?
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.”
