Paint odor removal

[CajunMama]

We're having our baseboards and doors repainted.....oil base paint. The smell in this house...well i should say i'll be high as a kite later tonight. Any suggestions on how to remove the odor quickly?

[Opal storm]

Best way to get rid of the odor is to open the windows and set up some fans to ventilate the house. I heard spraying fabric softener can also help.

[CajunMama]

Open the windows???? It's 41 here! I've got some open but i'm sitting here in my coat and a blanket wrapped around my legs!!!!

I know charcoal works with latex. I think i'll go pick up a bag and spread it around the house.

[angelwing]

CM, I tried charcoal with oil paint smell, no go. You just might have to go the window/fan route. 41 is not cold really once you get used to it (I wish it was 41 here, wind chill of 15 )Open the windows and have a nice hot bowl of soup or better yet a cup of "spiked" hot chocolate-(whiskey works)that'll warm you up in no time! Even without the whiskey!

[Miss Mary]

I read somewhere that you can fill bowls with white vinegar. Leave out and within 24 hours the vinegar absorbs any odor you want it to.

Not sure if this works or not but white vinegar is cheap and if it doesn't work, run it thru your coffee maker next! It won't go to waste.

[CajunMama]

Ran to home depot...saw something called the odor genie and am praying it works.

[Cookiely]

I found a website that says the Odor Genie doesn't work on paint odor.
http://www.pestproducts.com/odor_genie_faq.htm

[Dionne]

We're having our baseboards and doors repainted.....oil base paint. The smell in this house...well i should say i'll be high as a kite later tonight. Any suggestions on how to remove the odor quickly?

There is nothing you can do but wait for the oil base to completely dry. The fumes are toxic. Your "high as a kite" reference is NOT good. A pulmonologist would tell you to check into a hotel. Google paint fumes.

[gtalum]

Increase the airflow through your home. As noted, this will cause the volatile components of the paint (ie the stuff you smell) to evaporate and disperse more quickly. That's about all you can do. Make sure that there is fresh outside air coming into your home or those fumes could build up and become dangerous.

[CajunMama]

It wasn't too bad last night. I did have some of the windows open (6:30pm-1am) and with the wind blowing a little bit, the cross breeze seemed to clear out alot of the smell. I sat at the computer in my winter coat and a blanket wrapped around me.Either that or I got used to the smell but i would go outside for awhile and come back in and didn't notice the smell nearly as much.

[gtalum]

Just out of curiosity, why did you choose an oil-based paint? IMHO these days latex is just as durable and the latex "fumes" aren't toxic.

I'm glad the problem seems to have disappeared though!

[CajunMama]

I chose enamel for the baseboards and doors.

[Dionne]

I chose enamel for the baseboards and doors.

There are water based enamels available on the market. They can be applied over oil base. About $35 a gallon. Pro-painters don't like the product........they say it flows different.

Gas offing from numerous building products is a concern. Especially is you develop a rash on exposed skin and around your eyes. It is formaldehyde poisoning and requires an immediate ER visit.

Oil base usually drys within 24 to 36 hours depending on humidity and ambient temp.

[coriolis]

Note to self: Save painting projects for summer.