How to Minimize Paint Smells
You may be thrilled to finally be re-painting the walls of your home, but the fumes from fresh paint can make you and your family very sick. Paint fumes can cause nausea, headaches and dizziness. Pregnant woman and young children are especially susceptible to the dangerous chemical fumes that paint gives off. It is essential to find ways to reduce the paint fumes when you are working on your home. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Ventilate the house. Open every window and door. Avoid painting on very windy days when particles in the air come in and stick to the wet paint on your wall, leaving it bumpy and unsightly.
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Use large fans to blow the fumes out toward the open doors. For best results, use a box fan that can sit in the window and pull the fumes out of the house as the paint dries.
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Add fragrance oil to paint. Just a drop or two of your favorite essential oil in a large batch of paint will help mask the unpleasant paint smells.
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Use non-toxic or low-VOC interior paints. These paints contain low levels of VOC, or volatile organic compounds, which are the toxins that can harm you and cause a strong smell. Many states even have guidelines that limit the use of interior paints with high VOC levels. Low-VOC paints will also not have a strong smell.
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Tips & Warnings
Some paints are available already scented and leave your home with a lingering pleasant smell. Ask about them at your local hardware store.
Cover air vents when painting to avoid toxic air from spreading to other rooms in the house.
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