How to Get Toxic Paint Fumes Out of a New Home

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Things You'll Need

  • Exhaust fans

  • Air purifier

  • Bowls

  • Baking soda

  • White vinegar

  • Cotton balls

  • Vanilla extract

  • Essential oils

  • Vacuum

Ventilate rooms properly to remove toxic fumes.

Freshly painted rooms in a new home may look pleasant, but the fumes can harm your health. The chemicals in paint evaporate and remain in the air as the paint dries. The fumes can irritate your lungs and eyes and even cause dizziness. When you notice the odor of paint, remove the fumes as soon as possible so they don't affect your health.

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Step 1

Turn on exhaust fans to remove paint fumes. Place box fans in windows or turn on exhaust fans in bathrooms or kitchens. You can also place a fan next to a window or door to blow the air from the room to the outdoors. Ventilate the room for two to three days to remove the fumes completely.

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Step 2

Open the windows so the air can circulate. Crack windows open or open them all the way, if the weather cooperates. Fresh air enters the home as the fumes leave.

Step 3

Check that paint cans left in the home are closed properly. Unsealed paint cans continue to release fumes. Store leftover paint cans away from ventilation and air conditioning.

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Step 4

Turn off the air conditioning or heating in the home. Air conditioner vents in rooms with fresh paint spread the odorous air to other areas in the home.

Step 5

Place an air purifier in the home to remove the paint fumes. For best results, select a device that doesn't produce ozone. Always follow the manufacturer's directions so you use the unit properly.

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Step 6

Sit out bowls of white vinegar in the room to absorb the paint odors. Replace the vinegar daily until you remove the paint odors.

Step 7

Soak cotton balls in vanilla extract or your favorite essential oils. Sit the cotton balls on shelves in bowls to absorb the paint smell.

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Step 8

Cover the carpet with baking soda to attract paint fumes in the room. Let the baking soda sit overnight. Vacuum up the baking soda the following day. Drop a cotton ball soaked in an essential oil into the vacuum bag or canister to release a pleasant scent into the air.

Tip

To prevent exposing people to fumes, paint rooms when the home remains unoccupied.

Warning

Protect your health by limiting your exposure to paint fumes.

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