Paint Odors

[catie56]

Help!  My entire apartment has just been painted (okay, fine, it's still in process) and while I let the smell chase me out to a hotel for three nights, I can't afford that forever!

I'm looking for tips and tricks from anyone who's had this problem before.  I don't know what kind of paint they used, but the smell in my bedroom (which I'm most concerned about) is some mix of paint and body-odor-smell (I think that's probably the scientific term).  

google gave me onion-in-a-bowl-of-water and it looks like I'm preparing for an exciting evening as I'm burning tea lights (the old open flame = diminished odor trick).  Yet none of these seem to be working quickly enough for me, since I need to sleep here tonight.

Anything else I could try so I don't worry about the damage I'm doing to my lungs and central nervous system while sleeping in my own room?

Comments

[sixbeforelunch]

White vinegar absorbs smells. Try warming a bowl of vinegar (apple cider would probably work in a pinch, but I don't know about red wine) and setting it out.

[catie56]

thanks! in the chaos of painting, our vinegar (and baking soda!) was either misplaced or tossed out, so i'll have to find some in the morning.

[fyreharper]

Set up cross-ventilation with open windows and fans, so at least the fumes get out of the house faster instead of just sitting there? Not an instant solution, but it might at least speed things up a bit. Although maybe something to do not at the same time as millions of candles; I don't know if they'd like the breeze ;p

If there's anywhere in the apartment that doesn't smell as bad, you could camp out there; sounds like there might not be, though.

[manycolored]

The only thing that's really going to work is opening it up to as much air as possible. Use fans and keep all the windows wide open except when it's raining. The paint needs to cure and the fumes need to evaporate.

There is also a mineral called zeolite. It works like activated charcoal does in your stomach - trapping molecules in its highly porous structure. You will find it in hardware stores and pet supply stores. Sometimes it's just called "odor absorbing rock" or "natural volcanic mineral." It usually comes in a net bag (like onions come in.) You just leave it near the source of smell, either in its net bag or spread out on a tray - maximum exposed surface area.

Consider letting your landlord know about your problems. There are low- and no-VOC paints available in hardware stores.
http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2009/03/26/how-and-why-to-choose-lowno-voc-paint/

[lassarina]

You may also want to review your lease AND your local tenant laws--up here where I live, if they're painting and such of their own accord (not by your request) often the lease specifies they must subsidize or absorb the cost of alt lodging for the tenant.