Is there really any way to get rid of the smell of paint? We lift the lid on paint smell hacks to reveal what works and what doesn't

Can you ever really get rid of the smell of paint when decorating? According to the many hacks you can find on social media you can. But, do any of them actually work?

While some of them make some sense, we asked leading paint experts if there's any truth in what we're told, or if it's just something you have to put up with if you want to paint a room?

From the ridiculous to the realistic, we reveal what works when you're trying to get rid of the smell of paint, and what's just a cover-up that's a waste of your time, money and effort.

Why does paint smell?

So why does paint smell? You may have noticed yourself that not all types of paint are as pungent as others, so why is that?

"The smell present in some paints is due to higher VOC levels in paint," explains Anna Hill, brand director and colour consultant at Fenwick & Tilbrook.

VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, are generally man-made chemicals that used in paint manufacture. It's what mainly gives paint its distinctive smell. They do fall under regulations in terms of how much paint should contain, but the level of VOCs can also impact how you get rid of any leftover paint, which you need to consider when recycling or disposing of your waste. Oil-based paints for example tend to contain more VOCs along with other types of solvents, so check with your local recycling centre if they will take empty or partly-filled tins of paint you no longer require, as they can't simply be poured down the sink.

In terms of what this means regarding paint smell, the higher the VOCs, the longer the paint smell may linger. "Whilst most off-gassing happens within the first 48 hours or so, some paints can continue to off-gas during a longer curing process," advises Anna.

Anna Hill

After almost 12 years in corporate merchandising roles for both UK and International brands, Anna Hill relocated to Norfolk to join the family business bringing a vast wealth of visual knowledge to the paint brand.

Paint smell hacks uncovered

1. Place bowls of baking soda or activated charcoal in the room ✅

Some hacks suggest baking soda and activated charcoal as a means of removing paint smell, but do they work?

In theory, yes. Both products have odour absorbing qualities which can mean they could reduce the smell of paint if you place them around your room. Activated charcoal in particular is often used in kitchen extractor fans for odour removal, so it's not a complete myth that it could help to reduce the paint smell if you've been decorating.

The general advice is to place either baking soda or activated charcoal in bowls and distribute them around the places where you have been painting. Leave them overnight and then dispose of them the next day.

“Bowls of baking soda may absorb some odours in small, enclosed spaces," confirms Victoria Yardley, founder of Victory Colours, "while activated charcoal is generally more effective because it is specifically designed to trap airborne compounds."

“Some traditional odour-removal tricks can help a little," she continues, "but most of them only have a limited effect because they are dealing with the smell in the air rather than the cause of it."

The success rate of these hacks? It will help, but is unlikely to remove the smell entirely, but certainly won't do any harm to your air quality in the process. Activated charcoal can also be pricey compared to baking soda, so it may be that budget will need to play a part in deciding which product you try to help remove paint smell.

Shop for baking soda or activated charcoal

2. Use bowls of white vinegar or onion ❎

It's no surprise that these hacks gets mixed reactions when shared with experts.

While white vinegar can have some short term efficacy in jobs such as removing mould from washing machine seals, removing mould from grout, and I often use it with baking soda to help unblock bathroom sinks without having to use a plunger, the fact is, vinegar has its own distinctive odour.

“White vinegar can also help neutralise smells to a degree," says Victoria Yardley, "but as for some of the more old-fashioned suggestions, onions are really more of a decorating myth than a reliable solution. In practice, you are likely to end up with a room that smells faintly of onion rather than solving the paint smell properly," she advises.

The risk with both of these ideas, is that using them is simply a way of replacing one smell with another, and given whenever they are discussed, they come with the caveat of keeping windows open when doing so, it's highly likely that the natural ventilation is doing the hard work here, rather than the white vinegar or onion. The general consensus from the Homebuilding & Renovating team? They're not hacks we've ever tried, or even ones we'd consider using.

3. Add vanilla extract to the paint before use ❎

While this sounds like a nice idea, the risks outweigh the short term benefit of a less offensive smell, says Anna Hill.

"Although there are a lot of ‘solutions’ out there, we would never advise adding anything to paint that hasn’t been recommended by the manufacturer, as you run the risk of altering the chemistry or colour balance of the paint."

"Adding vanilla extract to paint is also not something I would recommend," agrees Victoria Yardley, "as it can interfere with the paint’s formulation and potentially affect the finish."

The best way to get rid of paint smell

In a nutshell, the reality is, there is no way of totally removing the smell of paint when painting walls, ceilings or woodwork. But, there are two main ways of reducing the smell, and helping it dissipate sooner.

1. Shop carefully

The first relates to careful shopping when buying paint and paying attention to what the label say.

“The best way to reduce the strong, headache-inducing paint smell when decorating is to use a high-quality paint with low, trace levels of VOCs, which makes them virtually odourless," says Anna Hill. "Using paint from manufacturers whose products contain only trace levels of VOCs will help to avoid this unpleasant smell or one that lingers."

And Victoria Yardley is in full agreement. “The best way to reduce paint smell is to tackle the issue at source by choosing the right type of paint in the first place," she confirms. "Most of the strong smell people associate with decorating comes from solvents and higher VOC levels, so opting for a modern ultra-low VOC, water-based paint can make a huge difference."

Shop for low VOC paints

2. Use fresh air — it's also free

And secondly, it's about using what nature provides us free of charge – fresh air. Whatever types of windows you have, "keeping windows open to ensure good ventilation will help when painting," says Anna.

“The most reliable way to clear paint smell is good airflow during and after decorating," agrees Victoria. Keeping windows open, encouraging cross-ventilation where possible, and allowing the room to breathe will always be more effective than relying on household hacks alone.

"In combining ventilation with low COV paint, you are reducing the number of odorous compounds being released into the space in the first place, rather than trying to mask them afterwards," she concludes.

With the jury well and truly out on some of these hacks, the solution is clear, the right paint and some good old-fashioned fresh air is the best way to get your home smelling sweeter more quickly.

You could also try using an air purifier such as the Molekule Air Pro to remove any lingering toxins, and to make sure you don't double up on whiffy walls, check out the 5 rules to follow when choosing paint colours.