Home Remedies to Get Rid of Paint Fumes

Onions

• Onions not only have a strong odor themselves, they can also absorb the fumes from paint. Cut up several onions and place the chopped pieces in five or six bowls. Add water to each bowl and set them around the room during the painting process. Leave the windows in the room open as well, to keep fresh air circulating. Once you are done painting, dump the onions and replace them with fresh ones in bowls of fresh water. The onions will continue to absorb the fumes as the paint dries.

Vinegar

• Vinegar is usually considered a food product, but it has many uses in the home, one being an air freshener. Vinegar is a strong but natural odor remover. Set bowls of vinegar around the room during and after painting. Keep the windows open as well, to move fresh air in to help disperse the smell.

Vanilla Extract

• Vanilla extract can help to remove the fumes from paint before it is even applied to the wall. Add 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract to each gallon of paint that you use. Stir it in thoroughly with a paint stirrer and apply the paint to the walls as you normally would. Leave the windows open to ventilate the room and bring in fresh air. The vanilla extract will not change the color of your paint or the paint's ability to adhere to the wall. If your paint is already "low-odor," the vanilla will all but eliminate the smell.