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Paint fumes won’t go away

9 replies

Rambo123 · 30/11/2023 22:44

DH and I are diy novices and, in hindsight, did something which was a bad idea. We were planning on moving our baby into his own room because our room has a damp problem. However, when we started putting his cot in the room we noticed black mould on the wall. We cleaned the walls and used a mould remover. We then decided to paint over the affected wall area with a damp sealer paint and an anti mould paint. However we used spray can paint instead of normal paint (given that we only wanted to paint over the affected area rather than the whole wall).

we used the spray paint last weekend and we can still smell the fumes. It’s not very strong but the smell is there. Our Dyson air purifier is also showing the air quality as voc 4 when it should be zero (so ‘fair’ air quality rather than ‘good’). We don’t want to put baby in that room until all the fumes are gone.

what can we do to get rid of the paint fumes? We have had the windows open all day and night since last weekend but as soon as we close the windows, the air quality goes back up to voc 4 and the fumes are lingering.

we are going to try putting a fan, vinegar, onions and buckets of water in the room tonight to see if it makes a difference. If that doesn’t work does anyone have any other quick fix ideas?

we have had to move out for a few days because there isn’t enough space if we can’t use that room, so we really need to get this problem fixed soon!

OP posts:
ValerieDoonican · 30/11/2023 23:01

You're not going to like this but leave the heating on in there, window open a crack, and door firmly closed. Warmth jelps drive vocs into the air.

Rambo123 · 30/11/2023 23:05

Oh really? Ok. At this point I’m fine with a high heating bill, I just want the room back! So leaving the windows open with a fan is actually making it worse? Will crank up the heating tomorrow then!

OP posts:
ValerieDoonican · 30/11/2023 23:07

However damp sealing paint is quite "sticky" I think, and you haave then covered it over...it might take a bit of drying.

If you do have rising or penetrating damp, you really need (or your landlord if you are renting really needs) to sort the issue at source. If its from condensation then you need more ventilation eg a better ecract in bathroom and kitchen.

Either way dampnsealin paint probably won't have helped much. Have you painted over paper? If so, and the smell won't go, you could peel the paper off and start again with plain emulsion?

Rambo123 · 30/11/2023 23:21

its from condensation rather than rising damp. We left it to dry between coats in line with the instructions, but maybe we should have left it for longer.

nope we painted over plaster. Do we need to remove the paint at source? How would we do that? Sanding it out?

OP posts:
ValerieDoonican · 01/12/2023 07:38

I don't think open. Window is making it worse anf fan is a great idea but some extra warmth will help. Make sure the rest of the house/flat is well ventilated too though

ValerieDoonican · 01/12/2023 07:44

If the problem is condensation then you definitely need to ventilat more. If the heating has been off in that room because you weren't using it then that will have made things worse, so if you are now heating the room and making sure to keep it airef (eg window open for 1/2 hour agter baby is up every day)

As you have damp in both bedrooms it is a good idea to lok at the other threads on here for lots of tips ( including the ones about dehumidifiers, which people do find effective)

ValerieDoonican · 01/12/2023 07:45

I don't suppose yourll need to strip the paint off, hopefully it will go off in a few more days

ValerieDoonican · 01/12/2023 07:46

That would definitely be a last resort!

SuddenlyOld · 01/12/2023 15:54

An old remedy but it does work - an onion cut in half and put near the painted area. The onion will absorb the smell.

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