How to get rid of paint smell

[Concernedkay]

Hi I wonder if anyone can help. I painted a toy kitchen for my son with Rust-Oleum universal Matt white paint and spray painted inside of the cupboards some places that I couldn't reach with the roller, with the same brand painters touch spray. I left it to dry in the garage for a month before I brought it in to the house.

It has been a few months and inside the cupboards still smells when you directly smell inside them. It's really worrying me since it's been a few months now. He was never around it while it was freshly painted and doesn't play with it that much but I've gone down a rabbit hole of reading about off gassing and just wish I never bothered painting it now or had used a toy specific paint, now that I know one exists. Does anyone know more about this and if this could God forbid harm my child? And how can I get rid of the smell?! Thanks

Put a tray of bicarbonate of soda inside each cupboard, it should speed up the de-stinking process!

@Scampuss

Thanks for your response. I did try that but it hasn't worked and it's been months! Do you know if paint smells are still toxic even if they have dried and it's been months? I'm really worried as it's furniture my child is around.

I got told to put a cut onion near paint to absorb the smell. It seems to work.

Have you given it a good clean as well?

Yeah I will try this tonight.

I can't imagine it is still harmful at this point. But if it bothers you, get some of that no-VOC chalk paint and do over the smelly stuff. It should contain the smell.

I have but when the cupboard is closed for a while and then reopened the smell is strong. Do you know if the fumes are still dangerous even when dry and after this long?

I have no idea, all the worries about off-gassing are quite new really, I think I've always just accepted that fresh paint smells a bit and that it'll wear off eventually.

Have you tried leaving it outside on nice days with the doors open?

@Scampuss

Yeah I only learnt about off gassing when I looked up about this. I always thought once paint was dry it was okay and non toxic. That's also what the tin says. I've always just ventilated and avoided the first 48 hours or so. For this I waited a month before I brought into the house.

I wish I had known then what I know now and I would have bought the no odour and low voc/toy safe version. I had no idea it would still smell after drying. It shouldn't be regarded safe at all for domestic use if this is the case. I'm really worried about my child now. I think I'm going to try going over it with a no odour/non toxic paint. If that doesn't work I'm going to get rid of it.

I sincerely think this is not a problem OP. Most of the 'fumes' will be long gone. Of course you can get rid of the toy and buy a new one, but it may have fumes too? I do think you are overthinking this.

Disclaimer, I work with oil paint and turpentine and breathe the stuff all day long but with open windows and doors. I'm not crazy or sick though after 30 years.... ;)

Yes I have ordered a no odour/no voc paint to go over it. Just wish I had did that in the beginning. I'm so annoyed at myself for not looking into it more. I had no idea paint can still smell this long after being supposedly dry.

Thank you, your experience is appreciated. I just think it smells quite strong to be considered fully dried now after all the reading I've done so it must not be fully cured and that makes me so uncomfortable that my child has been around it. I read the most dangerous chemical is benzene which it doesn't contain thank God, but it does contain ethylbenzene which I've read mixed things about. I have mum guilt and anxiety bad 😭