Getting rid of paint smell
Today’s question comes from Aaren. Aaren asks:
Hi hope you can help! My daughter’s room will not stop smelling. In fact, I challenged Olympic Paint and Lowe’s – going back and forth until we settled. KILZ and another coat of paint reproduced the original smell! Olympic even paid a professional to do all that work for us. The second coat of Premium One water based latex interior paint still smells. We have 2 air purifiers and had our windows opens for a week while painting and for 12 days afterward. …. As of today however we are dealing with a smell from Friday. It’s awful and I’m afraid to let my daughter sleep in there (although she has for two nights). WHAT can I do to make it go away. The room seems like it’s cursed. No other room in our house ever smelled like this… Please help with ideas of what to do. How long is this supposed to last. The smell is like a sweet, clay smell. It doesn’t really smell like paint at all. We even crawled into the attic to check for smell and it wasn’t present. We tried sprays, onions, vinegar, steam cleaning. Everything. Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks. Aaren
The E D Painting Expert Answer
Hi Aaren. When we first answered this years ago, it was a rare issue, but over our 22 years in the painting industry, we’ve seen this exact scenario pop up a few times. That “sweet, clay-like” or sometimes “sour” smell that lingers for weeks is incredibly frustrating.
Based on your description, you are likely dealing with one of two specific issues:
1. “Sour Paint” (Bacterial Contamination) Water-based latex paints can actually “go bad.” If bacteria get into the paint at the factory or the store, it starts a reaction that smells exactly like sour milk, clay, or dirty socks. Unfortunately, no amount of air purifiers or open windows will cure this, because the smell is baked right into the dried film on the wall.
2. The “Wall Odor Phenomenon” Sometimes, the chemicals in new low-VOC water-based paints react with the invisible residues left on the wall from older paints, creating a chemical off-gassing that smells sweet and pungent.
Here is the problem: you mentioned the professionals applied a coat of KILZ. If they used a water-based latex KILZ primer, it will not block the odor. Water-based primers allow the smell to breathe right through them.
How to Fix the Lingering Paint Smell
To permanently kill this odor and make the room safe for your daughter, you have to seal the wall so the smell cannot escape. Here is the professional procedure:
- Dehumidify the Room: Close the windows. High humidity (especially if you live in a humid area like we do here in New England) keeps the paint pores open. Run a strong dehumidifier for 48 hours to pull all the moisture out of the walls.
- Seal with BIN Shellac-Based Primer: You need to apply a coat of Zinsser B-I-N Shellac-Based Primer (or a heavy-duty oil-based stain blocker). Shellac is what professionals use to seal in heavy smoke damage and severe odors. It creates an impermeable barrier that the clay smell cannot penetrate. Note: Shellac has a very strong alcohol smell when applying, but it dissipates completely once dry. Do not use a water-based primer here.
- Apply Your Final Topcoat: Once the Shellac is 100% dry and the room is aired out, apply a fresh coat of high-quality, premium acrylic paint. (If you aren’t comfortable doing this yourself, our residential painting services handle this exact process safely).
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Cindi
I’d like hear from anyone who’s previously posted here what is the status of the problems now? Has anyone gone as far as replacing the drywall? How about sanding the walls to remove the paint? Anyone gone to a lawyer to file class action suit? Any complaints filed to the Consumer Products Safety group?
Sally
We are taking down the drywall. After trying everything else this our only choice! You can see your post above as to all we have tried Sally and Pete. Good Luck to all of you!
Pete
I am taking the drywall down now!
Cindi
Did your homeowners insurance cover any of the cost to tear out and replace the drywall? I haven’t contacted my insurance company yet.
Ash
I am both relieved and terrified to find this thread. I bought a house a month ago and painted nearly every surface in it, as it’d been a rental for years before and everything needed updating. Whenever I enter there is a weird sweet smell. Granted, I am very sensitive to odors–some people don’t smell it at all. But I just woke up in the night and it was so overpowering I decided to search for the cause.
In the bedroom we used Behr, but every other room has Valspar. The smell permeates the house but seems worst in the Behr room. Looks like I have some phone calls to make.
Thanks and good luck, everyone.
Ash
jane
I too painted my sons room about 6 months ago with BMoore paint and it has that sweetish, clay, dusty smell described by Ermand exactly. It only seems to abate slightly when I open all the windows fully but comes back full force when closed. I dont even like going into the room as the smell is rather cloying..uggghh
any suggestions would be helpful but it doesnt seem like anyone has found the magic bullet…
Laura
Hello- I have the exact same problem. Did you ever find a solution?
Mary
Checking back to see if anyone has had any success. Sally and Pete, How did taking down the drywall go? Cindi, I too wondered about sanding the walls. My space that was painted is a commercial lease space so taking down the drywall may not be an option.
Like to hear any updates.
Sue
It’s with mixed emotions that I read this thread of experiences! We, too, have just had a negative chemical smell that hasn’t left for two weeks. Opened all windows wide with fans, even in the cold of the northland temps, to no avail. The smell is still here….maybe even worse with airing! Tried the onions, baking soda, candles, etc. all only giving temporary masking effects with the chemical smell returning. We had three areas painted all with Pratt and Lambert paints. Only one room has the smell which is a different color and different base was used when the paint store tinted it using a formula to get a Hirschfield’s paint, a local company. Called the paint store and they we’re not helpful, said they’d sold that P &L base for 30 yrs with no complaints. We’re wondering if it was the tint formula that produced the smell or the base….not sure who to approach next on solutions and remuneration. Heaven help us if we have to go to gutting the room…..used all our savings to just put in new windows and get help painting:(. Please keep us up on any positive developments and we will do the same. I think I’ll write Pratt &Lambert next…..and we’re burning incense today. Desperate!
Liz
We painted with Behr Premium Plus Ultra paint and primer in one three weeks ago. We didn’t have any issues with our main floor but then a few days later, we went to get a new colour for our bedroom and the same weird lingering odour thing has occured that everyone has described here. My husband doesn’t smell it and it makes me feel crazy since I know there’s something so I’m so glad others have experienced this, even though it’s really sad. It is definitely not a paint smell but there’s a definite smell, even though it’s faint. Airing it out and using natural remedies isn’t working for me either. At first I thought maybe it was taking longer because it’s cold out so I am limited with how much fresh air I can give the room but from reading this, it seems like it is not related.
It bothers me because the smell wasn’t there before we painted and it makes me wonder if that means it is unsafe. I don’t feel comfortable following Behr’s advice to use Killz and repaint, especially after reading this. I think I will call back and give them the batch number. I know I’m not really adding anything to this thread that hasn’t already been said but just want to let people know, there’s yet another one of us affected by this elusive issue.
I’ve tried to get info regarding health risks due to lingering odour but haven’t been given much of a clear answer. If anyone knows whether it is connected to health risks, I’d like to know.
cindi
Behr sent an air quality engineer to our house. I’m waiting to hear from Behr on the results of the test. The air was tested in different parts of the house as well as outside. As for now, we have no immediate plans to put more paint on the walls until the weather gets warmer to truly determine if the BINZ we applied actually sealed off whatever was in the Behr paint. I’m hesitant to paint any other rooms in the house – not happy that this experience will always make me hesitate to paint in the future.
Coleen
I can’t believe I found this we site! My husband and I are literally screaming at each other over paint fumes in a new bedroom addition to our home. I have MCS which he says is all in my head and is furus that we just spent 50k on I room I cant go in. I purchasd the wall paint, but didnt think about e ceiling and so the walls were primed (needlessly) and ceiling painted with cheap, bulk, smelly, voc laiden toxicity. I am miserable with asthma and eye issues and my husband is just fed up. My question is, can I use Safecoat Hard Seal to paint over the walls and ceiling without having to repaint the color? it says it dries to a clear gloss and while I don’t necessarily want shiny walls, if it will allow me to be in the room and my home again, it’s fine by me. I am so glad to know I am not the only one with this issue and really encouraging to hear that there are others who not only acknowledge MCS, but (very unfortunately) suffer from it like I do.
Thank you so much!
johnny numbchuck
Primed drywall……..smelled fine then painted and had severe rancid smell from Dulux Diamond interior latex (new paint, bought, shaken, used same day). Dried OK, but smelled like wet paint and sour milk for 6 days, all windows open. Smell didnt improve…..so……
Primed with zinnser BIN2 (thick used for cutting in with brush) and rolled on Shellac BIN (very watery ). Made sure no failed smelly paint was showing through BIN.
.
Burnt scented candle during application (helps burn off drying agents in paint fumes, didn’t bother with onions, lemon etc….)
Smelles great and neutral. Don’t lose hope, don’t rip out drywall, and do not sleep/use any room that uas failed paint. Just stir BIN good! Use ultimate or shellac formula and get it on as thick as you can…..then repaint with new latex paint. Still lots of work, but safe and no need to rip out drywall. Wear organic respirator when using BIN products and good industrial one should cost $20 from safety store, not $50 like big orange and big blue sell.
Happy Painting and don’t settle for ANY odours after 12 hours!!!
sandy
Hey Mary – Not sure if you’ll c this. Re:Yolo… it still smells!!!!!!!!!
I used 3 costs of safecoat brand sealer, not sure if “hardseal” or not. I may have to take down sheet rock or sell my house, but other people smell it too so not sure how that will work! Any other people prblems with YOLO????? they tested paint and said “fine”. It does have a NON zinc moldicide, which is supposedly “nontoxic” but people where perfume, use scented laundry soaps and all this stuff is bad for us. What to do?
karen
Has anyone tried sanding the walls? I believe I have the same problem and wondering if I can just sand down the layers. I have plaster walls.
karen
Has anyone tried skim coating the walls?
Aluna
Just painted parts of my house with Dunn Edward NEW paint (dark blue) and have that awful sour smell… We applied two coats of primer (bin advanced) and another coat of new paint. Still got the smell …. and have killer miraganes. Have anyone found an answer. It’s killing me here. Do I need to rip out dry wall? Does the smell migrate to other walls and furniture? Is what we are smelling harmful to health? Help!
AJ
Have all of the above smells that change with everything we do…. Have done two coats on bin advanced and new top coat on bad walls. It stills smells and have been having killer migraines, bleeding sinuses and dizzy. I sleep in the only safe room in the house with window open and door closed. FYI it winter here. Going a bit nuts and just want my house back… By the way I work at home too.
QUESTIONS….
Was your offending color dark blue?
Has anyone ripped out dry wall… And did this work???? As I am read to hire a contractor…
Please help!!!! Please!!!!
Lisa
WE hired a painter who bought Benjamin Moore paint and it smells sour and like cat urine. We have never had a cat. We replaced the carpets a few years ago and had them cleaned before Christmas just before we had the walls painted. I am calling Benjamin Moore to see if there are any other complaints. My painter said he would paint it again for free, I just need to make sure whatever he paints it with will work.
AJY
We just painted with brand new, but gone-bad NO VOC paint (Dunn Edwards in a dark teal). It went on smelling like good paint but when it dried it has a chemical sour smell like a cross between formaldehyde and vomit. We live in the desert (Sedona) so humidity is not an issue. Headaches and nausea are not fun. We sealed all offending walls with 2 coats of sealer primer (BIN Advanced) and another top coat of paint, as suggested by paint company, and it did not fix the smelly problem. Then we got desperate. We have burned two boxes of nag champa incense, as well as cinnamon candles for days. We have washed the walls down with backing soda…. vinegar…. and natures miracle. Everything we do alters the smell, but does not clear it up. Other rooms we painted with lighter tan color of same paint are perfect. The windows have been open for days with exhaust fans going, and we are being held prisoner in the only warm room that doesn’t stink. Once the room warms up the smell comes back. After reading dozens of blogs on this issue and hearing over and over that paint company’s do not own up to having a fix to this bad no-VOC paint issue, it looks like we may to have to tear down dry wall! HELP …. Any suggestions out there would be helpful before I rip my home apart.
Liz
We gradually applied 3 coats of AFM Safe Coat Hard Seal and it wasn’t until the third coat, that we noticed a slight improvement. The smell is definitely still there though, unfortunately and my husband can actually smell it too. We called AFM directly and they said that sometimes people have to do 6 to 8 coats of the hard seal before getting the desired results.
We also did some air testing through the internet company, Home Air Check, and the voc results were “elevated” in the bedroom. The scale goes from normal, moderate, elevated and severe. So that was rather disheartening.
AFM suggested we try painting with their Safe Coat paint. We were given improper instructions by another company about how to apply the hard seal and there are visible, dried, air bubbles all over the walls. We are told the paint will cover them and act as a sealant as well. It’s hard to feel hopeful after what a hassle it has been.
We are also looking into getting an air purifier that removes voc’s from the air since our air quality testing revealed an issue. We tested on the floor that we painted with a different batch (no smell) and thankfully the results were just moderate for voc’s.
Cindi – I too now dread the thought of painting. Definitely never using Behr paint again that’s for sure.
Jill
I think I have been having the same problem – for over TWO YEARS!!!!! I bought a foreclosure in late 2011 that had mold in the lower part of the walls, due to a flood in the crawlspace. I am in CA – we don’t have basements, we have crawlspaces. Anyway, I had the mold professionally removed and the drywall patched, and then I painted the whole thing with Lowes Olympic low VOC paint. For two years, I have been trying to pinpoint the source of the constant smell in this house. Like someone else said, you don’t necessarily smell it if you put your nose up to the wall. Instead, it pools in the rooms. For me, the smell is a sweet chemical smell. My brother in law said it smelled like a glue or esther. It’s not unpleasant per se, but it drives me crazy, and seems to pervade everything, even my hair. Because I had had mold and also put in new pergo floors, I just never thought the smell could be coming from the paint. At my wits end, I am having all the drywall removed – ALL THE INTERIOR DRYWALL. It’s a small house. As it is coming down, oh my goodness, the smell is clearly coming from the drywall. There is no more mold in there at all. And if you smell the back side of the drywall – nothing. It seems to be coming from the paint on the front side! I feel like there should be a class action suit or something. What is in this paint????? How ironic we were all trying to be extra safe by using low VOC paint.
Jean
Hi,
Has anyone tried nanotech by earth paint? It’s supposed to seal out fumes. I’ve been having the same problem- painted 1 year ago with mythic and still can’t live there. I’m going to try nanotech I’ll let you know if it helps. Also has anyone tried a hydro lug machine?
Thans
Jean
That’s hydrolux. Sorry auto correct
Jeff
To All,
The smells most of you are smelling is from latex paint that has gotten to cold or froze. Wether it’s old paint not stored in a heated space, got stuck in a storm during transit to the store, the store lost power for days during a freeze, etc. Latex paint is not freeze thaw stable and gets a sour or rotten egg smell.
I would suggest a good coat of Kilz or I prefer Z-Prime to seal the walls first. Follow the directions and let it the primer cure for several days before revolting with new paint.
ANDY
I just wanted to say I’m dealing with this right now. I’m happy I found this forum. Thanks
ANDY
UPDATE: Olympic rep told us to use BIN ultimate primer ($42 per gallon ) to cover the existing paint. They are sending us a $100 check to cover our expenses. They did not admit to anything but after suggesting the frozen latex idea they were happy with that theory. I used 2 gallons of that BIN stuff. (get a mask, that stuff smells bad) . It seems like painting worked. Now I just have to repaint the room to the right color. Im glad it worked out cause I couldn’t stand that smell any longer .
cheers
Mary
I am having the same problem. We took our walls down and replastered. Then put ecos lullaby no voc non toxic paint on them. They smelled very bad. Then we repainted with bher from Home Depot they still smell not the normal paint smell. This is a sharp smell that burns our noses. And we can not sleep in our bedrooms. Have used ozone in the past which ruined the cloths in the room. I have tried washing the walls, charcoal
, vanilla, backing soda, coffee, onions. Nothing takes this sharp smell away. Daughter is chemically sensitive so no harsh chemicals were used in the rooms. This seems to be a bigger problem than I thought by reading all these posts. Has anyone found a good smell that can penetrate into the walls?
Ki
You had issues with the ecos paint?
Marge
I just painted my bedroom with Dunn Edwards Latex paint. Have used same brand and color throughout my condo. This time, I noticed a slightly fishy smell in the room 2 days after painting. When I get up close and smell the walls I notice only 2 walls seem to smell bad. Maybe it is moisture. One wall faces north and one is an interior wall next to the bathroom. I am going to try Kilz latex made for mold/mildew odors on those 2 walls. Hope no more than 3 coats will do the trick!
Ruth
OMG I am SOOOOOO relieved and terrified at the same time reading these posts.
Painted my son’s room last Saturday with Benjamin Moore Aura paint – low VOC – Have used this paint before with zero problems.
I noticed it seemed to be stronger smelling going on than I remembered but thought I was imagining. Well it is a week later now and it still smells. Thank GOD if we ventilate the room the smell is barely there but the moment we close up it builds again as if it was just freshly painted.
I don’t know if the painters applied coats before the bottom one dried or a humidity issue or a bad batch of paint or what but this is NOT normal.
The plan is to continue to air for another week as much as weather permits – we have a couple of rain daysin the forecast. Maybe renting/buying a dehumidifier. Also I called the store I got the paint and the paint manager said this is not normal and that he is notifying the Benjamin Moore rep. I hope I get somewhere with him.
Next step if this doesn’t work is to get transitional primer from AFM safecoat to try and seal this sucker up. And paint with AFM safecoat paint. I pray this works. Otherwise it is rip off the drywall (Shudder) . Thsi would mean dealing with the attic insulations and outter wall insulation. WHAT A FREAKING MESS. I just thank GOD that we did not paint more rooms or the hallway.
Please do update the thread if anybody finds any solution. I sure will.
WR
We’re having similar problems with Lowe’s Valspar paint. The room was painted almost 8 weeks ago and still smells of fresh chemically paint, even though we’ve been airing it out as much as we can in the winter. Based on all of these responses I’m almost ready to rip out the drywall and start fresh. The room is for a nursery, so of course it has to be safe for our child.
Did anyone actually have long-term success using the BIN sealant, AFM safecoat, or AFM hard sealer over the paint to get rid of the paint smell? Based on my research sealing up the old paint with those options those seem to be the only methods that might work besides ripping out the drywall. What I’m worried about is that if those steps don’t work, we’ve just wasted more time and money and still will have to replace the drywall, so I’m almost inclined to just start there. At least with the drywall removed, I could use the rooms near that room again (our bedroom and my office) instead of isolating myself to the other side of the house to protect our baby from the fumes.
Also curious if anyone actually had these smells dissipate over time? After no noticeable improvement in the smell after 8 weeks, I’m not optimistic that will happen, but curious if anyone did have any luck with that.
We’ve tried onions, coffee, and ventilation, and none of those things are working. Will never use Valspar again. My husband says that the silver lining in all of this is that we just painted the one room and not our entire downstairs living area, which could have been a disaster if we had done all the painting at once.
Ruth
WR – you can contact me at ruth@casawilliams.com – I think I am going to try the AFM transitional primer and safecoat next. I am having some success with at least lessening the smell by running a dehumidifier constantly in the room. But I don’t think the smell is gone by any means. I am waiting to hear from Benjamin Moore.
ANDY
Just checking in. Now 3 weeks after painting with the BIN ultimate primer and topping it off with colored paint. the room still doesn’t smell. I’m satisfied with the result.
GOOD LUCK ALL
Ruth
Thanks for the update Andy!
Ruth
Update from me : Benjamin Moore finally got back to me and they are sending a local rep to my house. I will update the thread when I hear what he has to say. I am considering asking for A. My costs to be reimbursed B. An air testing C. For them to pay to fix this mess. Almost 3 weeks later I can’t use that room.
Ruth
Rep came today – said at first he didn’t smell anything. Then he said well it smells like paint. Well yes. That’s the problem 3 weeks later. Anyway he said for some reason it is drying slownly. Took samples of the paint to test at a nearby lab from Benjamin Moore. We should know by Thu if there is something wrong with the paint.
Also we have an air quality testing done on the room and our upstairs on Wed. I just want peace of mind that the kids rooms that are adjacent to this one are ok as well.
On thu after the BM rep gets back to us I will follow up on the results of both tests and what BM is doing to help us out with this.
I think our next step will be to prime with transitional primer by AFM and their safecoat paint afterwards. Praying that fixes the issue. I will likely test air afterwards to make sure we are in the clear as it is our son’s room. He has been moved to the guest room since this whole debacle started 🙁
Will keep this posted.
WR
We are going to try to seal the problem with: 2 coats of shellac (real shellac, not synthetic), then AFM primer, followed by AFM color. We’re letting each coat of shellac cure before doing the next coat, so we won’t know if it works for a few weeks. Plan to post results here. We’re hoping this works and we don’t have to re-do the drywall in the room.
Ruth
Do let me know how that works WR! Fingers crossed for you!
EP
Am having the same problem with Valspar paint purchased at Lowe’s in the panhandle area in FL. Thank goodness we only painted one spare bedroom instead of the entire house. The scent of rubbing alcohol mixed with pickles continues to become more pungent and is starting to seep out into the hallway, I assume because of the extreme humidity. A Valspar rep will be coming to investigate sometime this week.
I hear one of the most common causes of the funky smelling paint (after drying on surfaces) is transport or storage in unfriendly conditions, particularly freezing conditions, while on trucks for delivery to the store (especially concerning the newer “environmentally friendly” paints). Here is a link to a good read from a pro painter who has extensive experience with low and no-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint vs. standard paint:
http://www.trimlinepaintinginc.com/low-voc-paint-everything-they-never-wanted-you-to-know/
Wish everyone the best of luck resolving this problem! Will post back when (if) I am able to find a solution.
Ruth
Benjamin Moore said nothing wrong with the paint – as I expected 🙁 They are willing to refund us for the cost of their paint or replace the paint. We will ask for a refund and perhaps ask them to cover labor as well. Next step will be to prime and paint with AFM Transitional Primer and Safecoat paint. We will start that not this weekend but next. Hoping that will take care of it. WR so interested to hear how your Bin priming went and if you have noticed a reduction in smell already. Also I did have air testing done and came back low for VOCs so at least there is that as a positive. THANK GOD I did not paint the hallway too or the entryway which is cathedral like. I would be loosing my mind otherwise. I will be ever so careful with paint from now on 🙁
Bob
Problems with Dutch Boy Greenguard as well. Smells moldy and like chemicals. I”m pretty sure that all paints come from the same 50 gallon barrel and are then sold to the paint stores. Can’t prove this and they would deny it to keep their product looking better than the others. Another worthwhile thought would be that probably all of these paints are now outsourced to China and an ingredient list would be useless. Have any of you ever heard of a company admitting fault at anything? Profits are their only interests and they hope you will move to another location. If you want some some environmental safe product you should shop for your paint in Europe. They have controls in place and are light years ahead of us in that arena.