Hey folks! I just moved into a newly repainted apartment, and though the painting was done about a week before I moved in, there's still a pretty strong smell, especially in the bedroom and bathroom. I'm not sure what kind of paint was used, and I'm worried about potential toxic chemicals. I tested the paint with some alcohol, and it came off on the rag, suggesting it's not oil-based. I've been airing out the place for several days, but the smell lingers. I live in France, and I've heard that it's rare for toxic paint to be used here. Am I at risk? Is there a way to check if the smell is hazardous? Thanks in advance for your help!
3 Answers
It's likely not oil-based since that's pretty uncommon these days. If it's cheap latex paint, it could smell for a couple of weeks even after it's dry. Running a dehumidifier can help a bit. Just to clarify what you mean by 'toxic'—if you're worried about health risks, you might want to call your management company and ask what brand of paint they used. They should have that info for you.
Yeah, while cheap latex paint can smell bad, the risks are usually low unless you're super sensitive. You might be okay, especially since VOCs generally diminish after a couple days.
You're probably in the clear for toxicity, especially if it's not oil-based. To know for sure if the air quality is off, you'd need an air quality test, but that might be overkill and pricey. Keep your windows open and use fans; the smell should fade in a week or two.
I appreciate your reassurance! The smell does stress me out a bit, but it's manageable. I'll see if I can find out what kind of paint was used.
Honestly, you're fine! Just make sure to light a match after you... well, you know. But no worries about the paint!
Thanks for the tip! I had no idea paint could smell for that long. Is there any risk with cheap latex paint? My dehumidifier’s working hard, but humidity's already below 30%.