I recently painted my bathroom about six weeks ago, and I've noticed a weird smell since then. It's not the usual paint smell; instead, it has this faint fishy odor, somewhat reminiscent of being near the beach. The smell is so strong that it's even affected the connected bedroom. I've been leaving the bathroom window open for better air circulation, which helps a little, but the smell persists. I used Behr Indoor/Outdoor paint from Home Depot in a turquoise color, and I know it wasn't old or anything since we started painting on the same day I bought the paint. We waited for a few hours for the first coat to dry with a fan before applying the second coat. I'm not sure what's causing this issue or what steps I should take next. Anyone have any insight or similar experiences?
2 Answers
One possibility for that fishy smell could be burning electrical wires. It's worth checking your outlets and any new fixtures for any signs of trouble. Sometimes if you have a bulb that's too strong for a fixture or if there's faulty wiring, that can lead to a smell like that. I had a similar experience where it smelled like something died in my wall, but it turned out my ceiling fixture was overheating! Stay safe and check those connections.
Did you happen to change any lightbulbs or outlets while you were painting? If you replaced something with a bulb that's too powerful or have some kind of wiring issue, that could also create a scent like what you're describing. I remember when I replaced some electrical parts in my house, I had to deal with some intense smells at first too. Just make sure everything's in order!