Avoid freshly painted rooms for 2 to 3 days, whenever possible. Keep young children and people with respiratory problems away from freshly painted rooms. Leave painted areas if you have watery eyes, headaches, dizziness, or breathing problems. In general, it's best to wait up to 3 days before you can use the painted room.
At that time, the paints are completely dry and the smell has decreased. And more importantly, it may no longer be a health threat. But of course, you have to apply your best judgment. You'll know it's completely safe when the smell is no longer as strong as when you applied the paint.
It's usually best to wait at least two to three days for the paint to dry and the vapors to subside. Children with respiratory problems and older people should avoid prolonged exposure to vapors that result from interior paint. This means waiting several days before returning to a freshly painted room. Once they are returned to the room, consider venting it with air purifiers, fans, and open windows.
However, exposure to paint and its vapors can cause skin, eye and throat irritation. Often, this can go away when cleaning the affected area or going outdoors. The type of paint used will make a big difference in terms of the danger that vapors from the house paint will cause. VOCs are released into the air as gases from solids or liquids containing organic chemicals, such as paints and varnishes.
If you have a baby who will be sleeping in the room after painting, it's a good idea to give the room more time to get enough air out. If your house is like most and is built with sheets of rock, then you'll be able to use latex-based paint, which is much less caustic than oil-based paints. For your safety and that of your family, there are a few essential things to consider before sleeping in a freshly painted room. So before you think about painting your house yourself, try to learn about the harmful chemicals in the paint and understand why the strong smell can affect your health.
People who live in a building with lead-based paint should take extra precautions when doing home improvement projects, as they could expose them to peeling or chipping paint. The degree of toxicity also varies from brand to brand, so it's important to consult a professional painter to learn which brands are the safest. We have a process that uses the best paints and materials for you and your family, in addition to providing maximum airflow and preparation so you don't run into a smelly project. With the windows open, you can circulate fresh air and any paint that emits smoke or smells several times an hour.
You may have heard that the organic solvents in paint vapors are related to multiple sclerosis (MS). The vapor in paint vapors comes from several solvents and contains what are called “volatile organic compounds” or VOCs. A good start is to wait about four hours for the water-based paint to dry and about 24 hours for the oil-based paint to dry.
