How To Use The 'Bake-Out' Method To Banish Wet Paint Smells From Your Home

We all love the look of a fresh coat of paint, but the same isn't always true when it comes to the smell. It can take days or even weeks for the off-putting, artificial scent of interior paint to eventually fade and allow you to enjoy your newly-renovated room without having to light just about every nearby candle. It turns out there might be a more efficient way to speed up the process, known as the "bake-out" method.

The bake-out method is pretty-self explanatory: Instead of waiting for your paint to dry and allowing the fumes to naturally dissipate over time, you can crank up the heat in your home for a few days. This helps break down and remove the volatile organic compounds in paint that cause that unpleasant smell — kind of like how a self-cleaning oven works. 

Of course, there are a few things to keep in mind if you decide to do this. However, if you follow the proper instructions, you can safely get rid of paint smell in a fraction of the time it would typically take to fade.

The bake-out method is fairly simple. There isn't one universally-accepted procedure, but for DIY applications without having to buy additional equipment: The best advice is to seal all the windows and doors, then crank up the heat in your home as high as it will go for about 8-12 hours, usually to around 85 to 95 degrees. 

This, of course, should be done after the paint is fully dry. Exposing wet paint to high temperatures can cause the top layer to dry out and crack, leaving an uneven look. During this period, it's also helpful to set up fans near exits and test that they're working before you have to go back in to ventilate.

After your time is up, you should open up all of the windows and doors, and ensure the fans have the intake facing towards the interior and output side, facing outdoors. This will help to encourage the fumes in the air to flow out of the home. If you don't have any fans on hand, you can just leave everything open to let the wind do its work naturally. You should repeat this process several times for at least 48 hours, though three to five days is recommended.

Before trying the bake-out method, it's important to analyze your exact situation. Cranking up the heat for days on end doesn't exactly make for the most pleasant living environment, especially with paint fumes swirling around in the air. This method is best for new builds, major renovations, or if you know you'll have somewhere else to go in the meantime. 

It's also important to factor in the weather outside. High humidity can cause damage to interiors while ventilating, and low temperatures outdoors can lower your heater's ability to get your home to a high enough temperature.

Additionally, this should only be performed in spaces that have adequate ventilation. If you're only painting an office space or hallway with no windows, it's very difficult to get the fumes out of your home once the bake-out is over. When doing a smaller paint job like this, it's best to just deal with the smell until it fades on its own — unless you're willing to make a major investment in time and effort to speed up the process.