How do you remove the smell of new varnish?

You can get rid of the varnish smell by placing a bowl filled with white vinegar close to the painted surface.

How long will it take before varnish smell goes away?

The smell of varnish will linger for at least two days, which depends on ventilation and dry time factors.

Is wood stain smell dangerous?

Yes, the odor or fumes of wood stain are dangerous to human health and may cause respiratory problems and allergies.

Are wood stains toxic after they dry?

Yes, wood stains can be toxic if they contain high VOC. The toxic organic compounds may evaporate into the atmosphere and cause some health problems.

How to remove fumes from wood stain - Sanitisation Singapore

Learning how to get rid of fumes from wood stains is a must to banish that unwanted smell fast and breathe freely again.

Table of Contents

Basics of getting rid of wood stain fumes

There are a lot of ways when it comes to removing the fumes and odor of wood stain. Fanning and proper ventilation are the top ways for this. You can also do it effectively if you encapsulate the seal coat after the stain. You can also use natural remedies such as baking soda, lemon, and charcoal to absorb the stubborn smell.

Why does wood stain smell

One important point to note here is why the smell of the stain lingers for a long time. What happens here is that the wood soaks up the smell together with the stain. Once the stain dries out, it releases the fumes and this is why it may take some time before you can permanently get rid of the odor. Good thing that you just need to follow a few steps to eliminate the smell once and for all.

How to get rid of wood stain fumes

Here are the steps you need to follow to clear out that unpleasant fragrance that wood stain gives off.

Total Time: 35 minutes

Ventilate the area

Keep the windows open. After painting, make sure that the painted surface will get lots of air for it to completely dry off. It needs to be ventilated well for this to be possible. Open the windows to allow the air and sunlight to get rid of the odor. Painted surfaces must be exposed to a ventilated or open area for at least 8 to 24 hours.
Turn on the fans

You can also use fans if getting fresh air inside is not possible. Turn on all the types of fans available, whether it is a ceiling fan, an exhaust fan, or a pedestal fan, and point them towards the painted area. Let the fans do their job for over 8 hours, depending on the humidity and weather. Cross air circulation can provide ventilation that will get rid of odor particles.
Use an air purifier

Although air purifiers are not cheap, they can work wonders when it comes to getting rid of wood stain fumes permanently. An air purifier can filter the air from contamination using an advanced odor control or AOC carbon filter. It can also reduce VOCs and odors of household activities like cooking, smoking, and pets. These products have been specially designed for catching airborne particles present indoors where sunlight or air cannot reach easily.
Use a coat encapsulating sealer

Coat encapsulating sealers are free from toxic chemicals and noxious solvents, which means that they don’t give off the same nasty smell as stain odors. Just before staining, one coat of this sealer can be applied to get rid of the fumes. These sealers can also help in increasing the lifespan of the paint.

Natural ways to get rid of fumes from wood stain

There are also natural measures that you can try to remove wood stain fumes with no need to worry about unwanted side effects. However, just remember that there is no definite assurance that these methods can permanently eliminate the smell. Check out some of the simple household items that can help absorb those fumes from wood stains.

Use lemon to absorb wood stain fumes

This method is not only simple and cheap but it is also very effective that you wouldn’t even believe that it works that well. All you have to do is grab a lemon from your garden or fridge. Fill a bowl with water and put a lemon slice in the bowl.

This combination of lemon and water will be able to absorb the odor fast. Leave this in the painted spot overnight to get rid of the unwanted fumes. If the painted space is bigger, you can use several bowls of water with lemon to get the best results.

Remove the odor with charcoal

There are times when nothing can beat activated charcoal when it comes to getting rid of those wood stain odors. Charcoal can work as an effective filter with open spores that can absorb odor. This is available in pellet form or packets used for fish tanks. All you have to do is put a cup of charcoal inside a bucket then let it sit at the center of the stained space overnight. Throw away the charcoal properly and avoid using it again.

Tips to prevent toxic fumes of wood stain

Wood stain fumes are awful because these can linger for a long time. How do you prevent this pungent odor, particularly in bigger areas? The good news is that several inexpensive and simple ideas have been proven to work when it comes to preventing toxic wood stain fumes.

Always go for nontoxic, water-based, and pure color wood stain instead of an oil-based formula.
Avoid pointing the painted brush in the trash can. Put this inside a ziplock bag to help lessen the odor.
Never use exterior wood stain on interior surfaces.
Ensure a proper cross air circulation after applying indoor stain.
Always go for low VOCS or even water-based and odorless ultra low VOCs.

Wood stain fumes FAQs

How do you remove the smell of new varnish?

You can get rid of the varnish smell by placing a bowl filled with white vinegar close to the painted surface.
How long will it take before varnish smell goes away?

The smell of varnish will linger for at least two days, which depends on ventilation and dry time factors.
Is wood stain smell dangerous?

Yes, the odor or fumes of wood stain are dangerous to human health and may cause respiratory problems and allergies.
Are wood stains toxic after they dry?

Yes, wood stains can be toxic if they contain high VOC. The toxic organic compounds may evaporate into the atmosphere and cause some health problems.