Strange smell in room - could it be paint?

ncmc

This is a bit of a strange question, but we painted a bedroom about 4 weeks ago in preparation for our baby arriving in June and ever since we painted the room, there has been a strange smell in there. We also got new curtains at the time, but don’t think it’s coming from them. The smell is sort of a biscuity/fake tan smell. I don’t think it’s anything that has spilled and it’s a small room, so think we would have found if there was something rotten/gone off in there. Is it possible that it’s the paint that smells? We got a colour mixed, so it’s not like we used an old tin. We also used a satin wood paint on the windowsills and doors (again a fresh tin). It’s still quite strong 4 weeks on and I am reluctant to put the baby things in there in case they absorb the smell. Any ideas?

yop

I think I heard a sliced lemon will absorb the smell

cardwizzard

We had a similar problem with Crown paints once, it didn't go away for ages. The homeowner had purchased the paint and went back to them without much luck.

Could be a bad batch you got, might be worth a ring to find out.

DesignMoma

Exactly the same thing happened to us. Luckily, the smell dissipated after about 2 months. We're still not sure whether it was the paint smelling up the place, but just like you, we had been painting the room a few days before the smell started.

ncmc

Thanks for all the replies, it must have been the paint, like card wizard it was Crown we used. I will try the lemon trick, I think it's faded a bit in the last week. But it's hard to know as I have super sensitive sense of smell at the moment with being pregnant!

DesignMoma

I'm unsure which paint we used, but Crown sounds familiar. Please let us know about whether the lemon trick works!

Anchises

Paint usually gives off a pleasant smell .... you know all new etc.........


I had this once some years ago.

It turned out to be the fitting on the ceiling light. It was plastic(bakelite?) and had burned/scorched from the heat of the bulb. This could have been due to using a bulb rated at higher than the fitting. Check the switch lamps and fittings

A

looksee

I was just going to say the same thing as Anchises, though it would be a coincidence with the painting. The plastic fitting smell is a bit fish-smelling.

wait4me

+1 As looksee and anchises says. I searched my house high and low for such a smell even thinking it was a dead 'something' in the attic. Never got the smell during the day but always later in the evening. The fitting was the issue and the smell came as the light bulb heated the fitting. Changed it and just waited for the bumps on the head from the rafters to heal

DesignMoma

Oh, that is great! I'm actually gonna have to check my fittings as soon as I get home too. Just to be on the safe side!

Thank you!

ncmc

I don't think it's the electrics, because I have had that smell before and this smells differently. This smell is more biscuity, reminds me of the smell of fake tan. I'll have a sniff around the light fitting this evening to be sure though!

DesignMoma

How about the radiators. Are they close to the wall/curtains and relatively hot?

evolving_doors

Dead mouse under floorboards!

wait4me

I have never smelled (smelt) a fake tan :D:D

ncmc

DesignMoma wrote: »

How about the radiators. Are they close to the wall/curtains and relatively hot?

No the room isn't being used at the moment, so the heat hasn't been on.

Armelodie wrote: »

Dead mouse under floorboards!

:eek: I hope not!

wait4me wrote: »

I have never smelled (smelt) a fake tan :D:D

Lucky you, go into the ladies toilet the next time you are at a wedding... you'll know what it smells like then! :pac: