Wood stain can give your floor a luxurious finish, but they contain certain chemicals and compounds that give off strong odors. These odors are caused by vapors that are emitted from the wood stain as they dry.
That said, you’ve got nothing to worry about as we will cover some important techniques on how to get rid of wood stain smell
You can make use of absorbers such as baking soda to get rid of wood stain smell. Ventilation works best too, most especially if you have an air purifier. Applying a couple coats of sealer or making use of vinegar are great ways of getting rid of wood stain smell.
Let us show the steps on how to get rid of wood stain smell in more details.
How to Get Rid of Wood Stain Smell
Table of Contents
If you find yourself in this dilemma, there are a few simple steps that will help save the day.
Ventilate
This is the least expensive way of getting rid of wood stain smell. You want to allow adequate ventilation during application and after, open up the windows to allow fresh air in.
The best way to do is to get two standing fans, place one at the entrance of the room to help draw in fresh air, then place the other one facing an opened window so that it blows the fumes out.
For this, you can also make use of ceiling fans as they can provide excellent air circulation, but you want to make sure the ceiling fan is located on the specific floor level as the source of the odor.
You don’t want to use a ceiling that’s upstairs for a stain that’s downstairs; this will only escalate the situation by spreading it throughout the house, you don’t want that.
If you have an air purifier, this will also work very well; you can get one if you don’t have, especially one with charcoal or HEPA filter. Air purifiers are mostly used for absorbing cigarette or fireplace smoke odors, but they will be great for removing wood stain smell.
You want to keep your home ventilated until the stain cures properly, and the smell reduces significantly, sometimes this takes not more than 8 hours, but that totally depends on the type of stain and number of coat applied.
Ventilation may not automatically remove the wood stain smell, but it is sure to reduce the intensity of it.
Remove the Stain
This might sound like a drastic step, but if the wood stain is giving off strong smell or emitting harmful gases which are posing serious health risks, this might be the way to go. It is very expensive and time-consuming, but you want a safe environment for you and your family.
Apply a Sealer
You can apply a couple of coats of an encapsulating sealer to help with the wood stain smell, but this can only be done after the stained wood has been allowed to cure for at least a month. Applying a sealer to a wood stain that has not had enough time to dry will only worsen the problem.
Absorb the Smell
There are a couple of household items that are known for their smell absorbent powers; they include baking soda and activated charcoal.
Place baking soda or activated charcoal in a shallow bowl, then place it close to the newly stained furniture, or you can fill several small containers and place them in several spots on the newly stained floor.
Leave the containers to sit for a couple of hours to allow it to absorb the smell. Activated charcoal is very dry, and that allows it to absorb odors quickly. Baking soda is safe to use in places like the kitchen or the countertop. You want to keep replacing the baking soda or activated charcoal until the smell has reduced drastically.
Vinegar
Distilled vinegar is also a great option for dealing with wood stain smell, place distilled white vinegar in a small container, and place them around the room. The vinegar smell might be a bit harsh, but it will fade after a few hours, alongside the wood stain smell.
If the wood stain smell lingers, you can try replacing the vinegar, and keep repeating the process until the smell has reduced significantly.
Or you can soak a clean towel with distilled white vinegar, then wring out the excess vinegar to make the towel slightly damp, then In gentle circular motions, wipe the cabinet’s surface and interior or the floor surfaces.
The vinegar scent will fade off after a few hours, and the wood stain smell will dissipate, as well.
How to Prevent Wood Stain Smell
When looking for a wood stain, it is best to avoid stains that contain VOCs and emit dangerous gases. Always opt for stains with low or ultra-low VOCs that are “odorless” and water-based, these stains are more eco-friendly, and it won’t hurt harm you or your family.
Conclusion
You can prevent strong wood stain smells by staining wood outdoors whenever possible. When staining a floor, make sure to turn on your ceiling fan or standing fan if you have one, and also open up the windows to properly ventilate the room.
You can also try going for stains that do not contain volatile organic chemical (VOCs) to reduce the risk of exposure to toxins and strong odors. These few tips and tricks will educate you on how to get rid of wood stain smell.
