Tips for removing the smell of paint thinner from clothes, hands, and other surfaces

Sunday, June 21, 2026

SAEDNEWS: Painting a house can leave behind a strong paint and thinner smell that clings to hands and surfaces, which can be quite irritating and may linger in the home for a long time. To get rid of this pungent odor, several easy and practical methods can be used.

Tips for removing the smell of paint thinner from clothes, hands, and other surfaces

According to SAEDNEWS, When painting the house, the smell of paint and thinner on hands and objects can be very irritating and may remain in the home for a long time. To remove this strong odor, you can use several simple methods.

Effective methods for removing and eliminating paint thinner smell
Painting and decorating a building is often accompanied by problems such as the smell of paint and thinner. This smell can cause dizziness, nausea, headaches, and eye irritation. Thinner is a type of solvent used for oil-based paints, and its strong chemical odor can linger for a long time and become unpleasant. In this section of lifestyle and home care, we present various methods for removing the smell of thinner from clothes, hands, and tools

Removing thinner smell from clothes
Dishwashing liquid
First, sprinkle a small amount of laundry detergent powder on the clothing affected by thinner and wait for 10 minutes. Then wash the garment using one quarter of a cup of dishwashing liquid. Never wash clothes contaminated with thinner together with other clothes, because the smell of thinner can transfer to other garments.

White vinegar
White vinegar is effective in removing the smell of thinner. Soak clothes contaminated with thinner in a solution of lukewarm water and two tablespoons of white vinegar for about 30 minutes. Then rinse the clothes with cold water. You can also pour diluted vinegar directly onto the garment and wash it after one hour.

Vanilla extract
Place the clothes contaminated with thinner separately in the washing machine. Pour half a small bottle of vanilla extract into the washing machine and start the cycle. When the wash cycle reaches halfway, turn off the machine. After a few hours, add some detergent and run the machine again to resume washing the clothes.

Methods for removing thinner smell from hands
Soap and orange peel combination:
Orange peel has a strong and pleasant fragrance that is effective in removing the bad smell of thinner. To eliminate thinner smell from hands, crush orange peel and rub it on your hands so that the orange scent replaces the smell of thinner.

Olive oil:
To remove the smell of thinner, apply some olive oil to your hands. If olive oil is not available, you can use baby oil instead. After coating your hands with the oil, wipe them off using a tissue or paper towel.

Olive oil

Dishwashing liquid and salt mixture:
Put two teaspoons of salt in a container and coat your hands with dishwashing liquid. Do not add water at this stage, because the soap should not lather. Then sprinkle the salt onto your hands and massage well. The salt acts as an exfoliant and helps remove the unpleasant smell of thinner. After about one minute, rinse your hands with water.

Borax and soap mixture:
Borax, or sodium borate, is a white powder made of soft, colorless crystals. It dissolves easily in water and has many applications. It is used in various detergents, cosmetics, and glazes. Apply a mixture of this powder and soap to your hands and wash thoroughly. This mixture may create friction and heat, which is normal and not a cause for concern.

Removing thinner smell from carpet

Alcohol:
To eliminate the smell of thinner, you can try using alcohol. Soak a clean white cloth in alcohol and gently wipe the area of the carpet where the thinner has spilled. Repeating this process helps lift the thinner from the carpet, and the alcohol evaporates, carrying the odor with it.

Baking soda and essential oil mixture:
First, use a clean, dry white cloth to blot the area of the carpet affected by thinner and remove as much moisture as possible. Then mix 10 drops of an essential oil with two cups of baking soda and sprinkle it over the thinner stain. After one hour, vacuum the carpet thoroughly.