Many new home-based businesses started during the pandemic, and epoxy resin became a popular craft supply. But, even if you’ve only been in the craft room for a few minutes, you know that epoxy resin stinks. You might be unable to figure out what is making this bad smell, but don’t worry—you’re not the only one. Many people have the same question.
The principal point of this article is to help you eliminate the smell of epoxy resin after using it in a project or piece of art. A simple way to do this is to open the windows, let the room air out, and then vacuum and clean the workspace. You may also use soap and water to clean the area.
Now that we have a general idea of how to do things let’s talk about epoxy resin and how to deal with the smell it gives off.
Why Does Epoxy Resin Have an Odor?
If you’ve ever wondered why making epoxy resin makes an acidic smell, let’s get that out of the way first. Most of the time, you mix a base of epoxy with something that makes the material harden over time. This substance is called a “curing agent.” Melamine and phenol are two examples of curing agents. Unfortunately, after the two things are mixed, the reaction produces heat and smells bad.
Even though the result looks nice, it smells awful, especially if you are doing a lot of work at once.
Is the smell of epoxy resin dangerous?
The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that epoxy resin makes volatile organic compounds and other chemicals. Even though only a few of these things are poisonous and can make you sick, others might irritate your lungs or give you a headache.
Many people find the smell of markers, resin, or gasoline pleasant or even addicting, but others can’t stand it. The smell of epoxy resin isn’t dangerous, but it can be unpleasant. Some studies say it’s not true that the smell of resin is dangerous.
Now that you know that, it might be interesting to know who the smell can bother. Keeping the following list in mind can help you and your family stay safe when working with epoxy resin.
Childbearing
Women who are pregnant always feel sick. Resin can be too strong for them, giving them headaches and throwing them up. If there are pregnant women in your home, you shouldn’t use resin until they are far away from your workspace.
People with asthma should never go somewhere that doesn’t have enough airflow. Recent studies have shown that the smell of resin can make it hard for them to breathe. If you have asthma but still need to finish your resin project, we suggest working outside so you can breathe better and wearing a mask to protect your lungs.
Whoever has Hyperosmia
Resin smell can also bother people trying to avoid strong smells. When this happens, the person might get a headache and feel sick.
Babies
Since babies’ organs and nervous systems are still developing and not strong enough, epoxy resin is best kept away from them. As a result, they could be hurt more than adults, harming their health.
5 Ways to Get Rid of the Smell of Epoxy Resin
If epoxy resin smells too strong and stays with you, it may drive you crazy. It’s hard to get rid of that many people wonder, “Does epoxy smell go away?” So, whether you’ve had this problem before or want to know how to avoid it in the future, here are five ways to get rid of this strong smell.
-
Soap Wash
When the resin is hard, you can wash your project with mild soap to eliminate the smell. We can’t promise that this method will eliminate the smell, but it can make the smell less strong and make your space easier to breathe.
2. Baking Soda and Vinegar
This elite mixture is easy to make at home, is very popular, and can eliminate the smell of epoxy resin for a long time. Use this method if you don’t mind the sharp smell of vinegar in your room for a while.
You can empty a spray bottle and fill it with vinegar, water, and baking soda. You can see that the mixture is wavy, so give it a shake, and it will be ready to go. Next, spray the mixture all over your resin project in an even way. Before you do this, make sure that your project has hardened. Then, to keep your project from getting any marks, wipe the surface with a new microfiber cloth.
3. Ventilate
Leaving your windows open is the easiest way to eliminate the smell as much as possible. The fresh air will clean your furniture’s surface, eliminating the smell in just a few hours.
4. Clean
Make sure to clean your workspace well before playing with resin. The tiny air molecules that form when hard resin reacts with water can make it hard to breathe. Vacuuming is a great way to eliminate those annoying little bits of resin.
5. Put on a Mask
Even though it won’t remove the smell afterward, it’s a good idea to wear a mask when working with resin. It will help you a lot to not smell like resin. Also, wearing a mask makes it less likely that you’ll breathe in tiny pieces of resin, which is good for your lungs. Make sure to buy masks that keep dust out or a full-face mask for the best results.
How to Keep the Smell Out of Enamel Paint
Prevention is the best way to get rid of the smell before you even ask yourself, “Why does resin smell so bad?”
Start your work in a place with good airflow. With a shed and the right tools, you can set up a small open workspace in your backyard. Wear a mask while you work, since you will be closest to the epoxy resin. You can do better using a KN95 mask or a gas mask. Since the first choice is widely available because of the pandemic, finding one won’t take long.
You should ask your neighbors if they are pregnant or if anyone has asthma. If they say yes, tell them the good and bad things about epoxy resin, including how it smells, and ask them to close their doors and windows on your side. It will keep the people around you safe.
You can also look in stores or online for the low-odor epoxy resin to lessen the smell. If you go to the store, you can ask the people who work there how they deal with the smell of epoxy resin. You’ll get a wide range of ideas from the conversation and more personal feedback because you can ask the experts anything and tell them about your situation.
