With all the new types of at-home businesses opening during the pandemic, epoxy resin has become quite a popular crafting supply. Whether you have experimented and crafted with the material yourself or even briefly visited the crafting room, you already know about the stench that epoxy resin leaves. You may have trouble pinpointing what exactly causes this foul odor, but not to worry; you are one of the many who share this question.
The main goal of this written piece is to help you get rid of epoxy resin smell after creating a project or artwork. An easy method can be to let the room ventilate, then vacuum and clean up the workspace. You can also use a soap mixture to wipe the areas down.
With the brief on methods laid out, let us get into details about epoxy resin and how to deal with the emitted odor.
Contents
Why Does Epoxy Resin Smell?
If the thought of why making epoxy resin gives off an acidic smell has ever crossed your mind, maybe we should clear that out first. Most of the time, making the epoxy includes mixing a base of epoxy with an agent to harden the material over time. This agent is known as a curing agent; some curing agent examples are phenol and melamine. After mixing, the reaction emits heat and leaves you with a pungent scent.
Although the result gives a visually appealing outcome, the downside is dealing with the overbearing stench. Especially if you are working in large batches.
Is Epoxy Resin Smell Dangerous?
The United States Environmental Protection Agency or EPA professes that epoxy resin produces volatile organic compounds and other chemical substances. While few of these elements are toxic and can cause illness, others might just irritate your respiratory system or give you a headache.
Surprisingly, or not, some people find the smell of markers, resin, petrol pleasant or even addictive, while others find itunbearable. The epoxy resin smell is not harmful but can be unpleasant. Some studies claim resin smell being dangerous is a myth.
With that said, it might interest you to know who can be affected by the smell. Keeping the following list in mind can help you and your loved ones stay safe when experimenting with epoxy resin.
Childbearing
Pregnant women are always nauseous. The smell of resin can be too much for them and result in headaches and vomiting. If you have pregnant women in your house, we suggest not using resin indoors until they are well away from the workspace.
Asthma Patients
A poorly ventilated place is a disaster for people with asthma. According to recent studies, resin smell can create an environment challenging to breathe in for them.If you have asthma but still need to finish your resin project, we suggest working outdoors so you can breathe properly, along with wearing a mask to protect your lungs.
Anyone with Hyperosmia
People who stay away from intense odors can also find resin smell disturbing. When met with such a scenario, the individual might acquire a headache and feel nauseous.
Babies
Since babies have developing organs and nervous systems that are not strong or mature enough, it is best to keep them at a distance from epoxy resin. The effect could be worse on them than an adult and potentially cause a health issue.
5 Methods to Get Rid of Epoxy Resin Smell
The overwhelming and persistent stench of epoxy resin may get on your last nerves. It is so stubborn, in fact, that many find themselves asking, “does epoxy smell go away?” So whether you have suffered before or are preparing yourself to avoid this issue in the future, here are five methods available to get rid of this potent smell.
1. Soap Wash
After the resin hardens, you can give your project a nice wash with some mild soap to reduce the resin smell. While we cannot guarantee that this method will completely eliminate the odor, it can minimize the smell and make your environment more breathable.
2. Baking Soda and Vinegar
This elite combination is homemade, immensely popular, andcan eliminate the epoxy resin smell for a long time. If you do not mind the sharp scent of vinegar lingering in your room for a while, go ahead and use this technique.
You can drain a spritz bottle and put in a concoction of vinegar, water, and baking soda. The mixture can be seen getting frizzy, so just shake the mix, and it will be ready to go. Next, evenly spray the mixture on your resin project. Make sure that your project hardens before you perform this. To avoid any marks on your project, wipe the surface with afresh microfiber cloth.
3. Ventilate
The most straightforwardmethodto reduce the smell to its minimum is leaving your windows open. The fresh air will have a purifying effect on your furniture’s surface, eliminating the odor in just a few hours.
4. Clean
When playing with resin, make sure to clean your workplace thoroughly. The tiny air molecules that result from the hard resin reaction can make your surroundingstough to breathe in. Vacuuming is a fantastic way to eliminate those pesky small resin particles.
5. Wear a Mask
Although not a method to get rid of the smell afterward, wearing a mask while working with resin is a good idea. It will help you avoid resin smell significantly. Also, wearing a mask lowers the chances of inhaling minuscule resin particles, so your lungs will thank you for it. Make sure to purchase dust preventing masks or a full face mask to provide the best outcome.
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Precautions to Keep the Smell Out
Prevention is a crucial method to stop the smell before the thought of “why does resin smell so bad” even crosses your mind.
Start your work in a properly ventilated area. You can set up a small open workstation in your backyard with a shed and your necessary tools. While working, wear a mask as you will be the closest person to the epoxy resin. You can use a KN95 mask or a gas mask to be more thorough. Since the former option is widely available with the pandemic, finding one will not take long.
You can check on your neighbors and ask if anyone is pregnant or has asthma. If their answer is positive, brief them on the pros and cons of epoxy resin, including the smell, and ask them to shut their doors and windows on your side. It will ensure the safety of others around you.
You can also look for low odor epoxy resin at stores or online to reduce the aftereffect. If you drop by the store, you can ask the workers about their methods of dealing with the epoxy resin smell. The conversation will give you a broad spectrum of ideas and allow you to get more personal feedback since you can ask the professionals anything as well as let them know about your situation.
FAQs
How long does it take to get rid of epoxy resin smell?
Even after ventilating the area, the smell is stubborn since it takes anywhere from one to three days to fade away. Although, you can use the additional methods mentioned above to speed up the process.
What happens if I breathe in the epoxy resin?
Inhaling the epoxy resin can cause coughing, sneezing and disturb your respiratory system, including the nose and throat. Overexposure can lead your lungs to go weak and obtain asthma or hypersensitivity.
Who should stay away from the epoxy resin smell?
Pregnant women, asthma patients, babies, etc., should stay away from the area where you are experimenting with epoxy resin. You can find a longer list above in the written piece. When nearby, wear a mask to protect yourself.
Final Words
While working with epoxy resin can leave you with amazingly aesthetic outcomes, it is essential to create a healthy workplace for the sake of yourself and the people around you. The odor can irritate anyone’s respiratory organs, including yours. So, the best advice would be to start applying these safety methods to treat your body better.