Newly Varathaned Hardwood Floors -- oh the smell !!

[Peppermint Leaf]

We had our Solid Maple FLoors sanded down and Varathaned last week. Monday and Tuesday was sanding. Wednesday and Thursday was Varathaned and it was pretty strong smelling ... but oh man Friday they put down the high gloss coat.

The smell is so so strong and although it smells a little bit less -- not a lot. We have every single window in the house open as well as a bunch of fans. I have sprayed Frebreeze a few times .. but its just not disapating like I thought it would. I woke with a horrible migraine on Saturday morning.

I have to throw out some of the food in my pantry as a I discovered that the rice and pasta has absorbed the smell . .... and I noticed some of my clothes smell as well.

Anyone have some advice as to how to speed up getting rid of the smell ? Any help would be appreciated.

[oneKnight]

Oh wow.

Your post made me all-the-more glad that I opted to sand, oil & wax our floors instead of have them painted up with that stuff. The oil & wax smells a little for about 2 days, but it's tolerable.

I have heard of people setting out open jars of vinegar to absorb paint smells, but I haven't tried it myself. I did try it in our washing machine after clothes soured in there and it did seem to help (if you don't mind the smell of vinegar). Other than that keeping the windows open and fans blowing the stinky air out is the best thing I know.

[allnaturalmom]

Hello,
I couldn't read and not post...

First of all many s... I can totally relate.

Our floors were done before we moved in and even though there was a small block of time from when they were done until we moved in, they still smelled really bad. I am very very sensitive to it and I can remember waking up with headaches, feeling sick, tight chest, etc... And sadly, for us, it was February, so the windows could not be open for very long. UGH... It took a good few weeks to a month. Simmer some cinnamon on the stove in a large pot. Buy it in bulk... and throw some citrus peels in there too. Mop the floors w/a h2o/vinegar solution w/a splash of peppermint extract.

I know this isn't what you want to hear, but it has been 4 and a half years and the smell is still faintly there at the beginning of each winter when we first put the heater on. Also, anytime the house has been closed up for a few (or more) days and we first walk in, it hits me like a ton of bricks.

The floor is beautiful, but imo the "price" was too high.

[Peppermint Leaf]

although its the middle level of our home that was done -- our WHOLE home stinks ...... even our clothing.

Tonight I threw-out a whole large package of unopened chinese noodles ... when I opened it -- wow it was like I had opened the can of varathane. !!!

THey did a beautiful job on the floors but I would have liked a heads up regarding the food in the pantry.

I layed down on my couch today and even it smells funky

My DS now has a cold - not sure if its releated - but he says the kleenexes all smell of it!! gross