Totally get where you’re coming from—those VOCs are sneaky for sure. We did the same thing, thinking closets and utility rooms wouldn’t matter much, but you can still smell it sometimes when you open the door. Allergies are no joke either... hindsight’s always 20/20, right? At least you nailed the bedrooms and nursery, that’s where it counts most. The rebate process is such a pain—almost not worth the hassle in my experience.
Building Green? Watch Out For Those Sneaky VOCs
Yeah, those VOCs really do sneak up on you. I thought I was being super thorough, but I totally underestimated the impact of the “less important” rooms too. It’s wild how even a small space like a closet can hold onto that smell for ages. The rebate process is such a headache—I almost gave up halfway through. Still, you’re right, getting the bedrooms and nursery right is huge. At least you know for next time, if there ever is one...
Building Green? Watch Out For Those Sneaky VOCs
It’s wild you mentioned closets—ours was the same. I remember opening the linen closet a few weeks after we moved in and being hit with that weird, plasticky smell. At first I thought it was just the new paint, but even after airing it out, it clung to the shelves. Ended up stashing a bowl of baking soda in there for days, which helped a bit, but it’s still not 100%.
I totally get what you mean about the rebate process too. We tried to go for low-VOC everything, but by the time I got around to filling out those forms and digging up receipts, I was ready to chuck the whole thing. There’s something about tracking down paperwork that just drains all the motivation right out of me.
Funny enough, we spent all this time obsessing over the nursery—like, testing samples, checking every label twice—meanwhile the laundry room got whatever was on sale because “it doesn’t matter.” Now guess where the strongest chemical smell is? Lesson learned. If we ever do this again (not likely anytime soon), I’d pay just as much attention to every little nook.
One trick we picked up: plants. Not sure if they really work or just make me feel better, but tossing a couple snake plants and pothos around seemed to help with lingering odors. Plus they look nice. Also, if you haven’t tried it, opening up the windows for a good cross-breeze—even in winter—makes a bigger difference than I expected.
It’s such a weird feeling putting all this effort into building green and then realizing how many sneaky details can slip through. But hey, at least we’re learning as we go, right?
BUILDING GREEN? WATCH OUT FOR THOSE SNEAKY VOCS
Yeah, those rebate forms are a pain—half the time I wonder if it’s even worth the hassle for the small savings. I hear you on the “cheap paint for the laundry room” thing too. We did the same with our mudroom and it still smells weird months later. Next time, I’m just budgeting a little extra for low-VOC everywhere, not just the main rooms. Honestly, I’m not convinced plants do much either, but at least they’re low-maintenance. Cross-breeze is underrated though—works way better than air fresheners.
BUILDING GREEN? WATCH OUT FOR THOSE SNEAKY VOCS
- Totally get the weird lingering smell—had a client’s guest room that just wouldn’t air out after using bargain paint. Ended up repainting with a pricier low-VOC brand and it made a huge difference.
- Cross-breeze is my go-to too. Sometimes I’ll even skip air fresheners altogether and just open up both ends of the house for an hour.
- I’m with you on the plants. They look nice, but I wouldn’t count on them to clear out VOCs. Maybe a peace lily helps a little, but it’s not magic.
- Honestly, spending a bit more upfront on better paint is worth it for your nose (and sanity) in the long run.
