There are certain strong chemical smells, such as the smell of gas, glue, or nail polish, that some people find pleasant and can even be addictive. One of these is the smell of markers.
Markers in general and permanent markers, in particular, contain chemicals that are harmful to health, such as acetone. The natural gas that produces these toxic substances are those that we inhale when we smell a marker. This inhalation should be as brief as possible as prolonged exposure can cause adverse effects.
Possible symptoms include headaches, nausea, general malaise, and, in more extreme cases, it can even lead to a loss of the ability to smell. In the long term, it can lead to even more severe health problems.
But what about when you smell permanent markers in your home and there are none around?
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What Causes Permanent Marker Smell In A House?
That familiar acetone smell like permanent marker could be coming from the HVAC system, some burning wiring, or even a refrigerant leak from the fridge. Whatever the case may be, you should not ignore the marker smell because it can be very harmful to your health.
Refrigerator refrigerant leaks are usually the most dangerous because almost no one notices when it happens until the faint magic marker smell becomes intense. This usually happens at the evaporator coil, so it’s best to avoid the kitchen and contact a verified hvac technician.
In fact, you should call an expert for most cases, as these are incidents that the average citizen is not trained to deal with.
How To Remove The Smell Of Marker In Your Home?
Once you are you are certain everything is safe, you will want to remove the strong smell. You should keep in mind that acetone odor travels fast and sneaks everywhere, so once the source of the odor is contained, you should ventilate your home.
Risk of fire:
It should be noted that before applying any of the methods you must rule out a fire risk, as acetone is flammable and a leak means it could be anywhere.
Therefore, do not use electrical appliances until you have gone through your home found the source of the odor, and removed it. If it gets more complicated than you think, call an expert to solve the problem.
Natural air
Whenever there are alternatives to stale air, we should opt for them. In this sense, one of the best recommendations is to create cross circulation inside the house, opening doors and windows to vent the smell and then it dissipates.
In this way, the clean air from outside circulates more quickly between all the rooms of the house, purifying the environment in its path and stopping the spread of acetone molecules.
Air freshener
Air fresheners have always been a useful tool to mitigate unpleasant odors, especially ones like acetone. You should only use them in strategic places: near doors and windows so that the weird smell spreads better, and not too high, or inside closets and drawers.
Once the acetone like smell is almost eradicated, use the air freshener in the place of origin to increase its effect.
The disadvantage of artificial air fresheners is that they are also made of chemical compounds that in excess can be harmful to your health. Whenever you can, opt for natural alternatives such as fruits, flowers, and essences to prepare your own homemade air fresheners.
Wash infected clothing
In case the Sharpie marker odor is due to an acetone leak, it is possible that clothing near that spot has been contaminated, so you should wash it immediately to avoid irreversible damage.
First of all, you should avoid rubbing or applying heat to the acetone stain. This will only make the situation worse and cause the chemical to penetrate further into the fabric. Instead, it is recommended to soak up any excess acetone with a clean, dry cloth.
The stain should then be diluted with cold water. You can soak the garment in cold water for a few minutes or use a spray bottle to apply water directly to the stain.
Once the spill has been diluted, it is important to wash the garment by hand or in the washing machine, following the fabric-specific care instructions. In some cases, it may be necessary to use a pretreatment product or a specially formulated detergent to remove stubborn stains.
Home Treatments For Odor
Beyond the many scent products on the market, an odor as strong as permanent marker will require a little extra effort.
Lemon and Rosemary
Grab a small pot along with some lemon and rosemary. Fill a pot halfway with water and then add the lemon and rosemary. Place it on the heat, let it boil vigorously for a few minutes, and then let it boil gently for a few minutes on low heat. The resulting mixture should fill your home for hours and mitigate the smell of marker.
Likewise, baking soda is also a great alternative in case acetone has gotten on surfaces such as furniture and carpets. Just sprinkle some baking soda on the area and wait for it to take effect.
Stay Safe, Call A Professional, Get Your House Smelling Like Normal
I hope these methods help eradicate the toxic odor of the permanent marker while the proper professional takes care of the situation.
Keep in mind that a chemical smell coming from within your home is one you can’t ignore and could be a sign of something more serious in your home. It’s always better to err on the side of caution.
