Dear Glenn: Last year, I painted ceilings with Benjamin Moore. It is a great covering paint. I had 3/4 of a can left, so last week I painted another ceiling with the remainder of the paint. When I opened the can, it had the typical paint smell. I painted the ceiling, the walls with a different paint, and the trim. The room was finished. Then I started to notice a strong odor like dead fish. It was the ceiling. I let the room air-out for several days, and when I closed the window the odor was still there. I called Benjamin Moore, related the problem and they quickly said there was bacteria in the paint because it wasn't closed properly. They only way to kill the bacteria was to wash the ceiling with bleach and water to kill it. I mixed a 50/50 solution, and washed the ceiling. Now I am left with a bleach smell. Over time, will it dissipate? I do not want to wash the ceiling fearing that the odor will return. Do you have any suggestions?

Gary, Livonia

Dear Gary: The bleach odor will diminish quickly. Next time, try Dutch Boy's new Refresh Paint. It is an interior paint with Arm & Hammer odor eliminating technology. Log onto dutch boy.com/refresh.