Throw the Kilz in the trash can. Zinsser B.I.N. is far and away the best primer on the market and cannot be beat for covering stains and odors. No contest. And I have used both.

No, you will not need to "ventilate the bedroom". Seriously the odor lasts for about as long as it takes to dry - which is like 30 minutes. When I was using it in a small corner, I used a mask - it can be overpowering in such a small area. But nowhere else has the odor been a bother. I just did my entire hallway, 7 door frames and baseboard. No issues at all with the odor.

Thank you for the ringing endorsement for Zinsser B.I.N. This is exactly the info I was looking for. Your insight is much appreciated! I am going to go with shellac.

Hi OP -- did you end up using the Zinsser, and if so, how did it go?

Did you end up covering the Zinsser with some other paint (maybe a low-VOC paint?)

I was planning to use KILZ for a similar project, but then my parents used it in their condo remodel over a year ago and I am pretty sure that the Kilz has its own scent... not as bad as the original scent, but still a distinct odor I find unpleasant.

BIN is the best. I had to prime some tongue and groove pine wallboards in our upstairs. I tried BIN and compared it to Kilz Max. The next morning, tanin was seeping through the Kilz but locked in with BIN. It's been 10 years and not a single issue or bleed through with BIN.

Callie,

Umm...we've been swamped as new homeowners, and I have to say we still haven't done this project. After a lot of internet research on primers, we decided Zinsser BIN would be a bad idea to coat the room walls. I've read that shellac will completely seal up whatever it covers, which has its pros and cons, but a wall in a house should be somewhat "breathable" otherwise moisture and mold problems could develop in the wall. We have plaster walls not drywall and BIN seems that it would be overkill for the project. I gather most people use BIN for small woodworking and refinishing projects rather than interior house projects unless there is some very major issue.

Also, the odor has faded significantly over the past 6 months, and it seems it was likely due to the Pine Sol I used on the floors after removing the carpet padding. Mopping a very worn hardwood floor with water and Pine Sol apparently will leave quite an odor! The floor obviously absorbed a lot of the oil and we just shut the room up during the winter.

We're probably going to use Kilz as a primer anyway because we want to cover over some wallpaper rather than removing the wallpaper. But of course Kilz has a distinct odor too. We are only delaying now because we want the hardwood floors refinished first and are waiting on contractors for that. So it goes.... thanks for asking!

Edit: Now that I am diving back into this thread and reading about Kilz odor, I am re-thinking it. Probably need to research more and decide on a different primer. I certainly don't want a prolonged (semi-permanent?) Kilz odor in this bedroom either.

Here's a thread on the topic of BIN vs. Kilz.

https://homearise.com/bin-primer-kilz-cat-urine/

Not being a professional and just a homeowner, I don't know what to choose. I can't offer advice and am researching the topic myself. Some websites make it sounds like BIN is fine for plaster walls, though it can be tricky putting on and PPE must be worn, though I am also not sure what kind of mask would be adequate.

With BIN you need to make sure there is sufficient ventilation. It's not like working with a toxic chemical. It has a strong odor. I used it without any special equipment with windows open and had no issues at all. Bin is a bit of a challenge so test it on a test area first. It dries quick and nice and thin, but you can't really back brush.

Thanks, Hu. Do you know if BIN is a product that can be used on interior plaster walls, as in 4 walls and a ceiling? Would that be advisable, or would it cause any problems such as trapping in moisture and not letting walls breathe?