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 | Making smart (and Green) choices when you paint | |
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Painting is of the quickest ways to give your home a new look. Whether it's
just a bathroom or the whole house, it's an easy way to remodel. Now you can
make environmentally sound choices when you select the paint for your next
project.
Choose a low or no-VOC paint
 VOCs
(volatile organic compounds) are the fumes that you smell while you paint,
and sometimes several days after. A VOC is an organic chemical that becomes
a breathable gas at room temperature. Some examples are benzene, ethylene
glycol, vinyl chloride and mercury.
VOCs in paint usually come from additives to the paint, such as fungicides,
biocides, color, and spreadability agents. High levels of VOCs in paints can
cause headaches, allergic reactions, and health problems in the very old,
very young and in those with chronic illnesses.
Concerns about air pollution and hazardous waste have greatly reduced the
use of oil-based paints, which can release high amounts of VOCs and contain
toxic solvents. Alkyd-based paints and latex paints are much safer, but some
still have high levels of VOCs.
Because of health and safety concerns, paint manufacturers around the
country have made great strides in formulating paints that have no or low-VOCs
and that provide excellent results.
Painting tips
If the paint you choose does contain some VOCs, there are ways to lessen
their impact on the air quality in your home. Below are some helpful hints:
- Make sure your work area is well ventilated with outside air. Use a fan
to make sure that fresh, outside air is continually moving into and out of
your work area.
- If possible, leave the house for a while after you paint. Keep the area
vented to the outside while you are gone.
- If you cannot leave, try to stay out the painted rooms for along as
possible. Shut the doors and the air ducts, and opens the windows to that
area.
Proper clean up and disposal of paint
Proper disposal of paint protects you, garbage collection workers, and the
environment. If you've used latex paint, wash brushes and rollers in the
sink with soap and warm water. Don't rinse your brushes on the grass or in
the gutter-it could end up in a nearby creek where it could harm fish and
wildlife. Take the lids off of any empty latex paint cans and let them dry,
then throw these into the trash with the lids off.
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