Eco-friendly painting habits are easy to learn. Proper care of paint and supplies, along with purchasing low-VOC paint will make your painting project eco-friendly.

There has been a lot of hype in the past few years about the harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in paint. VOCs are a group of carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature. Some VOCs have an odor, while other VOCs have no odor. The bottom line is that research now shows that the concerns over VOCs weren’t just hype. Research shows that VOCs are, in fact, harmful and can cause damage to our health and environment without us realizing.

 According to the Minnesota Departmenmt of Health, “Breathing low levels of VOCs for long periods of time may increase some people’s risk of health problems. Several studies suggest that exposure to VOCs may make symptoms worse in people who have asthma or are particularly sensitive to chemicals.” Long-term exposure to VOCs means an increased risk of cancer, liver damage, kidney damage and central nervous system damage. VOCs are bad for the environment for several reasons, but primarily because the gases they emit harm the ozone.

Until recently, most paints contained dangerous levels of VOCs. However, nowadays, most paint manufacturers produce low-VOC or no-VOC paints. Purchasing low-VOC paint (or non-toxic alternative paints) along with careful paint disposal, will help you and your family stay healthy.

Eco-Friendly Paints

It’s important to distinguish between the different types of eco-friendly paints. Just because a paint is low-VOC doesn’t mean that it does not contain harmful chemicals. Low-VOC simply means that fewer harmful ingredients are present in the product. For a nearly toxic-free paint, select no-VOC paint.

Eco-Friendly Paints:

• Sherwin-Williams – Harmony line of interior latex low-odor coatings.
• The Real Milk Paint Co. – This eco-friendly company developed milk paint (also known as casein paint). Pigmented powders can be mixed into the paint to create colors.
• Benjamin Moore – Natura interior waterborne paints in several finishes.
• Green Planet Paints – Zero-VOC paint in three finishes: flat, eggshell and semigloss.

Also check out these additional eco-friendly paints.

Eco-Friendly Painting

Follow the eco-friendly painting techniques below for a healthier painting experience.

Paint Applicators

Purchase paint applicators made from recycled and renewable materials. There are many green painting applicators on the market. Look for brushes with recycled nylon bristles and recycled roller covers.

Determine How Much Paint You Need

Careful measuring will prevent leftover paint and will help to avoid waste.

Use Cloth Tarps

Cloth tarps are stronger than plastic and can be used more than once. Using cloth tarps helps prevent waste.

Skip the Washing

Instead of washing your applicators, wrap them in a plastic bag. If kept out of the sun, the applicators will last overnight or even a few days.

Clean and Scrape the Paint Cans

Scrape excess paint from cans, rollers and brushes. A stir stick or wall scraper works well. Scraping before washing will make the applicators easier to clean. Wash your applicators indoors and not in a drain on the street or outside in your yard with a hose. The paint can harm your soil and storm drains generally drain to natural water sources, which you should not pollute with paint.

Do Not Pour Paint Thinner Down the Drain

Paint thinner and oil-based painted contain toxic chemicals. Place kitty litter or shredded newspapers right into the paint can. This will absorb the liquid. You can then discard the can in regular waste. If your city has a hazardous waste drop-off center, then take the paint or thinner to the center.

Dispose Paint Properly

Convert extra latex and acrylic paint to a solid by removing the lid. This will allow the water or solvents to evaporate. Then discard in the regular trash. If a recycling program exists in your area, then recycle the empty paint can.

Tightly Seal Paint Cans

Tightly sealed paint cans should be stored upside down. This will help elongate the life of the extra paint.

Source: Pays to Live Green

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