Environmentally Friendly Paints

Painting your home with green paint has nothing to do with the color and everything to do with maintaining a healthy atmosphere within your home. When traditional paint is wet, it emits a large amount of toxic vapors. There are some who believe that this type of paint also continues to release harmful chemicals after the pain dries.

Here are a couple of reasons why traditional paint is considered harmful and something you should think about before making your purchase.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

The terms VOC-free and low-VOC have increasing been appearing on labels of paint cans in recent years. This means volatile organic compounds, the chemicals causing the horrible smell and headaches many people experience when breathing in the fumes. These chemicals can lose gases from solids or liquids leading most people to believe that even dry paint might be harmful to home owners.

If you are exposed to these chemicals you may experience problems with your eyes, nose and throat. You may also experience problems with your central nervous system which can cause headaches and problems with your coordination.

You may have heard people complain of not feeling well after they were in a newly painted room. What they didn't realize was the odor was causing bodily harm.

Solvents

Beware that when you clean rollers and paint brushes with solvents, those solvents also contain chemicals that are toxic. Whether you use petroleum-based mineral spirits, or turpentine which is made out of pine, both solvents have a foul smell. Unfortunately, when you are subject to those strong smells you may struggle with headaches and a tendency toward sleepiness.

Eco Friendly Products

The good news is that there are a growing number of well-known paint manufacturers who are now offering environmentally friendly paints that are 100% organic. Others are offering the low-VOC or VOC-free paint. When you are shopping for paint, remember that low VOC is the best buy. Also, you might keep in mind that there are a growing number of companies that only manufacture environmentally safe paint.

The bottom line is to be sure you only purchase latex paint that is water-based, and avoid getting involved with solvents or paint thinners. You can also use other eco-friendly items while involved in your painting project such as reusable drop cloths instead of disposable plastic. As more manufacturers fall in line with environmentally friendly paints, the more comfortable you as a consumer will be that you can stay healthy as you upgrade the interior home decor in your newly painted home.