Super Eco

Photo credit: Sunfrog1, flickr

I never gave much thought to paint safety prior to becoming a remodeling maven. I’ve painted many a wall in my home-ownership experience, but when I thought of paint, my mind wandered more to “edges first or last?” than “will breathing in the fumes hurt my family?" I assumed there was no alternative—paint is dangerous, just like too much junk food and high fructose corn syrup. 

It turns out that I was very very wrong. All paint is not created equal, and much of it is far worse than too many french fries.  There are many paint options for those interested in lovely colors and clear lungs. This is especially good news, given that we're many rooms away from completing the painting projects in our current home.

This is what I've learned so far:

What the Heck is VOC?

“VOC” stands for “volatile organic compounds,” which sound as scary as they are. Used in many household chemicals, including paint, VOC levels are higher inside most homes than out in the yard, since these household chemicals emit VOCs when they are used and when they are stored. VOCs can also linger a long time after application.

In addition to causing headaches and eye and throat irritation, VOCs contribute to more serious conditions, such as liver and kidney damage. Painting professionals are at much higher risk than your average do-it-yourselfer due to length of exposure, but any exposure is unnecessary these days with improved access to eco-friendly paints.

Less-Toxic Paint Options

There are three options for less-toxic paints: natural paints, low-VOC paints and zero-VOC paints. Here’s the rundown:

1. Natural paints—These paints are made from natural ingredients, natch. They’re probably the safest alternative, but can also be the hardest to find.
2. Low-VOC paints—These paints have fewer than 50 grams/liter of VOCs and use water instead of petroleum-based solvents.
3. Zero-VOC paints—Even though these sound toxin-free, they’re actually not, but they have 5 grams/liter or fewer of the bad stuff.

So you may be wondering why anyone would use standard paint when lower-VOC options are available. Well, safer paints are more expensive, and they can be harder to find. Green Planet Paints offers natural paints, but they’re only available in stores in 14 states. You can order the paint online for $55.95 a gallon plus shipping. For other sources of non-toxic paints, go here.

Moving into low-VOC and zero-VOC options increases your selection quite a bit, but these paints haven’t exactly gone mainstream. I painted my foyer using paint from Divine Color, which is a boutique online shop offering eco-friendly products. The paint was smooth and thick and only required two coats for a vibrant cayenne color, but this paint also retails at $51.95/gallon for 99% VOC-free blends. Compare that to a gallon of standard color at Home Depot (around $27), and you’ll find yourself doubling your paint budget in order to breathe easy.

Is it worth the expense? I think so. Paint remains in your home for a long time, and even if you’re not around while it’s being applied, the fumes linger. Combine the health concerns with the environmental hazards of disposal and keeping opened toxic paint containers around in the garage or (WORSE!) the basement, safe paint is worth the extra expense.

Also, good painting technique can help you lower the amount you need to use, as will painting over light colors with new light colors and dark colors with new darks.

Safe Paint Disposal and Recycling

When we were preparing to move from our old house into Chateau Travolta, we finally had to address the 23 half-empty but sealed gallons of paint that lived in our basement like old bones. We’d used about eight of those gallons, and the rest were left over from the previous owners. I knew nothing about safe disposal, only that throwing away is very bad.  Earth 911 has a tool to help you find a safe disposal center near you. I live in Kansas City, and a quick search led me to the Household Hazardous Waste disposal drop-off, which was shockingly easy to use. We hauled in a full truckload of paint, stain, cleaning supplies, etc. that had been sitting in our basement for six years. When I discovered how easy it was to dispose of these chemicals safely, I felt like a moron for letting it go for so long.

Of course, the most important step is to try not to buy more paint than you need. There are many online paint calculators that are worthy of your time before beginning a painting project.

I always seal and store a certain amount of leftover paint for my current home, because you just never know when your husband will try to adjust a clock and send it scraping all the way down your wall, creating large black streaks (not that I would know anything about that). Regardless, when you go to touch up your walls, I guarantee you’ll have forgotten the exact shade of eggshell or brand you used. It’s nice to have even a partially empty gallon handy for reference if you need to redo the whole room. But too much left-over paint can be a hazard.

If you are moving or you have way too much left over, first try donating your extra paint. Schools, churches and other nonprofits can use your cast-offs, especially if they are full gallons and especially if the paint is white. Also call your city and inquire into a city-wide or regional paint-exchange program. Many larger cities have such programs. For more information on how to dispose of your paint safely, see Super Eco's how-to.

Paint is the easiest and least-expensive way to update your home. Do you have any favorite eco-paints you'd recommend?