Last weekend's rain were not only harsh outside my home, but they did a number to the inside, too. Unfortunately, my bathroom, bedroom and closet ceilings needed repair. Yesterday, as the handyman was working on it, I was at my computer when a massive waft of paint fumes hit me. I instantly felt a headache and became nauseated from the HAP's (Hazardous Air Pollutants) and VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds).
Thank goodness I was able to stop the process and convince my handyman to switch to eco-friendly paint.
I've gotten so used to only working with zero VOC paints that it never occurred to me he might use anything else. Hey, if my job involved inhaling toxic chemicals all day long and non-toxic alternatives were marketed all over the paint store, I'd use them. But instead, once again, I was reminded that we greenies are still the minority.
Recently, my living room and dining were painted with zero VOC paints. I never smelled a thing. No headaches, no rough nights of sleep from the smell, and best of all, I had peace of mind knowing that there will be no continued off-gassing for years to come.
When choosing paint, I try to go with zero VOC. In case you want to use low-VOC paints, here's Green Seal's GS11 environmental standard:
If your paint has higher levels, avoid it. There are just plain too many no VOC or low VOC alternatives these days.
And if your painter balks, let him or her know that it's not just healthier for you, it's healthier for painters, too.
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