Make Interior Painting Projects Environmentally Friendly

When planning to paint the interior of their home, more do-it-yourselfers are considering environmentally friendly paint and paint supplies.
The options for safe painting are plentiful, so why not make your next interior paint project the most environmentally-friendly one you’ve done so far?

For efficient, environmentally friendly paint projects, remember the BUD rule, a staple of environmentally conscious painters: Buy no more product than you need; Use the product you buy; and Dispose of leftovers in a safe, responsible manner. But what "green" products should you buy, and how should they be used and disposed of properly?

These questions are answered in the following steps. Head to your local True Value store for the advice and products you need to get started.

Step 1. Purchase Low VOC Paint Products
Traditional paints and primers release low level toxic emissions known as VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) into the air that can be harmful to human and environmental health. But that doesn't mean you have to hang up your paintbrush to be safe. In response to changing environmental regulations and consumer demand, many high- quality, low-VOC products, such as True Value EasyCare® latex primers and paints, are available for purchase. These alternatives release less dangerous fumes and what fumes they do produce dissipate quicker. Low VOC primers and paints can be applied the same way as conventional products and cost about the same. Furthermore, they are not deemed "hazardous waste" and can be cleaned and disposed of easily without the use of strong solvents.

When purchasing low VOC paint, buy only what you need for the job at hand. Before you begin, measure the area carefully (height x width = total sq. ft.). One gallon of paint will cover approximately 350-400 sq. ft.

• Painting more than one room? Use our paint calculator to estimate how much paint you need.

Step 2. Prepare Rooms
Cover furniture and floors with tarps or drop cloths. With a damp cloth, wash walls with mild detergent and water. Patch holes and wall damage with spackling compound. Scrape off flaky areas of old paint using a putty knife. Cover outlets and edges with painter's tape.

Step 3. Prime and Paint
You don't have to apply a coat of primer before you paint, but doing so will make the paint adhere and wear better. Additionally, priming improves coverage of spots and stains and helps light-colored paint cover dark walls more effectively. It is also necessary to prime any areas where you used spackling compound or where you scraped old flaky paint. With a brush or roller, apply True Value EasyCare® latex primer widthwise in 6-ft. square sections, using a zigzag pattern of overlapping "W" strokes. Move from right to left, then left to right, spreading evenly with horizontal strokes. Once dry, pour True Value EasyCare® latex paint into the paint tray and apply using the same technique as priming. If necessary, apply a second coat of paint using the same technique as the first.

• For the best results, allow paint to dry about two hours before applying a second coat; longer if the humidity is high or the room temperature is below 60 degrees F.

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Step 4. Clean Up Using Safe Products
To cut down on cleaning frequency during your painting project, wrap paint roller covers and brushes in plastic bags to lock in moisture overnight. When you're ready, clean brushes and rollers with non-toxic citrus-based cleansers or turpentine, an environmentally friendly solvent made from the resin of coniferous trees. To make a cleaning solution using turpentine, pour some in a glass jar and add a few drops of dishwashing detergent.

When you're finished, thoroughly rinse roller covers and brushes in a bucket of water, then squeeze out the excess liquid.

Step 5. Reuse Paint Products
Avoid wasting paint by using excess for touch-up jobs, or to paint a small area of your home. Alternatively, donate extra paint to someone who can use it, such as a friend who is an artist or a theater group trying to stretch its financial resources. Reusing old paint instead of discarding it is an excellent way to be friendly to the environment.

Step 6. Dispose of Paint Properly
Latex paint must dry before you can dispose of it in the trash. Even if you have used all the paint from a can, allow the empty container to dry with the lid off before discarding. If you have less than one-fourth of the paint from a can left over, you can dry it by simply leaving it out in a well-ventilated area until it hardens, stirring once every few days.

• When leaving paint out to dry, be sure to contain it in an area away from children and pets. Additionally, keep drying paint away from all open flames and outdoor weather.

Step 7. Store Excess Paint Properly
You can get more mileage out of your paint if it's stored properly. Always store paint in a dry location where the temperature is above freezing. Replace the lid firmly and store the can upside down to prevent air from entering the container. This will keep paint usable longer. If you're not sure about old paint, test it with a mixer and brush. If it mixes and spreads smoothly, then it should be usable.

Well done! You've finished your latest painting project, and accomplished it safely and "greenly", without using dangerous VOCs or wasting paint.

For more projects, go to TrueValuePaint.com. >

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