Environment Week feature Top 10 “Green” tips for paint projects
(… this article, although slanted towards Canadians, contains tips that are valid anywhere on our planet; also, residents of other countries will find similar resources by using Google, or another search engine, and using keywords from this article …)
In this age of global warming, consumers are more and more preoccupied by environmental issues. As a result, Canadians are increasingly seeking out “green” alternatives when it comes to their product and lifestyle choices. On this note the experts at Sico Paints have put together a top 10 list of “green” paint tips for the do-it-yourselfers planning their next indoor or outdoor project.
Here are the “green” tips for you to consider from http://www.sico.ca.
“Green” tips for paint
1. Prefer latex paint over alkyd paint.
2. Do not buy more paint than you need for your projects.
3. Look for paint containers bearing the seal “Meets Canadian VOC Standards”. All of Sico’s latex paints feature this seal on their containers. In fact, most recently its design product line, made up of Cashmere, Chamois, and Shantung has been entirely reformulated to contain zero VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
4. Before cleaning your paint brushes, use a paint brush and roller cleaner. This tool has a serrated edge to remove excess paint from brushes, and a concave edge for rollers. This will help you recover quite a bit of paint which you can pour back into its container. Cleaning your brushes will then require much less water.
5. To clean your latex-covered paint brushes, finish cleaning them in a container of water instead of under the tap.
6. If you need to use an alkyd paint, let the solvent used to clean your brushes clarify. Paint particles will go to the bottom, allowing you to filter the solvent and use it later.
7. Do not pour leftover paint on the ground or down household or storm drains because it could contaminate a nearby stream or the water table.
8. If your paint container is nearly empty, let the leftover paint dry completely in the open container before throwing it out.
9. Give leftover paint to someone who could use it: a neighbour or friend, a recreational service or a non-profit organization. However, make sure the leftover paint is in its original container and that the label is intact.
10. Paint remains disposal and recycling. To quickly find the closest collection point for leftover paint, please visit http://www.productcare.org or http://www.eco-peinture.ca for Québec residents.
Credit: http://www.newscanada.com