What’s the secret to painting concrete? Here are six tips to help you out! 

1. Clean Concrete is Much Easier to Paint
2. Make Sure Your Concrete is Filled and Prepped
3. Sealing Your Concrete Prior to Paint is a Must
4. Prime the Concrete Before Painting
5. Know Which Paint Works For You
6. Make Sure You Seal the Concrete Once it is Complete!

There are multiple ways to paint your concrete. This article is going to tell you the process to get a perfect paint job every single time!

Why Should You Paint Concrete?

Since concrete is made primarily from natural materials, it is one of the most environmentally friendly building materials there is. Although concrete is one of the more durable materials, it is not always the most attractive! The good news is that you can cater it to your personal style with something as simple as a great paint job!

With a simple coat of paint, you can give new life to an existing concrete floor, or you can have a concrete floor at your new home or office that can be a huge showstopper. Depending on the look you are going for, there are varieties from opaque to more translucent paints to choose form.

Dyes are also a popular option since they tend to allow concrete to breathe and flex as it does without paint, but will not give as bold of a look.

It also is a more cost-effective way of covering any damage or wear that your concrete might have seen. It can also seriously prolong the life of any concrete that is already existing!

Although more technical skills are involved in painting concrete, there are six really simple steps you can take that will make you look like a true DIY professional!

Location is Key

Since concrete is such a universal building material, the concrete your trying to paint could be located in a number of different places. Since it is such a common building material, it can be located inside of your house, or outside of your house.

Concrete walls inside typically are fine with traditional paint. You can also use a satin finish on interior walls as well. For walls, they may see stains or possibly more damage; you should consider a semi-gloss. Any exterior walls need to be able to stand up to any ultraviolet light or weather conditions you may experience.

One area that requires a more durable paint is concrete floors. Since floors see more traffic than a wall, you want to make sure your paint job is going to last. This also needs to be considered whenever you’re painting an exterior floor, as well.

If you’re painting a statue, or something similar, then an acrylic enamel or epoxy paint is the most common options. A quick note here is that epoxy is not great for exterior statues as it can tend to fade due to the sunlight!

1.    Clean Concrete is Much Easier to Paint

If you have ever done any DIY projects, then you know a clean surface is always the best place to start. Concrete is a porous surface that can easily attract dirt, grease, and oil.

In order to clean your concrete, it is as simple as purchasing a pre-paint cleaner and washing off your surface. You can also simply use soap and warm water as well! For oil or grease stains, you may want to invest in a stronger cleanser that will fully remove those stains!

If you have cracks and any sort of growth, then you need to make sure that you remove those as well. You can use a stiff brush for the best results!

Additionally, if you’re painting over an existing paint job, then make sure that you’re taking off any existing paint completely!

After you clean your concrete, make sure you give it plenty of time to dry before moving onto the next step. Excess moisture can get trapped and ruin your paint job if you move on too quickly.

2.    Make Sure Your Concrete is Filled and Prepped

Concrete is one of those things that sees a lot of wear and tear! If you’re considering painting your concrete, then you need to be sure it is in the best shape it can be before you begin the process. Concrete can easily crack, scratch, and even form holes.

Not only will this make sure that your paint is going on as perfectly as it can, but it is also going to prevent any issues in the future! This can easily be done with a patching compound.

Once you have filled in any areas, take the time to sand the concrete to make sure you have an even surface to start on. You can also sweet and vacuum a few areas to make sure the surface is free from any additional residue as well.

If you’re painting a wall or floor, then make sure you tape off the area you wanted to be painted. Not only is this going to give you a cleaner line, but it will also help make the clean-up process easier!

3.    Sealing Your Concrete Prior to Paint is a Must

Now that you have the perfect canvas for your project, you don’t want anything to ruin it! By sealing your concrete, you are extending not on the life of your fresh paint job, but for the actual concrete as well.

Concrete sealant can be expensive, but it is not as expensive as potentially having to replace the concrete you have. We already know that concrete is porous, and any water damage can not only ruin the paint but ruin the concrete as well.

Depending on where the concrete your painting is located, sealing may or may not be required. If you’re painting outdoor concrete, you don’t have to be worried about sealing it. If you’re painting concrete that is indoors, then sealing is a must!

4.    Prime the Concrete Before Painting

The entire process of painting concrete will take a few days. It is vital to the life of your paint and concrete that you make sure you are not having any weather conditions if you are painting any concrete outside.

All primers will have their own specific drying times that you will want to be aware of. The main reason you want to use a primer is so that the paint you’re ultimately applying is going to tick.

Depending on where you are painting, you may even want to apply two different layers of primer. This is important if you’re painting over any pre-existing paint or if you’re painting outdoors.

Like with all steps, make sure that the coats you’re applying are drying completely before you add any additional layers.

One last tip is that if any primer did not adhere to the concrete, take the time to scrape away any of the primer and smooth the surface to try and reapply the primer to those areas.

5.    Know Which Paint Works for You

Now that it is finally time to paint, it is important to know which paint is perfect for the job. The type of paint you select is dependent on where the concrete you are painting is located.

One of the most popular types of paint to use on concrete is masonry paint because it tends to be much thicker, and it also can be tinted to fit in with your color preference. If you are planning on manually painting your concrete, this is a great option.

If you take the spray paint route, then it’s important to talk to a paint professional before you buy your product. Some paints work better with a spray paint gun, and others can clog the gun, and not give you what you’re looking for.

Just like you wait for each layer to dry with the primer, make sure you have plenty of time for each layer of your final paint to cover the concrete. You also want to make sure that you have great weather to make sure all of your hard work is going to last!

6.     Make Sure You Seal the Concrete Once it is Complete!

Now that you have finished painting your concrete, it is a time of one of the most important steps! After you have spent the time to paint your concrete, make sure you don’t forget to seal it!

A sealant is going to make the paint last longer, and protect it. Depending on the location of your paint, this is a vital step. If you’re painting exterior concrete or a concrete floor, don’t skip this! If there is going to be a lot of foot traffic on the concrete, you may even want to seal it twice. This is typically done on exterior areas such as patios, porches, and pool areas.

The post Painting Concrete? 6 Things You Need to Know! first appeared on Eco Paint My House.

What are the four best eco-friendly paint brushes? The best planet-friendly options are those made from naturally occurring fibers such as: 

• Bamboo
• Corn
• Hala
• Animal Hair 

This is article shall endeavor to enlighten readers on the four paint brushes that are the eco-friendliest choices available on the market today.

Bristles Made From Renewable Resources that are Eco-Friendly

As mentioned in the introduction, there are at least four types of materials used to create eco-friendly paint brushes, bamboo, corn, Hala, and animal hair. Probing each material by examining their uses and the downfalls should make it easier to decide to change over to paint brushes made of renewable materials.

The following is a listing of each of the four best eco-friendly paint brush materials from the most easily found to the rarest.

Bamboo

Bamboo is a woody perennial that grows up to four feet in a single day with little maintenance and is lightweight and durable. Bamboo is also one of the friendliest material for the environment on the planet as it is a quick-growing plant.

Some species of bamboo can grow one millimeter every ninety seconds, or one inch every forty minutes. So, it is easy to see how bamboo makes a wonderful choice to create and use paint brushes manufactured from its fronds.

One of the largest benefits of using bamboo for the manufacture of paint brushes is that it absorbs substantial amounts of carbon as it grows and produces 35% more oxygen than trees.

Other benefits to bamboo include:

• The plant grows and is replaced in a short amount of time
• Bamboo causes no soil erosion as the roots are left intact
• Bamboo produces 20 times more usable materials than trees
• Bamboo requires extraordinarily little water thus conserving this vital resource

Clearly, bamboo paint brushes like the ones found on Amazon are a brilliant choice for eco-friendly paint brushes. (Amazon Link)

Corn

Corn is a natural material that biodegrades quickly back into the earth. This plant is also highly renewable making its footprint on the planet’s ecosystem much smaller than traditional materials. Corn makes strong, durable, and long-lasting paint brushes lasting longer than conventional paint brushes while helping the planet.

Although corn brushes still go to a landfill, corn paint brushes are made from 65% cornstarch and other environmentally friendly materials. The bristles of some of these devices are sometimes a mixture of manmade filaments but still offer a much smaller environmental impact. Corn paint brushes offer a soft feel to the artist/house painter in their work.

Animal Hair

An article about eco-friendly paint brushes would not be complete without discussing the use of animal bristles and hair. This type of bristle on a paint brush is preferred by many artists who swear by them and house painters who find them easy to use.

The three most common shapes of animal-hair brushes, flat, filbert, and round are all three available in sable hair. Animal activists report that sable hair is taken from a species of marten found in Asia that are now commercially farmed. Not only are the conditions under which these animals live questionable as cruel, but the animals are also experimented with to discover better ways to manufacture paint brushes that will be more appealing to artists.

Sables are only one animal used in the manufacture of animal hair paint brushes as rabbits, horses, and other easy to raise animals are also utilized.

Using animals to research and manufacture paint brushes mean animals are killed, something that is highly unnecessary given there are plant-based substitutes.

The Hala Tree

The Hala tree (also known as a Pandanus or Screw Pine) is native to the Pacific islands, including Hawaii, where it can grow up to twenty feet tall. The fronds of these trees have long bent leaves, and the female trees produce large eight-inch pineapple looking fruit at its center.

Below the tree, supporting the trunk, are “prop roots” that already look like small paint brushes. When gathered, these pods are beaten to reveal the fibers are shaped and cleaned for use as a brush.

These brushes are ideal for meticulous artists looking for an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fiber brushes.

The Handles of Eco-Friendly Paint Brushes

It isn’t just the bristles of a paint brush that can be harmful to the environment as the handles can be as well. Using fast-growing bamboo instead of slower-growing trees to make the handles is an example of using a renewable resource over one that is harmful to planet earth.

Plastic handles are incredibly unhealthy for the planet and should be avoided to lessen an artist’s carbon footprint. Plastic is a major source of pollution, even found in the deepest portion of earth in the Marianas Trench. Many environmentally friendly artists consider using plastic in any form to create a work of art equivalent to a crime.

Non-Renewable Materials and the Environment of Planet Earth 

Most have heard how the earth is struggling as it is being negatively influenced by pressure from mankind’s consumption of its natural resources. When people think of unrenewable resources, they think of petroleum, natural gas, and coal, but these important materials are only part of the problem. The biggest problem is the products that are made from them.

The bristles on conventional paint brushes are created using polyester, which is manufactured from a chemical reaction involving both coal and petroleum. The handles of most brands of paint brushes are also made from nonrenewable natural gas.

It may seem that using a paint brush manufactured from petroleum, natural gas, or coal would be the least of the worries for the environment, and they could be forgiven for believing so. But 300 million paint brushes are thrown away every year in Canada and the U.S. alone making them a huge contributor to pollution.

The Pros of Using Eco-Friendly Paint Brushes

There are many pros to using paint brushes manufactured using renewable resources such as plant fiber.

1. They reduce the need for solvents for cleaning
2. Using plant fiber paint brushes saves money
3. Plant fiber brushes allow for a quick change in paint color

Manufactured using plant fiber, these paint brushes are softer and more resilient bristles that are easily cleaned with water-based solvents.

Using plant fiber paint brushes saves money because they do not need replacing as often as a traditional brush that is thrown away after only a few uses. This is due to the gluing process used in the manufacture of plant-based bristles that avoids annoying bristle loss.

Plant fiber brushes allow for a quicker change in paint color because they dry quickly and clean up easily.

It is clear why many people choose plant-based paint brushes to save both money and the environment.

The Cons of Using Renewable Eco-Friendly Paint Brushes

There are very few cons to using paint brushes made from renewable resources. Plant-based brushes are easy to clean and brilliant for watercolor painting. However, paint brushes made from the hair of animals are quite the opposite as they have any cons.

Animal hair paint brushes, because they are made of animal fur brushes are much more difficult to wash than either plant-based or synthetic types. Also, animal hair is a huge problem because of animal allergies causing bad reactions in artists who have them.

It is vital to check with the manufacturer or reading the package before purchasing to make certain of the materials the brush is made from.

The Two Different Solvents to Clean Eco-Friendly Paint Brushes

Cleaning eco-friendly paint brushes are much simpler than cleaning those made from synthetic materials. Yet, cleansing brushes requires using either chemical solvents or water.

Using chemical solvents to clean paint brushes brings hazards to the health of the artist because solvents such as turpentine and mineral spirits cause dermatitis, dizziness, headaches, nausea, fatigue, drowsiness, and respiratory irritation when not used properly. Even weaker versions of mineral spirits and turpentine can cause sneezing and headaches.

So, while solvents work well, they cause a myriad of different issues for the artist. Water, on the other hand, makes a great solvent that works well on plant-based paint brushes.

Cleansing Eco-Friendly Paint Brushes with Water

The procedure for cleaning brushes using water isn’t difficult to learn or perform.

First, brush out any excess paint using a scrap piece of canvas or an old terrycloth.

Next, squeeze out any remaining paint from the tips, wrap the brush in cloth or canvas and squeeze it out. This will help make sure your paint brush is clean throughout.

Then, use safflower oil, made from a thistle-like plant, and dip the brush allowing it to coat the bristles. After you have dipped the bristles, use that scrap canvas or towel from earlier to brush the oil-soaked brush to remove the as much of the remaining paint as possible. Repeat this procedure several times until the paint brush appears clean.

Next, wash the paint brush in dishwashing soap and scrub the bristles on a surface to deep clean the brush. Finally, after using the dish soap, rinse well with water.

Tip: Make sure to wash the brush with the dishwashing soap first before rinsing in water because water is repelled by the paint in your brush, but the soap will make the brush ready for rinsing in water.

To learn more about how to properly clean your paint brush, look at our article here.

Three Things to Consider When Using an Eco-Friendly Brush

Watercolor and oil paint require different cleaning mediums. While watercolor paint comes clean from a paint brush with only water, oil paint requires a solvent. However, this does not mean that one needs to use a solvent that is toxic to the environment. Check for solvents that are made from natural ingredients instead.

Another tip is to remove as much paint as much as possible before cleaning using a dry cloth by swiping the brush back and forth across it multiple times. This reduces the amount of solvent that may be needed later. Using a toothbrush made from bamboo to comb any stubborn paint from the eco-friendly paint brush also helps in washing the brush later.

Lastly, one might remember that it is not necessary to clean a paint brush after every time you have paused in your painting. If the plan is to use the brush later with the same paint, then wrap the brush in a piece of recyclable plastic, and it will stay wet and ready for twenty-four hours. If the need arises for a longer pause in painting, wrap the brush in recyclable plastic and place it in the freezer. It will remain usable without cleansing for up to two weeks.

Tips for Choosing an Eco-Friendly Paint Brush

Choosing an eco-friendly paint brush from the considerable number of brands available today is a daunting task. Knowing these simple tips can reduce the struggle of finding the brush that an environmentally conscious artist can use without worry.

One tip is to think creatively. Making sure to research the product and read the labels before purchasing a paint brush is vital to not buying something that is not environmentally friendly. For instance, some paint brush manufacturers may list their goods as eco-friendly (they are more so than conventional brushes), except they may use a mixture of polyester and plant-based fibers in their bristles.

Another tip is to consider the lifetime of the product, not just the material from which it is made. Animal fur brushes have a longer life expectancy than those made from plant-fiber. However, if one is concerned about animal cruelty, then the obvious choice would be to choose the brushes that, although they last a shorter amount of time, are animal-friendly.

Repurposing Eco-Friendly Paint Brushes

Although eco-friendly paint brushes decompose much quicker and are much less harmful to the environment than conventional ones, they still will end up in landfills. Repurposing paint brushes of any kind allows for them to avoid that fate while beautifying the home.

Here are three different repurposing ideas for paint brushes.

Making Handles for Cabinets or Drawers

Paint brushes of all kinds, shapes, and sizes are ideal for handles on cabinet doors or drawers in the kitchen or workshop. Simply paint or decorate the handles and attach the brush with screws.

Painting the Handles to Make Advertisements

Every painter desires others to enjoy their work, and some paint to earn extra cash. So, painting the handles of the paint brushes with a logo or business name and hanging them in the home or workshop is a wonderful way to make a statement.

Making Folk Art

There are dozens, if not hundreds of ideas for using a paint brush to form a piece of folk art. Paint brushes make fantastic mobiles to hang in the workshop, and by adding pearls and lace make wonderful additions to any home décor.

Another clever use of used paintbrushes is making Santa Claus Christmas ornaments using the bristles of the brush as the beard and the handle as Santa’s hat.

Other Considerations When Choosing an Eco-Friendly Paint Brush

There are two other considerations when choosing and purchasing an eco-friendly paintbrush. One of them is the wrapping the brush arrives in at the store. Most paintbrushes are wrapped in a plastic wrapping for the convenience of the manufacturer and consumer alike.

The best way to avoid consuming plastic wrapping is to buy local without any packaging at all. If there are no local shops in the area, purchasing paint brushes wrapped in recycled plastic that can be recycled again is the next best idea.

Buying local also aids the environment by reducing the carbon footprint of the use of large shipping equipment such as semi-trucks or in the case of an overseas order, planes.

The solvents used to clean oil-based paint should be a huge concern for environmentally conscious artists as once used, they are normally disposed of in a way that harms the planet. The best alternatives to harmful solvent are those made with citrus. Citrus solvent is orange peel oil that is a clear liquid made from the rind of oranges and is a marvelous choice to remove oil-based paint like that sold on Amazon (Amazon Link).

Some Closing Remarks

Scientists all agree that our planet is in trouble. Humanity has, in its striving for convenience and pleasure, invented materials using non-renewable resources that are harming the earth and have now begun to come back to haunt us.

Being environmentally friendly creates a scenario where artists are part of the solution to global warming instead of part of the problem. Utilizing eco-friendly paint brushes certainly helps to reduce the danger in landfills from materials that will not biodegrade for one thousand or more years and eases the stress on the natural resources of the earth.

By using renewable corn, bamboo, Hala, or animal fur artists make a choice that not only helps to save the planet but also create beautiful works of art.

The post The Four Best Eco-Friendly Paint Brushes first appeared on Eco Paint My House.

How to choose paint for ceiling tile and how to apply? There is a difference between ceiling paint and interior paint. Typically, for ceiling tiles, you will use spray paint or flat-latex paint. Except for wood tiles. It is also easier to apply your paint with a sprayer rather than a brush or roller. However, a good brush and roller are great options too. 

If you’re new when it comes to rollers in general, don’t worry, we have two articles to help. Go here for getting the best use out of microfiber rollers and here for foam rollers.

There is a lot of preparation that goes into applying your paint. If you are doing a whole room, it is best to start with your ceiling. Before you begin, though, you will need to make sure you have the proper:

• Equipment
• Room temperature
• Floor protection
• Cleaned ceiling with any damages repaired beforehand
• Paint and primer (unless your ceiling paint has primer in it)

Painting a suspended ceiling is also a little different than most other ceilings.

What Kind of Paint Do You Use on Ceiling Tiles?

The paint you choose to paint your ceiling tiles will first depend on what ceiling tiles you have. Ceiling tiles come in a wide variety of materials:

• Different types of metal like tin
• Faux-tin tiles are made of thermoplastic such as PVC
• Plastic
• Wood
• Fiberglass which is typically not painted over
• Mineral Fibers usually used for Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC)

There is a wide variety of ceiling tiles, but mostly you will always see a matte finish style paint for a ceiling. The only time you will see a glaze or sheer finish on a ceiling is usually with tin ceiling tiles.

Paint for Tin/Faux-Tin Tiles

If you are painting over tin or faux-tin, you can get away with spray paint. 

Most tiles will need a coat of primer before starting. For the tin and faux-tin tiles, you can find a can of primer spray paint. Spray paint typically works the best for these tiles because they usually have a lot of grooves to get around. Not only this, but the paint goes on thin which is what you want for this material. You don’t want thick paint for tin tiles.

Painting faux-tin tiles can get complicated quick, though. Specifically, the old 19^th-century style ceiling tiles. A lot of the time, when you only use one color to paint these tiles, it will end up looking flat to the eye. You can run into this problem with tin tiles as well.

This is because the tiles have very intricate designs in them. An easy way to get away with only using one color for these types of ceilings is by using a sheer style paint. One that does not have a matte finish. If you decide to pick a paint with a matte finish, you will come to find out that you’ll need to compensate for highlights and shadows with similar shades of the same paint.

You will quickly turn an easy project into a more artistic project by going this route. However, if it is done correctly and with a lot of patience, it could very well be worth it in the end.

Paint for Drop Ceiling or Acoustic Tiles

Acoustic or drop ceiling tiles are great for hiding an eyesore like old pipes and wiring. However, they are a big investment and can start to look dingy after a few years. This is why painting these tiles is usually a go-to.

Painting an acoustic ceiling with regular ceiling paint will cause some of the sound-absorbing qualities of the tile to decrease. If you want to conserve the NRC qualities then you will have to use a specific kind of paint.

Acousti-Coat is a water-based, flat-latex paint that is formulated with sound-absorbing fillers and ceramic microspheres.

Acousti-Coat is the ideal paint for painting acoustical tiles when you do not want to compromise the noise reduction qualities. This paint will actually help block the noise even further.

Some things to note:

• Really thin, watery paint is not recommended for ceiling tiles of any kind. It is cheaper, but you will end up using more of it in the long run. The finish of this paint is not the best either.
• Wood, plastic and even tin and faux-tin tiles will most likely need to be sanded down before you apply the paint
• Primer paint is also a critical part of choosing your tile paint

Paint for Plastic Tiles

When it comes to painting plastic ceiling tiles, this will take some prep work. It is not super tricky to accomplish, and you will be glad you did it. Aside from cleaning the ceiling and prepping the room, which I will get into more later, you will also need to sandpaper your plastic. This isn’t something you need to spend a lot of time on, just roughing up the surface a bit, so it’ll hold your paint better.

A 180-grit sandpaper or sanding sponge will do. You may need a few of them, depending on your ceiling size. 

Plastic ceiling tiles call for an oil-based primer. The problem with this type of primer is it contains chemicals that aren’t necessarily good to breathe in for long periods at a time. Be sure to be in a well-ventilated area. It also takes upwards of 8 hours to dry. When this has dried, you can now paint the plastic tiles using oil-based paint or latex-based paint.

* More on the application process at the bottom.

Oil-based paint poisoning can occur after large amounts of the fumes attack your lungs. This can also happen through your skin pores and eyes. Some symptoms include:

• Respiratory difficulty (coughing)
• Confusion
• Rapid heartbeat
• Skin irritation
• Blistering/irritated and watery eyes
• Running sinuses
• Dizziness
• Unconsciousness
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

Paint for Wood Ceiling Tiles

The paint and primer you use for wood tiles are similar to that of plastic tiles. If you do not use an oil-based primer (and a lot of it), your paint will not stick. Your primer could also end up bleeding through your paint and discoloring it.

You also want to make sure to sand the wood tiles down before you start as well, or the paint will not stick. 

What Is the Difference Between Wall Paint and Ceiling Paint?

When you are choosing your ceiling paint, you want to make sure you choose the right one. There are specially formulated paints made specifically for painting ceilings. This is because wall paint is made thinner. It is also meant to be more durable and can be scrubbed with soap and water if need be.

Ceiling paint does not require such durability and also is thicker to hide any irregularities in the ceiling, hopefully. It is meant to cover well and stick well, and usually only comes in a matte finish. While wall paint has a number of different finishes. These rules do not apply for spray paint though.

What Colors are the Best for My Room? 

Most of the time, people paint their ceilings, either black or white. A black ceiling is especially a great choice is you are talking about a ceiling that is located in the kitchen of a restaurant. The dark color will hide all possible smoke stains as well as dust. That being said, you have to make sure you keep up on cleaning these ceilings.

White is usually the go-to for the home because it brings more light into the room. However, if you are painting tin, faux-tin, or vinyl tiles, you may opt for a more fun color. Especially with tin tiles. Having a sheer finish on a tin tile makes it that much more extravagant feeling.

Otherwise, a good rule of thumb to live by is this:

• Small room:
  • Keep it cozy with matching dark colors across the ceiling and walls
  • Choose to open up space with matching lighter colors across the walls and ceiling
• Large room:
  • You can bring in that cozy feeling to a larger room by also painting the ceiling and walls a darker color
  • You may want to create a feeling of a wide-open space. To do this, choose lighter colors

Suppose you have ceiling trim. This serves as a great way to accent between the ceiling and wall color. Having this division (usually in white) will really bring out the size of the room. 

How Much Paint Will I Need?

Another tough decision is knowing how much paint you will need to buy. It is usually recommended to put two coats of paint on your ceiling, but in some cases, you can get away with one.

For instance, acoustic or drop ceiling tiles usually only call for one coat of paint. Especially if you are using your acoustic tiles for NRC qualities and not just covering an eyesore. The reason for only one coat is so you can conserve some of the natural sound-absorbing technology from the tile.

On the contrary, though, your drop ceiling tiles might be old and covered in stains. This will cause stains to show through one coat of paint. That is unless you invest in a good primer.

If you choose to buy the cheaper, thinner paint, you will need to buy more. This paint doesn’t go as far as the quality paint brands.

Here is a good rule of thumb for when you are calculating how much paint you need: 

• One gallon of paint will usually cover 400 square feet on a smooth ceiling
• One can of spray paint will yield about 20 square feet

How Much Is Too Much for Paint?

There are countless paint companies out there. Finding the right paint for your ceiling can have you crunching numbers and pinching pennies. Here is a chart of the top brands of ceiling paint for the best value: 

 How to Get Rid of Old Stains on Tiles?

 Proper prep work is the key to a quality paint job. This starts with cleaning the ceiling tiles. There are a few different ways to clean your ceiling tiles, depending on the material the tiles are made from. It also depends on how long you have had your tiles, and the environment they are living in.

No matter, sometimes you can get away with a simple dusting. You can do this via a cloth or fluffy microfiber duster. Sometimes even a lint roller will work depending on the material. The only thing you don’t want to use is a towel or anything that will leave behind pieces of debris on your tiles.

If you have a handheld vacuum cleaner, this will also work quite well. 

Acoustic/drop ceiling tiles may need some more care spent during the cleaning process. The good thing about these tiles is they come off from the ceiling quite easily. Allowing you to dust the ceiling as well as vacuuming each tile.

Your tiles may be suffering from water or smoke damage though, causing deep-set stains. After you have gotten rid of the standing dust on the tiles. Make up a bleach and water mixture, preferably in a spray bottle. Spray and wipe each tile.

Some of the stains may be too deeply set to come out. This is okay and expected. Mainly, you want to clean your tiles to make sure there is nothing that will show through your paint. Like dust particles, for instance. Any stains that are left behind can be covered up with a coat of primer. 

How Much Is Too Much for Primer?

Just like paint prices, primer prices can get a little confusing. Here is a chart of the top brands of primer for the best value:

How Long Does It Take to Dry?

Dry time varies between products and brands. It also depends on the amount of airflow in the room or area you are painting. The weather can also play into dry time. If there is a high humidity index outside, drying may take a little longer.

Primer

The typical dry time for primer is one hour. Your primer should feel tacky to the touch within thirty minutes. It is recommended you wait at least three hours before painting, though. It doesn’t necessarily matter if you are using oil-based, water-based, stain blocker or a multi-surface primer.

This is the standard wait time across the board. However, be sure to read the recommendations on the container of primer you purchased. Different brands could still have different recommendations.

Paint

Paint takes a little longer to dry than primer. You also have a curing time to worry about before you can wash your walls. Your paint will typically feel dry within the first hour, but this is a little deceiving. You will want to wait at least four hours before applying another coat; if you are applying another coat. The standard curing time for paint is about two weeks. Try not to have anything in the room that could cause premature staining, such as burning a candle.

As always, make sure you are reading the labels on the paint you choose to purchase. Different companies will recommend different paints. And don’t forget weather permits!

What Is the Ideal Room Temperature?

Believe it or not, weather plays a major part in the painting process. As well as proper ventilation. You could do everything right from start to finish, but if you don’t have a way to regulate the temperature of the room you are working in, all your hard work could end in disaster.

Ideally, the temperature for the area you are working in should stay between 50- and 70-degrees Fahrenheit. 

When it is hotter outside, and you are working in an area without a controlled climate, you can usually bring in some fans to do the trick. Not much will happen to the paint if it gets a little hotter than 70 degrees in the room. It just may take a little longer to dry.

However, during the colder months, you want to be more careful. Working in a room without a controlled climate could really be detrimental to your painting job. If the room hits lower than 50 degrees this could end with cracks in your paint. Something you definitely don’t want.

What Kind of Equipment Will I Need?

Now for the fun part! You have chosen the proper paint for your ceiling tiles as well as primer. You know the standard dry time and weather restrictions. Now, let’s talk about equipment. After all, you can’t paint with your hands. Well, you can, but this won’t be very effective.

Starting with the proper painting attire. You will want old clothes, and most likely an old hat for painting your ceiling tiles. You will also want to cover every square inch of the floor and furniture that is left in the room before you begin. Along with a roll of blue painter’s tape.

Let’s talk brushes. You will need a good brush for cutting. Cutting is what you do around the corners and edges of the ceiling. Now, if you have drop ceiling tiles that are removable, you won’t have to worry about cutting as much. Still though, you may want a good brush to paint your tiles with. A roller might be a little excessive in this case.

Here are some tips for the type of brush you’ll need:

• Natural-bristle brushes are made with animal hairs. This is best for oil-based paints and primers
• Blended nylon/polyester brushes are easy to work with all types of latex paints and are easy to clean
• Polyester brushes are stiff and work well with latex paints 

A 4” brush is what you will want for the large flat surfaces 

The two types of brush end you will need:

• Chisel trim brush- this is great for cutting in around the edges of the ceiling where it meets the wall
• Square trim brush- this is the style brush you will want for painting the flat surfaces, like acoustic tiles

The two brush styles you will want to use are:

• Angle sash- this is the perfect style for cutting in ceilings
• Flat sash- is the style you will use for the flat areas

This brush kit is a great price and will do the job nicely.

For the flat tiles such as vinyl tiles, you may want to purchase a roller to get the job done a little quicker. 

The best roller to use for this is a Medium 3/8” nap roller cover.

You can find a decently priced six-pack of roller covers here.

A couple brushes and rollers are great for painting ceilings. However, if you can invest in a sprayer, you will find this to be extremely convenient. This will ensure you get an even coat across your entire ceiling. It will also prevent any dripping you could get from using brushes or rollers.

How to Use a Sprayer?

Keep in mind that each sprayer is different. The angle and volume can vary. You will want to choose a sprayer with an angle and volume somewhere in the middle.

Here is where you can get a sprayer for a decent price.

Below are steps on how to set up and use your sprayer:

1. First, you will want to stir your paint and strain it to remove any debris. If the sprayer gets clogged it will cause the paint to splatter.
2. You will definitely want to test your sprayer on a piece of cardboard before starting on your ceiling. Make sure you maintain the same distance from your body to the board at all times. Practicing long, straight strokes.
3. Now begin on your project. Work slowly, spraying in one-foot width spaces. You do not want to rush this, or your paint will be uneven. Sprayers dispense a lot of paint at once.
4. Once you reach the corners, spray vertically in quick spurts. This will avoid overloading the area.
5. Take a step back when you’ve finished and check over your work. If there are any light or missed spots, go over them with a brush or roller.
6. Lastly, thoroughly clean your sprayer every time you use it. If yours comes with a flush feature that lets you connect to your garden hose, this will allow for easy cleanup.

How Do I Apply Paint to Ceiling Tiles?

Using the techniques you have learned from this article, you are ready to apply your paint. The main thing with painting is to make sure you apply it evenly. You also want to be careful not to use too much paint. This could cause dripping and bubbles to form on your ceiling tiles. Be patient with your work; it’s a slow but rewarding process.

If you are applying spray paint, you will first want to make sure you are in a well-ventilated area with a face mask on. You should only need one coat of this, but it is all based on preference. Hold your spray can about 6 inches to a foot away from the tiles and apply in straight sweeps. This will ensure the paint goes on evenly.

Acoustic or drop ceiling tiles can easily be taken down and painted, and then place back on the ceiling. This adds a little convenience to the job. If you are doing this, you won’t need a sprayer. A good brush can get this job done efficiently. However, if you already have a sprayer on hand, you can definitely still use it for this.

Of course, after you are done painting, you will want to make sure you clean your brushes so you can reuse them later.

The post How to Choose Paint for Ceiling Tile and How to Apply? first appeared on Eco Paint My House.

Are non-toxic paints edible? The answer is No! They are not edible, because all paint has some level of solvent in the chemical mix that is poisonous to the human body. However, you can eat non-toxic paints, but you will probably experience adverse side effects from it.

Disclaimer: It is extremely dangerous to eat any paint. I do not recommend it at all. On the flip side, we need to know what the difference is between edible and eatable to understand this crisis.

Is Non-toxic Paint Safe To Eat?

So how do you determine if non-toxic paint is safe to eat? Do you eat it and hope you don’t end your life in a screaming fit of pain and agony? How can we know that non-toxic paint is safe to eat?

So there are several kinds of paints, according to Romper.com. Here is a quote from author Mishal Ali Zafar posted in the blog post, “What Happens If My Kids Eat Paint? You Know, Besides My Panic Attack”:

“According to the National Capital Poison Center (NCPC), water-based paints can cause vomiting if swallowed in large amounts, and oil-based paints can contain highly poisonous solvents.” she wrote. Check here for further details about toxicity in water based paint.

“National Institutes of Health noted that even when paints are labeled “non-toxic,” many of them still contain chemicals like cadmium or cobalt, which can be harmful when swallowed.”

So you need to find a paint that has limited amounts of chemicals, that is water-based, and adheres to the guidelines of the VOC emissions test. Let’s explore this concept even further by learning what products are out there for non-toxic paints.

What are non- toxic paints?

Dealing with the original question, we first must understand what non-toxic paints are and how they compare to more traditional options.

Non-toxic paints seem to be a trend in these modern times. The shift from traditional household chemicals and materials to eco-friendly products is becoming more visible everywhere.

One resource that explains this concept of nontoxic paints well is the Go New Mommy blog. This blog is devoted to helping parents finding organic and safe alternatives for their kids.

Non-toxic paints are paints with low or zero Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). These VOCs are off gas that releases into the air after it is applied: the low VOCs and the zero VOCs with chemical compounds are usually made with organic and natural materials.

Ordinary paints can have as much as 10,000 different chemicals in them. Many of these chemicals can be considered toxic with the right concentration. So it is essential to make sure that you know the difference between regular paint and Low or zero VOC paint.

For a paint to be labeled as low or zero VOC paint, according to the Go New Mommy blog, the “Federal government requires the VOCs in paint to be less than 250 grams per liter for flat finishes and 380 grams per liter for other finishes.” (Non Toxic Paint Guide – How Paint Can Be Toxic And What To …. https://gonewmommy.com/2018/03/21/non-toxic-paint/)

More traditional paints have more than 380 grams per liter requirement, making them more toxic to use in your home. It has only been in more recent times that we have had the option of going non-toxic in our paints. An excellent example of non-toxic paints is the brand Ecos Paints.

Ecos Paints carries non-toxic paint as its main product offerings. The Semi-Gloss Pet Dwellings Paint that Ecos Paints offers is an excellent example of what a non-toxic paint is. According to the website, this paint is VOC free and has no odor.

When you look at the ingredients list for this product, you can see that while it doesn’t claim to have stuff like Cadmium or Cobalt, but it has things like thickener and a couple of polymers in it that it is not considered edible. However, you can eat it without fear of death.

Some of the reviews for the paint talk about how it was used for different projects. One person used it for their Rabbit cage said: “I used this product to paint my rabbit cage! I was glad to find a paint that I felt comfortable with since rabbits are known to chew. Happy there is a paint a could trust!”.

So what is the difference between edible and eating the paint? Is there a difference, I mean, you will get sick eating the color, whether it is regular or non-toxic, right? Let’s take a look at the difference between eating and edible.

Eat vs. Edible

Mixing up the words “Eat” and “Edible” is a common mishap that I have made many times before. While we tend to use the words “edible” and “eat” or “eatable” interchangeably, they have different meanings and outcomes that should be taken into consideration.

An excellent rule of thumb of defining edible is asking yourself “Can you eat it without hurting yourself in any fashion or form?” If the answer is Yes, then you are good to go.

So something is edible if it can be ingested and digested without any side effects. Who wants the screaming eagle after eating something? Not me.

Keep in mind, just because you don’t have any side effects immediately after, does not mean it is safe to eat.

You may throw it up later, or it may run through you, but you were able to put it down so therefore it is technically eatable. If it were edible, then you wouldn’t have any issues that seem like you were poisoned. When you vomit, feel nauseous, stomach ache, or other side effects, that’s when you know it’s not edible.

So the issues that arise from eating paint usually are linked to the kind of paint that is ingested. This is further broken down into what the base of the color consists of and whether there are known toxins in the paint. Let us take a look at the types of bases that paint is usually developed.

What Kind of Paints Are Out There?

So what kind of paint is out there? Well, paint can be split between two bases:

• Water
• Oil

There are three basic kinds of paints that are derived from the two bases. You have:

• Latex paint
• Oil-based paint
• Solvent-based paint.

All of them have negative effects on those who decide to eat paint.

One of the first places to look when you have a question about toxic stuff is the poison control center. They have articles and databases chock full of information that covers any substance known to most people.

One of their articles covers paints that you use indoors. In the blog post, “Paints for Indoor Use

When Should I Be Worried (Poison Control Center)?”, they include the differences between different types of paints for indoor use, the dangers for pregnant women, and what to do with the exposure of chemicals to various body parts.

So concerning eating paint, it is not recommended by the poison control center. However, it is not going to kill you or your child if they only ingest a little bit. Let’s go through the different types of paint this article lists and look at how they will affect your body if you swallow them.

Latex paint

So let’s break this down a bit further.

Latex paint is:

• water-based
• acrylic-based
• vinyl
• styrene paint

These paints contain manufactured polymers that bind the chemicals together in the same manner that natural latex would.

Latex paint can be used for indoor jobs like bedroom walls and interior doors. You can also use it for exterior surfaces like siding, exterior doors, and other surfaces that generally get a good coat of paint.

Smooth surfaces are where latex paint is best applied. Surfaces like drywall, the metal on exterior doors, and planed wood, are good locations. It is less effective on concrete and rough surfaces. You want to use oil-based paint for the more uneven surfaces.

According to the poison control center, Latex paint is the least harmful of the three paints. You can eat this without it seriously affecting your health. Just a little vomiting and some stomach issues, and you can move on with your day.

Again, we recommend against ever consuming any paint (or even the idea of it).

Oil-Based Paints

Oil-based paint, unlike latex-based paint, is more durable and takes longer to dry.

Oil-based paint will have natural or synthetic oils as a base. Also known as linseed or alkyd respectively. This makes the paint more resistant to other chemicals and liquids that would usually wear down other paints.

You can use oil-based paint on many exterior surfaces and locations where there is lots of water content in the air, like bathroom walls or the kitchen. It is the choice for any surfaces that experience lots of traffic and disturbance.

According to the Poison control center, oil-based paints are a little more severe than latex paints in terms of toxicity. With oil-based paints, you can experience skin damage and possible lung damage.

The mineral oil in the paint can seriously render your lungs useless and cause pneumonia. Imagine exhaling and not inhaling the same amount you emitted. That is what these eating these oil-based paints can do with your lungs. Not something you want to ingest.

Solvent-Based Paints

The solvent-based paints are usually the worst of the three. You don’t have to swallow any of it to get sick. Just inhaling the paint can for an extended period cause issues, including getting high and may lead to death. Usually this happens as a result of not being a well-ventilated area when applying the paint.

So, how do you handle swallowing paint? What can you do about the side effects of eating paint? Keep reading to find out.

What Does Poison Control Have to Say?

Poison control has a lot of information on how to treat different exposures to different toxins. Poison Control has specialized first aid advice for all kinds of vulnerabilities with all sorts of people.

Basically, according to the article, “Paints for Indoor Use When Should I Be Worried?”, any of the paints used for indoor projects, both toxic and non-toxic, can be resolved with generally the same solutions.

Skin is always the first part to be affected by the chemicals in paint. That is because it is the first point of contact with the contaminant. You can’t get the paint anywhere else without touching your skin and tissue first.

The first aid for paint related issues is also covered by the poison control center. The basic instructions given are to wash off the paint if it is irritating your skin with soap and water. You can wash anything off with soap and water. You can’t get a better start a good start to eliminating the irritation from the paint.

You can wash with soap and water to cleanse the skin. You can drink water or milk for any paint that has been swallowed. You can rinse your eyes if you happen to get any paint up there. They are very basic in their approach to first aid but very useful.

Another issue that this article discusses is how exposure to these paints affects pregnant women. The paint fumes are not proven to cause problems extra for pregnant women, but it is highly recommended that pregnant women stay away from these fumes.

Now, working with paint and being exposed to it is one issue that we seem to have nailed. What about the psychological aspect of eating paint? Why would someone eat paint? Have you ever wanted to eat paint? No, not me never. However, there is an eating disorder called PICA that involves eating paint.

PICA

There is a disorder out there that seems to be coming up as a pretty new and complex issue. It is named PICA, and it is the result of your mind wreaking havoc on itself. According to WebMD, “Pica is the persistent eating of substances such as dirt or paint that have no nutritional value.”

When a person has PICA, they consistently eat things that are not edible. This includes paint or paint chips from anywhere. That’s a common sign of this disease. Chipping the paint off of different surfaces and eating it is not just common for little children, but also people with PICA.

So in response to the issues of eating paint and the dangers, it causes to your health, what is the paint industry doing about it?

What Does the Industry Say?

The paint industry has worked on this issue for the past few decades, due to the demand for safer household products. Before non-toxic paint came on the scene, paint had substantial amounts of lead in it because it was cheap and there was plenty of it on the market.

However, as people wisened up on the health risk this paint was, manufactures began innovating and switching to non-toxic paints as we know them today.

Non-toxic came into the picture sometime during the 20^th century as a replacement for lead-based paint. As painting became more industrialized, people began looking for solutions to the toxicity of the conventional lead paints.

With the invention of non-toxic paints, came more robust colors and variety, which attracted many artists such as Picasso and Pollock to switch to these paints and use them in their artwork (Life in color: The surprising story of paint).

To add to this is the increase in standardization for different categories of paint in the industry. Non-toxic paint to be considered non-toxic paint, it has to pass the VOC emissions test, be virtually odorless, and conform to any regulations placed on the product, as we saw in the ECOS Paint example.

Eating this paint is not going to kill you, so long as you don’t eat a can full at a time. Non-toxic paint is not edible, and should not be ingested at all. Your body will not handle it correctly, and you will most likely puke your guts up.

So please, when you decide to do your next home improvement project, keep the paint out of reach. If you can’t, then consider the safer option of non-toxic paint. It has fewer chemicals in it which makes it safe for using around interested little people, like toddlers and house pets.

You don’t want your kids (two-legged and four-legged alike) to ingest something that they will not come back. Safety first is key.

The post Are Non-toxic Paints Actually Edible? first appeared on Eco Paint My House.

The answer has three parts. If it is brand new paint, there are bound to be some lumps. Just stir it with a stir stick, and it should settle out. If it is an older preponed can of paint, you can attempt to screen the lumps and chunks out of it.  If the paint is lumpy because of contamination or exposure to freezing and thawing, then the best suggestion is to throw it away. 

In this article, we cover all three of these scenarios. We will cover the best ways to screen out your paint. We will give you some tips on how to keep your paint from becoming lumpy.   We will also give you ideas on how to dispose of your paint. Read on to find out more.

I Just Bought New Paint, and It Is Lumpy

This is usually very easy to deal with. Give the paint a few good stirs and those chunks should go away. This is normal for paint that has been closed and sitting. If the chunks are hard and appear dry, then check the can for damage. Check the outside of the can for any signs that it had already been opened.  You may have to return it to the store.

Why Does Paint Get Lumpy?

Paint can get lumpy from sitting too long. Paint will get lumpy and dry out if it is left partially open. Exposure to air will cause the paint to dry naturally. This will cause lumps and chunks. Paint can also become chunky because of contamination.

This happens a lot if the can was improperly opened. This can also happen if contaminants get into the paint while the can is open. Freezing and thawing can break your paint down no matter how new it is. If you have lumps and chunks in your paint, all is not lost!

I Got a Great Deal on Some Used Paint

This happens quite often. Anytime you have paint that has been opened, check the cans to make sure that the lids have been closed correctly. When you get the paint open each can and check its consistency. Try stirring it with a paint stick and check the color. If there are lumps and chunks, then attempt to remove them using the methods discussed below. If you succeed, then follow our tips for sealing and storing paint. Seal them back up and store them till you need them.

Does Paint Have a Shelf life?

The paint will not last forever. Most water-based and acrylic paints that would be used in the home can last 10 years. That is the suggested shelf life from most manufacturers. If the paint can is opened, used, and stored correctly, it can last a lot longer. Usage and storage also factor into how long your paint will last.

Tips for Restoring Paint

Here are the best tips for restoring paint to usable condition. This process is called screening. It removes the lumps and chunks from the paint and allows you to use it again.

• Open your paint can.
• Use a metal scraper to pry the lid off.
• Put on your gloves and
• Get some sheers
• Find a piece of screen
• Cut a piece of the screen just large enough to cover the can mouth
• Trim enough off, so the screen fits inside the can.
• Place the screen in the can and slowly press down
• The lumps will be pressed to the bottom of the can
• Stir the paint and use it

This method will work when removing larger chunks and lumps from the paint. Leave the screen in the can as it has compressed the lumps and chunks to the bottom of the can For smaller particles, you can attempt to use a finer piece of screen.

If the chunks and lumps are at the top of the can, you can try using a small cup to skim the debris off the top of the paint. This process can be repeated until there is nothing left to use.

How to Avoid Paint Getting Lumpy

The best way to avoid lumpy or chunky paint is to practice good procedures for opening using and sealing a can of paint.  This will minimize dirt and other contaminants from getting in your paint. It can really make a difference. This will also help keep your paint usable if you have some leftover after a project.

How to Properly Open a Can of Paint

When opening the paint, use a screwdriver or other flat tool to open the can. Start in one place and slowly work your way around the perimeter of the can. Remove the lid and put it somewhere that it will not get dirty.

A helpful tip is to take a nail or a pick and go around the inner rim of the can punch a small hole about every inch or so. This will let paint drain back in the can.

Using Your Paint

When painting always pour from one side of the can.  Use a clean stir stick to stir the paint before using it. This helps break up the pigments that can cause lumps and chunks in new paint cans. Clean off any paint from the outside of the can. Don’t paint directly out of the can. Never pour the paint back into the can. This can contaminate the good paint.

How to Properly Seal a Paint Can

When you are done painting place the lid firmly on the can. Use a rubber mallet if you can to gently but firmly tap the lid in place. Try not to use a hammer as this can cause damage to the can and lid. If you need to use a hammer, then use light and close taps to seal the can. Once you are done, store the can upside down. This should prevent air from getting in and causing skim to build up drying the paint out. If you follow these steps, you can guard against lumps and chunks.

Storing Your Paint

Storing your paint is an important thing. Temperature can have a lot to do with the breakdown of paint. Try to keep it stored in an area that maintains a constant temperature. Freezing and thawing paint can also cause lumps and chunks. If this happens, you will need to throw the paint away. There is nothing that can be done to save this.

Can My Paint Be Saved?

In most cases, paint can be saved. If all the paint in a can has not dried out, you have a good chance to save it. There are times when you cannot save the paint in the can. If rust and fine sediments have caused the lumps and chunks, it is probably best to throw it away. The pigment in this paint has probably been damaged.

Where Can I Dispose of Paint?

If you need to throw your paint away, try to find a recycling place for it. If you are unable to locate one, then you may discard it in your trash. Before doing so, make sure that all of the paint is dry. If it is not, then mix in some cat litter or paper strips and allow it to dry. Once it has dried then throw it away.

The post What To Do About Chunky or Clumpy Paint first appeared on Eco Paint My House.

Because increased exposure to chemicals found in paint thinners can be dangerous and result in negative health outcomes, companies have developed natural alternatives that cut down on chemicals and emissions. We have selected some of the best eco-friendly paint thinners to give you a great alternative for cleaning brushes and thinning paint if necessary.

The 7 Best Eco-Friendly Paint Thinners

Because of the toxic chemicals involved in using paint thinners, we have pulled together the best eco-friendly solutions that rely on natural oils and reductions in chemical contents to provide the same result as a traditional paint thinner. These are not only better for the environment, but they are also safer to expose your body to.

The Real Milk Paint Company: Citrus Solvent

This product is a natural alternative to a paint thinner as it replaces the use and function of mineral spirits in both thinning paint and cleaning brushes. The product is made of citrus solvent, which is citrus oil that is extracted from orange peels. This makes up 98% of the product, and the other 2% comes from water.

Compared to paint thinner, it may evaporate a bit more slowly but the fumes inhaled are safer than paint thinner chemicals. Paint thinners can cause damage to your lungs and internal organs while this product does not. This product is also clear-colored, eliminating the chance to stain surfaces like other products.

What We Like

• It is a safe alternative to most solvents and chemicals used for the same purpose.
• It can be thrown away without putting harmful chemicals into the environment.
• It has many uses beyond that of a paint thinner, making it a versatile product for thinning paint, thinning Tung oil, dewaxing, and degreasing.

What We Don’t

• The product dries more slowly than chemical alternatives for quick use.

Bioshield Citrus Thinner

Citrus-based thinners have proven to be effective in both thinning and removing paint from your equipment. Bioshield paint thinner provides both environmental consciousness and the successful removal of paints. It also provides a variety of other functions, making it a solid investment if you also need to remove oils, grease, wax, resin, or tars.

This solution is similar in function to turpentine, a solvent that aims to accomplish the same cleaning goals. You can use it to clean a variety of surfaces, and it is pH neutral, making it mild on surfaces and contact with your skin. It provides all the cleaning benefits but with oil from citrus peels rather than harmful chemicals.

What We Like

• Does not contain harmful chemicals that are found in traditional paint thinners and mineral spirits.
• It works on many surfaces and cleans multiple kinds of build-up.
• Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) prevents toxins from entering the atmosphere at levels that paint thinners contribute.

What We Don’t

• Citrus-based paint thinners are typically more expensive than standard chemical paint thinners.

co-House Extra Mild Citrus Thinner

Using similar citrus ingredients, the Eco-House thinner is all-purpose, being used on oil-based products, varnishes, waxes, resins, gums, and tars. It is a mild solvent and has medium strength capabilities, making it gentler than other paint thinners. We recommend this product for users who need to remove many of the substances mentioned without the harshness of chemicals.

Because it dries more slowly than chemical solvents, you can work with it longer in paint application. This is advantageous for artists who want to work with and manipulate the paint for longer periods of time.

What We Like

• Extra mild solution for those seeking an all-purpose thinner that is not harsh on surfaces or skin. This product is especially good for people with allergies.
• A safe and environmentally friendly solution to taking care of all paint thinning needs.

What We Don’t

• • Slow drying time may be a disadvantage in cleaning brushes and drying them quickly for new use.

Chelsea Classical Studio Lavender Spike Oil Essence

While most of the natural solutions to paint thinners are used with citrus oils, the same effect can be achieved using specific lavender oils. Spike lavender is within the lavender family and has thinning properties similar to turpentine. It is a natural solvent that can be used to thin oil paints as well as varnishes and resins.

What We Like

• Spike lavender oil is a safe alternative to turpentine as it does not contain the harmful chemicals that can be hazardous to your health when inhaled.
• The oil is typically used in making aromatherapy candles, providing a safe and pleasant smell.
• The thinner is incredibly versatile for accomplishing many different painting techniques.

What We Don’t

• It is fairly expensive for the size of the container (over $15 per ounce), making it better for thinning paints than as a cleaning solution.
• The design of the bottle can waste some oil when it is poured. It is recommended to use a dropper to save oil or some users dip directly into the bottle.

Eco Solve

Made by Natural Earth Paint, this natural alternative to paint thinners and solvents is made of natural oils and is 100% non-toxic. The product is soy-based and vegan, making it animal cruelty free. This paint thinner is specifically designed for artists and can be used at a professional level for their brushes and equipment.

This product is used specifically for oil paints and helps to remove them from brushes, palettes, containers, and work surfaces. This is a high quality product that allows you to accomplish clean up and new painting techniques without the headaches associated with chemical paint thinners.

What We Like

• No harmful vapors are emitted, and the solution does not irritate once in contact with skin.
• Does not pollute the environment once disposed of.
• Can be used to make unique effects (glazing, dripping, underpaintings, etc.) on painting technique.

What We Don’t

• Fairly niche product being used specifically for artists rather than larger home projects or commercial use
• While non-toxic, fumes can still be overwhelming give people headaches if inhaled
• Dries slower than mineral spirits or other chemical paint thinners

Klean-Strip Green Paint Thinner

If you are looking for a strong paint thinner that has no hazardous air pollutants or chemicals that deteriorate the ozone, Klean-Strip Green Paint Thinner will do the job. It is best for cleaning and preparing paint, but it can also be used to remove dirt from many surfaces such as wood, plastic, metal, and painted surfaces.

This product has low VOC content and is made from 65% renewable resources. Use it for your paint thinning, cleaning, and dirt removing needs!

What We Like

• This product will thin oil-based paints without impacted dried paints.
• It can be used indoors with limited odor.
• Non-flammable for safety, but still should be kept out of direct sunlight and heat.

What We Don’t

• The product is not entirely natural compared to other environmentally friendly products.

Green Envy Paint Thinner

Green Envy’s paint thinner acts as an environmentally friendly alternative to your traditional paint thinners. This product is designed for thinning oil and latex paints. It allows for the cleaning of brushes, painting materials, and surfaces, and is also a useful degreaser. It differs from traditional thinners in that is it water-based, making it more environmentally friendly.

If you are looking for an effective paint thinner that is better for the environment and your health, Green Envy provides this solution. It still contains many of the chemicals found in mineral spirits and paint thinners, but at lower concentrations.

What We Like

• Fewer odors and toxins allows for safer use and impacts upon you and the environment.
• This product is less flammable than traditional paint thinners and should be kept away from heat.
• Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) means cleaner air, fewer contributions to ozone deterioration, and smog.

What We Don’t

• Not an all-natural product, chemicals can still be inhaled and put into the air.

Why Use Eco-Friendly Paint Thinners?

Now that we’ve selected the best eco-friendly paint thinners on the market, you may be wondering if it matters. Does using eco-friendly paint thinner compared to the traditional chemicals matter? The answer is yes. Eco-friendly thinners are not simply a marketing tool to show that companies are investing in better solutions for the planet, they are safer! 

There are a couple of benefits to using eco-friendly paint thinners:

1. They limit pollution: The most obvious reason (said in the name) to use eco-friendly paint thinners is for their environmental safety. With limited to no use of harsh chemicals, disposal of materials will not harm the planet and chemicals will not be released into the air. Having low VOC content limits ozone deterioration.
2. Health and Safety: Paint thinners expose humans to lots of chemicals that can be damaging to their internal organs and unsafe upon contact with skin. Eco-friendly paint thinners use natural materials to produce the same effects.
3. All-purpose: Many all natural paint thinners, especially those made with citrus oils, can be used for a variety of purposes. Not only does it thin paint and clean paint off, you can degrease, dewax, and take off gums, tars, and resins. If you do not plan to use the paint thinner frequently, having it around can have usefulness in other areas.

You will not only be doing the environment a favor by choosing natural products, but you will also be putting your well-being and health first. These reasons alone should convince you using an eco-friendly paint thinner is the way to go.

When To Use Oil-Based Paints

Because most paint thinners are designed to work with oil-based paints, it is important to know when you will need paint thinner in different applications. The most common use for oil-based paints is oil painting for artists. It is one of the most popular art mediums because of its versatility and range of techniques.

Oil-based paints can also be used for home painting. People use oil-based paints because they are durable and long-lasting. You should use these paints if you do not plan to change wall colors often. These paints can handle more frequent contact, making them great for children’s rooms and areas that can get roughed up more easily.

You should use these paints on molding and trimmings as well as they are more likely to be bumped where scratches and chips will look more obvious. Oil-based paints will be the best option for increased durability.

How To Thin Paint

When thinning paint, you’ll need to make sure you follow the proper steps to ensure that the paint is to your desired viscosity. There are two main factors to consider when thinning paint:

• Using the correct type: You must use a paint thinner that is compatible with the type of paint you are using. Most paint thinners are used for oil-based paints, but there are other variations for latex and water-based paints.
• Mixing the correct amount: The paint container should guide you on the proper paint to paint thinner ratios. It is recommended that you start with small amounts of thinner and build up as to not add too much thinner from the start. You should always have more paint than thinner. Different types of painting will require varying levels of thickness.

To mix the paint thinner, you should follow the directions laid out by the manufacturer and put both into a bucket. Add thinner in small amounts until you have thoroughly mixed in all the thinner. Use a paint stirrer to mix the paint for a couple of minutes. You should notice the consistency start to change.

To see if your paint has the correct consistency, apply two coats to the surface you are painting. Evaluate the results. You want to make sure it is not dripping and you cannot see the surface underneath. If the paint is still too thick, you can add more paint thinner.

How To Clean Brushes and Equipment

Using paint thinner to clean oil-based brushes is an effective way to remove all paint from your supplies. There are some steps you should follow to be most efficient and minimize the amount of thinner you use.

1. Rinse brushes in paint thinner: Prepare a small amount of paint thinner and really try to remove as much paint as possible from the brushes. It is best to work outdoors and with gloves for most paint thinners, but eco-friendly citrus-based thinners do not require this. This should remove the bulk of the excess paint.
2. Use a brush spinner: Brush spinners will continue to get the remaining paint out of the brush and aid in drying. You can also blot with a paper towel if you don’t have a spinner.
3. More paint thinner: Use a clean container of paint thinner to get anything left out of the bristles.
4. Spin again
5. Clean in soapy water: Now that you’ve removed all the paint, you can rinse in water with soap for additional cleaning. Some painters do not do this with natural bristles.
6. Spin and hang: You’ll want to spin the remaining water out of the brush and reshape it to its smooth and uniform condition. Let dry.

Properly cleaning your brushes is key to keeping them in great condition and getting the longest life out of them. Nice brushes can be expensive and not taking care of them after use will damage them. If you want to learn more about the best methods of cleaning pain brushes, our article here covers that in full.

The Best Eco-Friendly Paint Thinners

Using eco-friendly paint thinners is an ideal solution if you want to keep both the environment and yourself healthy and safe. Working with paints and the fumes associated with paint thinners can be incredibly harmful to your health and pollute the environment upon disposal. While you will be paying slightly more for these products, their benefits outweigh the costs.

The all-purpose benefits of eco-friendly paint thinners also make them a worthwhile investment for many projects around your house when you need to remove paints, resins, waxes, and grease. Paint thinners have multiple practical applications so you won’t have to buy it for one use and never use it again.

Our favorite paint thinners are the Bioshield Citrus Thinner and the Real Milk Citrus Solvent. They are both made from citrus oil, making them natural products that will both accomplish your paint thinning needs and are safe to use. You will not need to wear protective gear to work with these products like you would if you used a traditional chemical solvent.

You will not go wrong with any of the paint thinners on this list, but these are our picks for the best eco-friendly paint thinners. Avoiding harmful chemicals as much as possible is important, especially if you work with paint frequently. Using a natural alternative will allow you to continue your tasks without putting your health at risk!

The post The 7 Best Eco-Friendly Paint Thinners first appeared on Eco Paint My House.

Ceiling paint vs. wall paint: What’s the difference? Both ceiling paint and wall paint are very similar to each other in that they are both interior wall paint, but the differences are:

• Ceiling paint is thicker
• Ceiling paint is a very flat interior paint
• Ceiling paint is often tinted with a pale pink or blue color
• Wall paint is designed to be more durable to handle scrubbing and soap

In this article, we are going to talk about the differences in ceiling and wall paint and also help you in making a decision in selecting the best wall and ceiling paints for your next project. Whether it’s painting your new home or doing touch-ups on your current home, this quick guide will help you out.

What Do I Need to Know About Paint?

Painting is the most popular Do-It-Yourself project that people undertake. People tend to take on projects like painting interior ceilings, walls, and ceilings on their own instead of hiring a professional due to the reduced cost and implied simplicity of the project.

However, it is not the simplest of tasks. Painting walls and ceilings can be hard work, and if you don’t know how the paint works or what type of paint that you will need for the task at hand, it can leave you stressed out, frustrated and with more work than you originally started off with. First and foremost, you need to know about paint itself and which is a good one to use on your project.

Choosing the Right Type of Paint for Your Surface

Before we can go into the differences in detail of what the differences are between wall and ceiling paint, we need to cover what exact paint is made of. There are 4 basic and essential ingredients to paint. These 4 ingredients are as follows: pigments, resins, solvents, and additives. Below is a description of each of these ingredients.

• Pigment: This is what makes up the color of the paint. Pigments can be various hues and shades of blue, green, red, pink, yellow, etc.
• Resin: This is what allows the paint to stick to a surface once it is applied
• Solvents: Solvent is the carrier within the paint that makes it a liquid and keeps it from becoming a solid while it is within its container. Once the paint is applied to a surface or paint is left exposed for a period of time, it begins to evaporate, and the paint hardens.
• Additives: Additives are what gives paints their special properties and characteristics such as stain blocking to keep stains from showing up on a surface where it is applied or the ability to kill mold that comes into contact with the paint.

You Get What You Pay For: Choose Your Paint Wisely

When it comes to choosing the paint that is the best option in both cost and performance, it is important to do your best to avoid the cheap bargain buys. Cheap and low quality is not always the best when it comes to painting your home.

The lower end “bargain” paints will actually cost you more money in the long run due to its higher solvent content. Cheap paints tend to have a 50% solvent makeup of the paint which will make it extremely runny.

This extra runny paint will cause you to have to apply extra coats of paint. This also means that you are using more paint than you need to, which will require you to purchase more paint to perform the same job.

When choosing a quality paint, be sure to look at paint that has about a 45% solvent makeup. Aside from that, make sure that the manufacturer of the paint has a good reputation first, so be sure to do your research before you buy!

Painting on a budget?

Instead of buying a low-quality paint, check your store’s “mis-mixed” shelf. Most home improvement stores have them. This is where paint ends up if, after it’s mixed, the customer or store staff is unhappy with the pigment. If you are flexible in your color choice, you can get some high-quality paint on this reject shelf! For more information about choosing the right color for you, we cover that in full detail here.

What is Different About Ceiling Paint?

When it comes to ceiling paint, it is a very special paint designed to do one job: paint your ceiling.

Ceiling paint has a much higher viscosity (thickness) than your average wall/ office paint. This allows the paint to be utilized with a significantly lower risk of drips and splatters so that you can focus on putting the paint on the ceiling and not whether you have enough plastic on the floor to catch dripping paint. The viscosity also lets you know which application tools you can use with success.

When compared to ceiling paint, latex wall paint has a significantly lower viscosity. This lower level of thickness does not make it ideal for painting ceilings as you run the risk of the paint not drying fast enough and having a lot of paint dripping on the floor. This paint will tend to drip off of the roller more readily than wall paint, too.

The low-viscosity paints can leave drips on your ceiling. This can be very difficult to correct and will leave the area looking a bit unsightly. Using the ceiling paint with higher viscosity will provide a better all-around look and will also prevent fewer drips and less paint mist.

Here is a table detailing the difference in viscosity between wall and ceiling paints (provided by www.thespruce.com):

The Best Ceiling Paints, by Viscosity

The KU (Kreb Units) are the standard measurements used to determine viscosity levels in paints. To get an idea of what this means, here is a commonly used comparison: honey’s viscosity is roughly equivalent to a range of 100-500 KU. Ceiling paint would compare to thinned-out honey.

Ceiling Paint Is Better at Providing Stain Protection and Hiding Stains

The higher viscosity a paint has, the better it is at hiding stains. The thickness helps here. When you use a thinner type of paint or a cheaper paint with a high solvent ratio, you will need to reapply the paint 2 or more times to cover the stain that is there. This is because the paint isn’t thick enough to cover the blemish with one coat.

Therefore, stain-blocking is a benefit of ceiling paint’s high viscosity. Since it is so thick, it does not take multiple applications to cover up stains on a surface. Ceilings in areas that have poor ventilation tend to develop mildew spots. This can be corrected by installing a bathroom fan or heat lamp and covering the area with ceiling painting.

Cigarette and cigar smoke, insects, cooking splatter, and water spots tend to collect on ceilings. Ceiling paint, while it is not capable of covering all stains, it is significantly better suited than normal latex paint.

 Oil or Water Based Paint? What Should I Use?

It is important to realize that all paints, whether it is a ceiling or wall paint, fall into one of two solvent categories: Oil or water. In water-based paint, water acts as the solvent. This is your “latex” paint. It does not contain latex, however.

Most water-based paints are made with acrylic and are also known as “acrylic latex.” When it is an “oil-based” paint, it isn’t actually made of oil either. The solvent is actually composed of mineral spirits also known as paint thinner or alkyd resin.

Water-Based/ Latex (Wall Paint)

Water-based or latex paint is most commonly known as wall paint. It is the most common type of paint used for painting the interior of the home and is utilized for several important reasons:

• It is durable and easy to clean with soap and water, which will help maintain the look of the surface that you have applied the paint to without worry or risk of causing damage to the painted surface.
• It is environmentally friendly and does not contain many volatile or harmful chemicals if any at all. This is beneficial in that it helps with a piece of mind in case children or pets come into contact with the wet paint, and you also don’t have to worry about harmful fumes when painting.
• Latex paint also provides excellent performance. With the proper conditions, it is able to be used in almost any situation.
• It’s very flexible. This contributes to its durability. With the ability to move with the flexing of a surface and not become warped or cracked makes it invaluable to interior painting.
• It’s mildew-resistant. Latex paint has special properties that allow it to prevent mildew and build-up of moisture. This will help keep your interior in the best condition it can be.
• It is able to dry very quickly. This is a great benefit to using latex paints due to the fast evaporating solvent (water) used. This is perfect for quickly covering a surface and not waiting for a long time for the paint to dry.
• It is available in many colors and finishes/sheens. This is excellent for individuals who want unique color or even a variety to utilize in their interior painting project.

Water-based paint is widely used due to being so flexible in its use that it can be applied to almost every area in the interior and exterior of a home including walls, door frames, woodwork, and baseboards. This quality is what has made it so popular and widely used among DIYers all over.

Is Ceiling Paint a Worthwhile Purchase?

Ceiling paint is definitely a worthwhile purchase when it comes to getting a project done. While it is labeled as “ceiling paint,” it can be used on any interior of the home and is especially suited to deal with mold and mildew on ceilings.

The cost is not a turn away, either. It is only a little more expensive than your normal latex paint and has a higher viscosity as well as a flat finish that makes it suitable for painting not only ceilings but entire interiors as well.

Keep this in mind: If you decide that you want to use a paint sprayer to paint your ceiling as opposed to using a roller, the high viscosity of ceiling paint will not be as important since the drippage will be minimized. However, you will need to make sure all surfaces in the area that you are painting are covered to avoid them being sprayed by the paint.

Do You Have Any Tips for Using Ceiling Paint?

Yes, we do! Below we are going to give you a few tips on using ceiling paint so that you can make your purchase confidently and get on your next DIY project without worry of not knowing what you should do and if ceiling paint is a good selection for what you’re trying to accomplish!

1. Make sure that you use a roller. Earlier, we talked about using a paint sprayer and how it negates the need to have to use ceiling paint because the risk of dripping is eliminated. However, if you’re going to use to paint your ceiling, you should use a roller.

Wrapping everything up to prevent paint spray from getting on it is time-consuming, and you could have finished painting the ceiling by the time you got done covering everything up.

2. Make use of quality ladders. People tend to use scaffolding due to the fact that it is great to work from when painting a ceiling. However, it can take an extremely long time to build scaffolding for an entire room, and it is not the most maneuverable piece of equipment. 

Be sure to use a quality ladder when painting your ceiling. It is safer and much easier to move around with. If you are going to use any scaffolding, it should come from a rental yard, not a DIY from the things you have at the house.

3. Be sure to pick the right extension pole. Extension poles come in different extendable lengths and are great for painting the ceiling from the floor. If you have a pole that is 8, 9, or 10 feet long when extended, depending on the height of your ceiling, you will be able to paint most of the ceiling from the floor reasonably. 

However, if you happen to choose a 17-foot long extension pole instead and your ceiling is nowhere near that height you will make yourself work a little harder than you need to due to the extra weight that you are carrying.

4. Treat the ceiling as a separate painting project. After you have completed painting the walls in your home, don’t fall into the trap of trying to paint the ceiling as well. That is a whole other ball game in itself. Ceilings are designed differently than walls and need to be approached as such. That being said, it is a project that needs to be completed separately.

5. Paint the ceiling a flat white. A lot of people, when they are undertaking a painting project, want to paint their ceiling all types of cool or outrageous colors. While it might seem like a good idea at the time, you’ll end up regretting the decision later.

When painting your ceiling, keep it white. Below are the reasons why you should:

• It will allow the room to have more lighting. White is a very reflective color and will make your room that much brighter and more enjoyable to be in after your project is completed.

• It gives the room the illusion of having more space. This is due to the effect that the color white has on the eyes. It is extremely difficult for the eyes to pinpoint distance when looking in a white space, so it appears farther and deeper than what it really is. This is what creates the illusion of a room being roomier than what it is.

In addition to staying with a white ceiling, also use a flat finish or matte sheen. When using flat white ceiling paint, it adds to the perception of there being more space in the room. Anything that provides a reflection, like a gloss finish, will let the eyes know that the surface has an ending point. This will make the room feel smaller than what it is.

In Conclusion

We hope that this guide has gotten you on the right path as to know how to choose your paints and the pros and cons of both wall and ceiling paints, so you get on with your next (or even first) DIY project. Thanks for reading and until next time! Paint on!

The post Ceiling Paint vs. Wall Paint: What’s the Difference? first appeared on Eco Paint My House.

Can you reuse paint trays? Yes. There are a number of ways to clean paint trays, including soap and water, paint thinner, and power washing. However, the best way to reuse paint trays may be to not let them get dirty in the first place by using a liner. If you’re using the same color over again, cleaning may not even be necessary.

There are a few techniques for preserving or reclaiming paint trays. We’ll run through each of them as well as covering a few other paint tools that can be reused.

Why Reuse Paint Trays?

While it may not seem like a paint tray, which usually costs around three dollars, is really something you need to worry about making the most of, there are a number of reasons for reusing paint trays. Depending on the size of your project, you may be painting for several days or across several rooms. If you’re tossing out old, used paint trays every day or more, the cost of painting can really start to spike.

Even if your project is relatively small, odds are you’ll be painting again sooner or later. Why not save the equipment and spare yourself some bread down the road? Also, it might save you a trip to the hardware store.

It’s more eco-friendly to avoid buying paint trays over and over again. The fewer paint trays you buy, the fewer paint crusted trays are filling up landfills. By reusing paint trays you cut down on the total amount of waste you generate.

How to Clean Paint Trays

Cleaning paint trays is really crucial when you’re switching colors. Even if the paint on the tray is thoroughly dried, there’s always a chance that as you roll and flex the tray that dried flecks of the older color will break off onto your roller and then onto your walls.

Some people say that if your paint job will take less than an hour, that you’re pretty safe from old paint flaking off. I say, why take the risk? Keeping your trays clean is not very difficult. There are a few ways to do it. We’ll be explaining

• Liners
• Soap and water
• Paint thinner
• Power washing

These methods will allow you to clean your paint trays for further use.

Method 1: Liners

Using a liner is the easiest way to prevent trays from becoming dirty in the first place. You can generally find liners for around fifty cents, but you may be able to find them even cheaper in bulk. You can even make your own liners by wrapping the tray in tin foil. The process of using a liner is simple.

1. Place the liner inside the tray, make sure it fits snug so that it doesn’t lift up while you’re rolling
2. Pour the paint into the tray
3. Paint away
4. Pour excess paint back into the can
5. Allow the paint in the liner some time to dry so that it doesn’t slosh when you try to pull out the liner
6. Lift away the liner and toss it out. If you apply some of our cleaning methods below to the liner, you may even get a few more uses out of it.

One of the big advantages of a liner is that it allows you to reuse a paint tray that’s already been ruined with dried paint. If you don’t clean your trays right away, it can be really difficult to get the paint off. Liners are perhaps the easiest and most popular ways to reuse paint trays.

Method 2: Soap and Water

Soap and water may be the most obvious way to clean paint off something. As long as you don’t allow the paint to dry, this method can be quite effective.

1. Pour excess paint back into the can
2. Run cold water over the tray to wash off as much paint as possible
3. Apply soap (dish soap works great) and get in there with a scrub brush to brush away any stuck-on paint bits
4. Rinse one last time
5. Allow to dry thoroughly before adding paint again

Soap and water works great for cleaning out water-based paints, but what about oil? If you use enough soap, you might be able to work away oil paint residue, but it’s going to be a battle. If you’re using oil paints, method 3 is going to be a lot easier going.

Method 3: Paint Thinner

Using paint thinner is the only way to reliably wash away oil-based paint residue. You need to be careful, though, paint thinner is a dangerous chemical and can cause chemical burns if it comes into contact with your skin. Take the appropriate precautions.

1. Pour excess paint back into the can
2. Run cold water over the tray to wash off as much paint as possible. You aren’t going to get it all, and that’s okay. You just want the bulk of it washed away
3. Put on rubber gloves to protect yourself from the paint thinner
4. Pour paint thinner into the tray, enough to cover the paint spots
5. Using a roller or a sponge, work the paint thinner into the paint until all the paint is released
6. Dump the paint thinner somewhere safe and soak the tray in warm soapy water for several hours
7. Rinse away the soapy water
8. Allow to dry thoroughly before adding paint again

Using paint thinner is a bit of a process. But, once you’ve finished it, you’ll have a shiny paint tray ready to go another round.

Method 4: Power Washer

If you’ve got a power washer, any time you get to pull it out is a good day. They are tremendously fun to use. If you can figure out a way to keep the tray secured, this is the easiest and most enjoyable way to clean a paint tray.

1. Pour excess paint back into the can
2. Place the paint tray somewhere where it won’t fly away when hit with pressurized water—inside a tipped over wheelbarrow works well
3. Spray away. Be sure to get inside all the ridges and around the edges and corners
4. Allow to dry thoroughly before adding paint again

Once again, this method works best if the paint is still wet. If you allow the paint in the tray to dry, even a power washer may not be enough to knock away all the paint.

Summary

Reusing paint trays can save you money, save the earth, and save you a drive to the hardware store. The easiest way to reuse paint trays is to use a liner to prevent them from getting dirty in the first place. If you don’t have liners or would rather not pay for them, you can clean your trays with soap and water, paint thinner, or a power washer.

These cleaning methods aren’t even limited to just paint trays. You can use the same techniques with only a little adjustment for paint roller or paintbrushes. The more equipment you can reuse, the cheaper your paint project will be.

The post Can You Reuse Paint Trays? first appeared on Eco Paint My House.

Are water-based paints toxic too? Water-based latex paints can cause irritation when contact with the skin occurs, as well as nausea or upset stomach if ingested. Overall, these types of paints do not poison the body or cause latex allergy reactions, as they do not include natural rubber latex. 

 Although water-based latex paints do not pose a deadly threat from contact or ingestion, many other risk factors exist due to the ingredients in these products. There are many things that need to be taken into account in order to accurately assess the health hazards imposed by the ingredients. Some of them are tricky to identify and others are downright scary.

Are Water-Based Paints Breathable?

Water-based paints can contain surprising amounts of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that can pose serious health concerns when inhaled for long periods of time. Being able to identify the signs of overexposure is very important. The best way to keep yourself and your family safe is to become educated on what the specific signs of danger from your body are. Here is a general list of what those signs are:

• Eye irritation
• Sore throat
• Nasal irritation
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nose bleeds
• Vomiting
• Shortness of breath

It’s important to look out for any of these symptoms and take measures to correct them early on to avoid more serious side effects. Some of the more serious side effects can be debilitating and even life-threatening. But taking the time to stop at some of the earlier symptoms, you avoid having to deal with the more dangerous aspects, such as:

• Loss of consciousness
• Long-term damage to the nervous system
• Liver damage
• Kidney failure
• Cancer

When you begin painting, it’s vitally important to maintain proper air ventilation. Be sure to keep windows open allowing fresh air into the workspace and use fans to keep the air circulating.  Although it is impossible to eliminate the risks of over-exposure, working to maintain a properly ventilated workspace will certainly reduce the likelihood of severe effects.

The above lists were compiled based on EPA findings regarding volatile organic compounds.

How Long Does Paint Emit VOCs Into the Air?

High volumes of VOCs are released into the air as the paint dries, but the emission does not stop at that point. On average, the levels of VOCs immediately after painting a room are 1,000 times higher than you would find outdoors – and that’s only if you used a low-level VOC paint.

Although the room is safely inhabitable after the first 24 hours, only 50% of the VOCs are released over the course of the first year. This means that even after a low-level VOC paint has dried, it continues to seep them out over the course of several years. However, even though they are still being released, at this point they are at safe levels. (find complete findings and more info here)

If you are using a paint that is free of VOCs, you still need to keep the area well ventilated for a while before the health risks are eliminated. In order for paint to dry properly and avoid peeling or bubbling, chemicals still must be used. Even after the paint has dried, it is important to keep windows open and proper air circulation going through your home for a week or so.

Unfortunately, experts have not yet definitively determined on record how long it takes for the unhealthy fumes to disappear completely, it has been agreed that a brand-new home, typically using a wide variety of VOC containing materials, still have what is considered toxic levels in them for several months after the completion of the home.

To be safe, it’s better to take more precautions than less overall. Assuming that you have been diligent in maintaining proper air ventilation throughout the process, it will be safe for both adults and children to sleep in a freshly painted room after 1 – 2 days of drying.

Should I Use Only Low or No Level VOC Paints?

As we have addressed earlier, even with the reduced VOC exposure, there are still chemical risks involved anytime you use household paint. Most of us get lost in trying to make sense of all the product levels. I’ve taken a look at the different types of paint and decided that even though I couldn’t conclude which option is the undisputed champion, I’ve at least learned enough to pass on for you to decide which would work for your personal situation.

Paints that claim a low-level VOC content are making a very general claim. It does, in fact, mean that they have reduced the use of these agents, therefore reducing the levels emitted into the air, but when they say low, the only comparison is other paints. As of today, there has been no standard on what an acceptable level of VOC content would be to use the ‘low-level’ claim.

Without an acceptable standard, there is no real way to know when shopping what the variance is from product to product. Consider how vague ‘less’ is. If you have 100 marbles, having less means a range of 99-0.

On the other hand, a no-level VOC paint means just that – no VOCs. That does not necessarily make the paint a safer option though, either. As established, chemicals need to be present in paint to insure it works correctly. Also, once you get into the tinting process, sometimes VOCs are added.

The best thing about using either of these varieties is that the heavy paint odor that circulates in your house is much less. These paints do prove to have less of an odor. Product development since the first appearance of these paints has greatly improved over time, making them comparable to regular household paint in application, texture and even drying time.

There have been a bunch of non-toxic, natural and even eco-friendly paints showing up at hardware stores recently as well. Just like anything else, it’s important to read the labels to make sure they don’t have any additional additives or harmful chemicals anyway.  Some new additions include milk paint, and pigments. These items get more expensive and labor-intensive.

With All These Options, Where Do We Draw the Line?

I’m sure if I kept researching, I would have found that there were an infinite number of marketing ploys out there meant to scaremonger you and guilt you into shelling out your life savings in the interest of keeping yourself and your family safe. This is where it becomes more of a judgment call than a matter of product research.

Take a trip to your local hardware store and ask someone in the paint department if they have any personal experience using the different varieties or valuable customer feedback. Perhaps you have a friend or family member who has recently done some home improvement projects that could offer some suggestions. It’s important to consider price and product longevity, after all, and who knows better than someone who has been there?

Lastly, consider what is most important to you. Make sure whatever you choose to go with works for your lifestyle. However important safety is, we can’t forget to be practical.

The post Are Water-Based Paints Toxic Too? first appeared on Eco Paint My House.

Are foam paint rollers any good? Yes, foam paint rollers are suitable for certain types of painting jobs and also are a budget-friendly way to get the job done since they cost less than nap rollers. Foam rollers work well on smooth surfaces, with thinner paints, with large surfaces, when matching the trim, and for short term use.  

Since there isn’t a lot of information available on the Internet today about when you should use foam paint rollers and how to use them, we’ve created this article to help you out. We’ll cover the benefits of using foam paint rollers and when you should use them below.

Foam Paint Rollers and Nap Rollers

If you are getting ready to complete a painting project around your house, you’re probably wondering when you can use foam paint rollers. Foam paint rollers are cheaper than nap rollers, and also do a better job when it comes to specific painting jobs.

While there are other types of paint rollers available on the market today, the two most common types of paint rollers you’ll find are nap rollers and foam rollers. Nap rollers are comprised of several different types of fibers and strands. On the other hand, foam paint rollers are made up of foam, cost less, and do well with particular painting jobs.

Knowing how and when to pick what type of paint roller for the kind of painting job you are planning to accomplish can make a huge difference in how well the project looks when you complete it. So, you’ll want to take some time to get familiar with paint rollers and what types to use when. That way, you’ll be able to achieve the results you want with your painting project.

Here are some things to consider about paint rollers before starting your project:

• Trying to find a one-size-fits-all approach with paint rollers when you are repainting your house will probably leave you with less than desirable results.
• That’s because there are vast differences between foam rollers and nap rollers. So, you have to figure out what roller to use when.
• Different types of paints, like gloss, semi-gloss, and flat color, all roll on walls differently, and the kind of roller you should use will vary with the type of paint you apply.
• Foam rollers work surprisingly well on most smooth interior walls.
• Nap rollers work better for painting the exterior walls of your home.

To help you decide what type of roller to use when we cover some basics about paint rollers below. That way, you’ll get the paint roller that’s perfect for the job you are trying to accomplish at home.

Don’t Skimp on Roller Quality

No matter what type of roller you wind up using, the first rule of thumb when it comes to painting rollers is not to skip out on quality paint rollers. Getting a high-quality paint roller means you’ll wind up with a better paint job overall, and you’ll also be able to clean much more quickly.

If you’re shopping on a budget, we understand how difficult it can be to pass up some of those cheap rollers. And while you might be able to get out of your local home improvement store with a smaller bill if you buy affordable paint rollers, you won’t wind up with as good as results. A high-quality paint roller will provide better coverage, a faster painting process, and a more straightforward cleaning process.

The bottom line is if you can invest in a better paint roller, you should even if it costs more. The amount of time you’ll save when you paint and clean-up will be worth the price.

Understanding Good Roller Covers

So, if you’re going to purchase a good roller cover, you’ll need to know what makes a roller cover classify as high-quality.

High-quality roller covers feature moisture-resistant plastic, or they offer a phenolic core. Having a phenolic core is important because those types of centers don’t’ absorb water.

Why a phenolic core is important:

• Rollers with a phenolic core hold their shape better and deliver a better painting performance overall.

• Another feature a phenolic core offers is better attachment features. If you purchase a nap roller or a foam roller with a phenolic core, you’ll wind up with a roller that won’t come loose as you paint, even if you use it several times. That means the roller will last longer and also deliver more consistent and better results over time.

Also, purchasing a high-quality foam roller will save you a lot of time and trouble when it comes to painting. Cheap foam rollers can leave a cratered look once you are done because they often trap in air bubbles as you paint. If you pay a little more for your foam roller, you’ll wind up with a denser roller. It will work better and create fewer bubbles than a light, cheap foam roller.

The Differences Between Foam and Napped Rollers

Now we’ll compare the differences between foam and napped rollers. Then, we’ll cover when it’s most appropriate to use foam roller covers for your house painting projects.

Foam Roller Covers

If you’re thinking about using foam roller covers, you’ll want to consider the items we’ve listed below.

• Foam rollers work well with latex paints. That’s because foam rollers are made to be used with thinner paint.
• If you are painting with oil paints, then you shouldn’t use a foam roller. You’ll notice if you try to paint oil paints with a foam roller, the oil paint is too thick of a tint to work well with a foam roller.
• Foam rollers work well with smoother surfaces. Foam is uniform and thick, and that means it won’t give you great coverage if you are painting a rough surface. However, if the surface of your wall is smooth, then you’ll be okay using a foam roller.
• Foam rollers work well and absorb a lot of paint at once. So, that makes foam rollers quite useful when you are painting large, smooth walls.
• If you opt for a foam roller, you’ll notice that the foam roller covers apply paint well in thin coats. Foam rollers don’t leave as many lap marks and cover walls well when you use gloss or semi-gloss latex paint on your walls.
• You may or may not be able to reuse a foam roller. Some people think of foam rollers as a one-time use product and throw them away after using them once. However, cheap foam rollers are usually only suitable for a one-time project. If you purchase a more expensive foam roller, you should be able to re-use the roller.

Nap Roller Covers

You won’t always be able to use foam rollers on all of your household painting jobs. On occasion, you’ll need to alternate and use a nap roller cover as well. If you’re going to use a nap roller cover, you’ll want to consider a few of the things we’ve listed below.

• Nap rollers are named for the length of the fibers that make up the center tube cover on the roller.
• The material you find on the nap is an important thing to investigate before you make your purchase. Some nap rollers come with better materials than others.
• Nap rollers come in two styles, synthetic fibers, and natural fibers. If you’re looking for something that works well with latex paints, then synthetic fibers are your best option with nap rollers. Synthetic fibers work great with latex paint and cover all kinds of surface textures successfully.

What Size Nap Roller Cover Do You Need?

You’ll need to think about the size of your nap roller before painting. The size of the nap roller does make a difference. The longer your nap roller is, the more paint your roller will absorb. If you aren’t sure how big of a nap you need, it depends on the surface you are painting. Use this chart to determine what size you should be using.

Differences Between Foam Roller and Nap Rollers

There are a few significant differences between foam paint rollers and nap paint rollers.

• Foam paint roller covers typically come in sizes that are a few inches wide to the traditional 9-inch width most of us are used to seeing.
• Also, foam rollers cost much less than either synthetic or natural nap paint roller covers.
• One issue when it comes to purchasing foam rollers is that unlike nap rollers, the thickness of foam rollers is often not specified.
• Less expensive foam rollers are usually only used one time and aren’t made for the long-term. However, there are higher-quality foam rollers you can purchase that can be used more than once.
• Nap rollers, on the other hand, come in a bevy of different widths and depths, and each different size is meant to match up to a specific job.
• If you are painting walls, you’ll find nap rollers in lengths that vary from 7 to 12-inches, although some of them can be as long as 18-inches if you are painting a large surface.

Foam rollers, unfortunately, have been stereotyped as the lesser-quality standard when it comes to painting walls. There are painting advocates out there that ignore foam rollers, assuming they won’t get the job done. However, that’s not the case.

If you want to use a foam roller to save a bit of money, you can. Foam rollers do well on certain types of paint jobs. If you’re wondering what those are, we’ll cover that below.

When to Use Foam Rollers

Contrary to what some in the painting community generalize about foam rollers, foam rollers do work well in certain situations and can save you some time depending on your painting job. We will address when you can use foam rollers so that you’ll know when you can save a bit of money on your next painting job.

#1 Foam Rollers on Smooth Surfaces

Depending on what your different painting projects are around your house, there are certain times when you can get away with using foam rollers, and it really won’t affect the quality of the paint job. Of course, you’ll still need to make sure you purchase high-quality paint rollers so that the paint job winds up coming out well.

• You can use foam rollers anytime you are painting smooth, interior walls. Many painters use foam rollers on smooth interior walls as a general rule when they are on a house painting job.
• Foam rollers work well if you are painting the inside of your house. However, if you are decorating your exterior walls, then you’ll probably need to use a nap roller because the exterior walls on your home will be rough and not smooth.
• Also, as long as you’ve got a high-quality foam roller, it should create an excellent, smooth flatness as you paint. Most good foam rollers will glide along a flat wall and place the paint evenly on the wall.
• When you are painting smooth, interior walls, you probably want to avoid nap rollers at all costs. That’s because a nap roller won’t get the job done as well on smooth walls when compared to a foam roller. The different fiber lengths on the nap roller would make the paint look uneven when applied to the wall, and leave behind roller marks.

So, nap rollers fall short when it comes to painting smooth, interior walls, and you should avoid using them inside of your home. Nap rollers do better on rougher, irregular surfaces, like the exterior walls of your house and on your ceilings. Otherwise, keep using your foam roller when you are painting the smooth, interior walls of your home.

#2 Foam Rollers with Thinner Paints

Another time you should use foam rollers is when you are painting with thinner paints. Foam rollers work well with lighter colors for several reasons.

• Foam rollers absorb the liquid paint quickly. As long as you purchase a foam roller with a smooth outer surface, you’ll get a foam roller that will paint evenly on your walls.
• Since thin paint also absorbs well onto foam rollers, paints like latex and water-based paints work very well with foam rollers.
• However, if you are using an oil-based paint, then you won’t want to use a foam roller. Oil-based paints are much thicker and look more like syrup than liquid. Foam rollers don’t work well with oil-based paints because foam rollers can’t absorb the thicker paint as evenly. That means you won’t wind up with as beautiful of a paint job.
• So, if you are using water-based or latex paint, which are both thinner types of colors, you’ll be able to get the job done correctly with a foam roller.

#3 Foam Rollers with Large Surfaces

Another time you’ll want to use foam rollers is when painting large surfaces, as long as those large surfaces don’t involve oil-based paints or an exterior wall. If you are decorating a large, smooth interior wall with latex paint, then a foam roller will get the job done.

• Foam rollers are highly absorbent so they can grab a larger volume of paint when compared to a nap roller.
• If you have a lot of paint on your roller, that means you’ll be able to cover a larger surface more quickly.
• Remember, foam rollers work best with large, smooth, interior wall surfaces.

#4 Foam Rollers for Trim

Small versions of foam paint rollers, typically labeled “trim rollers,” should help you paint all types of trim frames, molding, and other small areas of a more massive job you might need to consider.

• Small foam rollers, known as “trim rollers,” come in 3-4-inch styles and can quickly help you paint the trim.
• With a small foam trim roller, you can get the same beautiful look as what you’d see with a broader foam roller going over a more substantial wall surface area.
• All you need to do is purchase the correct size of a trim roller, and you’ll be able to paint all interior areas of your room with ease.

#5 Foam Rollers for Short Term Use

Foam rollers also work well if you plan on doing short-term projects. If you don’t paint rooms very often, then a foam roller will give you what you need to touch up your interior walls and get the job done on a budget.

So, if you are the type of person who repaints a room once every few years, then foam rollers are the perfect option for you. They are affordable, get the job done, and can provide you with an easy clean-up routine as well.

The post Are Foam Paint Rollers Any Good? When to Choose Them first appeared on Eco Paint My House.