As many people turn to doing up their homes rather than selling them due to the economic downturn, experts are warning that using solvent based paints which contain volatile compounds can be hazardous for your health and the environment. Industry insiders have said that chemical cleaning products, paints and other chemicals we use to make our houses more attractive in the Spring time can add up to a powerful concoction of toxic substances on the surfaces within our homes.
Instead of using the astringent and contaminating products sold at popular home improvement stores some purists recommend alternative products. According to some experts the air inside a home during the Spring cleaning and redecorating season is more than 3 times more polluted than the air outside it.
Beware of VOCs
Volatile Organic Compounds (or VOCs) are used within products to help cleaning sprays, polishes and paints last longer and stay bright and effective for longer but they constantly emit low levels of gas which are unhealthy to be around for human beings. They have also been linked to several health problems including migraines and cancer. As such there are many products on the market which claim to be ‘low VOC’ and these are one alternative which a concerned home decorator could choose.
Plants Make Air Cleaner
House plants are also encouraged by experts because they deodorise air and feed fresh oxygen in to a room. According to some studies the amount of VOC in a room can be dramatically reduced by keeping just three common houseplants. In fact, according to research it can be lowered by as much as 70 percent!
Some of the most popular eco alternatives are based on natural mineral substances such as clay or lime and a quick search for eco paint online will offer a decorator plenty of options. So, although eco paint (free of VOCs, or low in them) won’t stay bright for as long, it will provide most people with peace of mind.
