With the growing trend in green living, non toxic paint is one more way to create a healthier home. Here is why you might want to use "green" paint products.

Indoor air pollution can be a bigger problem for some people than outdoor air pollution. The reason is that many building materials used today give off invisible toxins for years after they’re installed. Paint is one of these materials. It can off gas for several years after it is applied. And it covers all the walls and ceilings of most houses, so it can have a big effect on indoor air quality.

If you are chemically sensitive, you should never use oil based paint in your home, you should stick to non toxic paints. At the very least, use low VOC paints. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds. These are the toxic chemicals which linger and off gas. Low VOC paints are latex based and made with synthetic compounds. They’re widely available in a broad range of colors these days.

But there are also much healthier alternatives than low VOC paints. There are actually no VOC paints available on the market today. Most of the paint companies are now producing their own version of a non toxic paint selection. Thanks to the growing interest in eco-friendly living, it’s becoming easier to find healthier paint alternatives.

For example, there is a rather large selection of healthy paint varieties available which use plant-based oils and dyes. They’re made with casein, which is a protein found in milk. They come in powdered form, in a wide variety of colors, and must be mixed with water in order to apply them. Natural paints have 2 drawbacks that you’ll need to consider. First, you have to apply the paint within a few hours after mixing, since it can’t be stored. Second, it only comes in a matte finish. So if you want a gloss or semi-gloss finish you would have to apply a sealer.

Another eco-friendly choice for a "green" paint product is a limestone wash. It has a characteristic antique white washed look. This comes from a natural process of calcium in the limestone rising to the surface after drying. It’s main drawback is that it can only be used on porous surfaces like wood and plaster because it has to sink into the surface. You can’t use it on drywall, painted finishes, or surfaces that have already been stained. Also, you have to be careful to wear protective clothing and eyewear while you're applying it so that it doesn’t get into your eyes or onto your skin. Limestone washes are more durable than a lot of other natural paints so you can use them on outside surfaces like brick or concrete.

Clay paint is another natural non toxic paint choice. You can apply it to almost any surface inside your home. You can even use it to paint drywall, nonporous surfaces, and surfaces that have already been painted. But there are a couple of drawbacks to using clay paint. First, it's only available in a limited earth tone color palette. So if you want bright orange or acid green, clay paint is not a good choice. Also, it’s not very durable when it comes to withstanding lots of fingerprints or crayon marks. You can’t scrub it clean, but you can touch it up. Last, clay paint is more expensive than typical synthetic paint. But if you like earth tone colors, clay paint is a beautiful choice.

For a full list of paints available, Visit Earth Easy There you will see low VOC paint and no VOC paint selections of non toxic paints to choose form including healthy paint strippers. With so many great choices in non toxic paints it is one more way to start living green and become healthier at the same time.

Go To Green Living.