Green Tips for Eco-Friendly House Painting

Painting may seem like a basic task that helps to keep the inside of your house looking nice and new. And it's true, painting the walls or ceiling of any room can really make it look a lot better. But what many people don't know is that painting can be un-eco-friendly, to say the least. After all, it takes a lot of processing and chemicals to make paint useable for inside homes. While many people are generally unwilling to give up painting the walls and ceilings of their rooms, there are many steps you can take in order to ensure your paint and other painting materials don't cause any contamination or cause any more problems to the environment. So before you begin painting any room in your house, check out these easy green tips to make your painting experience a little more eco-friendly.

Reject Paint

Although the heading might scare some people away, this is actually a really great option for saving money and helping out the environment. If you visit your local Lowes, Menard's, or Home Depot and head back toward the paint department, you may notice a relatively large stack of paint cans. I know many people easily walk past this display, but the truth is that you really should check it out. This paint cans are usually reject paints or ones that aren't exactly the correct color, including returns on paint. The great thing about these paints is that they are generally cheaper and come in a variety of different colors. You'll also feel better about going green since you're basically following the saying that "one man's trash is another's treasure."

Donate Your Old Paint

There are a ton of uses for old paint. You can save it for another project, give it to a friend or relative for their projects, or you can always donate the paint. At my school, the theater department always accepts paint donations since they can easily use the paint for theater props and scenery. So you can donate your old paint to high school or college theater departments. As an additional donation idea, you can always donate your open paint cans to waste management centers. In Cedar Rapids, IA there is a waste management center that accepts donations of paint and other household chemicals. With these items, they basically have their own store that allows the public to stop by and find what they need.

Never Trash It

Every year many people toss out their old paint or even pour it down their sink drain. This is a huge environmental no-no! Instead of tossing your old paint in the trash, simply call your local waste management or hazardous waste management site. They'll be able to tell you what to do with your old paint, which may include dropping it off at their acceptance site near you. Here they can properly dispose of any chemicals, including paint, or they might even be able to donate it for you somewhere they see fit.

Reuse What You Can

Although you may be reluctant to reuse paint, you can indeed reuse paint thinners and other solvents. By reusing these products, you can easily save money, time, and the environment. In order to reuse paint thinner, just pour it into a new container and let it sit for a few days. This way the solids well settle out in the bottom and the thinner will remain on top.