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Painting or repainting a house is one of the most common ways of adding color and improving the ambiance of a room. However, one drawback of using paint is the smell it leaves in the rooms where it has been applied. Other than the fact that the smell itself is quite pungent and unpleasing, the chemical compounds in the vapor that is released are harmful to one’s health especially for those with weak immune systems. What Causes The Pungent Smell Of Paint? With that in mind, the question that pops up is the cause of this particular… SMELL! The answer to this has to do with some compounds found in paint that are called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). As the name suggests, these are compounds that are volatile which means that they easily evaporate into the atmosphere. While most other things organic are known to have great benefits, VOCs are extremely harmful and are the cause of headaches and dizziness when you get into a recently painted room. The smell comes about when the VOCs ...

Mold infestation is a critical problem facing many homeowners today. This disgusting fungus is either black or green and mostly thrives in poorly lit areas with inadequate ventilation. Molds pose a constant menace for people living in a humid climate. Molds are known to release a musty and unpleasant odor that may lead to detrimental impacts on everyone in your household. If left unchecked, they can trigger allergies and asthma attacks on persons who are vulnerable to these conditions. Identifying mold isn’t tricky but we have an in-depth guide to identifying symptoms of mold in your home . If you’re wondering how to clean up and eliminate mold from your house, this article snippet is designed for you. 5 Methods to Clean Up and Eliminate Mold From Your House: You are advised to clean up and eliminate molds as soon as you notice their infestation. Mold exposure comes with a ton of health implications, and it may not be easy to determine whether or not the symptoms are a result of con...

Molds can be described as a kind of fungus, which grow in numerous places naturally. However, molds in a home can negatively affect air quality and pose a health risk. Therefore, it is prudent to prevent the growth of molds in your house . Fortunately, preventing molds in your home is not complicated. This is because the secret lies in controlling humidity and moisture. The following are some useful tips to prevent mold in your home: 1. Check Humidity Levels Mold is known to grow in areas with a high moisture content and that is why you should keep your house dry. The best way to go about this is to install a hygrometer to measure the levels of moisture inside. The recommended moisture levels are 60% or lower. 2. Open Windows When Showering The windows to your bathroom should be opened whenever you are taking a bath or shower. This helps to vent out moisture thus preventing its build up. Alternatively, you can open a door to the bathroom if there is no window. 3. Wipe Down Bathro...

DIY projects are a good way to put your skills to use as you do something on your own. One such popular DIY project is interior painting. But, there has been an outcry on the dangers that paint portend when inhaled. Why are paint fumes unsafe and toxic? This article comprehensively examines why the chemicals in paints are toxic. Are All Paints Toxic? You should note that not all paints used in DIY or industrial projects are harmful. It depends on the ingredients used by the manufacturer of the paint. Different manufacturers use different materials for their paints (solvent-based, latex and oil). As such, it would be wrong to assume that all paints are hazardous to health. What you should be worried about are the paints that contain VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). These have toxic chemicals that have a harmful effect on your health when inhaled. As you paint, the chemicals silently evaporate into the environment, where you inadvertently inhale them. Oil Based Paints Versus Water-...

From time to time, the need to paint different parts of our homes will arise. But have you ever paused for a moment to consider whether sleeping in a freshly painted room is dangerous? If you have never thought about it, it’s high time you learned how inhaling paint fumes can impact your health. The chemicals used to manufacture paint vary from one company to the next. Although this is the case, all the different paint brands have one thing in common: They release fumes after painting that can be hazardous to your health. These fumes contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) that are known to cause respiratory and eye irritation, headaches and dizziness. They can also affect your memory. How Dangerous Is It To Sleep In A Freshly Painted Room? Paint fumes can be detrimental to the health of your unborn child if you inhale them while pregnant. In extreme cases, exposure can cause birth defects and even miscarriage. Young children who are still in the developmental stage should also be k...

Have you ever moved around in your house and you happened to sense an awful smell, which reeks of the unexplainable? It could be that can of paint pain that you left unused for some time. There are reasons why your paint is releasing the putrid odor. For instance, if you did not close the can’s lid properly after use, it is possible for bacteria to slip in, spread and cause the rot. Getting rid of odors  isn’t as tricky as most people think! Typical Shelf Life of Paint The shelf life of paint depends on these key factors: If you have an unopened can of paint, it can last for as long as possible; years, to be precise. For instance, unopened latex and acrylic paints that are water-based can have a shelf life of up to 10 years. On the other hand, the oil-based paints can go for as long as 15 years. It is likely that the ingredients could separate as time goes by, but the paint will continue to retain the same ratio of its liquids and semi-liquids. To know that it actually works a...

Molds in homes can be a very dangerous and costly problem especially when an infestation of black mold occurs. The health effects and the symptoms of black mold exposure cover a wide range of health problems hence knowing the indicators can keep you and your family safe. But, what is black mold? Commonly known as Stachybotrys chartarum, black molds are molds that thrive in warm moist environments including toilets, showers, basement, and kitchens. Health Issues That Black Mold Can Cause Many black molds are toxigenic which means they release toxins that can be harmful or even irritating to those who have preexisting conditions. Toxic molds can cause serious health problems and symptoms such as breathing problems, brain impairment, damage to the internal organs and even deaths. However, since these symptoms are not the same for everyone, it can be hard to diagnose. The main problems that toxic black molds causes include mental problems, respiratory issues, circulatory symptoms, skin p...

That new beautiful couch that you just purchased has finally been delivered to your home, it looks perfect, but smells…strong! Many new products will have a strong odor that one may associate with that ‘new’ smell. However, that ‘new’ smell that fills your nose will linger for quite a while after your purchase. The result of this odor is a combination of chemicals that were used in the construction of your new product and formaldehyde is one of the main chemicals at play. Formaldehyde is a chemical that can lead to health issues for many that are sensitive to the chemical compound and in recent years has been found to be highly toxic in large quantities and long exposure time for public health. Therefore, understanding the dangers associated with exposure to formaldehyde and learning what household products contain this potentially toxic chemical can help you to minimize the chemical in your home. And you won’t believe what common household products in your home contain or produce form...

To understand what zero VOC paints are you must first understand what ordinary paints are composed of. In your standard paint, there are chemicals referred to as volatile organic compounds. Until a recent government regulation of these chemicals, they were the standard for use in paints for the simple fact they make the paint perform better. Now that regulations are in place and the demand for greener, less toxic paints is high, companies are starting to manufacture paints that are without these chemicals. We also have an in-depth article which discusses fast toxins and odor removal from paints  if you end up with an option other than a zero VOC paint. Benefits Of Zero VOC Paints There are pros and cons to zero VOC paints versus paints with VOC’s. More notably, zero VOC paints do not release chemicals or toxic gasses into the surrounding area and they do not leave a lingering wet-paint stench. This is a benefit for those who are overly sensitive to chemicals but it’s also genera...