Prioritize melody quality during your next DIY labor with these zero - VOC rouge brands .

Are you considering a young paint color for your nextroom refresh or DIY undertaking ? Besides color and finishing , consider whether you ’d favor a zero - VOC paint for your project . Unfortunately , while paint can change the look of piece of furniture and even an entire elbow room , some harsh ingredients in paints not judge zero - VOC can have various inauspicious core on people who know in the home and kick in to air pollution . But here ’s the in force tidings : mountain of zero - VOC paint brand are usable , and some can be found online , so you’re able to shit from the comfort of your domicile . utilize this guide to learn more about VOCs and theirimpact on strain quality .

What Are VOCs and Are They Harmful?

VOC is an acronym that stands for volatile organic compounds . TheEnvironmental Protection Agencydescribes them as " constitutive chemical compound whose makeup makes it potential for them to vaporise under normal indoor atmospheric precondition . " VOCs are the inconspicuous chemical we smell when bring paint products , building supplying , and even new article of furniture into our place . The evaporation process is call " off - gassing , " It can last well after the new paint smell is gone — potentially several years .

What are these chemical substance on the button ? Formaldehyde , d - Limonene , toluene , acetone , and ethanol ( and more ) settle within this class . consumer have experiencedshort and longsighted - condition health effectsfrom exposure to VOCs . agree to the EPA , VOCs can be up to two to five times higher indoors . However , you’re able to take pace to reduce the storey in your house , including choosing zero - VOC paint .

What Is the Difference Between Low-VOC and Zero-VOC Paint?

Torah and regulations around VOCs change often . VOC regulations can also differ from state to commonwealth , complicate the thing further . While low - VOC paint lines are widely available and used , they still may contain the chemical cite above and off - gas harmful fumes , though less than traditional key mathematical product historically had . The main discriminator is that brand put up zero - VOC paint do n’t bring VOC chemicals to their mix , resulting in a product that might only have trace amounts , if any .

So , now that you have intercourse what VOCs are , what can you do about them ? Asyou quality colours , look for rouge companies that gather zero - VOC paint emissions standard ( hold 5g / 50 or less of VOCs ) and are willing to disclose their test answer to consumer . It is also crucial that a zero - VOC paint brand does n’t include VOCs in their tinting physical process either . VOCs can be present in the colorants , even if not in a base paint mixture .

Consumer Emissions Resources

With paint aisle filled withgreen labels , nature - inspired invention , and non - toxic claims , it can be concentrated to beak the dear ware for your project . One thing to give attention to — if an eco - recording label documentation is on a can , be sure it ’s an emissions testapproved by the EPA .

TheGreenguard labelis a wide trusted label you might have already seen . Greenguard tests for VOC emission levels and offer a range of credential . The Greenguard Gold Certificationis the most tight and a just base hit indicator . Consumers can also apply Greenguard ’s internet site to search for other low - emitting , eco - friendly products . discern Greenguard ’s green badge on a product indicates that it ’s been tested and that it land within its range of emissions standard .

world - well-disposed resource likeBuilding Greenor an online retailer such asGreen Building Supplyare also useable to help oneself with the shopping process . Lastly , you could search by checking a product ’s material safety data point rag , orMSDS , for a lean of chemicals used .

paint can lids pink neutrals flowers

Credit: Marty Baldwin

Zero-VOC Paint Brands

ECOS Paint

ECOS Paint , set up in 1985 , was initially make for consumer suffering from chemical predisposition and has a " beyond zero VOC school of thought . " Every product include a comprehensive listing of ingredients and elaborated VOC trial data point . All ECOS are weewee - establish , zero - VOC paints with no odor and are manufacture and trade from their facility in Spartanburg , SC . And if you ’re in love with another paint brand ’s color , ECOS can belike equal it for you and ship it to your front door .

Buy It : ECOS Paints , $ 89 per gallon

AFM SafeCoat

AFM SafeCoatwas created in collaboration with physicians to make intelligent , eco - favorable products for laboratories , hospitals , and schools . SafeCoat offers a range of zero - VOC key products that seal in off - gassing and wry quickly for those sensitive to chemical or suffering from allergies and asthma . grant to AFM , this paint line is " ideal for areas where the wellness of resident is a concern : schooltime , hospitals , homes , government agency , or anywhere people desire to reduce their picture to toxic chemical substance . "

grease one’s palms It : AFM SafeCoat , from $ 72 per gallon , Green Building Supply

Clare Paint

Clare Paint bid a house decorator - curatedrange ofwater - based , zero - VOC paint color that are Greenguard Gold Certified ; plus , they ’re also gratuitous of toxic atmosphere contaminants and air pollutants . For those want to shop for key from home , Clare Paint offer everything you need to get lead off with pre - assembled pigment kits and large peel - and - stick paint sample . Another incentive ? Clare ’s paint trays and lining are made fromrecycled materialsand arrive in a 100 % recycled poster board box at your door .

Buy It : Clare Paint , $ 70 per gallon

Sherwin-Williams Harmony

Sherwin - WilliamsHarmony upcountry acrylic latexis a Greenguard Gold Certified zero - VOC pigment formula available in the stain ’s abundantcolor alternative . Rick Watson , director of product entropy and expert services at Sherwin - Williams , says Harmony ’s odor - eliminating engineering help to " reduce coarse indoor odors from cookery , pets , and smoke while providing a perdurable , washable finale . " He also mark that Harmony has a formaldehyde - cut back technology that " help better indoor air lineament by reducing VOC levels fromsources such as cabinet , carpet , and material . "

Buy It : Harmony interior acrylic latex rouge , $ 56 per gallon , Sherwin - Williams

Behr Pro i300

Behr’si300 zero - VOC paint lineis water - based andavailable at The Home Depot . This interior blusher formula total in a various white with an eggshell conclusion to suit many midland decor styles . It ’s Greenguard Gold Certified and mildew - tolerant .

Buy It : Behr i300 , $ 24 per congius , The Home Depot

BioShield

If you want warmth and grain in your next project , clay - basedpaint maker BioShieldoffers a range of non - toxic , low - odor , zero - VOC paints in more than thirty earth - inspired colors . BioShield employ natural materials such as clay , citrus extracts , essential oil colour , natural pigments , beeswaxes , and tree resin to attain its racy , vulgar aesthetical . While beautiful and eco - friendly , BioShield ’s clay national paint is n’t suit for high - dealings arena or situation that might require scrub or contact with body of water , such as bathroomsor children ’s playrooms .

Buy It : BioShield Paint , $ 68 per gallon for remains ; $ 42 per gallon for solvent - free

The Real Milk Paint Co.

If you ’re looking for eco - favorable Milk River paint , Real Milk Paint offers56 cheerful colors made from natural , 100 % constitutive ingredients , including powdered purified casein paint , lime , and pigment . Use it on floor , walls , or aDIY piece of furniture labor . The product can achieve a smooth , matte grain or an antiquate finish . Real Milk Paint lists its blusher as zero - VOC , biodegradable , compostable , and safe for children ’s furniture and toys .

Buy It : The Real Milk Paint Co. , $ 70 per gallon

More Ways to Improve Air Quality

If you ’d wish to better your home ’s zephyr quality further , consider addingpotted trees and plant life , anair - distill system , and better ventilation . choose Greenguard Gold Certified furniture and natural materials for rugs and interior edifice materialscan also aid with off - gassing .

If you recently move into a new home or have just completed a restoration , turn over having your ducts professionally cleaned . see to it that you arechanging airwave conditioning filtersas often as is recommended for your arrangement , and keep up with storey andcarpet cleaningusing aHEPA - filteredvacuum cleanser . Paint manufacturers and regulation are changing daily , so check updated research and a brand name ’s site for the most recent entropy before your next paint projection .

More About Interior Painting

stacked paint cans

Credit: Courtesy of ECOS Paints

green paint can

Credit: Courtesy of AFM Safecoat

yellow and blue paint cans

Credit: Courtesy of Clare Paint

bright green paint can

Credit: Courtesy of Sherwin-Williams

behr paint tub

Credit: Courtesy of Behr

containers of paint in different colors

Credit: Courtesy of BioShield

black can of paint

Credit: Courtesy of The Milk Paint Co.