How to choose & use eco-friendly paints & finishes

You don't have to be a slave to chemicals when you need to paint or polish in your home. Here are some suggestions. 

• Use natural paints soon after purchase, as they contain few preservatives and so don't last long.
• Allow for extended drying times. Natural paints don't contain chemical drying agents.
• Natural paints tend to be thinner than regular paints. When painting a ceiling, cut a slit in a sponge and thread it onto your brush to prevent paint running down your arm.
• Wear a mask when mixing powders as some can be caustic.
• Remember: natural paint leftovers can be added to your compost!

• To clean brushes after using water-based paints, wipe off excess with newspaper, then wash the brushes in a bucket of water. Pour the water on waste ground, away from food plants or drains, or, as a last resort, down the sink.
• To clean brushes used with solvent-based (oil-based) paints, use a non-toxic thinner or natural turpentine-based product; or boil the brushes in vinegar then wash them in water. Try to avoid excessive use of mineral turpentines as many contain benzene, a carcinogen.
• Never pour unused paints or solvents down the sink or into drains. Old cans of natural or water-based paint can go in the garbage, but old cans of solvent-based paint cannot. Ask your city office if it organizes pick-ups of unwanted chemicals or if you can drop the cans off at a special part of the dump.

• Avoid polyurethane wood sealants. Many contain diisocyanate, a respiratory irritant, and all contain a range of other VOCs. The most toxic are the two-part coatings that have to be mixed before application. Oil-modified urethanes generally release less gas than moisture-cured ones.
• Try natural oils, which penetrate the wood but allow it to breathe. Products based on tung oil, from the tung tree, are a good choice, but make sure they don't contain synthetic resins.
• Use beeswax to create a durable, attractive surface. The wax can be applied on top of natural oil.
• Consider natural stains. Lime finishes come in a range of colours that give an aged look to wood while highlighting its grain. Other washes and stains give timber a light colouring while allowing the grain to show through.
• Remember that some natural sealants such as oils and beeswax may need to be applied more often than synthetics to keep the wood in good condition.

• Try shellac for painting wooden shelves and to seal treated wood or wood-composite products that may emit toxic fumes.
• Derived from a resin exuded by the Asian lac insect, shellac is 100 per cent natural, easy to apply, smells good and dries to a matte finish in two to three.
• It can be used on plain wood surfaces or painted ones.