photo credit: The County Clerk
There are increasingly more green products on the market these days, which makes being eco-friendly that much easier… One of such products is natural paint, so changing colors on the walls of your house does not have to be a health risk. The most important thing to look for in any type of paint is a reduced level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and, of course, low odor.
There are a number of natural paints available on the market. The oldest type seems to be milk paint, which has been around for about 6000 years! This kind of paint does not contain any chemical solvents and is made of a milk protein and lime mixed with earth pigments. It usually comes in a form of powder and has to be mix with water immediately before use. Unfortunately, for those of us used to the nice sheen of the latex paint, the milk paint does not deliver. Its finish is matte and quite dull, although the colors are rich and it goes on easily. Furthermore, it requires sealing with a water-based acrylic clear finish, which contains ammonia, to prevent water spotting.
Similar to milk paints are clay ones, which are also solvent-free and use, besides clay, naturally derived raw materials, for instance tree resins. The main ingredients are water, clay, chalk, alcohol ester, cellulose, and a preservative, creating a paint that is incredibly easy to clean up and easy on the lungs. The clay paints come in a variety of colors and they give a warm, subtle finish.
Then, there are VOC-free paints that use pigments based on the East Indian healing system. Although they have a slight odor, these are easily cleaned and offer the least toxic ingredients (without formaldehyde, solvents, heavy metals or other hazardous components), as well as a nice semi-gloss finish. This type of paint will also be easier to find in your neighborhood store than the clay and milk ones.
However, if you need something widely available, consider interior latex zero-VOC and low-odor alternatives. Like their conventional counterparts, they offer a number of colors to choose form. So, find your own green paint that suits the personality of you and your house and happy painting!
