10 Tips For A Safe Indoor Painting

Mga ka-Triton, painting is a great, easy, and safe way to freshen up your interiors. But it is not hazard free because some mistakes can cause accidents that can put people and property in danger.

Like many things, you should always take precautions to keep everyone and everything around you safe. But you don’t have to worry because safety is just a few basic tips away. So today, we bring you 10 Tips for a Safe Indoor Painting:

1.       Wear Safety Gear

When painting indoors, it is best to keep yourself safe by wearing painting safety gear. Wear your coveralls, respirators, safety shoes, safety glasses, and gloves. And if you are painting inside industrial settings, you should also wear hardhats and body harnesses if painting atop a high place.

2.       Avoid Fire Hazards

Paints, thinners, strippers, and any paint related chemicals are flammable. Avoid lighting fires and smoking whenever you are painting and keep them away from sources of heat.

 

3.       Use Tools Safely 

Use tools, especially power tools, with proper procedure and care. With that said, you better use them properly by:

-           Following the tools’ manuals thoroughly.

Image from toolcobber.com

 

-           Putting a good distance between your face and the spray gun while spraying.

-           Use hearing protection when using machines that produce a lot of noise (e.g., power drills, sanders, etc.)

-           Wear Avoid dillydallying whenever using power tools. You don’t want a freshly ground finger on your freshly sanded table, right?

-           Don’t forget to turn power tools off when not in use.

4.       Electrical Hazards 

Always keep electrical hazards in mind whenever painting indoors to avoid accidents. You can start by keeping electric wires organized to prevent trips and falls.

Avoid this when painting.

Another precautionary measure you can do is to wear safety shoes when painting floors. This will protect you in the event that an electric spark ignites the paint causing a fire. Not wearing safety shoes can result with you receiving burns on your foot or in the worst case scenario, you will be engulfed in flames.

 

5.       Keep Them Away from Children and Animals

Paints have toxic and harmful chemicals that can put your children and your pets at risk. Always keep paints and other chemicals out of their reach to avoid inhalation.

 

6.       Clean Up

Keep the painted area and your tools clean after painting. Keeping them scattered and cluttered can cause trips, spills, and other injury causing accidents.

7.       Proper Storage

Store paints and tools properly in a clean and dry place. Shut their lids firmly to avoid air and moisture from entering the can and drying up its content. Also, avoid keeping them with or near fire hazards and consumables.

If you are to throw away any paint, please do the proper disposal steps to avoid environmental hazards.

 

8.       Ventilation

Keep doors and windows open when painting interiors. Keeping the interiors ventilated will ensure that the painter, or you, will not suffer any respiratory problems.

 

9.       Beware of Falls

Keep ladders firm and still whenever you are using it to avoid falls. Another thing to keep in mind, always keep steps and floors slip proof when painting in stair areas.

 

 

10.  Use Safe Paints for Your Interiors Walls

Not all paints are recommended for interior walls. Paints like lead-based, alkyd-based, and solvent-based paints are not the best for painting most interior concrete walls.

So…

Whenever you are painting interior concrete walls, it is best to paint them with water-based latex paints. Here are some of your choices: Triton Latex Masonry, Duracoat Pure Acrylic Latex Paint, Rosco Latex Paint, and Primecoat Latex Paint.

But if you want to make it extra safer, we can’t recommend Odour Fresh Anti-Bacterial Latex Paint enough. Why? Because Odour Fresh:

-         Is made with Low Volatile Organic Compounds making it safer for home interiors, hospitals, hotels, laboratories, clinics, etc.

-         Doesn’t leave a strong odor once fully dried.

-         Is water-based and non-lead.

-         Inhibits the growth of disease-causing bacteria and fungi.

On the other hand, using water-based paints for wood and metal wall fixtures are not recommended. Your only paint choices for them are solvent-based and alkyd-based paints. In order to be safe when painting your fixtures, wear a respirator and keep your painting area ventilated.

 

Most of these tips may seem basic and obvious. However, following these tips will not only ensure your project’s success, but also the safety of you and the people around you. Thank you for reading and see you on the next one!