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Owning a pet is probably the most wonderful thing to happen in life; knowing that you’re loved and looked up by an innocent furry friend is worth way more than just happiness. And we always go out of the way to make sure that our little friend has a comfortable and happy atmosphere to live in. We keep them away from anything that might harm their life including chocolates and even adulterated edibles.
But what about the paints we use in our homes?
A lot of people don’t know that pets or animals in general are susceptible to many things in the environment that don’t affect human beings. Domestic paint products specifically can be quite harmful for our pets because of the ingredients contained in them.
For example, until recently lead-based paints were quite prevalent in the market. Later it was scientifically proved that it could not be used in domestic homes, as the absorption of even little amounts of the lead contained in them may severely affect the intellectual as well as developmental health of children, infants and sometimes even pregnant women.
Similarly, paints may contain many more such dangerous chemicals, solvents and volatile organic compounds which as mentioned before may not affect human beings. Together, they emit toxic gases that can even be fatal to pets.
Hence, as homeowners it is important to choose paints that are pet-friendly as well. There are a few Vancouver painters that pay special attention to the ingredients contained in their paints.
Here are a few steps you can take with your painting contractor to choose pet-friendly paint.
Select toxic-free shades
A good way to spot toxic-free shades is to read the labels. Many a time paint formulas that do not contain chemicals and have more natural ingredients like plant-based dyes, essential oils and water may not be as pigmented as their chemical counterparts. Hence, it is a tough balance to choose colors that are sufficiently pigmented yet do not contain harmful compounds.
Choose stain-proof colors
While your pets can be saved from harmful chemicals by taking a hard look at the labels, your wall paint should also be saved from your pets. Bright colors like greens, reds and blues will easily show smudges and dirt marks that your pet may make. Darker and more earthly colors like browns and olives will look cleaner. Dirt marks and smudges may not be as visible on them either.
Choose a satin finish
Most people jump the gun when they see a high glossy finish. Of course it looks fancy and lustrous, but they may not be the best idea when you have a pet around. It is always good to go for a low-shine finish; more of a satin finish. It will have just the right amount of shine while keeping the effects of smudges and stains to a minimum.
In addition to the above three pointers, there are a few steps you can take to avoid any unfortunate circumstances while you’re painting your house.
- You must always make sure to store and place all paint-related mixtures and ingredients away from the reach of your pets.
- You should also keep the house well-ventilated so that if there are any toxic gases at all, they will escape through the ventilations.
- Most importantly, make sure to never leave your pet in any room while painting even for a minute, as there are chances that they may even lick the paint off the walls.
