‘Tis the season for do-it-yourself projects—while these projects come with a sense of accomplishment along with a bit of cash in your pocket, there are a few tips to keep in mind. Of course, each home project has its own set of rules and how-to guides, but there are some things to remember, especially when it comes to the drains in your home.
After finishing up the latest painting project, such as the guest bedroom or the front door, don’t give in to the temptation of pouring that remaining color down the drain. Paint is highly flammable and adds fumes to your plumbing system, which is throughout your home. Not only is there a chance the paint will ignite, it will coat the insides of your pipes, shrinking them down and causing materials to build up and clog your drains.
Even the drains outside of your home are not an option for proper paint disposal—stay away from the city or storm drains. Paint could easily leak into the water supply or contaminate the ground. For safe paint disposal, check with your local city municipality or the hardware store where the paint was purchased. Some of these places may even recycle paint.
As for proper cleaning after a paint job, follow the directions on the side of the paint can. For water-based or latex paints, it’s safe to scrape excess paint into newspapers. Let the paint on the newspapers dry before throwing them in the trash. Wash your brushes and supplies with warm soapy water. As long as there is enough running water to dilute the paint, it can be washed down the drain safely.
For oil-based or alkyd paints, it’s a different story. These paints aren’t water-soluble, and you will need paint thinner to clean your brushes and supplies. The same goes for marine or auto-body paint; it may contain lead, so be sure to check the labels of paints and follow their disposal directions.
Of course, if you have fresh paint you are trying to get rid of, see if it has another home before trying to dispose of it. Maybe your neighbors or a local business is working on their own do-it-yourself project this summer.
After finishing up the latest painting project, such as the guest bedroom or the front door, don’t give in to the temptation of pouring that remaining color down the drain. Paint is highly flammable and adds fumes to your plumbing system, which is throughout your home. Not only is there a chance the paint will ignite, it will coat the insides of your pipes, shrinking them down and causing materials to build up and clog your drains.
Even the drains outside of your home are not an option for proper paint disposal—stay away from the city or storm drains. Paint could easily leak into the water supply or contaminate the ground. For safe paint disposal, check with your local city municipality or the hardware store where the paint was purchased. Some of these places may even recycle paint.
As for proper cleaning after a paint job, follow the directions on the side of the paint can. For water-based or latex paints, it’s safe to scrape excess paint into newspapers. Let the paint on the newspapers dry before throwing them in the trash. Wash your brushes and supplies with warm soapy water. As long as there is enough running water to dilute the paint, it can be washed down the drain safely.
For oil-based or alkyd paints, it’s a different story. These paints aren’t water-soluble, and you will need paint thinner to clean your brushes and supplies. The same goes for marine or auto-body paint; it may contain lead, so be sure to check the labels of paints and follow their disposal directions.
Of course, if you have fresh paint you are trying to get rid of, see if it has another home before trying to dispose of it. Maybe your neighbors or a local business is working on their own do-it-yourself project this summer.
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