Homeowner’s Academy
This is your guide to interesting facts, tips and general homeowner information. We hope you find the information useful – and feel free to share with friends!

Are These Dangerous Poisons Lurking in Your Florida Home?

Spring cleaning often comes with a fresh coat of paint. Painting can be a great way to change the feel of a room or give your home some great curb appeal. Painting also plays a role in home repair by protecting the wood of your home against the elements, essential here in Florida.

If you decide to try your hand at painting this spring, People’s Trust has some tips that can keep the experience enjoyable and safe for everyone in your family.

Try Some Eco-friendly Paint

Spring conjures up the sniffles for many people in the great outdoors, but paint may do the same thing inside of your home. Household paints have previously contained up to 300 toxic chemicals, including the hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that release particles into the air for years after you paint.

Try a low-VOC paint, which tends to be water-based, for any home interior painting. These have taken off in recent years and come in every shade and finish imaginable. Some brands also create no-VOC paints by replacing chemicals with more natural ingredients. These no-VOC paints are often pet-safe, but always check the label and never leave your pet unattended in a room where paint cans are open.

Home Repair Supervision

If you have children, never let them be in a room with open paint cans by themselves. If children are under the age of 10, they should never be in a room with any open painting materials. Even eco-friendly paints are extremely dangerous if ingested. If you believe your child has ingested any paint, immediately call poison control at 1-800-222-1222.

Try Cloth Catchers for Indoor and Outdoor Painting

You can pick up plastic sheets to protect your floors and lawn, but these often move and tear as you walk around painting. Turn to cloth or canvas drop cloths that will stay in place easier and can be weighed down with objects without the risk of tearing.

For painting the outside of your home, try a tarp with tie-holes. These can be staked into the ground to provide a steadier surface for a ladder.

Ventilate: Make Room to Breathe

If you’re painting inside, open the doors and windows. If your room has a fan, turn it on. You want proper ventilation for any space you’re painting to help air out the room and not breathe in paint fumes. If you can’t ventilate where you’re working, get a respirator and only paint in short stints.

Ventilation is essential to most common home repair improvements.

Stick to the Shade

If painting outside, you know that you need to take a break in the shade, but what about your materials? Paint, paint thinner and lacquer all need to stay in the shade as much as possible when painting outdoors.

Not only can heat and sun alter some of these items when they’re sitting in the can, but heat can also be a big problem for these flammable items. The city of Las Vegas actually warns its citizens to be careful when painting their homes or canvases outside because paint thinner has been ignited by the sun and started home fires.

Clean Up after Home Repairs

When you finish painting for the day, clean up the entire space. This will prevent spills and any accidental exposure.

Latex paints can typically be cleaned from surfaces and your skin with soap and water. Oil-based paints will have specific cleaning instructions located on the paint can itself. Take a look at your can before you start painting and write down what it says, because paint often spills on the outside of the can during the painting process.

Gasoline was once used to clean paint off of brushes, but this should never be used. Gasoline is extremely dangerous and should never be used as a cleaner for any object.

It’s always a smart practice to clean up and watch your space clearly when doing any home repair project.

by PTI Marketing | Apr 27, 2015

Chemicals are an important part of life. They are a natural and important part of our environment, and even though we don’t often think about it, we use chemicals every day.

Under certain conditions, chemicals can be poisonous or harmful to our health. Some chemicals considered safe and helpful in small amounts, can be harmful in large quantities or under certain conditions.

Every year, Americans report more than 2 million instances of poisonings, and over 90 percent of these incidents take place in the home.

Fortunately, there are several precautions Florida homeowners can take to prevent a poison-induced panic from happening.

When we think about household poisons, the following items often come to mind:

Medicine
School/art supplies
Expired food
Cleaning products
Animals/insect repellent
Plants, mushrooms and berries

But what potentially harmful poisons might also be lurking in our homes?

Poison # 1: Radon

Radon is an invisible, odorless, radioactive gas that is produced from decaying soil. Radon gas can seep through cracks in the foundation, especially near the basement.

Hazard:According to National Institutes of Health, Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and is associated with 15,000 to 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year.

Prevention: Test your home for Radon gas. You can purchase an EPA-approved test kit for about $35 at your local hardware store. If your home shows high levels of Radon, hire a certified professional to inspect it and install a mitigation system, if needed.

Poison #2: Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is found in various home construction products such as glues, fiberboard and insulation.

Hazard: The EPA classified Formaldehyde is a probable carcinogen. Formaldehyde vapor can irritate the eyes, skin, nose and throat and trigger asthma attacks.

Prevention: During home renovations, make sure there is adequate ventilation to allow Formaldehyde to be released outside, rather than creating noxious fumes inside the home.

Poison #3: Phthalates

Phthalates, or plasticizers, are found in common household products like shampoo, perfume, and toys. When heated, this binding agent has the potential to leak out and impact its surroundings.

Hazard:According to the International Journal of Andrology, Phthalates may lower testosterone levels in humans and animals.

Prevention: Do not microwave plastic containers. When children chew or suck on their toys, they are at risk for absorbing this chemical. You can check what types of Phthalates may be in your children’s toys here.

Poison #4: Parabens

Parabens are preservatives commonly found in cosmetic products to prevent bacteria growth. According to Arthur Rich, Ph.D., approximately 85 percent of cosmetics contain Parabens.

Hazard: Parabens have been linked to disrupted estrogen levels, which may lead to breast cancer and reproductive issues.

Prevention: While the risk of developing breast cancer or other reproductive issues from Parabens in cosmetics is relatively low, there are various Paraben-free products on the market that work just as well as the originals.

Poison #5: Synthetic Coloring

Synthetic coloring is used in beauty products labeled with numbers and letters such as FD&C blue 1. These synthetic colors are derived from petroleum or coal tar.

Hazard: Synthetic coloring is suspected to be linked to cancer and has been linked to skin irritation and ADHD problems in children. It is currently banned by the European Union.

Prevention: Synthetic coloring is still found in American beauty products. Consider using organic beauty lines that do not use dye or coloring in their products.

Poison #6: Carbon Monoxide

CO is a colorless, odorless gas found in fumes produced by cars, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges or furnaces.

Hazard: When CO builds up inside a confined space, it can poison people and animals who breathe it in. Minimal exposure to CO may trigger flu-like symptoms such as headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. Excessive exposure may result in fainting, and even sometimes death.

Prevention:Install a CO detector in your home and check the batteries every spring and fall. Have your heating system and water heater inspected and serviced by a qualified professional annually.