Painting 101: Safety Tips

Painting walls, whether inside or outside, shouldn’t be that much of a challenge. A fresh coat of paint every now and then can breathe new life into any part of your home. But if you are a newbie when it comes to rolling and brushing through walls with paint, you should always take the proper precautions to protect yourself from being exposed to chemicals.

So before you start on any of your painting projects here is a rundown on the 101 of painting safely:

Use Protective Gear and Check the Area.

1. Wear the right kind of gloves to protect your skin. For sanding and scraping, get yourself cloth or leather gloves. For using water-based and solvent-resistant paint, use impermeable gloves and for solvent-based products, use solvent-resistant gloves.
2. Protect your eyes by wearing goggles or a face mask especially when airbrushing.
3. Keep your lungs clear by wearing an anti-dust mask when sanding.
4. Make sure the room is well-ventilated.
5. Check the room for flammable objects.

Take care when using solvent-based products.

1. Don’t forget to read the label and note its safety and health-related issues.
2. Keep solvent-based products far from heat sources and open flames as they are highly flammable.
3. Dispose of rags soaked with oil-based materials as well as its containers properly as these may ignite if not well taken care of.
4. Store solvent-based paints in well-ventilated spaces.
5. Keep solvent-based products away from children and pets.

Use the ladder with precaution.

1. Make sure the ladder is in good shape before using it.
2. Check if the steps are suitable for using and are free of oil, wet paint, and are free from any slippery substance.
3. Make sure the area around your ladder is not cluttered.
4. Ensure that the floor on which you will place your ladder is stable and even.