Eco-Tips
- some eco hints from
Maleny Paint Place
Go green and paint in any colour you like using New Look paint. The New Look range is tinted with Wattyl’s EcoTint colourant which contains a low 1 gram of VOCs per litre. EcoTint is certified by the Good Environmental Choice of Australia for its low environmental impact. Why not try New Look’s Eco-Energy range of colours?
Make your colour choices create a comfortable home. Don’t think of colour as purely cosmetic. Colour combinations subconsciously affect your behaviour and mood. So why not choose cool colours like blues and greys for a sunny, hot room and warm up darker rooms with brown, yellow or red tones. This way your air conditioner might get less of a work out!
Reduce top coats when using deeper colours. Try to reduce the number of top coats you’ll need by using a tinted undercoat. This way you reduce the amount of paint you need and the number of applications.
Save water by rinsing brushes less often. Rather than rinsing brushes and rollers between each coat simply store them in a freezer bag which will prevent them drying out.
Cleaning roller trays the easy way. Roller trays can be fiddly and difficult to clean. Try covering the tray in a degradable plastic bag before you paint. When you’ve finished painting simply peel off the bag and turn inside out and you save water and avoid the mess of cleaning paint off the tray. Be sure to let the paint waste dry completely before tossing in the bin. Remember only water-based (or acrylic) paints can be disposed of in your regular waste. Solvent-based paints are classed as hazardous chemical waste and need to be disposed of in your local council’s household hazardous chemical waste collection service .
Be storage smart and keep paint fresh for the future. Avoid wastage by decanting leftover paint and storing in an old jar or other airtight container for future touch ups (remember to label the container clearly). For substantial amounts of leftover paint cover the top of the open can with cling wrap and put the lid on securely to avoid leakage. Store the can upside down. The paint naturally forms a skin which will help to seal the can and keep the paint fresh for next time.
Donate leftover paint. Have you got old paint lying around in the shed? If the paint is in good condition why not donate it to a community group, charity or theatre company?