Category: Real Estate

1. Use the RO Waste Water for watering your plants
2. Use it for household chores
3. Toilet flushing and Cleaning
4. Sewage Pipe Cleaning
5. Utilize it for Car wash
6. Bathing Pets

For every Litre of potable water produced, the RO purifier generates ~ 3 litres of waste water.

Most Indians are concerned about the quality of water supplied through municipal and borewell water systems. These concerns are related to the increasing levels of pollutants and microorganisms in borewell systems and the diseases that they cause.

Most of us are switching to water purifiers for a clean & purified supply. One of the most commonly used methods, for this reason, is Reverse Osmosis (RO)¹.

Every invention has its own advantages and drawbacks. RO water purifiers are one of the best examples as these machines give you pure and clean water, but also generate a substantial amount of waste water. For every litre of potable water produced, the RO purifier will generate around 3 litres of waste water. If you pass 4 litres of water through an RO purifier², it would produce only 1 litre of drinking water. Since the purification process is gradual, we don’t even realize that a good amount of rejected water is seeping out from the waste pipe.

We all know, water is the most important & precious resource you have on this earth without which you cannot expect your life running smoothly. It is the basic necessity required in almost all daily routine which you follow and so it is your sole responsibility that you must not waste this useful resource. You cannot avoid using water purifiers considering the quality of tap water. The installation personnel generally suggests installing RO units over sinks so that the rejected water gets drained out. But you can re-use this rejected water, which is high in TDS (totally dissolved solids) and inorganic salts, for different household purposes (other than drinking and cooking purposes³) to make it useful.

How to Save RO Waste Water and Store it

The simplest way of saving this waste water would be to drop the reject water pipe in a storage object. Suppose your daily requirement of drinking water is 20 litres, then on average your purifier would generate around 60 litres of waste water. You can use a 20 litre water can with tape and close lid option. Make a hole in the lid and connect the RO waste water pipe to lid. It is better to connect a pipe in tape towards down to prevent spilling of water from height.

Easy Ways to Re-use RO Waste Water

1. Use the RO Waste Water for watering your plants

Waste RO water can be used for watering plants. But as this is usually high in TDS, it is better to dilute it with normal tap water and then use it. Because high TDS water can reduce the fertility of soil in the long term. To be on the safer side, you can start with a few plants. Use the RO waste water for 15-20 days and check its effect on the plant’s growth. Each plant will respond to this change in a different way, which will give you an understanding of which plants are responding better to RO waste water.

2. Use it for Household Chores

Using the RO waste water for mopping the floor is easy and will save litres of clean water every day. Mix the RO waste water with fresh water, and use it for mopping floors. Make sure to dilute it properly because TDS content may lead to some salt deposition on the floor. You can also reuse the RO waste water for your used utensils after every meal. You can certainly use the water to soak the used utensils so that the food stuck on the surface won’t dry up and can easily be removed during washing. But, washing of utensils should only be done with fresh water.

You can also use it for daily use clothes, but do keep in mind that delicate fabrics may not react well to the TDS content and other materials in the water.

3. Toilet flushing and cleaning

While it cannot be used for bathing, you can use the filter waste for toilet flushing and cleaning. Flushing takes up nearly 6 to 7 liters of water which directly goes down the drain. It is a massive amount considering the number of times we flush daily. You can limit this normal tap water wastage by using the waste water for flushing. Pour it down the cistern of the toilet to utilize it efficiently.

Additionally, It can be diluted with regular freshwater to clean porcelain tiles, bathroom fixtures, faucets and the toilet seat. This is done to avoid discoloration, or deposition of salt on the fixtures or others. You must though, always monitor for any signs. To avoid damage, we suggest using this method for periodical clean-ups only.

4. Sewage pipe cleaning

The waste RO water can be used to clean sewage pipes at home or in the kitchen, as it has a high saline content.

5. Utilize it for Car wash

This is probably the best use of the reject water from the RO machine. Washing up a car requires a substantial amount of water. And using your RO waste water for this purpose makes sense. You can mix the waste water with fresh water to give your car a good wash. Hence, you can not only clean your car but also end up saving a lot of water.

Apart from above-mentioned points, you can use the waste water to refill your room cooler as well during the summer.

Conclusion

Using these simple tips, we can end up saving a lot of water. These little ideas will conserve water that can make a world of difference if everyone adopts them. Since we all know that there is a severe shortage of water throughout the world, we all must develop these practices in our routine to conserve water. Remember that every drop counts and is precious!

Reference links used:
1. https://www.freshwatersystems.com/blogs/blog/what-is-reverse-osmosis
2. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Reverse-osmosis-Need-or-waste/articleshow/46648223.cms
3. https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_best_solution_for_RO_reject_water

1. Make it Clean & Clutter-free
2. Keep it Dry and Moisture-free
3. Keep Pests away from Home
4. Ensure proper Ventilation
5. Take care of Air quality
6. Toxic-free & Safe Living
7. Opt for a Home Inspection

Most of us spend at least half of our lives in our homes without realizing there is a connection between our home and health.

A happy and healthy environment is essential for a healthy lifestyle. When it comes to improving our health, we tend to focus on nutrition and exercise, and we spend less time focusing on how our environment can affect our body. Our home is where we spend a lot of our time, so it is important that we figure out ways to make it healthy.

In order to create a healthy environment, we should start from our homes individually. Everyone’s living space is different, and there are some aspects you cannot control, but you can follow some tips that can help to improve the health of your home.

1. Make it Clean & Clutter-free

Having clutter and uncleanliness has proven to not only make your home dirty, but it can also affect your health. Excessive clutter can aggravate or worsen symptoms associated with various respiratory diseases (eg: asthma). Cluttered home invites rodents, cockroaches, insects and other pests. Pests in the home can cause respiratory illnesses and other health problems. Hence, Cleaning and de-cluttering your home enhances happy & healthy living.

2. Keep it Dry and Moisture-free

Moisture in homes can cause a variety of issues. From problems with personal health to damaging the home itself, water inside elements of building is an issue. Common human health hazards associated with dampness in homes include Upper respiratory issues, Asthma, Cough, Wheeze, Allergies, Skin Diseases, Migraine – Headaches & Depression. Structural integrity of your home gets weakened due to moisture intrusion. It is important that you stop leaks, control seepage, and maintain balanced humidity inside your house.

3. Keep Pests away from Home

Pests come to your home for 3 main reasons – food, water, and warmth. Seal cracks and openings (gap around window, door frame and pipes) throughout the home; keep kitchen and other areas of home clean, store food properly.

4. Ensure proper Ventilation

Home ventilation is an important factor related to the occupants’ health. Poor Ventilation increase the risk of airborne diseases, causes allergies, nausea and can also lead to serious health issues like eczema, nervous system damage, and cancer. Poor ventilation has been associated with “sick” homes for a long time, mainly referring to the damage caused by mould growth and other related problems to the building components. Therefore, ventilation is very important for your home.

5. Take care of Air quality

Common household cleaning products contain chemicals like alcohol, ammonia, chlorine and other solvents that must not be touched or inhaled. These have negative effects on our health that can cause irritable eyes, sore throats, and even headaches. These cleaning products release dangerous Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that not only give you common health issues but also aggravate allergies, asthma, and chronic respiratory issues.

Although we depend much on these cleaning products, however, we must use organic products as a safe option to go by. Using organic cleaners around the house will help the air quality immensely. The more we use less toxic products to clean our homes and indoors, the better it is for our health.

6. Toxic-free & Safe living

Store pesticides and other chemicals like leftover paint & oil, disinfectants (if you are having) in locked cabinets out of children’s reach. Keep all chemicals in their original, labelled containers – do not put them into another bottle or container. It is always important to keep it out of reach of children and pets¹.

7. Opt for a Home Inspection

Home inspection – Health & Safety Check-up ensures everything in the house is functioning properly; it identifies hidden issues & areas that need repair. Take care of minor repairs and issues at the right time before they become a large problem.

Cracks, seepage, clogged drains and blockage in pipes are some of the common household problems that we face in our houses with time. Inspection is a significant way to become aware of the areas of the house that can act as a hazard or create problems in the future and also suggest solutions for specific issues. Home inspection is an essential part that ensures a healthy home for your family.

Home inspection is an important part not only during the purchase of a property but also with time when your home starts ageing. Maintenance of a home is as significant as maintaining other essential assets in order to attain a healthy home.

Home inspection is a health and safety check-up of home. Watch the video to understand it better.

Final words

Home is one of the most valuable investment of our life where we spend our maximum time. So your home is a key asset for you. Everyone needs a healthy home. Making your home healthier and safer in preparation for your living has to be a great responsibility. A healthy home can help you & your family have a healthy body. We hope that these tips will make your home a healthy one!

Reference links used:
1. https://sanitizeyourplace.in/basics-of-handling-cleaner-sanitizer-disinfectant/

• Why ventilation is important for your home?
  1. Helps in controlling moisture
  2. Health of you and your family
  3. Improves Air Quality
  4. Increases Comfort level
  5. Better Air Regulation
  6. Reduces Temperature
• Some Considerations for good ventilation
• Ventilation tips for better indoor Air

Ventilation is essential for home comfort. Proper ventilation prevents air pollutants from affecting the health of family and home. Without proper ventilation, a home or building can become a house of static air, where bacteria and carbon build-up, making the indoor air unsafe for the inhabitants. Like we do breathing exercises to have good health, similarly, buildings too need to breathe well.

In general terms, Ventilation is a process of replacing still & stagnant air with fresh air. A well-ventilated house is one that ensures sufficient air and sunlight infiltration into the house.

Read the content to understand: Why ventilation is important for your home?

1. Helps in controlling moisture

Ventilation is very important because it controls how much moisture is persisting in the home. If one has adequate airflow throughout home; walls, floors, and all the wood in the home will stay dry and not collect moisture. Wood can decay when exposed to moisture. If one lets moisture build up in these areas of the home, they will not only destroy the structural integrity, but they will also cause mold/ termite buildup or other moisture-related problem.

2. Health of you and your family

Proper ventilation protects you & your family from unpleasant odours and irritating pollutants. Poor Ventilation increase the risk of airborne diseases, causes allergies, nausea and can also leads to serious health issues like eczema, nervous system damage, and cancer. It causes sick building syndrome. Ventilation prevents the growth of fungus and molds in your home and hence keeps you protected from allergies and breathing issues. To know and understand the health effects, read Poor Ventilation and the health consequences that come with it¹.

3. Improves Air Quality

If the air inside the house does not move outside, the pollutants such as chemical gases and germs would affect the air quality and cause harm. Ventilation helps expel the pollutants stored inside along with the bacteria, moisture and odour. It controls indoor humidity and airborne contaminants, both of which either contribute to or act as health hazards. Also, it helps in removing volatile organic compounds in house paint, air fresheners, cleaning products. Hence, proper ventilation helps in improving indoor air quality and ensure a healthy living.

4. Increases Comfort level

Ventilation controls the humidity level and allows you to breathe easier. When the room is filled with fresh & clean air, the airborne contaminants are eliminated. Moreover, sufficient inflow of air cools the room in the best way and this makes indoor ambiance better. All these add to the increase in the comfort level.

5. Better Air Regulation

A well-ventilated home has lower energy bills, and this is the reason why people prefer to live in a place that provides natural ventilation. It lowers the home’s humidity reduces the pressure on the air conditioner and also extends its life span.

6. Reduce Temperature

Sometimes when lot of people live in a small home, space becomes hot making the environment unbearable. A proper ventilation system reduces the temperature and makes a home comfortable and relaxed for everyone.

Some Considerations for good ventilation

In order to achieve good natural ventilation in a home, below considerations can be followed:

• Outlet openings should be just opposite to inlets to ensure better cross-ventilation.
• More height of the room gives better ventilation.
• Inlet openings should be located on the windward side and at low level so that all parts of the room are uniformly ventilated². Outlet opening should be located on lee ward side(side facing away from the wind) near the ceiling in the side walls. It is nowadays less common in homes.

Ventilation tips for better Indoor Air

• Use of exhaust fans: Exhaust fans draw air from a particular location and vent it to the outside. Both Kitchens and bathrooms should have an exhaust fan. Bathroom and kitchen fans are a significant part of your home’s ventilation system. They remove odours from your house, which improves indoor air quality. They also remove moisture, which decreases the level of humidity in your house.
• Natural ventilation: Most common method of natural ventilation³ is opening windows and doors. When outdoor air is cooler and drier than your indoor air, by all means, open the windows and let that fresh air flow through.
• Clean air: If exhaust fans and natural ventilation cannot serve the purpose, you can opt for a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity in your home.

Final Words

Improper ventilation in homes can lead to illnesses and discomfort as well as cause damage due to poor moisture & temperature control.

Whether you are living in a home, fresh air is essential to survive. If you are searching for a new home to move in, check if it has good ventilation. It is very essential for health, efficiency and hygienic conditions. Hence while planning your home it should be ensured that each area/ room is properly ventilated.

Proper home ventilation is essential for the health of the residents and the structure. It controls the build-up of indoor air pollutants and moisture. Therefore, it is utmost important to keep the house adequately ventilated.

Reference links used:
1. https://www.chayaseattle.org/2019/01/22/poor-ventilation-and-the-health-consequences-that-comes-with-it/
2. https://law.resource.org/pub/in/bis/S03/is.3362.1977.pdf
3. https://happho.com/natural-ventilation-methods-house-constructions/

1. Finding the main water control valve
2. Know the Electrical supply
3. Get to know your appliances
4. Take Advice before interiors or remodeling
5. Ensure General Fire Safety
6. Learn How to Identify Potential Issues in Your New Home
7. Know the Surrounding Essentials
8. Talk to the Neighbours

Buying a house is considered one of the most significant investments you will make in your lifetime and there is so much to think about – the move itself, changing billing addresses, unpacking and even getting used to the sounds that your new home makes.

After months of house hunting, you finally find the home that satisfies your needs. So you feel relaxed and stress-free in your new home. Once you buy a new place to live in, there are several things you need to know about it.

No matter whether you have purchased a new home or got the property in the resale, there are certain things that you need to take care of when you first enter your new home.

Just like learning to drive a car or cook food, every home has important things that the homeowner must be aware of and learn how to operate. For those who believe in absolute home comfort, here is a list of 8 essential things you must know related to your new home.

1. Finding the main water control valve

Water from a broken plumbing pipe can pour out dozens of gallons into your home’s interior in a matter of minutes, soaking everything in sight – including flooring, furniture and valuables. In this situation or others like (leak or drip), turning off the water mains can prevent the water from causing serious damage to other areas of your home. Water damage is one of the most common occurrence.

Nowadays, many homes have separate water control valves for each area (kitchen, bathroom), which is ideally better. And some homes have the main water control valve at terrace near storage tank. It is important to know the location of this main valve in case of any emergency. Make sure everyone knows where it is located and how to close the valve. Also always ensure it moves freely instead of hard to operate.

2. Know the Electrical supply

Familiarize yourself with electrical supply including the position of the Distribution Board (DB) in case of a trip while plugging in your systems for the first time. There are two common situations that will require you accessing your electrical panel: An outlet in your home has been overloaded and blown a circuit that you need to reset to restore power or, need to turn off the power of a certain area for some electrical work like installing an outlet, or light fixture. If possible label your Distribution board or panel, in case you or any other person requires to turn off the power for some task.

3. Get to know your appliances

Home appliances have made our lives so much easier. We cannot deny the comfort and convenience these appliances provide us. A day without these helping hands is quite annoying and troublesome. Just like cars and televisions, the appliances in your home have different life expectancies and a proper way to operate. It is important to know your appliances, as good care and correct use of these appliances will provide them a longer running life. It is always better to read the guide before using it. Also, keep the warranty card, service details and guide of all appliances together in a place.

4. Take Advice before Interiors or Remodeling

After buying a home, usually a homeowner plans to have interiors or remodelling. Home Remodelling is a big project, you should not take it lightly in order to maintain aesthetics, functional ease and of course to make your money spent worthwhile. Opting remodeling or furnishings without proper advice can lead to rework and waste of money, if there is any concealed leakage or other related issues in your home. So,it is important to know and understand the condition of your home first with help of professionals before furnishing or remodeling.

5. Ensure General Fire Safety

Fires at home are generally due to electrical shortcircuit or smoking or overheating. It is important for the homeowner to ensure the general fire safety at home. Firstly, in order to keep yourself safe, see how is the emergency exit in your building in case of an apartment. You should know the location of all of your home’s safety equipment in case of emergencies. Locate and check the availability of fire extinguishers and fire alarms. Obtain and maintain it, in case it is not present. You can also read Fire and safety regulations¹.

6. Learn How to Identify Potential Issues in Your New Home

One of the best homeowner maintenance tips is to detect minor problems before they become huge issues. After purchasing your home, take some time to learn about some of the common issues homes face. Being able to identify a potential problem early on could save you money later. There are certain common problems that you need to take care of when you first enter your new home:

• Plumbing Issue: The plumbing issue is most common for new homeowners. When you start living at the new place you need to see for any plumbing issue in the home. Visual checks can be done like leakage in the visible portion of pipes or watermarks seeping through the ceiling or walls; improper installation of fitting, and grout problems.
• Check electrical system: Another important factor new homeowners should consider is the electrical circuits. You do not need to open the circuit board to find the issue. Check if you are facing some tripping problem in DB while using any appliance or there is any layout problem like the improper position of socket. You can also observe the outer layer of the system to see if there is any burning issue or damage to the wires system. If you require, hire a skilled electrician to check each and every wire connected to the home. The electrician will examine the system closely to see if any repair requires in the system.
• Check the floor: The floor damage is common in a home. You should check for the damage tiles, hollowness in tiles, the gap at tile joints etc to avoid the water leakage or any other circumstances where your floor started losing its strength.

Apart from this, there are other basic elements like wall, ceiling, door, window. There can be some problems in these basic elements even in your new home. To understand more, read Moving to a New Apartment? Home inspection can be a saviour. If you want the help of experts in detecting the probable defects of your apartment, Contact professional home inspection services.

7. Know the surrounding essentials

Homeowners should determine where the nearest shops/retail facilities are, and their earliest opening and closing times to ensure that they can buy what they need. Also know about essentials like Hospitals, gas service center, public transport etc.

8. Talk to the Neighbours

You might feel shy but getting to know your neighbours will be useful for you in the long run. You can look out for each other, notify each other of problems or issues in the neighborhood, and you will have someone that you trust to water your plants or feed your pet while you are away.

Apart from the above points Homeowners should determine the integrity of the physical security such as door locks and in case of the individual house, check the gate at the perimeter of house.

Bottom Line

Buying a new home is exciting as we have many plans in our mind to make it look more beautiful. But before focusing on the way to make it look better, there are certain things that you should be sure to familiarize yourself with when it comes to your new home. Being sure to know the basics related to some simple things mentioned above can benefit you in the long-run! Our objective was to make you aware of important things that every new homeowner needs to know to ensure your home running smoothly.

Reference links used:
1. https://www.99acres.com/articles/fire-safety-regulations-for-high-rise-residential-buildings-in-india.html

1. Maintain No-shoe Rule
2. Put things back after use
3. Wipe your Counters & tables after each meal
4. Wash the dishes and clean your sink
5. Empty & clean Dustbin regularly
6. Prepare a Weekly & Monthly Cleaning routine
7. Make a Morning routine
8. Finish the Night with your Evening Routine

When life gets busy, keeping a clean home can fall by the wayside. When your home is dirty or cluttered, it is difficult to focus on the tasks you should be doing.

Also, Medical professionals and organizers believe that a cluttered home is not just an aesthetic problem¹, it can lead to very real health issues. Cleaning and de-cluttering your home enhance happy & healthy living.

We all like living in clean and clutter-free houses. Being a wife, mom, homemaker and also if you are a working woman, there are many tasks and responsibilities that you are accountable for. Between work, parenthood and everyday life chaos, keeping your house clean & clutter-free can be one of the toughest things for many of us.

So, today, we are sharing some easy routines and habits to help you maintain a clean & clutter-free home now and in the future.

1. Maintain No-shoe Rule

If you want to avoid bringing in mud and dirt from the outside, then one of the important habits is to make and maintain a no-shoe rule at home. We assume most of you already follow this habit but still we included this for those who do not know its important point in keeping your home clean. Keep a shoe rack at the entrance of the home. If you are a person who finds its difficult walking barefoot then always keep a separate clean slipper only for inside home usage (avoid using that in bathrooms).

2. Put things back after use

It is so much easier to pick things up as you go but many of us do not bother to keep things back at their place after usage. This is one of the reason which creates a disorganized and untidy home. The key to making this work, of course, is to ensure that everything has its own place. Do that first if you have not already.

3. Wipe your Counters & tables after each meal

After you eat your meal, apart from putting away the dishes and cutleries & washing them, you should remember to wipe down the tables and counters².

The simple act of wiping down your counters and table will get you in the habit of keeping these surfaces clear of clutter and clean of dirt & germs. Surfaces should be free and clear to prepare and eat on – just doing this one thing will help you feel tidier and lighter all around. You should also disinfect your counters and tables every once in a while.

4. Wash the dishes and Clean your sink

Try and avoid getting into the habit of leaving your dishes to be washed for the next day. It is not a nice way to wake up if you have to deal with washing the dishes that you left overnight. We will also suggest keeping utensils inside the cabinet when it is dry to avoid the damage to the cabinet and growth of germs. So, wash the dishes every night, and put them away in morning.

Also, your kitchen sink is the place where you wash your dishes and clean up messes. But how often do you clean your kitchen sink? Wash kitchen sinks regularly as research shows they actually have more germs than the toilet³. Sinks⁴ and hidden sections of the kitchen wardrobe must be cleaned regularly with antibacterial wipes or other related products.

5. Empty & Clean Dustbin

A dustbin is the dirtiest place in the house, and it is likely to attract various pests like cockroaches and houseflies that lead to different infections and diseases. To keep them at bay, empty and clean your dustbin on a regular basis.

Washing the bin with hot water and a liquid cleaner once a week will minimize the smell. Also, coordinate with a garbage collector to pick your garbage daily to avoid the piling of waste at home.

Always maintain a separate dustbin in the kitchen for wet waste and another in living room or balcony for dry waste.

Disposing of garbage is a daily chore, just like any other job in your life. This habit helps you keep your home clean, healthy, hygienic and smell-free.

6. Prepare a Weekly & Monthly Cleaning routine

Make a cleaning routine and divide the task you will do on a weekly and monthly basis. If you follow a proper cleaning routine and do not wait for Diwali to clean your house, you will never have the need to deep clean. This is also useful for those, who have house helps. According to this routine, they can instruct and get the work done. For example: For weekly schedule – do dusting, organize one room in each week, give more care to bathrooms and kitchen, cabinets etc and for monthly schedule – check all appliances, furniture, wash rugs, wipe down walls etc. This cleaning routine can be prepared depending on an individual’s time availability. To understand more through some cleaning routine examples, click here⁵.

7. Make your Morning routine

Our morning routine is so important to get our day off on the right track. It not only gives a jumpstart on a few daily tasks we have to do in our home, but it also makes feel like accomplished something right away.

Morning routine can differ for a homemaker and working woman in terms of devoting time. You should include making your bed, start a load of laundry in the washing machine, wipe down the bathroom counters, kitchen counters, quick pickup of our living space, sweep & mop the floor etc. A working woman can transfer some tasks in the evening. To get better understanding, you can read about successful morning routine⁶.

8. Finish the Night with your Evening Routine

Just like your morning routine is the perfect way to start your day, your evening routine will help you set yourself up for success the next day. These include preparing dinner, cleaning utensils of dinner, folding and ironing the clothes, doing some basic food preparation for tomorrow (generally if you are a working woman).

Other Important Point for those who have a working place at home: A clean workspace will not just ensure that you stay healthy, but it can also boost your productivity. If you are working from home or have a home office, read How to Clean Your Home Office⁷.

Conclusion

The habits listed above should help you keep your house clean, clutter-free and maintain it. The great thing about having daily cleaning habits is that the longer you do it, the less you have to clean. This is the reason why you should start your cleaning habits today since the sooner you do it, the sooner you will see the results.

The ideal cleaning routine will vary from person to person – what works for one, may not necessarily work for another. Your needs will change depending on the size of your home, the age of your children, your work schedule outside of the home, etc. There are, however, a few basics that we all must get done daily and others can be done on a weekly, monthly duration.

Reference links used:
1. https://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/How-Cleaning-Can-Improve-Your-Health-37956421
2. https://creativehomekeeper.com/kitchen-counter-organization/
3. https://sanitizeyourplace.in/cleaning-sanitization-and-disinfection-csd-trivias/
4. https://sanitizeyourplace.in/kitchen-safety-and-sanitization-a-must-for-all-times/
5. https://joyfullygrowingblog.com/how-to-keep-your-house-clean-clutter-free/
6. https://www.thesimplyorganizedhome.com/morning-routine/
7. https://www.maids.com/cleaning-hacks/clean-home-office/

Chemicals / VOCs present in Paints

Painting your home can enhance the beauty of your space and give a fresh new look to a boring room. It forms a part of the maintenance of your home and must be done once every 2-3 years depending on the condition. The unsatisfactory part is the immediate consequence of painting a room, that is, the suffocating paint odour.

The material (or can say chemicals) with which the paint is made, together with the solvent used to make the paint liquid so that it can be easily applied with the brush, stays on the wall even after the paint dries. It is the evaporation of this solvent, which leads to the suffocating odour.

The paints industry has developed multitude of chemicals to enhance the product shelf life, colour, texture etc. These paints are made from a few chemicals that are especially suited for this industry. Many of these are volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which vaporize as soon as they are exposed to the atmosphere. They also contain heavy metals such as arsenic, lead and chromium. VOCs are organic chemicals that are mainly used as solvents for conventional paints. Once they enter into the air we inhale, they can go into our lungs and create a toxic effect on our bodies.

So what exactly is a Volatile Organic Compound(VOC)? VOCs are a large group of chemicals that are found in many products we use to build and maintain our homes. VOCs are chemicals inside paint that are released into the air as you paint a wall.

VOC is a carbon-containing compound that easily vaporizes into the air. When they enter the air, they react with other elements to produce ozone, which causes air pollution and a host of health issues. It is one of the sources of indoor air pollutants.

Harmful effects on Human health

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) include organic solvents and organic chemicals. Because they are organic, it does not mean they cannot cause health problems. Apart from paint and solvents, there are other common sources of VOCs found indoors which include: Household Cleaning Products, Dry Cleaning Products, Paint Thinners, Varnishes, Cosmetics, Glues, Pesticides, Aerosol Sprays, Building Materials, etc give off VOCs.

Some of the chemicals can cause short term and long term adverse health problems. After painting, VOCs can be up to 1,000 times higher indoors¹ than outdoor fresh air levels. VOC levels are highest during and soon after painting, they continue seeping out for several years.

VOCs from Paints are up there on the list of most harmful toxins to humans, animals, plants and aquatic life. Common Signs or Symptoms of exposure to VOCs:

• Conjunctiva Irritation
• Nose and Throat issues
• Headache
• Skin Allergy
• Dyspnea
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Epistaxis
• Fatigue and Dizziness

Some long-term effects include liver and kidney damage, respiratory issues and even cancer. These paints not only harm the human body, but also the environment. The by-products and waste of the synthetic chemical industry are detrimental to the environment and it leaves an enormous carbon footprint.

Best practices or tips to reduce Risk & Exposure

If you are going to do painting in your house, here are some best practices that you can follow in order to reduce your risk:

1. Schedule painting strategically

Although there may never be a time where your homes are completely vacant, try to schedule painting when there is minimal number of people present.

2. Select Indoor paint with low or zero VOCs

Be sure you select indoor paints wisely. Select a product that will generate less harmful fumes or VOCs, such as water-based paints. Their low level of volatile organic compound (VOC)² makes them an environmental friendly option with minimal to zero harmful effects on your health.

3. Follow instructions and safety labels

Read carefully instructions and safety information on the product label before starting the painting process. Note any warnings, first-aid information, or if protective measures like gloves or goggles are required to be used. It is always beneficial to go through certain guidelines and wear gloves or a face mask while painting.

4. Provide Ventilation

It is always advised to have good ventilation with open doors and windows. Always paint in an area that is well ventilated. After painting, keep windows as open as possible for two to three days in order to allow paint fumes to exit the room. You can also consider using a fan in the window to help direct airflow to the outside.

5. Take breaks while painting

Long exposure can worsen the effects of paint fume. Take breaks to breathe in fresh air to help reduce your chances of side effects.

6. General precautions

Ensure your safety and safety of your loved ones by taking the following precautions:

• Pregnant women are advised to stay away from wet paint till it is fully dried.
• Keep children and pets away from painted areas and equipment.
• Keep painted area and paints away from heat sources.
• Stay out of the room that has been painted for 2 to 3 days after you are finished.
• Close any leftover paint containers tightly to prevent vapors from leaking into the surrounding area. If you choose to dispose off leftover paint, be sure to do it properly.
• Keep the paintbrushes covered with plastic bags when not in use.
• Try to keep the paint containers covered with their lids as much as possible.
• Use ladders safely.

Apart from the above tips, if you are still facing a problem then opt for air purifiers. It reduces VOCs in your indoor space. Consider having an air purifier running in the room you are painting and other rooms (where VOCs may have found their way into).

Eco-friendly Options for paints

Eco-friendly paints available in India can be classified into three types:

• Zero-VOC paints: The level of VOCs in these paints is negligible that they can be termed as ‘zero-VOC paints’.
• Low-VOC paints: Low VOC paints are those that contain less VOC or VOC Solvents than traditional coatings. Paints labeled “low-VOC” should contain fewer than 50 grams per liter of volatile compounds³(as per EPA guidelines).
• Natural paints: These paints are made of natural compounds such as tree resins, water, plant oil, natural dyes etc. They do not contain any VOCs.

Some paint companies which provide eco-friendly paints include Asian paints⁴, Berger Paints, Dulux Paints, Kansai Nerolac⁵, Nippon Paints.

Last words

Many paint products contain VOCs that can potentially cause both short-term and long-term health effects. Our objective was to make you aware of the harmful effects of VOCs in paints on human health and the environment and also to provide you the best tips to reduce risk and exposure.

When painting indoors, you should always do so safely. If you are looking for the healthiest and eco-friendly⁶ alternative to standard paint, sticking to no and low-VOC options is a good idea.

Reference links used:
1. https://healthbunker.co.uk/harmful-effects-of-vocs-volatile-organic-compounds-in-paint/
2. https://nipponpaint.co.in/difference-between-water-based-vs-solvent-based-paints/
3. https://www.thespruce.com/eco-friendly-house-paint-1821767
4. https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/asian-paints-gives-india-its-first-organic-paint-line-with-nilaya-naturals/article30674195.ece
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jmoiA_T4qw
6. https://www.enidhi.net/2019/01/time-to-shift-to-apollo-eco-friendly-paints.html