Low VOC vs. Odorless Paint
Posted on February 26, 2020
Repainting your home can be overwhelming. Typically, when we are looking at our paint options, our first thought isn’t which one is healthiest for us. But should it be? As of recently pain manufacturers have come out with a variety of less toxic paints. It can be difficult to navigate these options and figure out what the best option is. The most difficult to distinguish is Low VOC vs. Odorless paint. Keep reading to find out the differences and which will work best for you.
Let’s start by talking about VOCs, what they are, and why you don’t necessarily want them in your house paint. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds. They are the reason for the unpleasant smell that comes after painting a room. They release into the air upon application and continue to release for several years after. Research supports that exposure to VOCs can cause symptoms such as skin irritation, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, allergic reactions, problems breathing, nausea, and more. Luckily, there has been a rise in interior and exterior home paint that contain fewer or no VOCs.
Low VOC house paints may still give off the paint smell until the paint is done drying. The benefit of low VOC is there are many more color options than there are if you go with no VOC paint.
No VOC aka odorless house paint may still contain small amounts of VOCs, but they are still the environmentally friendly choice by a long shot. They can be life changing for someone who is sensitive to smells or who has a lot of allergies.
The differences between Low VOC Paint and Odorless paint:
- Odorless Paint cannot be cleaned with any chemical-based cleaning products. This type of paint needs to be cleaned with mild soap and water.
- Odorless paint should not be cleaned for 30 days after it is applied.
- Odorless paint does not contain fungicides so they can be prone to micro-bacterial contamination.
- Odorless paint requires more coats in order to achieve the same look that you would get with Low VOC paints.
- Odorless paint needs to be stored in a cool place.
No matter which paint you go with, just be sure to do further research so you know exactly what is going into your home.
