Solvent-free paint - what's the real difference?

Categories: Advice

Classic paint: the real dangers

A classic but modern paint, bought nowadays, no longer contains certain extremely dangerous substances like mercury.

In addition to being harmful to health, these mercury-based paints were very damaging to the environment.

In large DIY stores, you can find paints that are healthier than before but still dangerous. So why?

Because for paint or varnish to remain fluid in its container or case, "organic" solvents must be added.

These solvents contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) such as white spirit, acetone, or trichloroethylene.

Additionally, color is created using pigments, but these pigments contain heavy metals: chrome, lead, cadmium (found in car batteries), and cobalt.

Conventional paint for non-ecological furniture

VOCs and heavy metals are extremely toxic and will evaporate over time. In fact, as soon as conventional paint is applied to walls or furniture, these elements permeate the air, fabrics, and carpets in the surrounding area. They can then enter the food chain, deteriorate your health, and contribute to environmental pollution.

The advantages: lower price, simple application, and more colors available.

Without appearing alarmist, it seems obvious that it's better to keep babies and children away from these substances. We know our children's habits well: they lick or chew on everything within reach like their crib bars, they often fall and get small cuts through which all sorts of elements can enter, they suffer increasingly from allergies and asthma, etc.

We can't keep them in a sterile bubble either, and a doctor will tell you that their immune system needs to develop. However, there's no need to make them live in a chemically unhealthy environment when we have a choice.

Eco-friendly paint: the current solution

Whether you're repainting the baby's room or choosing furniture, it's better to choose a water-based paint without solvents. Indeed, solvents and pigments can be made differently, with aromatic or citrus extracts and especially with water as solvents, and mineral oxides for color (such as iron for ochre, red colors...).

Does it last as well as conventional paint? Of course!

Not only does water-based paint without chemical solvents adhere to surfaces just as well as conventional paints, but they also have the same coverage capacity. It's even estimated that some water-based paints are more effective than synthetic ones because they penetrate materials better and allow surfaces to breathe. In terms of lifespan, it's exactly the same. Finally, if you're tired of paint odors, you should know that water-based paints are odorless!

Is it 100% safe? Eco-friendly paint is naturally safe, but some elements it contains may occasionally cause allergies during application. However, these allergies are not serious and disappear after properly ventilating the rooms.

Water-based paint on your baby and children's furniture

At Chambrekids, we have chosen this water-based paint without solvents or chemical components to give beautiful colors to your baby and children's furniture. From eco-friendly baby crib to organic children's bed, your daughter or son can chew on their cozy nest worry-free. Free from volatile organic compounds, our baby and children's furniture breathes and most importantly, they preserve your child's health and that of nature!

While you're at it, when choosing an eco-friendly baby room or an eco-organic children's room, take a look in the organic mattress section. Hypoallergenic, anti-dust mite, healthy, and biodegradable, our children's and baby mattresses will allow your little ones to sleep and grow in better conditions