When Is It Safe To Sleep in a Room after it is Painted?

A common question asked by homeowners, especially with kids or with an elderly person at home is, "When is it safe to sleep in a room after it is painted?" I have a couple of simple answers:

• If you are using a Green-Friendly paint that has Zero VOCs, you can sleep in the room the same day. Zero VOC means there is no harmful toxins released into the air during or after the paint is applied. Two great products to use are Sherwin Williams Harmony or Benjamin Moore's Natura. 
• If the product you are using has a "Green Seal" logo of any kind and has a VOC of less than 100 per gallon, you can also sleep in the room the same night. However, if you use a product with low VOC, the paint will smell for more than 24 hours. Typically the smell will lesson in 2-3 days if you keep a window open and/or a fan blowing. If you have a question in your mind at all, 3 days is about the time when you won't smell much paint. Again, if it is low VOC and certified "Green" technically you can sleep in the room right away. 
• Paint that is not Green-Friendly or may even be oil-base takes quite a bit of curing time. It might dry within 1-4 hours (or 8 hours for oil) but the toxins it releases may take 1-2 weeks to be completely safe. Small children, the elderly or anyone who has respiratory problems should wait a couple of weeks before sleeping in a freshly painted room, especially if there are no windows. I'd suggest leaving a window open during the night too. I've never heard of any problems of homeowners who have slept in rooms right after "toxic" paints were used, but from experience, the fumes are pretty rough to inhale! So just use your judgement and decide if you or someone you know wants to sleep with a little bit of paint fumes! 

I will end with this, almost all paints on the market today are safe for the home: especially if you live in Maryland or California. The regulations by the EPA on paint manufacturers are strict! So, if you have a concern at all, contact Hallco, the local paint store or your doctor. You can also ask your painter what type of interior paint is safest for any special concerns when painting a room or painting a house.

Hallco Painting now serves Clarksburg, Maryland and the counties of Montgomery, Frederick, and Howard.