It’s the time of year for do-it-yourself projects —while these projects come with a sense of accomplishment along with a bit of cash in your pocket, there are a few tips to remember before you begin . Of course, each home project has its own set of rules and how-to guides, but there are some things to remember , especially when it comes to the drains in your home.
After finishing up the latest painting project, such as the guest bedroom or the garage door, don’t give in to the temptation of pouring that remaining paint down the drain. It is extremely flammable and adds fumes to your plumbing system, which can then be circulated throughout your home . Not only is there a chance the paint will ignite, it will coat the insides of your pipes, making them shrink and causing clogged drains along with a number of other plumbing problems.
The drains outside your home are also not an option for disposal of left over paint —stay away from the city or storm drains. Paint could easily seep into the water supply or contaminate the ground. For safe paint disposal, check with your local city municipality or a hardware and plumbing supply store. Find one of these places that will recycle it .
As for proper cleaning once the paint job is completed , follow the directions on the side of the paint can. For water-based or latex paints, it’s safe to scrape excess paint into newspapers. Once the paint on the newspapers has dried, it’s o.k. to throw them in the garbage . Wash your brushes and other paint supplies with warm soapy water. As long as there is enough running water to dilute the paint, it can be washed down the drain safely. These instructions will keep you from drain cleaning headaches in the future.
For oil-based or alkyd paints, there’s a separate procedure . They aren’t water-soluble, so you will need paint thinner to clean your brushes and other supplies. The same goes for marine or auto-body paint; it may contain lead, so check the labels carefully and follow all disposal directions accurately .
Of course, if you have fresh paint you are trying to get rid of, see if there is another project it could be used on, or if someone you know may need some extra paint . Maybe your neighbors or a local business will be working on their own do-it-yourself project this summer.
In case you were wondering, there are far worse liquids than paint that you could dump into your drain . After an afternoon of working in the garage, never pour used motor oil down a drain. In some cities, this is illegal because of the amount of environmental damage it does and how easily it can disrupt an area’s soil and water table .
When it comes to used motor oil, stay far away from drains in your home, garage, a sewer or a storm drain. Never pour motor oil directly on the ground or in the street. To dispose of motor oil properly , check your local auto parts store—they may even recycle it for you.
Summer projects do not have to mean big headaches! Figuring out how to properly dispose of chemicals, oil and paint is simple environmentally safe, and , in the long run, cost effective. Dumping large quantities of paint in your sink will lead to a clogged drain and a big drain cleaning bill. It can also mean devastating environmental harm for your neighborhood and surrounding community .
