So you’ve decided to DIY your painting job – no problem, happens all the time.
Maybe you’re just cleaning up an existing wall, maybe you’re redoing an entire room.
You’ve taken everything into consideration to work around your job – you’re doing what you’d normally do in that room somewhere else instead.
But what about your pets?
Here at PurcellPro Painters, we’re a professional residential and commercial painting company in Willow Grove, PA and we’re used to these issues.
But if you’re not, here are some things to keep in mind for your project.
Remember, They Have A Better Sense Of Smell
According to a 2016 study by Polgar Et Al, different types of dogs have different strengths of their senses of smell, but all of them have stronger senses of smell than humans do.
Likewise, a 2019 study by Luca Roncati mentions that cats’ sense of smell is fourteen times stronger than ours.
What does this have to do with painting your house?
It’s important to keep in mind that if an odor is mildly annoying to you, it’s a much bigger deal to your pets.
To put it in perspective, think about a time when you’ve been in the same house with somebody who’s hard of hearing and watching TV so loud you can hear it in the backyard.
To them, it’s a reasonable volume, but to you? Not so much.
With exterior painting, it doesn’t matter much, but with interiors, try to do it during a season where you can have the windows open and circulate the air.
Keep your pets away, and opt for paint with low VOCs.
VOCs are volatile organic compounds, and it’s mostly what produces odors that can be harmful.
VOCs can cause headaches and dizziness, but opting for a paint with low or no VOCs will help.
Don’t Let Them Touch The Wet Paint!
This one might be a no-brainer, but it’s trickier than you might think.
In some cases, you can just close a door to keep them out.
But that might not always work.
If you’re painting a room that your pet particularly enjoys – like the room where you keep your cat’s litter box, for example – it might be more of a task to keep them away.
In my early 20’s, I had a cat who’d actually figured out how to open the doors in my house.
We had handles, not knobs, on most of them, and she figured out that if she jumped up on the handle and pushed it down, the door would open.
So if your cat is particularly creative, you might need to get a little creative yourself.
Cats are particularly averse to certain botanicals, not because they’re toxic, but because they just don’t like them.
Consider getting some essential oils or spray scents, like bergamot, citronella, lavender, rosemary, or peppermint.
This will discourage your pet from coming near.
Don’t Let Them Drink The Paint!
It should go without saying, but paint is not good for you.
It might be the same color as your favorite snack, but it’s a whole lot worse for you – and for your pet.
Pets eating paint is more of an issue for puppies or kittens who haven’t quite figured out boundaries yet, but it’s important to keep your adult pets away as well.
Contact PurcellPro Painters
If you want to DIY your home painting project, that’s okay – but if you’d rather someone else take care of the hassle, PurcellPro Painters is here for you.
Give us a call to book your free estimate today.
