EPA 10 Toxic Threats: Cringe Worthy Consumer Use Chemicals Getting Industry Push Back

The Environmental Protection Agency has published a list of 10 toxic threats it will evaluate first under law passed last year intended to crack down on hazardous chemicals. They are among 90 chemicals identified by the agency that may harm children, damage nerve tissue, cause cancer, contaminate the environment, accumulate in the bloodstream or show up in consumer products. As the review begins, industry and other interest groups are urging the E.P.A. to limit any restrictions.

2 on the list we find of great concern because of the high concentration levels in readily accessible consumer products with poor warning and caution labels. Some products containing these chemicals actually claim to be safe alternatives giving the consumer a false sense of safety when using them! So what chemicals have us cringing to see industry push back?

Methylene Chloride

Where you may find it:Methylene chloride is used in pharmaceutical manufacturing and polyurethane foam manufacturing. It is also found in paint strippers, adhesives, metal cleaners, and aerosol solvents. Many products are sold at home improvement stores!

How it could hurt you: Exposure can harmthe central nervous system, with effects including dizziness, incapacitation and, sometimes, death. It is also linked to liver toxicity, liver cancer and lung cancer. It has been associated with dozens of deaths.The E.P.A., just days before the end of the Obama administration, proposed banning its useas a paint stripper because of these hazards.

Industry Intervention: W.M. Barr & Company, the largest national manufacturer of solvents, removers, fuels and cleaning products, asked the E.P.A. to withdrawits proposed rule to ban methylene chloride in paint stripper, arguing that its products do "not present an unreasonable risk." However paint strippers containing methylene chloride can have a concentration of up to 99% pure chemical and purchased off the shelf of most home improvement stores with little or no required safety knowledge provided and minimal hazard warnings on label. People are dying from this stuff!


N-Methylpyrrolidone

Where you may find it:N-Methylpyrrolidone is a solvent used in petrochemical processing. It can be found in plastics, paint, inks, enamels, electronics, industrial and consumer cleaning products, paint strippers, andarts and crafts materials

How it could hurt you:It may pose a particular risk to women who are pregnant or of childbearing age, according to studies on animals that suggestdelayed fetal development.

Industry intervention:  The NMP Manufacturers Group argues that the chemical "is used in many industry sectors, in varied processes," and that it would be "unworkable for industry and unworkable for EPA" to evaluate them all. However paint stripping companies are using this chemical as a solvent in there products most commonly soy and citrus based strippers marketing them as a safe alternative to methylene chloride giving the consumer a false sense of safety when using the product.

For the full list of E.P.A.'s Top 10 Toxic Threats, and Industry's Pushback follow this link:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/21/us/epa-toxic-chemicals.html 

If you are looking to use a paint stripping product and need a safe alternative that truly is as safe as it seems we recommend EZ Strip.

What is the difference between Traditional Paint Strippers and EZ Strip?

Traditional paint strippers initiate a chemical reaction that reacts with the coating being stripped releasing dangerous toxic off gasses and fumes into the air. The products and the residue are toxic should not be disposed of in household waste, flushed into water ways, or the sewer system including septic tanks. Impervious chemical resistant gloves and respirators must be worn to prevent toxic exposure. 

EZ Strip products react totally different by breaking the physical bond between the coating and the substrate actually lifting the coating from the surface. When paint is removed for example with EZ Strip, it is still paint as no chemical change has taken place. EZ Strip products are safe to use, completely free of toxic fumes, and skin safe. (Gloves recommended for prolonged use, always wear eye protection for any removal project.)

Unlike traditional strippers EZ Strip is neutralized with just water and residue can safely be flushed or disposed of in household trash saving money on trips to disposal sites.  

SAFETY WARNING! Lead Paint? Asbestos? If you're not sure test it before you remove it!

Visit our website http://www.ezstrip.ca/ for further details. 

How To Remove Popcorn Ceilings!

     Get rid of that bumpy lumpy painted ceiling that is impossible to clean and huge mess maker even if you just think about touching it! Now there is a dust free removal method that you can do yourself without the need to dry scrape, replace drywall, or have the surface professionally skim coated over. EZ Strip Popcorn Ceiling Remover is a specially formulated remover that penetrates through multiple paint layers and softens the texture underneath without damaging the surface. No matter the style of texture whether it has been sprayed on or hand applied EZ Strip can strip it! 

     You want to remove that textured ceiling but its been painted and using just water for the removal is not working! Now EZ strip has a dust free removal method for painted ceiling and wall textures that is so easy anyone can do it. EZ Strip Popcorn Ceiling Remover can remove multiple paint layers from a large variety of ceiling textures without damaging the drywall or other hard surfaces.

Remove these types of ceiling textures:

Spray & roll on textures, Splatter Knockdown, Orange Peel, Popcorn, Acoustic, Stipple, Cottage Cheese, Hand applied textures, Skip Trowel, Hawk and Trowel, Santa-Fe Texture, Double Skip, Swirl, Crows-foot Stomp, Rosebud Stomp, Stomp Knockdown, and More!

No matter the name, most of these textures are made with the same types of material and can be removed with EZ Strip Popcorn Ceiling Remover with the same method used in the video.

Coverage is 80 - 100 square feet per gallon depending on how many paint layers and the thickness of the texture being removed.

     If your concerned about your ceiling texture containing asbestos get it tested. You can get test kits at your local hardware store. EZ Strip Popcorn Ceiling Remover is a Low VOC skin safe removal formula that cleans up with just water making this a safe DIY friendly home improvement project!

Visit our website at EZstrip.ca today for direct online purchase links and where to buy! 

The EZ Strip website is a great place to get connected with our other social pages and learn more about EZ Strip and what EZ Strip products can do for you!

Home Improvement: When Should You Do It Yourself?

A do-it-yourself project can be an empowering way to save money, provided you know what you're doing. But making even one simple mistake could put a strain on your back or your bank account. Often, it's best to put safety first by planning ahead, taking extra precautions, or when needed calling a professional.

Here are four types of home improvement projects that are best left to the experts.

1. Plumbing or electrical projects
 
There's a reason these are skilled trades. Both systems are complex, no matter how straightforward a repair may initially appear. Even small leaks can cause serious water damage, and faulty electrical wiring can lead to a house fire. Don't risk flooding or electric shock. Call a plumber or hire an electrician to make sure these jobs are done right the first time.

2. Renovations with possible code violations

Structural changes require a licensed contractor. Not only can shoddy craftsmanship severely affect your home's value, but it can also put your family in danger. Accidentally removing a load-bearing wall, for example, could cause an entire room to collapse. Why take the risk?

3. Repairs involving heights

More than 130,000 ladder-related injuries are treated in emergency rooms each year. Whether you're looking at a roof repair or trimming a tree, consider calling a professional before attempting to complete the job yourself.

4. Time-sensitive projects

Weigh your work and family commitments before embarking on a home improvement project. Even if you're confident in your abilities, the added pressure of a tight deadline can lead to unnecessary and often dangerous mistakes.

Remember, just because a DIY project looks simple doesn't necessarily mean it's safe. When in doubt err on the side of caution, plan ahead, and when when needed call a professional.

Want to find a home improvement project that is truly DIY friendly? Try one of these wallet-friendly and easy weekend projects for a new look, added home value, or just the sprucing up you've been looking for.

Here are four types of do it yourself home improvement projects that can be done safely with a little planning and knowledge.  

 

1. Save the popcorn for the movies

What's on your ceiling? Few structural elements date a house more than popcorn ceilings. So dedicate a weekend to ditching the dated look and adding dollar signs to the value of your home. This is a project you can tackle yourself. First, visit your local hardware store for a solution to soften the texture, EZ Strip Popcorn Ceiling Remover is the number one DIY friendly remover on our list find it here http://www.ezstrip.ca/buy-ez-strip/ then simply scrape the popcorn away. Removing a popcorn ceiling may not seem like a big change but one of the keys for adding value to your home is to repair, replace or remove anything that could turn buyers away.

Here's a quick how to with EZ Strip! 

2. Refinish your flooring 

Installing a new hardwood floor can take longer than a weekend and require a professional. So refinish existing hardwood for a less time/cost-consuming project. No matter whether you decide to strip or sand your floors refinishing will always be more DIY friendly over replacing! Larger floor sanders can be rented from your local hardware store or if you chose to strip off that old tired finish be sure to use a safe stripper the number one DIY friendly remover on our list is EZ Strip Paint & Varnish Remover find it here http://www.ezstrip.ca/buy-ez-strip/ once your old finish is off pick a new fresh color to give your home a high value upgrade!

Here's a quick how to with EZ Strip! 

3. Cleanliness counts

Make the interior of you home shine from the moment someone walks through the door. Sometimes a top-to-bottom scrubbing is all your home really needs to change the look and feel of any room. Even if you clean your home regularly, there are nooks and crannies that you may miss or overlook. Do a room by room scan and tackle tough removal jobs like dried paint drips/permanent marker mistakes/stickers or tape glue residues/and more with safe cleaners that pack a punch, top on our DIY friendly remover list is EZ Strip All Purpose Remover to really make your home sparkle.Find it here http://www.ezstrip.ca/buy-ez-strip/

Here's a quick how to with EZ Strip!

4. Paint, paint, paint

One of the simplest, most cost-effective DIY home improvements of all is paint! Freshly painted rooms look clean and updated — and that spells value. When selecting paint colors, the world is your oyster get that fresh new look with a DIY friendly paint project! On average, a gallon of paint costs around $25, leaving you plenty of money to buy rollers, painter's tape, drop cloths and brushes. So buy a few gallons and get busy!

First impressions matter. Easy weekend DIY fixes can dramatically change the look or value of your home with a lot less cost but always plan ahead to make sure the project you take on is safe and truly DIY friendly!

GRAFFITI: How It Hurts & How You Can Help!

                          

Graffiti is any writing, drawing or symbol applied to any surface without the consent of the property owner or their agent. It's a problem that if left unchecked can seriously damage the reputation of a community and adversely effect the economy and quality of life enjoyed by the residents. 

Removal of graffiti is a fact of life for commercial property owners in cities large and small. Many find their buildings spray painted and spend between hundreds and thousands of dollars to have the graffiti removed – using methods ranging from power-washing to repainting – only to be tagged again days later.

 

In major cities owners are required by law to remove illegal markings. Failure to do so often results in fines or action to remove the graffiti by city workers; the cost is then typically billed back to building owners in the form of property tax surcharges. These requirements leave many commercial property owners feeling doubly victimize.

Common Targets

Graffiti Crime can occur anywhere the opportunity exists. Some of the more popular targets include: 
  
Public and private buildings
Parks and recreation facilities
Public transit vehicles, stations and shelters
Public telephone booths
Railway cars
Bridges and overpasses 

Why should you care?

Graffiti crime can effect your community in many ways, including:

Higher taxes for clean-up
Lower property values
Heightened fear of crime 
Cancellation or reduction of education and recreation program

Removal is Important

Graffiti that is not removed indicates that no one cares about the state of the community. A clear message must be sent to those responsible that this type of activity will not be tolerated. The most effective method of deterring Graffiti Crime is removal within 24 hours. 

Immediate Removal

Timely graffiti removal will help stop the spread and re-occurrence of graffiti. Graffiti writers will not waste their time or materials and are unlikely to return to locations that do not offer a good return for their efforts. 

The challenge isn't lost on city officials who attempt to balance the need for quick removal of graffiti with an understanding of the huge repeated costs for building owners. It's why the approach to managing vandalism across the country is changing. Many say it's having a positive impact on both incident reduction and community building efforts.

Cities are starting to introduce comprehensive graffiti management plans, which combine graffiti removal a central tactic in the plan because vandals are far less likely to hit a wall multiple times if they know their work will be promptly deleted with prevention, largely through youth and community outreach programs.

How You Can Help

Community clean up days have become a popular way for people to get together and help clean up the graffiti in their area. Teaming up with your friends and neighbors, a few local businesses, and if possible a company that sells safe removal options like EZ Strip you can clean up a whole community in a few hours for a few dollars! 

Here's how we did it!

 

Getting The Most Out Of Your Trade Show Experience

Trade shows are the ultimate way to see best in the business! No matter if your there to see the best new thing or there to show the latest and greatest your company has to offer the experience should be fruitful and fun. Here are a few steps for visitors and presenters to get the most of your next trade show.

Step 1 ~ Don't Get Lost in the Crowd

 

Visitors ~ The bigger the show the tougher it can be to see everything you want in the time you have so first make a plan. All trade shows have a list of vendors and often a booth map so you can find them. Map your route so you catch everything on your list without having to go in circles!

Presenters ~ The bigger the show the tougher it can be to stand out from all the other vendors keep in mind making your booth pop and eye catching will keep people from passing you by! Bright colors, catchy slogans, & free hand outs are all great ways to keep the traffic coming.

Step 2 ~ Learn From The Experience 

 

 Visitors ~ Learn what you can so you take home some knowledge and not just freebies! Vendors are not just there to sell they want to educate their customers ask usage and benefit questions, grab literature for a later read, and pick their brain for future projects. This is your chance to get one on one time with the experts. 

Presenters ~ Learn from your customers! Getting face to face feedback on what customers need and want can be a real value to you when it comes to marketing, advertising, and new product development. If you show genuine interest in what they have to say they will so more interest in your brand and products!  

Step 3 ~ Getting Impressed and Making An Impression

 

Visitors ~ Give your time to vendors who are present, patient, and put in the time to impress you. If you walk by and the booth presenter is sitting in the corner on their phone and don't even bother to look up and say hi maybe they don't deserve your time. But the next booth presenter might be waiting for you to turn the corner, flag you down, and make the effort to draw you in. Those guys and gals are going to give the grand tour!
 
Presenters ~ Be present this is your chance to get one on one with your customers and make an impression that lasts from the show to the store. Stay off your phone start the conversation as they walk by and draw them in with your perfect and polished presentation. Make the impression that lasts from trade show to check out line!

Step 4 ~ Consider What The Booth Has to Offer

 

Visitors ~ Some trade show booths just want to give you a brochure a free pen and send you on your way. The best ones have hands on displays, informative videos, free product samples, and polished presentations. Give credit where credit is do, give your time to the vendors going the extra mile and your sure to get what you came for!

Presenters ~ Consider what will give visitors to your booth the most engagement, let them get hands on with the product your promoting when ever possible. When they can use your product and see for themselves the results its going to leave that lasting impression your looking for. Sending them off with a small free sample to try on their own is always a big help when it comes to seeing that return on your trade show investment in sale increases.

The best advise for your next trade show is to have FUN! 

 

If your having fun so will everyone else so be ready for busy hustle and bustle of the ever growing trade show experience. If your visiting take advantage of the games, draws, and hands on displays booths have to offer. And if your presenting the more engagement you offer at your booth the greater the impression and traffic you get. People love to touch displays, be dazzled with colorful visuals, and take home samples. The more you offer the greater the return!

Check out the Trade Show Reel from EZ Strip and see how they make a one of a kind experience for their customers! 

Thanks for reading! If you liked this check out our other blog posts and don't forget to subscribe to the EZ Strip Blog

  EZStrip.ca

Asbestos: The Ticking Time Bomb

 

 What Is Asbestos?

 

Turns out it's found naturally in rock and the fibers are extracted and then mixed with other things, like concrete. Asbestos is "wonderful stuff" when you consider its properties. It is strong, flexible and resistant to heat, weather and most chemicals. Asbestos is so versatile and durable that it found its way into thousands of products and places between the 1940s and 1980s. More than 3,000 products contain asbestos, but most people just think of it as being in the garage roof, or in their ceiling tiles. The reality is it gets used in all sorts of things, like in concrete to make it stronger or in pipe lagging because of its insulation properties. We even used to coat car parts with it, and make fire blankets with it because it’s flame retardant. The scary part is much of it remains in public buildings and homes today.

There are three types of Asbestos: brown, blue and white. Brown and blue asbestos are amphibole fibers, which means the fibers themselves are like needles. They’re resistant to everything, including water, fire, electricity and sound. For that reason they are mostly used in ceiling tiles, drywall textures, bath panels and have been sprayed on car parts. Both brown and blue asbestos were the first to be banned in many countries. White asbestos, Chrysotile, is best for weaving because its fibers are curly. That’s the fiber that’s used in concrete, what your garage roof is made of, you can find it hiding in your walls, and it makes up the vast majority of asbestos found today.

Exposure Concerns?

 

Evidence of the deadly toll the mineral takes on human health was mounting all along. The first documented case of asbestos-related death appeared in 1906. A 1918 document noted that asbestos workers were generally rejected as customers by the Canadian and U.S. insurance industry. By the 1970s, health concerns prompted some countries to limit use of asbestos or ban it outright, causing demand to wane. The most common result of asbestos exposure is a lung disease called mesothelioma. It attacks the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma). Once diagnosed, victims are generally given between six months and a year to live.

Mesothelioma is developing in waves. The first wave was miners, mill workers and ship builders, who worked in the post-Second World War asbestos boom times and came home caked with dust.
Now different sorts of workers are getting sick. They include people who work with asbestos products: carpenters, electricians, car mechanics, plumbers, caretakers and factory workers. Another wave is family members — “bystanders,” in medical parlance — who are dying from the equivalent of second-hand smoke: Victims include spouses who washed dusty clothes and children who snuggled with parents after work.

What's Being Done? 

 

The World Health Organization – which declared asbestos a carcinogen in 1987 – says all forms of asbestos cause lung cancer, mesothelioma and other cancers, as well as asbestosis. It says the most efficient way to eliminate these diseases is to stop the use of asbestos. Many countries have follow suit from the European Union to the Persian Gulf, from industrial states like Japan to Africa’s developing economies, 61 nations have banned asbestos, according to the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat.

Some nations exempt minor uses. Notable exceptions that still permit asbestos use are China, Russia, India, Brazil, Canada and the United States. Canada plans to ban asbestos use by 2018, in what many health advocates hail as a victory for public health, albeit one that is long overdue. Banning new production and use of Asbestos is definitely a step in the right direction, unfortunately it does not prevent exposure to the materials already in our homes and public buildings.

Best Line Of Defense?  

 

Education and caution! Best way to avoid exposure is to know how harmful exposure is caused. The most common source of exposure is from contaminated dust in the air that is breathed in. How is the dust created? Buy drilling, sanding, cutting or disturbing materials that contain Asbestos. Other than occupational exposure older home and building renovation can cause exposure to Asbestos.

If removal of materials that contain asbestos is the preferred option hiring a certified professional to complete the work is the safest choice. If DIY is your only option work safe. For some materials building over top instead of disturbing by removal is a safer option. For other materials that require removal like damaged drywall texture test before you touch!

Here is some more info on safe drywall texture removal https://ezstripblog.blogspot.ca/2016/11/popcorn-ceiling-removal-test-before-you.html  

If you like this article be sure to subscribe to the EZ Strip Blog for more great info and posts today!

EZstrip.ca

The ALL Purpose Remover You Need When Nothing Else Works!

Trying to clean up from a renovation, refinishing, painting, or home improvement project? Or maybe you just have a tough sticky messes that nothing seems to work at removing? EZ Strip has the remover you need when the tough removal jobs come your way! EZ Strip All Purpose Remover tackles the tough stuff with a skin safe fume free formula that cleans up with just water. Remove everything from paint drips and spills, varnish or stain drips and spills, glue/adhesive/tape residues, permanent markers and link, spray paint and over spray, tree sap, gum, decals and stickers, crayons, bugs and tar, road splatter, kitchen and garage grease, oil stains, and much more. EZ Strip is safe to use on most surfaces, may etch some plastics, not suitable for painted surfaces, works great on baked on paint like vehicle panels with no damage! Now you can remove just about anything from just about everything with a stay put cling gel and easy spray applicator. Get the results you need when you need it here are a few examples of how EZ Strip can work for you!

How It Works

 

Remove Markers, Tape Residue, Paint Splatter, and Sticker Residue

    

Remove Nail Polish, Stain and Paint Drips, Oven Grease, and Stickers

Remove Graffiti

 

Visit the EZ Strip website today for more detailed removal info, great project ideas, and where to buy today at EZstrip.ca 

Like this post? Don't forget to subscribe to the EZ Strip Blog Today!