Early Learning Centre Paint - word of warning!

[Slinky]

Bought the ELC Sponge Painting kit on Saturday, kids decided they wanted to do that this afternoon.

However, having finished and cleared up, now discovered that it has STAINED their hands - along with my WHITE sink. It came with a total of 3 colours, blue, red and yellow. Red and yellow are fine and easy to remove.

Rang ELC to complain/warn them - "did I take necessary precautions with paint???" "yes, I do painting with 24 2/3 year olds every day so am well aware of precautions needed for protection "

So be warned - steer clear of the ELC blue paint!

Kids have swimming lessons tonight so am hoping a dip in the chlorine will remove the paint

My friend had exactly the same problem about a week ago, again with some blue paint from ELC. Sorry but he seemed to have a blue tinge for a while ELC were not helpful with her either and she is a reception teacher too so again told them she knew how to protect her own 2 year old against paint. Meant to post warning on here but forgot. It was only the blue one in this case too from what I remember. So definitely not a one off.

Thanks for that Slinky!
A bottle of said blue paint is sat in my under-stairs cupboard atm, waiting for ds1 to wreak havoc with it when he starts letting me put the apron on him that I got!

Hmm, perhaps I can pass it on as part of a brthday present to someone who's mum I don't like! (wicked grin)

Ugggh, we had a nightmare time with this on Saturday. Some "kind" auntie gave my DDs this kit for xmas and I have only just plucked up the courage to use it - wish I hadn't. Blue carpet, blue chairs, blue sink, blue hands, blue lips ......... I could continue ......... it's now in the bin.

I think it does have a small print warning somewhere....the other problem with the bloody sponge painting kit is that it has a little roller..."just like Wayne's" (our decorator), and although DS, 2.5 has always been very clear that we ONLY paint on paper, I came into the kitchen to find the kitchen cupboards, drawer fronts and walls orange, and DS proudly telling me "I'm Wayne!"

DD got covered in black ELC paint at one of their play sessions last year. She also got a small spot on her winter anorak. Have to say they were great and sent me £60 to cover replacement of anorak (which i'd bought for a quarter of that in Gymboree sale ) They did say to make sure not to use stain remover when trying to get the paint off and also to rinse in cold water first. I didn't admit that after the first wash failed to get the mark off i'd chucked Vanish all over it!! We've never had any probs with the blue though.

message withdrawn

Oh Blu, I do love the sound of your ds! (did you ever find a rainbow, BTW?)

The blue paint that I used was in a plain blue bottle (no label/ELC logo on etc).

I've used loads of their Ready Mix Paint (with ELC logo on bottle) without any problems.

Just read the labelling box - says "paint can cause staining etc. Soak overnight in cold water" - which is all very well with clothing etc but I can hardly get the kids to stand at the sink with hands in cold water overnight

Have now slung the ELC stuff in the bin and done an order with Baker Ross - this is the stuff we use at nursery so I know it's easy to get out!

Aaah Tamum, Bless You!
re the Rainbow: we went to the shop, and Bear developed a keen interest in a piggy bank, so we bought him one of those instead. Last week, I asked what bear might like to spend his savings on...and sure enough, Bear would now very much like to buy a rainbow. I am trying to get an Argos thing that projects a rainbow light onto the wall...thanks for remembering that...I was going to post an update...partly because i think it would be a great thing to use as an artwork stimulus so not quite hijacking your thread, Slinky!

I had the same problem with ELC paint last summer. DD sat outside on the patio using it and painted the paving slabs more than the paper.
We moved out of the property in December but when we left, despite a few months of rain, the patio was still multicoloured.

I have been searching high and low for a stamping pad with washable ink. Sil gave ds a stamping set for Xmas from, you guessed it, ELC, and it took until the New Year to get the last of the ink off his hands.

And they think it's acceptable because they write on the box - in teeny weeny letters - 'Ink will stain'!

Do you know a url for Baker Ross, Slinky?

Baker Ross is here

I've just bought the finger paints from ELC - do you think the blue should be avoided?

YES! At least give it a little test before allowing a small person to create indelible artworks....I seem to remember ending up with a toddler looking like an ancient Briton covered in wode....

Thanks.

Wish i had read this thread before sunday we got the sponge painting kit for Ds on sunday came home and we were all STAINED! DS is was walking around with a green nose until monday night (after 3 baths)