My Chemical-Free House
A Guide to Creating a Healthy Home
Summary: Toxicity Concerns In Wax Melts: The data and sources for this are below. The research behind this summary took 20 hours. See the data below for a more detailed discussion and sources. Safer wax melt brands can be found here. Toxicity Review of Wax Melts PAH, Pesticide, and Phthalate Content in Waxes In the …
Summary of what to look for in a non-toxic wax melt: The data and sources for this are here. The research behind this summary took 20 hours. See the data behind this here. Non-Toxic & Organic Wax Melt Brands 1. Poofy Home Poofy wax melts are made with coconut wax (it’s not necessary for coconut …
Summary Zoya Nail Lacquer was my top pick of all the non-toxic nail polishes based on my physical wear testing and toxicity-based comparison of Essie, Habit, Poderm, Sophi, Sally Hansen Good.Kind.Pure, Ella + Mila and Pacifica. Zoya lasted longer than any of the other brands that I tried. I tried their main nail lacquer, which is their main …
Linseed oil is flaxseed oil. Some flaxseed oil is used in cooking or taken as a supplement (cold-pressed, regulated as a food). But in this article we are looking at the food safety of linseed oil finishes and paints that are used in the home. Some of those are food-safe (and Toy Safe), others are …
Toxicity Summary: Scotchgard™ refers to many stain repellant products applied to textiles either in the factory or at home. Based on information from a rep, SDS sheets, and patents, Scotchgard is (or could be) based on: Toxicity: The non-fluorinated polymers used in Scotchgard are chemically stable and considered inert, presenting a low systemic toxicity risk …
Mrs. Meyer’s uses both plant-derived fragrance ingredients and synthetic fragrance ingredients. It’s a biodegradable formula that has been improved recently. Let’s take a look at the controversial ingredients and potential toxicity concerns: Recent Improvements: Controversial Ingredients: 1. SLS or Sodium lauryl sulfate – a plant-derived cleaning agent that is a skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant and toxic to aquatic …
Dr. Mudgal, toxicologist, and I review the toxicity of plastic and silicone cutting boards and look at the risks of phthalates, metals, BPA, and microplastics (as well as micro rubber) for each type of plastic/rubber. Dr. Hansprabha Mudgal is a European Registered Toxicologist (ERT, UKRT). She has a PhD in Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Management and …
Dr. Mudgal, toxicologist, and I will be reviewing Le Creuset’s stainless steel, PFAS-based non-stick, ceramic (non-PFAS) non-stick, cast iron, enamelled steel, & ceramic stoneware products. We are reviewing their potential levels of metals, PFAS, and any other potential risks. Summary: A Review of Le Creuset’s Products: 1. Pure Stainless Steel Le Creuset offers Stainless Steel …
I tested and compared Humble Deodorant (original formula) with Native Sensitive (baking soda-free) and Native Original (with baking soda). I will compare them on effectiveness, smell, texture, safety of ingredients, and cost. Summary Comparison: Both brands were effective at 12 hours and even at just about 24 hours in their aluminum-free baking soda formulas. (They …
Downy Unstopables In-Wash Laundry Scent Booster Beads are a laundry scent booster that you add on top of your detergent. Our resident toxicologist and I are reviewing the ingredients in detail to provide an expert opinion on the ingredient safety as well as natural alternatives for those that are interested in that. The information in …
My requirements for a non-toxic floor mat are: TPE Floor Liner Mats This is my top choice. WeatherTech Trim-to-Fit Mat is made to fit virtually any vehicle due to its shaping and Trim-to-Fit features. The Trim-to-Fit Mats are for driver and passenger mats and for the backseat. They also have heavy duty car floor mats …
Whether a brand is “10-free” or “16-free” does not tell us much about how they compare. Anything after 9-free isn’t a standardized list. You could make a “million-free” if you wanted to. You can add a long list of toxins a product is free of that were never in nail polish in the first place, …
Essie has made strides in reformulating its products to eliminate many harmful ingredients. I’m going to look closely at their ingredients with our resident toxicologist to report on the toxicity of their main nail polish formula. I compare the best non-toxic brands (and test them for wear time) here. Nail Polish is Not “Perfect”! Keep …
This article covers regulations that identify food-contact-safe tung oil/Chinawood oil, which brands are considered food-contact-safe and which brands are not. Main Regulations To Identify Food-Contact-Safe Coatings Food Safe Tung Oil & Solvent Brands Pure Tung Oil from The Real Milk Paint Company. This is pure Tung Oil so it is approved for food contact by the …
Safavieh makes eco-friendly very well-priced rugs in wool, cotton, sisal and jute. The company has stated that they don’t treat the rugs with any insect repellents, stain repellents, or flame-retardant chemicals, nor permethrin for the wool. Their synthetic rugs are OEKO-TEX 100 Certified. This means: They are one of the best-priced OEKO-TEX rug options out …
When choosing a non-toxic microwave I looked at material composition (bisphenols, PFAS, contaminants from recycled plastic) and if it has a California Proposition 65 Warning. I also worked with Luke Skaff, electrical engineer, Dr. Bryan Quoc Le, PhD food scientist, and our resident toxicologist Dr. Hansprabha Mudgal, to provide us with information on safety of radiation, EMFs, …
AFM Safecoat Interior ZVOC Paint was one of the first 0-VOC (volatile organic compounds), no HAPS (hazardous air pollutants) paints on the market. It’s also free of PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, aka “forever chemicals” (still common in paints!) and APEs (alkylphenol ethoxylates, suspected occupational carcinogens, and endocrine disruptors, according to Healthy Materials Lab). Because …
We looked only at cribs that carry UL’s GreenGuard Gold certification. At the end of the article we’ll mention some products made of materials we like but are not GreenGuard Gold certified. We evaluated cribs on three areas of primary concern for chemical off-gassing: What is GreenGuard Gold? GreenGuard has two levels of certification that measure …
The following alternatives can be used in place of plywood for specific applications. 1. Formaldehyde-free plywood Soy-based plywood is a good non-toxic alternative to regular plywood (made with phenol- or urea-formaldehyde) in most interior applications and in furniture. Purebond and SoyStrong are two good brands. There is basically no odor or off-gassing from these brands. …
Alternatives to spray paint include water-based spray-applied paint, specialty water-based paints that stick to just about any surface, or shellac (alcohol) based primers which can also stick to almost anything. These are my top choices for painting difficult to coat surfaces, crafts, murals, furniture for babies or kids, animal enclosures for sensitive pets, or for …
I’m comparing Coterie Wipes which are 99% water (unscented) and WaterWipes which are 99.9% water (unscented). I’m comparing them on ingredient safety, effectiveness, and price. As a bonus option, I will include some info on Dyper Wipes which are also 99% water (also unscented). This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I earn a small …
Solid Slat Most of Stuga’s floors are engineered wood with a solid slat core. This is the most non-toxic construction style for engineered wood and many sensitive people have done well with their floors. They have options with a water-based acrylic urethane finish (without aluminum oxide or titanium dioxide) and options with an oil finish. …
Our team tried both of these toothpastes firsthand, and we’re comparing them on ingredients, safety, and cost. This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Comparison Overview Boka and RiseWell aim to be natural alternatives to conventional fluoride-based toothpastes. Boka and RiseWell both claim to …
I tested Grove Co.’s Concentrate Multi-Purpose Cleaner, Dish Soap, and Foaming Hand Soap and will review them for how “non-toxic” these and other products in their line are (and I will also talk about their effectiveness). Dr. Mudgal, Toxicologist, weighs in on the controversial ingredients. Summary Pros Grove Co. uses more natural, and more “non-toxic” …
