My Chemical-Free House
A Guide to Creating a Healthy Home
This article looks at all the ceramic and ceramic-coated cookware and uses independent testing plus the companies’ leach testing to analyze which ones are free of Lead, Cadmium, and other toxic metals. Summary: The best approach, in my opinion, to reduce toxicants from cookware is to rotate the options you use. Non-Stick Ceramic Coated Pans …
Prices updated in Feb, 2026 In the affordable sofa range, we do usually have to make some sacrifices on the non-toxic side. The most non-toxic options on this list are the returned items from Medley. Medley goes above and beyond what conventional sofa brands provide in terms of fabrics, glues, and even natural foam options. …
I tested and compared Hello Clean & Fresh Deodorant 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: As a very smelly person, I was happy to find an aluminum-free deodorant that actually works. However, in the future, I’m …
I tested out both Branch Basics Concentrate and Mrs. Meyer’s Dish Soap. Branch Basics Concentrate can be used as a dish soap, all-purpose cleaner, and even as a laundry soap. I will compare them on their ingredients, uses, effectiveness, cost, eco-friendly specs, and more. Overview: My top pick is Branch Basics because it’s more versatile, …
I own an Epicurean cutting board and I have been using it for a year and a half now (current wear shown at the end). I bought this with my own money as my personal top choice for my new apartment. I am not personally worried about the formaldehyde levels which I will explain below. …
I tested and compared Lume Whole Body Deodorant Stick, smooth solid (unscented) with Native Sensitive (Baking Soda-Free) Deodorant Stick (unscented) and Native original formula (with baking soda and probiotics, unscented). I will compare them on effectiveness, smell, safety of ingredients, and cost. As a very smelly person, I was happy to find an aluminum-free deodorant …
The dreaded mold. Many of you will have experienced this in your home firsthand. But just how widespread is it? And how much of a problem is it causing? We take a look at this in our mold statistics round-up for 2024. Quickfire Facts and Figures If you just want the quick facts and figures, …
This article was reviewed by David Brillant, a lawyer at Brillant Law. Lawsuit 1 In June 2024 a lawsuit was filed against Native in New York with the following complaints: “This action seeks to redress the false, misleading, and deceptive advertising and packaging claims that Native has made in connection with the sale of its …
This is a firsthand review of the IKEA NEIDEN bed frame LURÖY slatted bed base. (They come separately, the bed doesn’t come with slats). Overview: This is a review of the twin-sized NEIDEN bed, though it does come in larger sizes. The bed frame is made of all solid pine, no glues and no engineered …
Lawsuit 1 In 2023, a class action lawsuit was filed against Lume Deodorant LLC. The lawsuit’s claims “This statement is false and misleading because the study relied on only evaluating the Product compared to competitors and concluded it was superior to them, not that it blocked odor all day nor continued to control odor for …
I’m comparing Honest Clean Conscious Wipes which are 99% water (unscented), Water Wipes which are 99.9% water (unscented), and Dyper Newborn wipes which are also 99.9% water (also unscented). I am comparing them on ingredient safety, effectiveness, and price. Conclusion: Choose Honest Clean Conscious Wipes, 99% water, for the most effective wipe and all-around safe …
Risks of Housing Created for the Chemically Sensitive Like most people who are mold and chemically sensitive, I started by looking for rentals that advertised being scent-free or where the owner or roommate was chemically sensitive. These options ended up all being moldy and I now know that is not a coincidence. Everyone else I …
Flame retardants in electronics have shifted from the very toxic PBDEs (Polybrominated diphenyl ethers) to newer halogenated flame retardants, then in some cases/with some companies there is a shift to better phosphorus-based flame retardants, metal hydroxide flame retardants, and inorganic flame retardants. There have also been lags in the industry and a lack of compliance …
I like IKEA because they go much further than most companies to create healthy products in many areas including rugs. They don’t necessarily go to the extent that companies go to in my article on non-toxic rugs, but I would certainly consider IKEA’s rugs to be the most non-toxic conventional option out there. IKEA is also known …
Ruggable rugs are a two-piece rug – a fabric layer, and a padding layer which can be separated so that the top layer can be washed. The pads come in two thicknesses: Standard and Cushioned. In 2023, Ruggable added Premium Medium Pile rug toppers, which are just over ¼-inch thick (7mm). Compared to the ⅛-inch (2mm) Classic Low Pile. Rug …
This article was reviewed by Kian R. Magaña, lawyer from The Magaña Firm. Lawsuit #1 In 2009, David Steinman filed a civil lawsuit against Mrs. Meyer’s parent company for “failure to warn consumers that Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Dish Soap containing 1,4-dioxane… exposes consumers to chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer.” …
I tested and compared Curie Deodorant to Native Sensitive (baking soda-free) Deodorant (unscented) and Native original formula (with baking soda and probiotics). Curie is a small company, it has not (yet) been bought out by one of the big conglomerates. Their deodorant is mostly natural, aluminum-free, and based on baking soda (low baking soda they …
The new dishwasher smell comes primarily from two components: the bitumen insulation on the exterior used in many brands and/or the plastic interior parts used in some brands. There are also electrical and motor parts that have some off-gassing when new. I would highly recommend getting a dishwasher without bitumen if you are sensitive to …
Routine Deodorant is an all-natural deodorant made in Canada (but sold on Amazon in the US) that I have been using. As someone who has super bad body odor in my armpits, I’m very invested in the topic of which aluminum-free deodorant truly works. I use Routine Deodorant over a magnesium spray and it actually …
The Morabo sofa is a polyurethane foam-based sofa that is somewhat firm compared to sofas that are super soft that you sink into. Most people find it to be of good quality for the price in terms of sturdiness, quality of the leather, and durability. This firsthand review goes into all the details on the …
This is a detailed overview of Lowe’s no-VOC and low-VOC paints. I explain which chemicals are banned by Lowe’s and look at each 0-VOC paint to dig into its specs, certifications, and warnings. This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Chemicals of Concern All …
The IKEA KALLAX shelving unit can be used upright or on its side. Materials: It’s made from particleboard and fiberboard, covered in a paper foil and acrylic paint. This is not a melamine/laminate product. It is finished on all sides. There is no bare particle board. Options and prices: The product was reviewed by a …
The popular (and often out-of-stock!) Sniglar crib is made from all solid beech wood (no MDF or any engineered wood that could off-gas VOCs), no finish on the wood, and some nylon fabric on the mattress base (which I will show pics of). The materials make this crib totally non-toxic, and at $120 it’s an …
The best non-toxic dumbbells and hand weights are made of materials that don’t off-gas, have an odor, or contain chemicals of concern. Many of these options will be safe for the chemically sensitive. Best Non-Toxic Materials: Next Best Materials: My Least Favorite Weight Materials: 1. Bala Bangles – Wrist and Ankle Weights Bala makes a …
