My Chemical-Free House
A Guide to Creating a Healthy Home
There are a variety of underlayments used under wood floors, click-together floating floors, as well as carpet and tile. Underlay can serve various functions like cushioning, sound deadening, leveling, uncoupling, and moisture resistance. The following underlayments are relatively high in off-gassing (too high for me): This post goes over the best non-toxic low-VOC options. Paper …
I tried both of these toothpastes firsthand and I am also comparing them on ingredients and cost. Comparison Overview Tom’s Claims Tom’s Simply White toothpaste claims to be “natural” and it does have all naturally derived, or partially naturally derived, ingredients, with “clinically proven whitening” due to the silica, and “remineralizing” due to fluoride and xylitol. …
Which type of bathroom flooring is both non-toxic and truly waterproof? There are now tons of flooring options that describe themselves as waterproof that I don’t think are adequate for a bathroom that has a shower or bath. So let’s go through the options that would be safe in a wet room. 1. Tiles Tile …
A proper futon mattress is a mattress with no foam and no springs, so that is what this article will focus on. For non-toxic and natural fills we have cotton, wool, and kapok or a mix of two of those. You may also want to select an organic cover as a few companies have more …
This is a look at what chemicals are used when Microban is listed as the antimicrobial on a building material or household product. Microban could be six different chemicals incorporated into household items according to their website. Note I’m not covering cleaning products, isolated disinfectant sprays, or industrial products. You often see Microban listed as …
I tried both of these toothpastes firsthand and I am also comparing them on ingredients and cost. Comparison Overview Tom’s of Maine claims to be 100% natural (even though Xantham gum natural status is somewhat debatable), while Hello does not make this claim. However, Hello’s ingredient list is still very clean. Tom’s and Hello both offer lines with …
Updated in 2025 There are so many excellent choices for non-toxic, healthy, green insulation, there should be one to fit everyone’s needs. Look Out For Greenwashing There are many new options that claim to be “green” “soy-based” or are formaldehyde-free – this does not mean that they are VOC-free or safe. Look very closely at …
Conventional cabinets can be a significant source of VOCs in the kitchen, with all of the low and mid-range brands using particleboard, MDF, and/or HDF, at least in their lower-end lines. Most finishes have noticeable (to me) off-gassing. These are almost always made with formaldehyde, though options made with MDI glue do exist. GreenGuard Gold …
I’ve been using Hello Toothpaste Natural Whitening Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste in Mint to Be for three weeks now. Before that, I used the Tom’s of Maine and Burt’s Bees. This is a first-hand, non-sponsored review of this toothpaste with a comparison to Tom’s of Maine and Burt Bees. Hello Toothpaste Natural Whitening Anticavity Flouride Toothpaste …
I tested out these seven PFAS-free dental flosses. Some are synthetic, some are all-natural, some are biodegradable (to various degrees), one is unflavored. I have listed out the ingredients in as much detail as the companies have declared them. Six of the brands were tested for PFAS by Mamavation. 1. Reach POP Reach Pop has …
When The Ecology Center last did a study of the 11 leading wallpaper brands, they found that almost all of them contained PVC, and half of them contained other major chemicals of concern, including metals and toxic flame retardants. This post outlines what I look for in a wallpaper and my top picks for healthy, non-toxic, eco-friendly …
First, a History of “Whack A Mole” on Toxic Solvent-Based Strippers Pre-1970s, benzene was a popular paint stripper, it was later determined to be toxic in multiple ways. It was replaced by methylene chloride, a very fast and effective paint remover. Methylene chloride/dichloromethane (DCM) is now considered to have negative impacts on the central nervous …
This is a look into non-toxic furniture, starting with specialty brands – those are mostly high-quality solid wood options with zero-VOC finishes. Then on to simple and affordable furniture made of non-toxic materials like glass, hard plastic, metal, and seagrass. This post was originally written for those with chemical sensitivity (MCS) as well as those …
Fabrics, especially those for furniture, and carpets have typically treated for soil, stain, and water resistance with per-and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Many people have health concerns and environmental concerns with these “forever chemicals”. However, recent changes to laws in the US have caused many companies to move away from PFAS on furniture. Scotchgard is …
Summary: What to look for in a non-toxic spray paint:
There are lots of choices for non-toxic sealants and non-toxic paints for terra-cotta planters and pots in this article that are not widely known. Almost all of the conventional recommendations out there are for products I would definitely not use. We don’t need to use toxic sealants to provide any of our sealing needs. This …
There are a number of chemicals of concern that are commonly found in artificial grass/synthetic turf that I will go over in this article. I also will note which companies are free of these chemicals. Chemicals of concern: I will also talk about the materials that go into artificial grass – the blades, infill, and …
The following air beds are PVC-free (polyvinyl chloride-free) and are made of safer plastics that have less odor, less off-gassing, and are better tolerated by the chemically sensitive. TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) is a PVC-free plastic. Higher grades do not contain plasticizers like phthalates, though it is likely that the Prop 65 warnings are for phthalates …
The official recommendation for paint for bathroom walls, especially if you don’t have a good bathroom exhaust fan, is to use a satin or semi-gloss sheen acrylic paint so that the water will bead up on the surface and not soak into the paint and wallboard. These higher sheens also make it easier to clean …
The most common home gym flooring type is rubber. SBR rubber is unfortunately one of the highest off-gassing flooring types out there. Another popular option, vinyl sheet, is also up there as one of the highest VOC floorings. Rubber is very durable and can take a lot of weight, impact, and abuse, so it may …
We will look at a few areas of possible concern with mattresses: IKEA mattresses are top of the line in terms of safety and chemicals amongst polyurethane mattresses in my opinion. As someone who was chemically sensitive, and has worked with many chemically sensitive people to choose mattresses over the years, they are certainly one …
Flame retardants are inevitable in a modern home. Flame retardants are unavoidable in appliances and electronic items. They also inevitably come into the house on our clothing from cars. There are also insulation types that always contain flame retardants like rigid foam board and polyurethane spray foam. Another item where you will almost always find …
When washing flame retardants out of clothing or fabrics you want to make sure you’re using something that helps remove the chemicals and doesn’t just coat them. This is also in part a matter of how many times you wash them. There are different types of flame retardants (FR) added to textiles, some are more …
I’ve been using Burt’s Bees Charcoal + Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste in Mountain Mint for 2 weeks now. I will also compare it to the brand’s non-fluoride options and their Extra White (with fluoride). Before that, I used Tom’s of Maine which I review here (also with fluoride). This is a first-hand, non-sponsored review. Plus a …
