My Chemical-Free House

A Guide to Creating a Healthy Home

Healthy Interiors

Guide to Non-Toxic Glues and Caulks

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Updated Summer 2021

Testing wood glues, construction adhesives and silicone caulks was the hardest part of building my house since I did this when I was highly sensitive.

But, you’re going to need glues, caulks, and adhesives if you are building so it’s a good idea to start testing them out!

You’re going to need them for repairs and renovations too. I would suggest knowing which are non-toxic and which ones work for you before that urgent repair is needed.

This post covers low VOC, low odor, non-toxic options that are suitable for chemically sensitive or health-conscious folks.

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How to Stop Fragrance & Smoke Coming in From Neighbors

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There are a few things you can do to prevent infiltration of fragrance, smoke, pesticides, cleaning products, and other chemicals from entering your house.

Whether the offending chemicals are coming from a neighbor with an adjoining wall in an apartment or a duplex, another house, or the outdoor air, the main strategies are similar.

Read through all the strategies and adjust them to your circumstance.

This post contains affiliate links. Upon purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

1. Airseal Your Home

The first thing you can do is find and seal any small areas where air could find its way through. In an apartment, you cannot do this perfectly but you can still make an impact.

  • Airseal along the baseboards wherever there is a gap or where caulking is coming loose (or was never applied) – both the top of the baseboard and bottom of the baseboard. Use AFM Caulking Compound if you want it to be paintable and neutral cure silicone if you don’t need it to be paintable (it’s clear).
  • Caulk around any fixtures that are on the shared wall or the exterior walls if that is where the odors are coming in – light fixtures, fire alarms, fire sprinklers, lights, etc.
  • Place gasket covers under the electrical outlets and light switch plates. These are foam gaskets that you can buy from Amazon.
  • Patch any holes in the drywall with a non-toxic dry mix drywall mud (you can use premixed spackle but only if you are not that sensitive to VOCs).
  • Check the caulking and replace it if necessary around windows and doors.

2. Find Out if Your HVAC System Brings in Air

You want to get to know how your HVAC system works so that you can find out if it’s bringing in air, when and where it’s bringing in air, and if that air is filtered.

Some systems have fresh air intakes, some have ways for “make up air” to come in to replace exhausted air – those can be passive or active, some homes have air exchangers, known as ERVs or HRVs, which move air in and then out.

The photo on the left is a passive make up air vent with a small filter on it.

You will want to know if these systems have filters on them (and can you add or replace them), where they bring air in, and how can you control them if needed to either stop air from coming in or to control when it comes in.

The photo on the left is an ERV air exchanger which brings air in and moves air out in a balanced way. It has MERV filters on it.

3. Control Negative Pressure to Prevent Air Infiltration

Any appliance that moves air out creates a vacuum that causes air to be sucked in through any route it can find. This is usually through small leaks that are found all over most buildings. This is the main way that contaminants are getting pulled into the building.

Even if you air-sealed as much as you can from the interior side, there is only so much you can do after a home is built. Plus when you are running exhaust in any way air still needs to come back in from somewhere, so you can’t stop this from happening in unpredictable ways and locations (unless you have dedicated “make up air”, which is not very common).

Which appliances create negative pressure:

  • Portable AC units that have only one hose (use a dual hose portable AC unit instead)
  • Exhaust fans in bathrooms
  • Exhaust fans/range hoods over the stove or microwave if they exhaust to the outside (not just those grease catchers)
  • Central vacuums
  • Dryers
  • Some woodstoves

When you run these appliances you are essentially pulling in air through any little place it can and this causes your neighbor’s chemicals or outdoor contaminants like smoke to infiltrate the house.

To stop this from happening only run these at times of the day when the offending pollutant is not being used by your neighbors or in the community.

If that is not possible you will want to provide easy access to make up air through a window that is not on the side of the building where the fragrance, smoke, or pesticides are coming from.

If that also doesn’t work in your situation, you can consider bringing in filtered make up air (see below section).

4. Use Positive Pressure When Needed

Photo via IQ Air

The IQ Air Multigas has a fresh air intake (pictured above). Instead of filtering your indoor air, it brings in fresh air from outside and filters that without exhausting any air outside.

This could be used to keep out contaminants in a few ways.

If you use this without the same amount of corresponding exhausted air, you are creating positive pressure. This is pushing air out through all those cracks and crevices where those contaminants were passively or actively making their way inside.

This can work really well to keep anything from leaching in. But this can’t be used in all climates at all times of the year. Especially in the winter in cold climates this can’t be used, as there is a risk of this causing mold behind the walls.

You could also balance this with your exhausted air. You will need to measure the CFM of both of those to balance it. What that could do is allow you to use your exhaust fans when needed but control the air that is coming in so that it doesn’t bring pollutants in through all the small cracks and crevices in an uncontrolled way, but through this one controlled location (the IQ Air).

This also ensures that the replacement air is highly filtered.

If the contaminant is in the outdoor air on all sides – like forest fires – then you might still be able to use this highly filtered outside air, especially if you do need to use your exhaust fans.

If the outdoor contaminant is something that is short-lived, like a one-time pesticide spray then I would eliminate all negative and positive pressure for that time and seal things up as well as you can.

As far as I know, you can only buy this fresh air intake for the IQ air directly through their website. I have not seen any other air purifier companies that make something like this.

Related Posts:

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 7 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.

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How to Offgas New Furniture

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The first thing to do is to choose your furniture carefully if you are buying new. If you are reading this before purchasing something, that is great. Most people contact me after they have already brought in furnishings that are offgassing.

It’s a little trickier to deal with after the fact, but there are still some things you can do to promote the offgassing and remove or seal in the VOCs (including formaldehyde) if you can’t return the item or just really want to keep it.

The article goes through ways to seal, encase, and promote offgassing of VOCs.

This post contains affiliate links. Upon purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Make Sure you do the Following Before Purchasing:

  1. Material Make Up – Find out it is made of exactly (if it says engineered wood or other wood we need to know what that is). Same goes for paints and coatings.
  2. Return Policy – Find out if it is returnable and what are the policies, do you pay for a return, is it feasible that you can physically return it. Along these lines – don’t assemble it before you know it’s going to be OK for you.
  3. One Thing at a Time – Only buy one new piece of furniture at a time if you are very sensitive to VOCs.
  4. Spare Room for Offgassing – Figure out if there is somewhere to set this aside if the offgassing is too high for you – a spare room, a garage, basement or sunroom – depending on the item. If you are super sensitive to VOCs then you want the space to be disconnected from the rest of your living space in terms of airflow.
  5. Barriers to Encase it – Have barrier materials on hand if we suspect you will need them and do not have the ability to return or isolate the item in another room – plastic sheets, foil, and or charcoal blankets.
  6. Sealants on Hand – Have sealants ready if we expect you will need to seal up some of the offgassing. Don’t assemble the furniture before sealing (ideally).
  7. Contact Me before buying furniture to determine the potential for offgassing – we can find out what it is made of, how to get you samples of those raw materials, and make a plan to deal with the offgassing if it’s unavoidable.

If you have Already Purchased Furniture that is Offgassing Here are Some Steps to Reduce it (and Speed it Up)

  1. Use Air Flow and Heat – Before assembling the furniture (ideally) take it somewhere to promote offgassing. Use airflow and heat to speed up the outgassing of chemicals from the materials. You can take it outside (though make sure it doesn’t get too humid and know that UV can discolor many materials (especially fabrics) but can also help promote offgassing), you can put it in a spare room that is as warm as you can make it, or you can simply increase airflow in your house. The main way that materials outgas is heat, air and time so help this along before moving on to the next steps if you can.
  2. Use Extractor Cleaning – to help remove topical fabric treatments on upholstered items.
  3. Encase it if Necessary – if you do not have a safe space to promote offgassing and cannot seal it fast enough, use temporary encasements to sequester the offgassing. You can use plastic sheets, foil, foil-backed tarps, Mylar, or activated carbon cloth and wrap it around the furniture to block offgassing. The post on encasing provides links to all those materials and lists them from least to most effective. You may need to use tape to seal it more completely, depending on the item and how bothersome it is.
  4. Use Sealants – use special sealants to seal in offgassing more permanently. These can work on almost every material from vinyl, other plastics, rubber, wood, engineered wood, etc. Shellac is my go-to sealant because it works on almost every material and is usually the best seal. Though it is shiny and may not be your desired look. It can be removed later with alcohol off of many materials. There are also specialty water-based sealants like AFM Hardseal, AFM Safeseal for wood products that offgas formaldehyde. AFM Poly BP and AFM Acralacq are two other clear sealants that can work on some wood products. In some cases, paint could be used on top of or below another sealant. A more detailed look at sealants is outlined in this post. You can also contact me here for more help.
  5. Use Sorbent Materials – you can also use materials that absorb (or adsorb) VOCs such as formaldehyde. This could help in a few situations, but especially if you are going to encase something or if you have something locked up in a small space to offgas it. You can use charcoal or zeolite, and you can also use powders/granules on the item – like zeolite, baking soda, or cat litter as long as you can remove that easily later. You can also use an air purifier made for offgassing in the room but this will usually only help the air in the room – it could help to stop VOCs from reabsorbing into other materials nearby, but I prefer airflow as the solution.
  6. Ozone – ozone machines can help promote offgassing in some items but it often backfires, creating worse compounds, doesn’t work, or breaks materials down, so I’m not keen to recommend ozone unless you know it works for you and that material.

Strategies by Furniture Type:

How to Offgas a New Bed Frame

If you bought a new bed frame that has an odor and is offgassing, find out what it’s made of exactly.

Many bed frames have some engineered wood in them (that offgas formaldehyde), look at the stains that might have been used (oil-based wood stains do offgas a fair bit), and if it has upholstery, that is likely polyurethane (which offgasses a little bit, but not that much).

To remove offgassing you can start with using airflow and heat and you can cover it if necessary – even if it’s temporary.

For wood sealants and formaldehyde from engineered wood, sealants can be used to block that offgassing. Shellac works over these surfaces to block the formaldehyde and VOCs from stains but it does leave it shiny. Any hidden areas can be sealed with shellac easily.

For wood that is in view – you will want to find out if it’s an oil or water-based finish on the wood and then consider the options for sealants.

How to Offgas a New Mattress

Most mattresses need a little bit of time, heat and air to become tolerable especially for the chemically sensitive.

You want to test materials before buying a mattress since there is no one best material here – cotton, hemp, wool, latex, and foam could all work, or not work, for sensitive folks.

Memory foam takes the longest to offgas of the foams and I like to avoid that one – that may take too long for any of these strategies to work. Natural latex also is very slow to offgas that natural odor (natural VOCs).

The first step is still going back and finding out exactly what it in the mattress. Then I would still provide space for it to air out, and you can cover it with an activated carbon cloth which can absorb but not totally block the progress of outgassing it.

If necessary you can go further and wrap it in plastic or foil. I would provide some sorbent materials underneath if you do that and are trying to save it.

How to Offgas a New Couch

New sofas are particularly difficult to offgas because of the size.

Like with other furniture you want to look a close look at what is in it. Some sofas have solid wood inside, others have plywood (which only offgasses very slightly) and some have particleboard which offgasses more formaldehyde.

There is nothing you can do to remove the formaldehyde inside the wood components other than to use air, heat, and time. And of course, you could encase the whole sofa if necessary with materials that sequester offgassing.

The cushions often have polyurethane foam which has some VOC offgassing, with memory foam being the highest offgasser. Other parts of the cushioning likely have polyester which has very low offgassing.

You can add sorbent materials onto the sofa while you give it time.

If you are bothered by the topical treatments on the fabric you can use extractor cleaning to help that along.

How to Offgas Cabinets and Shelving

With cabinets and shelving from big box stores it’s often not obvious online what exactly it is made from. A combination of engineered wood and solid wood, most likely.

Kitchen cabinets are often particleboard surrounded by laminate/melamine, which blocks the offgassing of the formaldehyde inside, but edges are often exposed. You should find and seal raw particleboard edges with a few coats of shellac or Safeseal.

In better quality cabinets you will find plywood boxes (which have extremely little offgassing) and even solid wood door fronts and drawers.

A more difficult materials is MDF. It’s higher in offgassing (formaldehyde) than other pressed wood products and if it’s on the drawer and door fronts it’s often too difficult to seal that up in a satisfactory way that will still look good.

You can ask about the paint/lacquer type but it’s very likely that you need to see the product to know what the real life offgassing is like. I don’t often find these coatings are high in offgassing. But if they are you can air them out first and try painting over it with a combo of shellac and paint to seal in the offgassing, if that won’t ruin the look.

The backing might be high density fibreboard (HDF) which is easy to seal because it’s not visible on the back. Seal it with shellac or AFM Safeseal.

Putting carbon sachets and zeolite granules in the cabinets will help absorb the offgassing and stop the almost never-ending cycle of the formaldehyde reabsorbing. When I inspect cabinets for offgassing, it’s always the inside that still smells new years later. You could alternatively leave the doors open, at least at night, to promote offgassing.

How to Offgas a Dresser, Armour or Media Console

Like some of the other furniture above, figuring out exactly what a dresser is made of online is not always easy or possible. Still, try to find out which engineered wood products are used so that you can assess the offgassing potential and figure out how to seal them.

Before assembling furniture I would first set it aside to offgas it with heat, air and time. Then you can make a plan to seal it.

You likely don’t want to have to seal the visible sides of a dresser though, as that would entail refinishing the whole thing.

So it’s best to look for solid wood all around. The backing and drawer bottoms might not be solid wood and that’s probably OK, as those areas are easier to seal with shellac or the sealer of your choice.

You can of course, in an urgent situation, wrap the whole thing up in plastic or activated carbon fabric. If you do that with the intention of saving it, put some carbon baggies and zeolite in the drawers so that the offgassing does not just reabsorb.

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 7 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.

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Non-Toxic (Low VOC) Sealants for Marble, Granite, Limestone

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This is a post just for sealing light-colored marble, light granites, limestone, and other light-colored cool-tone stones.

My post on all-natural oil-based sealers for stones focuses on walnut and other non-toxic oils that work best on dark-colored, medium-tone (or beige-toned) stones since they do darken and yellow the stones slightly.

There is no 100% natural, 100% toxin-free, or zero-VOC sealer for white and light-colored stones. This should be considered early on if it’s a new build for someone chemically sensitive.

Light-colored stones are also much more likely to be porous compared to some darker-colored stones that can be naturally dense enough to not require a sealant.

Manufacturers of natural stone countertops usually recommend a penetrating or impregnating sealant every few years (depending on the type of stone, the use etc).

These sealants do not fully disclose their ingredients, but I have dug into the literature to see what is likely in them.

These three sealers are ones I have tested, researched, and compared, and are the safest, lowest offgassing options out there right now.

This post contains affiliate links. Upon purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

1. Sealer’s Choice Gold

Aqua Mix Sealer’s Choice Gold by Custom Building Products is a water-based sealant for natural stone. It’s low odor, low VOC and has been a favorite among the chemically sensitive.

What are the Ingredients

These types of sealants commonly contain proprietary fluoropolymers as the main technology along with alcohols and ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether. More on those ingredients below.

Microban was Added…

This product hasn’t always had Microban – that was added more recently. The company would not disclose which chemical Microban refers to in this instance, but by looking through the Microban website it’s most likely nanosilver. It could possibly be zinc pyrithione.

I don’t think it’s a good idea, in the long run, to add nanosilver to products, but in terms of the actual exposure to the individual homeowner, I don’t consider nanosilver to be very harmful here.

Testing a Sample

I tested this sealant on previously unsealed quartzite. It’s fairly low odor when wet (though not extremely low odor). I did find that by the next day I personally could not pick up any offgassing. I can see why it has been a top choice among the chemically sensitive.

All chemically sensitive folks should test out a sample before proceeding to seal a slab in their house.

Where to Use it

On light-colored, cool tone stones that would be discolored by natural sealers (like walnut oil), including white and grey marbles, light grey granite, travertine, and limestone. (Of course, it works well on porous dark-colored stones as well, I just prefer to use a natural oil-based sealer on most dark natural stones).

You can use it on unsealed and previously sealed countertops that are due for re-sealing. As well as light-colored stone tiles in the shower, bathroom, backsplash, and floors.

Where to Buy

2. Granite Gold Sealer

Granite Gold Sealer is another water-based sealer that is low odor and low VOC.

What’s in it

While these two sealers probably use similar technology, the two smell quite different.

Still, it likely has the same base of ingredients: proprietary fluoropolymers as the main technology along with alcohols and ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether. More on those ingredients in their own section below.

Test Results

It’s difficult to quantify which of these two is better for folks with chemical sensitivities and because it’s hard to compare these two objectively. You may want to test both options – sensitivities are very individual.

I personally found this one a little more harsh when wet but as soon as it was dry (which was very fast) I found it to be great.

Where to Buy

3. Stain-Proof Stone Sealer (Formally META-CREME)

This product uses a different formula than the first two. This is a water-based silanes and siloxanes impregnating sealer.

It’s similar in odor and VOC levels to the first two. All three are low odor compared to solvent-based sealants and all three could work for chemically sensitive folks after testing for individual tolerance.

(If you have a really wet area like the base of the shower, the company recommends this product for porous tiles in that area).

What’s in it

The company provides a full (or almost full) ingredients list in their SDS: octyltriethoxysilane, triethoxytridecafluorooctylsilane, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, alcohols C12-16 ethoxylated, alcohols C12-14 ethoxylated, dimethylsiloxane/[(2-aminoethyl)amino]propylsilsesquioxane, octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane.

Test Results

I certainly did find the odor mild and fairly quick to offgas, but I did not test this at the same time as the two above to compare it to those.

When testing it for durability I wasn’t that happy with it. It didn’t hold up well to marring from vinegar and it wasn’t easy to touch up those areas. I have some photos of that testing in my natural stone sealer post. But that is not unique to this sealer, calcium rich stones like marble, travertine, and limestone are very vulnerable to acid etching. It was interesting how well the natural walnut oil protected against vinegar since as far as I know, all chemical sealers cannot protect against acids.

Where to Buy

Composition of Fluoropolymer Based Stone Sealers

What’s Really in Them?

We don’t have a full disclosure of ingredients from any company making a fluorolopolymer based stone sealant as far as I know. The following is based on piecing together disclosures from various companies and from looking at patents.

A fluoropolymer in stone sealants could mean any of the following:

  • polyvinylfluoride (PVF)
  • polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)
  • polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
  • polychlorotrifluoroehtylene (PCTFE)
  • perfluoroalkoxy polymer (PFA)
  • fluorinated ethylene- propylene (FEP)
  • polyethylenetetrafluoroethylene (ETFE)
  • polyethylenechlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE)
  • perfiuoroelastomre
  • chlorotrifluoroethylenevinylidene fluoride
  • perfluoropolyether (PFPE)
  • perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA)
  • Based on Patent

The ingredients probably look something like this:

  • Water
  • Ethanol
  • Ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether
  • Fluoropolymer aka mixed perfluoroalkylethyl phosphate salts
  • Isopropyl alcohol
  • Source Pharos

Do you Really Have to Seal your Countertops?

Countertop sealers last around 2-5 years. Sealers break down over time. The resin is degraded by cleaning products and by general use.

Porous stones are more susceptible to stains and will require sealing more often (1-3 years). Check the density and integrity of the past sealant with a simple “water drop test”. Each stone is different, and sealers and quality of application vary – you have to do a water drop test to determine if or when to seal your stone.

Water Drop Test:

  • Stone must be clean and free of dust
  • Place a single drop of water (quarter size) on the stone
  • Length of time to absorb: <1 minute porous; >1 minute non-porous
  • Perform three tests for the first 2,000 ft2 and at least one for each additional 3,000 ft2

Source MCM Natural Stone Inc and ASTM F-3191

Adding more Protection

You can also add a wax to polish your stone countertop. A brand like Rock Doctor makes a carnauba and mineral oil-based wax polish that works with their flouropolymer water-based sealer. Unfortunately, their polish also has added fragrance to it though.

Alternatives to Using These Synthetic Sealants

  1. Use a dense stone that does not require any sealant. Look at Ubatuba, Black Galaxy, Absolute Black or Blue Pearl granite, Slate, some Quartzites, and other dark-colored dense stones. Dense stones normally shouldn’t be sealed or may only need one application of sealant.
  2. Use walnut oil to seal a medium to darker colored or warm-toned stone (see how well this performs here).
  3. Choose a countertop that doesn’t need a sealant at all like quartz, Dekton, and others in the main countertop post.

Related post: The most affordable non-toxic countertops

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 7 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com


How to Sequester Offgassing (Furniture, Beds, Pillows)

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The following strategies are used by those sensitive to chemicals to sequester, encase and block offgassing. They are more or less in order from the least effective to the most effective, though it depends on the thickness of some of the products.

You can use them to seal up an item that is offgassing VOCs, a bed and other furniture that are fragranced or sprayed with pesticides, and smaller items that are contaminated or toxic.

You could also use them for the opposite purpose, to keep items clean from contamination from chemicals that bother you.

I have also used them to sequester moldy items, the same rules would apply.

This post contains affiliate links. Upon purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

1. Plastic Sheeting

I have used different types and thicknesses of plastic (polyethylene) sheeting to block offgassing.

The thinnest type that could be used for this application is 3 mil poly.

A handy form of 3 mil poly is Uhaul covers. These are made in various shapes to cover couches, mattresses, and other furniture like chairs, making them very convenient. You can double them up. I have found that these are unscented when I bought them from Uhaul stores.

TuTuff is a popular plastic VOC barrier for chemically sensitive folks. This is a 4 mil plastic.

I also use 6 mil plastic in many situations, to cover and block offgassing from beds for instance, I have purchased it in rolls from Amazon and from the hardware store.

2. Activated Carbon Fabric

Activated charcoal fabric or blankets are made from fabric infused with charcoal, this helps absorb odors when you encase something that is offgassing.

This is the only item on this list that I haven’t tried myself but many folks have reported it working well.

It would be good for folks who can’t or don’t want to use plastic. You could also use this in areas where plastic or foil would not work, like to cover a carpet that is scented or offgassing.

You could double this up, putting this layer down first and then using plastic over it, or the other way around.

Two stores have been popular with sensitive folks over the years, Nirvana Safe Haven and Activated Charcoal.com

3. Mylar (Foil and Plastic)

I have used these 5-gallon Mylar/foil bags to contain many smaller items that were contaminated or to prevent cross-contamination.

It would also be possible to cut them open and tape them onto larger objects to sequester offgassing if you didn’t have the other options around.

I found they worked quite well to sequester smaller items. I used to throw my clothes in them when coming home, before washing them. I also used them when traveling to pack items before putting them in my suitcase.

4. Aluminized Tarps

This is the exact tarp that I have used many many times. I have used it to sequester offgassing (mostly in beds and camping mats).

I often travel with these and if I encounter a bed that is too toxic for me I have these ready. I have also used it on brand new beds that have polyurethane foam that is offgassing too much for me.

You could also use this on sofas, wood furniture, and many other medium to large sized items.

These are not odorless right from the get-go. They have a plasticky odor and so the extremely sensitive may need to offgas them first or may not be able to use them.

The aluminum does rub off if you are applying pressure or moving it a lot (like when it’s used on a mattress that you are sleeping on). They are also thick and therefore make a crinkly noise when you sleep on them.

5. Radiant Barrier Foil

Radiant Barrier foil is the thickest product on this list and is the best block of VOCs, fragrance, pesticides, and other toxins.

It is a foil that is much thicker than Mylar, aluminized tarps or heavy-duty aluminum foil.

I do use heavy-duty aluminum foil for small items, but it rips easily so it would be hard to use that on anything large or soft. You can wrap hard or boxed items in heavy-duty aluminum foil, you can also paste foil to walls with gum arabic as a “foil wallpaper block”.

If radiant barrier is used in construction in your area then you can likely buy this locally.

You might have to do a bit of digging to find one that is nor perforated. It’s often backed with plastic. I used this plastic backed foil from Amazon.ca.

Sometimes it’s backed in Kraft paper like the brand Denny Foil which has long been popular amongst the chemically sensitive.

Related posts:

Mitigating Offgassing Post – for sealants to seal in offgassing and for other ways (apart from sealing/sequestering) to mitigate and speed up offgassing.

Mitigating Fragrance and Smoke Post – for ways to remove and mitigate fragrance and smoke contamination on items and in homes.

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 7 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

Did you find this post helpful? If so you can buy me a coffee to support the research behind this blog. Thank you!

The 11 Best Non-Toxic Rugs You Can Buy Online

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Non-Toxic Eco Rugs: The Top Natural and Organic Options

There are only a few companies that have gone the extra mile to fully disclose what is in their rugs.

These are the top companies making green healthy rugs safe for those avoiding toxins in the home.

Those avoiding chemicals should avoid area rugs with synthetic latex backing, glues, moth treatments which is a pesticide – usually permethrin (on wool), and other topical treatments such as stain guard treatments.

For those very sensitive to chemicals, you may even want to avoid rugs treated with detergents, bleach, or dyes (possibly even the eco dyes).

[Read more…] about The 11 Best Non-Toxic Rugs You Can Buy Online

The Healthiest Non-Toxic Carpet Brands

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For safe, non-toxic carpet, both natural and synthetic fiber options can be a healthy choice.

The post outlines my top picks in the zero and low-VOC categories for residential and commercial use. This includes a look at the carpet fiber, backing, products used during installation, and padding (underlay).

Even folks who are chemically sensitive can do well with carpet in the home.

[Read more…] about The Healthiest Non-Toxic Carpet Brands

Non-Toxic Sofas & Furniture | 2021

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This is a complete list of eco-friendly non-toxic sofas that you can buy online.

I start with conventional style non-toxic sofas, digging into what’s really in them, followed by a “next best” list, and then a look at some simpler and more affordable options.

I also take a deep dive into furniture, starting with the 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.

Non-Toxic Sofas and Couches

For upholstered furniture you want to look for:

  • Natural cushion fill such as natural latex, cotton, down, and wool (See my warning about natural latex here. The concerns may be more related to beds, but I can’t say for sure).
  • No chemical/formaldehyde treatments on the fabric (such as Scotch Guard and other stain and water-resistant coatings especially PFAS).
  • Eco Leather – Conventional leather is made with toxic dyes and treatments. Some folks may prefer leather due to the ability to wipe it down. Brands that use safer leather are covered in a dedicated post.
  • Solid woods, not formaldehyde filled pressed wood products.
  • Zero or low-VOC glues, stains, and varnishes
  • Flame retardant free (my post on flame retardants goes into detail on which ones we want to avoid) but the picks here are all FR free.
  • Polyurethane does offgas at low levels, but I don’t rule it out completely. Make sure it is flame retardant free (“Soy Foam” is still polyurethane with some soy).
  • GOTS certified fabrics and GOLS certified latex – which are explained in this post on certifications.

Many of the companies below also offer upholstered chairs, recliners and non-toxic sofa beds/sleeper sofas. You will have to choose between polyurethane or natural latex in the beds.

For mattresses and bed frames see my post on mattresses and bedding. 

I recommend all of the products here, some products have affiliate programs and some do not. Upon purchase, I earn a small commission through affiliate links at no extra cost to you.

The 8 Top Non-Toxic Sofa Brands You Can Buy Online

1. Medley

Medley sofas are made with either polyurethane or organic natural latex, no-VOC glues, no flame retardants, fabric options that are all-natural, organic, or both, solid alder frames with natural or zero-VOC finishes, and organic cotton internal frame lining. 

They offer a sample kit which is really helpful for those who want to check out the materials first.

If you are looking for a hypoallergenic option this sample box will help to narrow in on what you are allergic to. Medley is my top pick for most people with allergies and sensitivities.

They carry loveseats, standard size sofas, sectionals, and sleeper sofas.

They offer leather as an upholstery option. It’s semi-aniline leather with a water-based coating on top, which I talk more about in the leather furniture post.

You can use code MyChemFreeHouse5 for 5% off.

Made in the USA. Delivery to the US, Canada and beyond.

Start at $1500

2. The Futon Shop

The Futon Shop has a sofa called Daisy Organic Natural Sofa.

It’s made with solid pine (no glues) and has various options for the fill.

The seat cushion fill options include wool with coils, wool and latex or all three.

The base arms and back of the sofa are made with natural latex, coconut coir, and natural wool encased in fabric.

You can change the main fill to PLA or upgrade to organic wool and latex.

The fabric options include organic cotton, linen and wool.

They make chairs, loveseats, sofas and sectionals.

Made in the USA they can provide you with a quote if you are shipping outside of the contiguous 48 states.

Start at $1800 for the sofas.

3. Cisco Brothers

non polyurethan non latex couch sofa, recliner, sectional, USA, Canada

Cisco Brothers sofas are either the Essentials Collection or they can be made with the Inside Green option.

The base line is called Essentials Collection which contains hardwood (no plywood), typically alder or maple, polyurethane foam, cushions with goose feathers & down. Fabrics are washed to remove any residual dust or chemicals.

The Inside Green option contains organic natural latex instead of polyurethane, wrapped in either eco wool or feathers & down. They use certified solid woods, organic cotton fabrics with no toxic treatments, jute and hemp instead of springs, and WOCA natural stains. No flame retardants are used.

The make regular sized sofas, loveseats and sectionals.

Made in the USA. Sold at locations throughout the US and Canada and online through Urban Natural.

Starts at $2300. The “Inside Green” option starts at $3400

4. EcoBalanza

These handmade, customized sofas are high quality and made with traditional methods – and that means less glue and more options with what materials are used.

They use organic wool, organic cotton, GOLS certified organic natural Dunlop latex, and GOTS certified fabrics. No flame retardants are used anywhere. Kapok and down are offered in some configurations.

They use non-toxic zero-VOC glues and Rubio Monocoat stains. They can use a different finish if the customer is sensitive to Rubio, or they can leave it unfinished. Solid wood frames are made of alder and beech, ash is usually used for the legs.

They can also accommodate a latex allergy by completely leaving out and replacing the latex.

The make 3 seaters, loveseats, and sectionals. (They also make chairs, ottomans, bed frames and headboards).

They make leather sofas with EcoPell leather which is unsealed, vegetable-tanned, and free of heavy metals. It’s the only truly safe leather on the list – I do into detail on why that is here.

This is the most customizable brand on the list. The Essential Collection is more of option than a collection, and is a more affordable option.

Handmade in Seattle, they ship to all states and to Canada.

Start at $3800

5. Pottery Barn Eco Sofa

Pottery Barn has a lot of options that I would consider in their green line. Pictured above is the slipcover from Amazon for the roll arm style. They also have a square arm.

The down blend is 50% polyester fiber, 45% duck feather, and 5% duck down. After emailing the company, it sounds like the down option has no foam, but I would double-check.

The foam option is, unfortunately, polyurethane memory foam, I prefer regular polyurethane. Memory foams are usually higher in offgassing than regular foam (though not necessarily). These don’t contain flame retardants.

Some of their other sofas do not have memory foam as an option.

They use solid wood inside the construction and some of the fabric options are GOTS certified organic cotton. This sets them apart from most other large national big brands. The Crypton fabric is free of PFAS.

With Greenguard Gold certification, this is an extremely low level of allowed formaldehyde (0.0073 parts per million).

For someone wanting to avoid both latex and polyurethane, and still looking for something affordable, this could be a good option. They are not quite as “green” as the other companies in this first section.

I have seen swatches of the fabrics, the performance fabrics certainly had more of an odor than the non-performance fabrics.

They offer standard size couches, loveseats, sectionals and recliners.

They deliver to the contiguous US states.

$1000 – $2900

6. Savvy Rest Couch

Made with solid maple (no plywood or particleboard), GOTS-certified organic upholstery (hemp and/or cotton), natural latex wrapped in organic wool, and the option of a linseed finish or unfinished feet. No flame retardants.

They make sofas, loveseats and upholstered chairs.

Made in America they ship to all states and Canada.

Starts at $3500

7. PURE

Made with organic latex with a feather and down wrap, solid maple wood, organic wool, GOTS certified organic cotton, Greenguard certified water-based glue, and Rubio Monocoat wood finish on legs. No flame retardants are used.

They offer sofas, loveseats, sectionals, some sleeper sofas, and a recliner. (Out of the top tier eco companies this is the only one that makes a non-toxic recliner).

Made in America. They ship to the 48 contiguous states. It’s possible to order one to Canada but you need a customs broker.

You can mention My Chemical-Free House for 5% off.

Start at $1400

8. Carolina Morning

The wooden structure is made from regionally harvested Appalachian poplar wood, finished with Vermont Natural Coatings.

The futon covers are an organic 100% cotton canvas (eight colors) and they are filled with kapok fiber.

The kapok is grown without herbicides and pesticides.

These are made with the chemically sensitive in mind, and they go to good lengths to keep out added chemicals.

$2,350

Next Best Options

The next best options are sofas free of PFAS and there are a few things to look for:

  • No use of per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances is a top priority in terms of avoiding persistent chemicals (only a few sofa brands below listed below are free of PFCs/PFAS)
  • Solid wood or at least plywood inside the sofa is better than particleboard
  • No flame retardants (almost all big companies are free of FR now)
  • No memory foam (that is higher in offgassing than regular foam)

1. IKEA Sofas

The standard IKEA sofas (i.e. not the futons) are made with particleboard, which offgasses some formaldehyde; regular polyester fabric not treated with perfluorinated chemicals (e.g. PFOS, PFOA, PFOSA); and polyurethane foam cushions which are low in offgassing and free of flame retardants.

The main difference between IKEA and the “greener” brands above is the use of particleboard.

IKEA sells loveseats, sofas, sectionals, sofa beds, upholstered chairs, and recliners.

Prices start from $250

2. Crate and Barrel

Crate and Barrel eliminated PFAS/PFCs and flame retardants from their upholstery.

Some of the sofas I looked at had engineered wood (plywood probably) and some had solid wood inside.

There was standard polyurethane foam on the ones I looked at, no flame retardants.

The fabric swatches had an odor that was hard to describe, something similar to a very light rubber smell.

They sell sofas, loveseats, sectionals, sleeper sofas, upholstered chairs and recliners.

Prices start at about $1000

3. Room and Board

Room and Board has also eliminated PFAS/PFCs from their fabrics. Some of the fabrics are GreenGuard Gold certified but I couldn’t pick up any major difference between those and their regular fabrics.

The frames are made from solid wood. The foam is regular polyurethane that is free of flame retardants, I did not see any memory foam options.

They sell sofas, loveseats, sectionals, day beds, sofa beds, upholstered chairs and recliners.

Prices start at $1200

4. Vegan Polyurethane Leather Couches

Not a brand, but a type of sofa to look for that I consider non-toxic and safe is a polyurethane (PU) faux leather sofa.

Whenever looking at faux leather check to see what kind of plastic it is. It could be PVC, PU, or nylon.

I like PU because it doesn’t contain plasticizers, PFAS, or other stain guard chemicals, it’s low odor – and even that will pass. It also is quite a good block of VOCs or semi-VOCs that could be coming from inside the couch.

I avoid PVC faux leather.

5. Crypton Fabric (no PFAS/PFCS)

Pottery Barn has some sofas made with Crypton fabric which we know is free of PFAS/PFCS these still performance fabrics that have a bit of a higher odor than non-performance fabrics from PB.

The Pearce Roll Arm sofa has the Crypton fabric option. The frame is solid wood and the cushions are a mix of regular polyurethane (no flame retardants) and polyester batting.

Alternative Sofa Options: Simple and Affordable 

Daybeds and Futons

Metal Daybeds

If you are too sensitive to wood and typical sofa materials, or you just want something simpler and cheaper, you could try a metal daybed from Walmart, IKEA or Amazon and put a non-toxic mattress of your choosing on it.

Some of the metal daybed frames will accommodate a MondoKing Thermarest.

Futons

An option from Amazon

You can buy simple futons with a wood or metal base from Amazon or IKEA.

IKEA makes a futon and simple metal-based sofa that contains polyurethane foam (no flame retardants). This option cuts back on other toxic materials used in regular sofas.

A simple sofa with a washable cover can be an asset to those with sensitivities and allergies who need to launder items often.

An even simpler option from IKEA is the Hammarn little futon for $129. This has a metal frame, and only a small amount of polyurethane (no flame retardants).

A simple option like this can be quite non-toxic and offgas rather quickly, especially after a little time airing out.

The more polyurethane, the more you have to offgas. Not all futons have foam though. You have to check what the fill is.

The more components you have inside a typical sofa, the more offgassing you have from pressed wood products, stains, and glues.

Futons eliminate pressed wood products and cut down on glues used. They often don’t have stains.

Metal frames eliminate all offgassing of both stains and wood glues.

If you want a proper futon bed for sleeping made of truly safe or natural materials check out my post on mattresses where I outline a number of options in this category.

Outdoor Furniture

You could also look at outdoor furniture to be used inside.

The benefit here would be the simplicity of the design. Metal, plastic or solid wood as the base. Cushions that can be left outside to offgas or replaced with a cushion of your choice.

Outdoor cushions are made with either polyurethane or polyester fill and the covers can have waterproofing on them, but because of the ability to remove them from the sofa and offgas them, this could be a simple, affordable and healthy option for many.

Here are three options you might find on Amazon: solid wood outdoor sofa, metal-framed outdoor sofa, and a plastic-based outdoor sofa.

2. Non-Toxic Furniture

Tables, Chairs, Bookcases and Storage

For non-toxic zero-VOC tables, chairs, bookcases, benches and storage units look for solid wood (with zero-VOC stains and varnishes), and zero or low-VOC adhesives.

Low odor woods are preferable for some sensitive people.

Avoid laminated wood which has particle board or MDF board. Plywood is not as high in offgassing as MDF or particle board.

There are some formaldehyde-free pressed wood products like Purebond plywood (though some sensitive folks react to that proprietary glue).

Some types of furniture are more likely to have a veneer of real wood glued on to a lower quality wood. In some styles this is hard to avoid.

UrbanNatural

Urban Natural – Uses either natural oils and a beeswax finish or a zero-VOC water-based catalyzed varnish finish. The glues vary by manufacturer. One brand uses a Cradle-to-Cradle certified (toxicity level yellow) glue.

Viesso – Uses ECOS 0-VOC finishes (which are very well tolerated by the chemically sensitive) or natural oil and wax finishes on wooden furniture. They use 0-VOC glues.

Medley – Has some beautiful solid wood furniture, sealed with WoodShield and made with 0 VOC glues. You can use the code MyChemFreeHouse5 for 5% off.

Medley

Something simple – solid wood desks from Staples with an incredibly low VOC (maybe 0-VOC) finish came highly recommended by someone sensitive. It’s only $156, so a total deal. You could add some rolling metal drawers under it for desk storage.

Amazon has a good selection of solid wood-framed chairs.

West Elm also has nice solid wood chairs (dining room).

Simple non-toxic side tables can be found on Amazon. I like this little bamboo one with a clear coating on it.

Non-Toxic Vintage Furniture

Vintage or reclaimed wooden furniture might be safe and healthy if you are sure it hasn’t been refinished recently with conventional products, and it has not been exposed to chemical cleaning products, smoke, mold, pesticides, or other chemical substances.

With upholstered items, take extra care to make sure it wasn’t from a time frame when flame retardants were even more toxic. The post on flame retardants goes into more detail.

Solid Wood Amish Furniture

If you can’t find what you are looking for in the eco stores or in big box stores, try Amish furniture making companies. They build solid wood furniture. They often use linseed oil as a finish but unfinished can usually be requested.

Non-Toxic Desks

Urbangreenfurniture

Vermont Woods makes solid wood desks with a very low VOC lacquer.

Uplift makes standing desks with solid wood.

Solid wood desks from specialty stores tend to be pricey.

A dedicated post on non-toxic desks (and desk chairs) is here!

On Amazon, you can find simple solid wood desks, like this sturdy solid wood sawhorse style desk.

Glass and Metal Desk from Amazon

You can also find glass and metal options (they change what they carry over time).

Bedroom Furniture

Romina

Green Cradle – This company makes 100% solid wood bedroom furniture, either unfinished or finished with linseed oil. They have dressers, chests, armoires, bookcases, nightstands and cribs.

Pacific Rim Woodworking – This company makes beds and dressers out of solid wood, Purebond (no added formaldehyde) plywood, and they have options for natural and 0-VOC finishes. 

Romina Furniture – Makes furniture for the bedroom for babies, kids and teens. They use solid wood only, organic natural glues, and a variety of non-toxic finishes.

Baby Eco Trends – Makes furniture for babies and children. Solid wood, Amish made, with a choice of finishes. 

non toxic formaldehyde free furniture solid real wood safe and healthy
Medley

Medley – Makes bedroom furniture out of solid wood and bamboo, with all-natural finishes. You can use code MyChemFreeHouse5 for 5% off.

Zin Home – Makes bedroom furniture, much of it out of reclaimed wood, and some with natural finishes. They were not able to tell me what all the finishes were, as the items are made overseas.

Vermont Woods – Solid wood bedroom furniture (some pieces have veneer), with very low VOC lacquer.

TY Furniture – A focus on non-toxic furniture, this company uses solid woods, non-toxic natural oils and wax finishes with non-toxic glues.

3. Alternatives to Wooden Furniture

Solid wood furniture from specialty stores tends to be expensive. Here are some alternatives.

These would also suit those who don’t do well with the odor of wood or have severe allergies and reactions to mold, dust, and allergens.

Non-porous, low toxin furniture that can easily be wiped down with a variety of cleaning products is a huge advantage for many.

Many of these options are also less expensive which is well suited to those starting over after a moldy or toxic house.

Glass, Metal, Stone & Plastic Furniture

Metal Furniture

Metal is one of the safest materials. Metal may need to be washed down in order to remove factory oils, but otherwise most finishes don’t offgas.

Powder-coated metal is the safest painted look finish. Electroplated finishes are totally safe, along with metals that doesn’t require any finish like chrome and stainless steel. Metal finishes, even if they used a paint, usually cure quite quickly. 

Bertoia style metal chairs, pictured, are popular. There are many metal chairs on Amazon that are very affordable.

Other furniture items you can find in metal are cabinets, drawers, even a chest of drawers though there are some wood products in there, shelves, tables of all sizes, kitchen prep islands, desks, bed frames, TV stands and more.

I really like this coral console table storage unit.

Glass Furniture

Glass is the most inert material for furniture. It will most often be coupled with metal like this glass and metal coffee table, black glass and metal desk, and this bar cart.

It’s possible to find pieces that are pure glass, like this table from Amazon (pictured) which is surprisingly affordable for a glass product.

Hard Plastic Furniture

Hard plastics are generally safe and are tolerable for most people. Almost all furniture made of hard plastic will be a low or no offgassing plastic. Sometimes it needs a couple days to air out.

I have seen many of these mid-century style chairs (pictured) in person and they were very inert. Some have metal legs if you want to avoid all wood.

Hard polypropylene, ABX and acrylic are all highly tolerable, low to 0 offgassing plastics. These polypropylene shelves/organizers pictured below could look cool (they come in metal as well).

You can also find many items made of clear acrylic like this really neat trunk, coffee tables, side tables, shelves, and other unique storage units on Amazon.

Sterilite is a plastic that even the very chemically sensitive usually do well with (a mix of polypropylene and polyethylene). You can find drawers made of Sterilite.

Outdoor faux rattan is usually made of safer plastics (like polypropylene) that will work for most folks who are sensitive to chemicals.

Make sure it’s not made of PVC which I have come across (rarely) with outdoor wicker. The one pictured could even be used indoors in a beachy style home.

Stone Furniture

Marble and other stone can be made into tabletops. Marble is made with a resin used to fill in the fissures, and a sealer would also be applied to furniture. You will have to reseal it if it gets heavy use.

It’s harder to find real stone furniture online. This is one real marble table from Amazon. You will find real stone furniture more readily in brick and mortar or specialty stores.

Faux marble is most often laminate (with particleboard) not ideal for the chemically sensitive. Though it could also be a safe hard plastic, or a less safe hard plastic (like cultured marble). It could also be engineered stone which is usually 0 VOC. Be sure to check out what it is made of.

This faux marble island is quartz, which is safe and 0-VOC (but like marble, not cheap).

Rattan, Seagrass, & Banana Leaf Furniture

You might also want to consider furniture made of natural fibers: rattan (a vine), banana leaves (the leaves from banana trees), seagrass (a reed) and bamboo (a grass).

The outdoor “rattan” is usually plastic woven in a wicker style, and works best for outdoor furniture. Real rattan and similar fibers can be used to make low toxin and even stylish indoor furniture.

The term “paper rope” is not a natural grass or reed, but rather paper mixed with glue and “sizing” chemical twisted together. It resembles rattan. If you are looking for real rattan, be sure to double-check.

Rattan can look stylish inside, despite being very simple:

Are Rattan, Banana Leaves and Seagrass Treated?

Many very sensitive folks do well with these fibers. Though it’s possible the plants were sprayed while they were growing or sprayed with pesticides in transit if they are coming from tropical countries as an import (source).

Rattan

Rattan is a vine that is technically a wood product. Amazon carries a selection of natural rattan chairs, most of them $100 – $200. IKEA carries rattan chairs from $50 – $180.

You can also find rattan headboards (IKEA has one with a wire frame), trays, baskets, stools, coffee tables, storage pieces and even mirrors.

More bed frames in my post on mattresses and bedding.

Banana Fiber

Banana leaves or banana fiber are the leaves from Banana trees. You can find it made into stools or poufs.

IKEA has a banana fiber stool and so does Amazon.

Seagrass

The terms seagrass and water hyacinth are used interchangeably in the furniture industry.

The leaves and stems are made into furniture like this storage basket. You can also find seagrass coffee tables, rugs (more in my post on non-toxic rugs), and various types and styles of storage baskets.

Related posts:

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 6 years of experience helping others create healthy homes

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Non-Toxic Windows, Blinds & Curtains

by 75 Comments

Updated Winter 2020/2021

1. Window frame materials – Windows made of thermally broken aluminum are the top choice for non-toxic windows. Accoya wood is also a healthy window option. Some vinyl and fiberglass brands can be considered, though they do offgas.

2. Window treatments – Natural untreated fabric, natural fiber roll down blinds, non-painted aluminum blinds, and aluminum screens are the top choices for healthy window treatments. Blackout bamboo shades, polyester curtains, hemp, cotton, and paper pleated shades should be considered as well. Avoid PVC shades/curtains, flame retardant treated fabrics, wrinkle-free finishes, and wood and aluminum blinds with finishes that offgas.

3. Window sealing – Polyurethane canned foam is the norm, which does cure quite well. The least toxic option is backer rod.

I recommend all of the products here, some products have affiliate programs and some do not. Upon purchase, I earn a small commission through affiliate links at no extra cost to you.

Non-Toxic Curtains and Blinds

The best non-toxic window coverings are natural untreated fabric, natural fiber roll down blinds, aluminum blinds and aluminum screens.

For blackout shades, bamboo shades with liners, polyester curtains, hemp, cotton, and paper pleated shades can be considered.

Avoid PVC shades/curtains, curtains highly treated with flame retardants and other chemicals, and wood and aluminum blinds with finishes that offgas VOCs.

1. Fabric Curtains

Fabric curtains are usually treated with wrinkle-free chemicals and flame retardants.

Natural fabrics do break down in UV light but are a healthier option. Look for Oeko-Tex or GOTs certified fabrics to guarantee that they don’t use chemical treatments.

Libeco linen is not GOTS certified but is usually grown without pesticides and the natural colors don’t contain dyes.

Linen options found on Amazon, like the ones in the photo, are either a linen polyester mix or polyester made to look like linen.

IKEA makes GUNRID “air purifying curtains”. These are made of recycled PET water bottles. The air purifying claim sounds like it comes from a treatment of titanium dioxide which creates hydroxyl radicals.

2. Blinds and Shutters

Bamboo Blinds

Green versions of blinds include bamboo roll down blinds that are not treated with chemicals like those from Earthshade and Blinds Chalet.

I got a sample from Blinds Chalet and was happy with them (these really need a backing unless you want just minimal privacy).

Check to see what the backing is and order samples.

Bamboo blinds come in different looks, and other grasses can be woven into the blinds as well.

Wood Blinds and Shutters

I have not found wooden blinds with a 0-VOC finish since this is so hard to accomplish with something that holds up to UV.

Real wood blinds are also prone to warping. Real solid wood is best used as shutters.

The real wood blinds from Blinds Chalet are very light and thin (Signature 2 inch in Carmelia). I could pick up only very minor offgassing which did come to completion in a few weeks.

All of the thin 2 inch real wood blinds from Blinds Galore were also very low in odor, just like other major brands. Only the very sensitive would be able to pick this up. And with a bit of time this did offgas.

Real wood blinds made of basswood are extremely light. From an aesthetic point of view, they are almost impossible to differentiate from the composites.

Faux Wood

Faux wood blinds are usually PVC, but composite blinds can be made of safer plastics mixed with wood.

The composite sample I got from Blinds Chalet was very low in offgassing (Premier Composite Shutters).

Composite blinds from Blinds Galore don’t explicitly say what kind of polymer (plastic) is used. Some of them are listed as PVC as some do not indicate the type of plastic used.

This brand has an American and Canadian website. I tested Bali wood blinds.

They were extremely low in offgassing.

Aluminum Blinds

Aluminum blinds used to use powder-coated metal which was very safe. You can find some older blinds like this.

But currently, all metal blinds in North America, Asia, and Europe are made with a polyester-based baked-on enamel finish that does offgas in theory.

By the time I have received samples of metals blinds the offgassing has been complete.

I have also seen additives, for example, Hunter Douglas ads an anti-static additive to the coating. This may be something like Teflon (but we don’t actually know what it is), which could offgas as well.

You can find brushed aluminum blinds with no paint or coating, like those from Earthshade (pictured). At some retailers, brushed aluminum does have a coating.

3. Between the Glass Blinds

Between the glass is a really cool option that eliminates the worry of offgassing. 

Here is an example from Pella.

4. Window Screens

Conventional screens are very smelly at first.

They can be left outside to offgas, or aluminum screens can be used instead.

Marvin is one brand that makes aluminum options.

Non-Toxic Blackout Shades

1. Bamboo Shades Blackout Liner

Blinds Chalet blackout liner on the bamboo shades is PVC- free.

Their bamboo is also grown without pesticides and chemicals.

2. Polyester Blackout Curtains

Polyester with no PVC backing will work for many people. It’s not perfect right out of the box, but it doesn’t take long for the chemicals to dissipate.

If you can wash and/or air them out first that will help.

West Elm 100% polyester curtain liner is an extra layer of polyester that goes under their other curtains, they = contain no PVC or foam.

They still have that new fabric smell but will air out with some time. West Elm has been improving their eco-credentials lately. Someone sensitive to chemicals did well with these.

These Eclipse polyester curtains from Amazon do not contain flame retardants, can be washed and aired out, and should be tolerable after washing and airing for most people.

These Sleep Well polyester curtains do not guarantee no flame retardants, but they do claim no chemical fabric coatings. They are 100% polyester and free of PVC. They are washable. You can remove that new fabric smell by washing them. Some have reported these having no smell and others more sensitive still can pick up the new fabric smell.

3. 100% Blackout Shades

Earthshade makes eco blackout shades and rollers that are probably the safest ready-made option on the market.

The blackout roller shades do contain 35 ppb formaldehyde which is produced when pressing the polyester sheets together to laminate them with heat.

The shades have also been processed with bleach. Those are the only two treatments of the fabric.

Generally, my recommendation on formaldehyde (as long as it’s not urea) is to give it 3 months of offgassing. When installed with a proper blackout system these will get you the most light blocking of the list.

4. Something Simple for Light Blocking

Another option to consider is this paper black pleated shade – the company claims in an email they do not give off any hazardous chemicals (I bought the natural color version of this – it has a slight chemical smell and needs to be offgassed only for a short while).

They are not that great at blocking light compared to the other options and you will need to double them up to make a bigger difference. But these are super inexpensive, easy to install quickly, and worked perfectly in my tiny house.

5. DIY Hemp Curtains

Another really safe option (truly the safest) would be to make your own blackout curtains with pesticide-free hemp fabric.

Though it’s difficult to make traditional looking curtains from this thick not very flexible fabric.

6. Cotton Room Darkening Curtains

IKEA Room Darkening Curtains made with 100% cotton are somewhat light blocking.

They should be washed or aired out before using.

Avoid: vinyl roller shades and vinyl mini-blinds, PVC and conventional blackout curtains.

Non-Toxic Window Frame Options

The top choice for green non-toxic window frames is aluminum (thermally broken).

Accoya naturally treated wood can be considered another top choice, though wood is more difficult to upkeep.

Fiberglass and vinyl are the next best choices – they do offgas, but some brands will cure quite quickly or be low enough emissions to not cause any issues.

Non-Accoya wood is treated with pesticides, insecticides, and fungicides and it’s prone to warping and water damage. Let’s look deeper:

1. Metal Window Frames

Aluminum windows in my tiny house

Aluminum windows are the healthiest, safest option. It is what I used in my tiny house (pictured above). On the interior, I added wood framing trim. You can also use decorative moldings around the windows.

I used DYG windows from Canada. Milgard is a popular brand that makes thermally broken all aluminum windows (US and Canada).

High-end aluminum thermally broken window brands include Western, Arcadia, and Fleetwood.

What is used in the windows as a thermal break is blocked by the glass and metal so there is no need to worry about much offgassing. Thermally broken aluminum windows are all aluminum with polyurethane inside.

Non thermally broken aluminum windows are not a good idea to use as they conduct heat and cold and easily condensate. Aluminum clad means there is an exterior of aluminum which usually has wood inside.

The most extremely sensitive clients can pick up the seal, PVC glass stop and some glues used.

The finishes I have seen on aluminum windows are baked-on enamel, resin paints, powder coated and anodized. Some baked-on enamel finishes and paints can offgas, the other two are considered safe.

The gaskets are made out of rubber or PVC.

2. Wooden Window Frames

Wood windows are usually treated with fungicides, pesticides, and insecticides. You could use a sealer that seals those chemicals like AFM Safe Seal, AFM Transitional Primer, or Zinsser Shellac (the Bullseye Shellac is waxed and harder to paint over, the SealCoat is dewaxed and easier to paint over).

Safer Wood

Accoya wood used in some window brands uses a non-toxic process called acetylation to naturally provide rot resistance.

They use no chemical fungicides or mildewcides and they claim this process helps to reduce shrinking and swelling compared to most solid wood windows.

Loewen is one of the brands that uses Accoya wood and allows you to choose your paint brand.

Custom Wood

You could go with totally custom made wood windows, but they are more expensive and you still have to consider what kind of sealer you can tolerate on the inside and outside.

For an exterior sealer see my post on paints and sealers.

Problems with Wooden Windows

All wood (through and through) windows are not a good idea as they do not hold up well to moisture in the long run, Accoya wood claims to have solved this problem.

You can also consider ones that are wood on the inside and a more weather resistant material on the outside if you like the look of wood inside. 

Consider also the glue that is used in conventional wood windows could be irritating for the sensitive person.

Chemical Wood Treatments

Marvin’s wood windows (which have aluminum on the exterior) are treated with TimberTreat pesticide, tebuconazole, and propiconazole fungicides, an unlisted insecticide and mineral oil.

Pella and Anderson also make wood windows that are treated with the same or similar chemicals (they are also aluminum on the exterior).

3. Fiberglass Window Frames

Fiberglass offgasses VOCs and some sensitive people do report reacting to it. Though it may be tolerable for some.

Some types and brands are better than others (in terms of offgassing) and this could result in a preference of fiberglass over vinyl or vice versa.

Marvin’s Ultrex was not tolerated by the very sensitive though some less sensitive have done well with it.

Marvin has two different kinds of fiberglass, one has an acrylic component and one has a polyurethane component. You may find them to be different – with the polyurethane one being better tolerated. Pella fiberglass is tolerated by some sensitive folks.

Kolbe has their own fiberglass called Glastra which is mixed with another polymer (plastic).

4. Vinyl Window Frames

Vinyl is generally not healthy, but since this is a hard plastic, many very sensitive individuals report tolerating it. I did not pick up any offgassing on the vinyl windows I tested (and used in a little camping trailer).

I can pick up the offgassing in some of them used in apartments under one year old. Others have reported reacting with new ones. Some let them offgas for a while before installing.

Personally, with a bit of time to offgas, I find these to be good. Better than fiberglass, but not as good as aluminum.

Fibrex is a PVC and wood composite made by Anderson which some sensitive folks have reported being too high in offgassing for them.

Vinyl Components

Vinyl components can be used in any window frame type. Look into the gasket, window stops, jamb liners and tracks which can all be PVC.  I have seen some companies (like Alpene) replace the PVC stop with aluminum.

More details on Alpine (which makes fiberglass and vinyl windows) and other low toxin “High Performance” windows in this post on Passive Houses.

Window FAQs

What are High-Quality Trusted Window Brands?

High-quality window companies recommended by architects include: Marvin, Kolbe, Anderson, Pella, and Wasco. Alpene for High-Performance windows.

Are Gas-filled Windows Non-Toxic? 

Windows filled with argon or krypton gas have a higher insulative value and both gasses are considered non-toxic.

Are Low-E Coatings Non-Toxic?

The two main types of Low-E coatings are both non-toxic. The “soft coat” is a mechanically applied silver coating that is within a double pane window system. You will have no exposure to the silver. A “hard coat” is a layer of tin oxide that is applied while the glass is still hot. The tin is a more integral part of the glass in this case, and is therefore not a risk.

Sealing Around Windows

Caulking

The first two I would test out are AFM Caulk and silicone. Silicone caulks all have different odors/offgassing and rates of curing. My top pick is a neutral cure silicone – Chemlink. GE is also quite good.

I have a post on caulking that goes into more detail.

Sealing Around the Frame

Plastic backer rod (polyethylene) can be used to seal around windows. This is a non-toxic and odorless alternative to polyurethane canned spray foam.

Many people do tolerate the canned spray foams after some offgassing (give it 24 hours to cure or more). Great Stuff is a common one to find easily online and in stores.

Handi-Foam is another brand, that is certified with Greenguard Gold for more assurance (but I cannot tell the difference between the two).

Some people use wool around windows. I prefer not to have wool around windows. The sealing around windows is meant to be airtight to prevent moisture issues, so wool would not suffice.

Window Flashing

For zero-VOC window flashing use TYPAR AT.

They do not recommend this being used in the rough openings, and it doesn’t fit all building codes.

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Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 6 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.

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Non-Toxic Kitchen Cabinets: Complete List of Types and Brands

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Conventional Cabinets & VOCs

Conventional cabinets can be a significant source of VOCs in the kitchen – with all of the low and mid-range brands using particleboard or MDF at least in their lower-end lines, which offgas formaldehyde.

There are pressed wood products with no added formaldehyde now, and some cabinet makers mentioned in this post are using these. I don’t always think the alternative glues are better.

The move towards CARB II and GreenGuard Gold has greatly improved the formaldehyde levels in the conventional options in recent years.

Regular plywood-based cabinets (as opposed to particleboard or MDF) offgas quite rapidly, while at the same time more companies are offering formaldehyde-free options.

Paints and varnishes are not likely to be zero-VOC unless that is stated. But the brands here are offering natural finishes, custom finishes, or factory cured finishes which I found to be almost no VOC.

You may opt to finish them yourself with non-toxic sealers or non-toxic paint.

The best option for most people is the mid-range brands with the right healthy upgrades.

If you need assistance choosing the best cabinets for your sensitivities, please contact me for a one-on-one consultation. 

Healthy Cabinet Brands – Listed by Material 

Healthy cabinets could be made of solid wood, plywood, pressed wood without added formaldehyde, or metal.

Sometimes glass or MgO board can be used.

Of course, some are sensitive to the terpenes of wood, and wood can also pick up and hold onto secondary odors so I have included non-wood options on the list.

The cabinets in my tiny house are solid wood, but the reason cabinets are made of engineered wood products is that solid wood can warp in the kitchen.

1. Non-Toxic Metal Cabinet Brands

There are companies that make metal kitchen cabinets, and they can look quite cool:

Photo via imdcabinets.com

Bertolini (affordable, 100% metal).

Fadior makes stainless steel cabinets. The cabinets are made of all stainless with aluminum reinforcements, no wood or PVC.

IMD has no wood and no adhesives (North America and Europe).

Pedini (high-end) Italian company that was at the forefront of green cabinetry. They offer some metal options.

When shopping for metal cabinets you want to see if there are any non-metal components and what those are.

2. Healthy Solid Wood Cabinets

healthycabinetmakers.com

Healthy Cabinet Makers make solid wood cabinets aimed at the chemically sensitive.

It’s rare to find cabinets made out of solid wood, so I would certainly go with a company that has expertise with this type of construction. Even the boxes are solid wood.

Solid wood can be prone to warping in high humidity (if not constructed well by a specialty company like this).

This company also has a commitment to healthy finishes.

3. Low-VOC and Formaldehyde-Free Cabinets

Photo via kerfdesign.com

i. KERF makes modern looking cabinets out of Purebond (formaldehyde-free) plywood which has a zero-VOC finish. The edges are finished with Osmo which I review here.

ii. Neil Nelly Cabinets makes low-VOC wooden cabinets with no-added-formaldehyde cases/drawers (Purebond Plywood). They use low-VOC glues, adhesives, and finishes. You can ask them about a no-VOC finish option.

iii. Executive Cabinetry offers a choice between regular plywood and Purebond (no added formaldehyde plywood).

crystalcabinets.com

iv. Another very popular brand is Crystal Cabinets. They can use standard plywood or Purebond plywood (no added formaldehyde) for the boxes. They have an option for low emitting finishes, or you can finish them yourself.

You can also have them finish them for you with the varnish of your choice (though that option is fairly expensive).

Non-toxic cabinets finishes are listed here, and non-toxic cabinet paints here.

This is often the top pick for many in the high-end green market.

v. Bellmont Cabinetry offers a line called EcoCore that is melamine over a no added urea-formaldehyde particleboard (meaning it’s made with only phenol-formaldehyde). Their veneer plywood is a safer choice. They have doors that are solid wood (for stained finish only).

vi. Taylor Made Cabinets offers custom no added formaldehyde cabinets, with plywood boxes and solid wood drawers and doors. Their MDF is made without formaldehyde.

vii. Royal Cabinets makes a line called Green Leaf that is made with no added formaldehyde materials (solid wood fronts are an option) and low-VOC finishes.

viii. Barker Cabinets offers RTA cabinets made with Purebond plywood for the boxes. The raised panel doors (Windsor, Seattle, etc.) are made of solid wood panels (no MDF).

ix. PureKitchen uses Purebond Plywood for the boxes. They made a door style with plywood and solid wood (not MDF). The paint is Sherwin Williams Chem Aqua Plus.

  • Some of the same companies that make kitchen cabinets also make non-toxic bathroom vanities and closets.
  • Here is a company making solid wood closets.

4. Fully Custom-Made Cabinets

Custom cabinets are usually made by local craftsmen. This is usually the highest-end option. But for me in my tiny house, we kept it really simple with basic cabinets made by my carpenter builder.

Cabinets can be made with a combination of solid wood, plywood, Purebond (formaldehyde-free plywood), or formaldehyde-free particleboard.

Purebond plywood is made of “soy glue” which for some people is preferred over regular plywood.

Personally, I would have no problem using either plywood made with phenol-formaldehyde (which offgasses quickly and fully) or the formaldehyde-free alternatives.

Drawers can be made of mostly metal.

My cabinets, pictured, are custom made with solid wood on the doors/face. MgO was used for the boxes (a highly unusual choice!). IKEA ready-made metal drawers were used with MgO as the base of the drawer.

The wood did warp a little in my kitchen (this was poplar wood).

Some ideas to cut down on costs (while keeping the cabinets low in toxicity):

  • Use shelves instead of upper cabinets – either wood, glass, or metal.
  • Salvage cabinets and countertops from demolitions as they may have off-gassed or you may find metal ones.
  • DIY simple open shelving below the counter made of solid wood, concrete, tadelakt, metal, or glass.
  • Metal and glass cabinets you can custom make or make yourself – here is a description and instructions from Build a Healthy House. IKEA also offers some mostly glass options.
  • Incorporate affordable metal drawers or shelves inside of cabinets (like my IKEA parts).

5. Non-Toxic Big Brand Cabinets

KraftMaid Cabinets www.kraftmaid.com

i. KraftMaid Cabinets (Lowes and Home Depot)

KraftMaid cabinets are a great mid-range semi-custom option.

They offer all plywood cabinets boxes as an upgrade. The shelves are also plywood. Most plywood now quickly offgasses to completion. It’s a far better choice than particleboard.

The drawer sides are solid wood, with a plywood base.

The doors are solid hardwood frames with solid or veneer center panels, or laminate doors.

I like solid wood as my top choice followed by laminate doors.

You can order samples for $3 each to see the finishes. I personally found that the painted lacquer finish hit odorless very quickly, within days. I don’t think any instrument would pick up offgassing off these at that time. They said the samples are always newly produced.

The clear finished seemed even better to me right away.

KraftMaid cabinets cost you anywhere from $100 to $300 per linear square foot.

Merillat Cabinets

Merillat and Kraftmaid are owned by the same company, and Merrillat’s best line, their Masterpiece, is the exact same product as Kraftmaid.

Kraftmaid finishes

Other Home Depot Brands

Many folks have reported doing well with Thomasville brand cabinets from Home Depot.

iii. IKEA Cabinets

IKEA is obviously a very affordable ready to assemble (RTA) option.

From IKEA, the lacquered VEDDINGE cabinets and melamine-faced cabinets are preferred because those finishes block some offgassing.

The KUNGSBACKA cabinet fronts and side panels are made of PET plastic wrapped around particle board, which is also a great way to block offgassing from the particleboard.

More on that below.

Formaldehyde Levels in Big Box Store Cabinets

Many people are finding that since CARB II came into effect, which drastically reduced formaldehyde in nationwide brands, regular cabinets work fine for them.

You may want to compare some of the brands at IKEA and Home Depot. If you find GreenGuard Gold certification you know it’s extremely low formaldehyde.

With most particleboard and MDF, the main adhesive is formaldehyde. You can see the typical levels in the chart in this post.

I would avoid MDF and particleboard, opting for brands that offer an upgrade to all plywood boxes and solid wood doors.

My second choice after that is a melamine or laminate finish which blocks most of the formaldehyde.

Melamine Versus Laquer – Which is Safer?

IKEA has two main finishes on the doors.

Melamine is one option. This is a plastic exterior that is fairly thick and does not have noticeable offgassing.

The other option is the painted (lacquered) finish. This is made with a base of particleboard.

Lacquer paints do have some ability to seal in offgassing, but this doesn’t block the formaldehyde as well as the melamine or laminate does.

How to Block & Seal in Formaldehyde

In cabinets with a melamine or plastic laminate finish on the outside (like many IKEA cabinets) this does block most of the formaldehyde offgassing.

If the edges are sealed in by the finish, that is even better.

If the edges are not sealed with melamine, the formaldehyde offgassing from the edges can be sealed with AFM Safeseal or Zinsser Shellac. You should also seal up the unused shelving holes with shellac as well.

If you go with the lacquered finish you can seal the edges with Safeseal or Shellac.

Metal and Glass Cabinet Components from IKEA

The IKEA drawers have metal sides which is a great feature. The fiberboard base can be swapped out for another material.

IKEA also sells glass cabinet drawers and glass shelves for inside cabinets. The JUTIS line is metal and glass.

I used their metal drawers and metal corner cabinet shelving in my tiny house and put my own fronts on them.

You can really cut down on costs and toxin exposure but using many IKEA parts.

If you want to dig down deeper into materials – my post on Laminate, Melamine, and Thermafoil goes into more detail.

6. Plastic Kitchen Cabinets

werever.com

Non-toxic outdoor kitchen cabinets can be made of polyethylene or metal. The above cabinets are from Werever Outdoor Cabinets.

Folks who have not found a suitable material in the indoor options might use the outdoor styles inside. You could, of course, use these outside as intended, as well.

One benefit here is you might find modular options in this category quickly and easily at big box stores.

One company, Reform, which makes doors and accessories to fit on the IKEA base cabinet frames, makes a solid polyethylene (HDPE) door line called MATCH. That would be an awesome option for many sensitive folks. You would need to check out the above section on IKEA to see if the base cabinets could suit you.

If you need assistance choosing the best cabinets, countertops and other kitchen items for your sensitivities, please contact me for a one-on-one consultation. 

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