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My Chemical-Free House

A Guide to Creating a Healthy Home

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    • A Detailed Mold Preventative Build
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  • Extreme Sensitivities
    • Healing MCS – Interview with Solona
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    • Emergency Housing for Chemical and Mold Sensitivity

Healthy Interiors

Baby Safe Paint for Cribs ( & Nursery Furniture)

June 1, 2023 by Corinne Leave a Comment

The following paints are the best non-toxic options for painting cribs and other nursery furniture.

With cribs, the paint needs to be safe to be chewed on since babies can chew on crib parts. So for this area we need a Certified Toy Safe paint which has gone through ingestion simulation tests.

We also want the lowest offgassing options out there, either zero-VOC or we know that it will finish offgassing in a reasonable amount of time.

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

Non-Toxic Paint for Wooden Cribs and Furniture

This first list is baby safe paints for painting raw wood furniture.

a bright yellow paints crib against a grey wall with a patterned rug below
A crib that looks like it’s painted in Fresh Lemon color Milk Paint

1. Milk Paint

Milk Paint is an exceptionally beautiful finish on raw wood. This is the application for which it works best. This all-natural paint is a safe option as it doesn’t offgas any VOCs even when wet since it’s only minerals, clay (in one brand), and casein. 

It does need a sealer over top like hemp oil (which darkens the colors a little), or a synthetic clear coat (those are outlined here). 

Only some colors are Toy Safe (by European regulation) so if this is being used on an object that kids could chew on (including cribs), be sure to use the Toy Safe colors. (I like to use the European Toy Safe standard EN-17 because it is more stringent than the American one).

The following colors by Old Fashioned Milk Paint are certified Toy Safe (EN-17): Scarlett (pure red), Marigold Yellow, Mustard, Pumpkin, Salem Red, Barn Red, Bayberry Green, Tavern Green, Lexington (dark green), and Pitch Black.

The Real Milk Paint brand contains no clay but it does contain Titanium Dioxide and iron oxides. The green colors contain Chromium (III) which might not leave it Toy Safe by European standards. (Their paints are not tested against European Toy Safe standards). They are certified Toy Safe in the US by ASTM F963-17 – Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety.

If your crib is solid wood, Old Fashioned Milk Paint would be the top choice for paint. 

Buy Old Fashioned Milk Paint on their website and on Amazon.

Also Consider: 

2. ECOS Paint Semi-Gloss or Gloss

ECOS Paint in Semi-Gloss or Gloss can be used on furniture and this is a zero-VOC option (zero-VOC at 11 days officially). The only downside is this is not quite as durable as oil-based paint or alkyd paint.

It is certified Toy Safe by European standards so it’s great for a crib and any other furniture pieces that aren’t super high wear surfaces (like a table). I would use the semi-gloss on cribs, cots, dressers and shelving.

They have a number of zero-VOC primers that can transition from raw wood and previously painted or factory painted surfaces.

Buy ECOS online here. 

3. Linseed Oil Paint 

Natural Linseed Oil Paint is durable enough for furniture. This all-natural paint is made with only linseed oil and natural pigments. There is no solvent here and all the odorants are natural. The finish is very flat.

You need to make sure your humidity and temperature are well within a normal range or this just won’t cure. 

It would (probably) not be considered Toy Safe by European stands due to the manganese drier, so it would not be suitable for a crib that might get chewed on. For other types of furniture, including tables and desks, this is a great option since it’s all-natural and durable. 

It can go over just about any existing finish.

Allback and Earth+Flax are two brands available in North America, you can purchase them through their websites. 

4. Benjamin Moore Advance 

This water-based alkyd paint is the conventional choice for furniture because it’s a lot more durable than water-based acrylic (latex) paints but it’s way healthier than conventional oil-based paints (the ones with solvents). 

Ben Moore doesn’t make any paints for cribs, the reps said over the phone. Furniture, yes, but not cribs, because it’s not Toy Safe if chewed on.  

Benjamin Moore Advance is 48 g/l when wet and takes 2-3 weeks to fully cure and to finish offgassing, a rep said on the phone. Documents also say it could take up to 30 days to reach optimum hardness and final sheen. 

Buy Benjamin Moore paints through their stores. 

Officially, Sherwin-Williams paints are also not considered Toy Safe or Food Safe, so they are not for cribs, if the cribs can be chewed on.

Non-Toxic Paint for Melamine Furniture (And Other Tough Factory Finishes)

Melamine is one of the trickiest surfaces to paint over but there are three options of paints that can stick to this plastic. All three will also work on other factory finishes. (Though they can’t go over a natural oil finish that isn’t cured yet or a wax finish).

a melamine plastic coated dresser with a change table on top. the room has laminate floors and has toys around the room.

1. Chalk Paint 

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is a super low-odor, non-toxic option for painting any type of furniture. It sticks to melamine and other factory finishes. (There is hardly anything it won’t stick to). 

It is certified Toy Safe by European standards so you can use this on a crib, toys, and other furniture in a baby’s room. 

The reps recommend ventilating the room while painting and for a few days afterwards before your baby occupies the room.

It does require a sealer on top, and you can use a natural wax – I would use the non-toxic versions from Real Milk Paint (not the solvent-filled wax from Annie Sloan, personally) or you can use a synthetic clear coat. Annie Sloan’s clear Lacquer needs 14 days to cure before your baby occupies the room/uses the furniture, the reps said in an email.

The wax coatings are actually very durable despite being natural, though it does make painting over in the future much more complicated. 

Buy Chalk Paint through their website or through their stockists. 

2. Linseed Oil Paint

Linseed Oil Paint, mentioned above, can easily go over melamine furniture and any other factory finish. You can buy Allback and Earth+Flax brands through their respective websites. 

3. BIN Shellac Primer

This is a more conventional route but it is also non-toxic once cured.

BIN Advanced Shellac-Based Primer (water-based) and BIN Shellac-Based Primer (alcohol-based) can both bridge between a plastic coating (like melamine) or an oil-based paint (and really just about any factory coating), and your regular latex paint of choice like ECOS, and it seems that Farrow and Ball might be able to go over it too (F&B usually can’t go over other brands primers). 

The alcohol-based version is high in VOCs but that is because of the ethanol. Alcohol is very volatile and so it offgasses very fast. It only needs 3 days for full cure, the reps said on the phone, when using this in a baby’s room.

The BIN Advanced, which is water-based, needs 7-10 days for a full cure. (And it starts at 96 g/l which is fairly high for a water-based paint/primer).

These not only prime difficult to paint surfaces but they block odors and offgassing from below (like formaldehyde, fragrance, etc).

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 8 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

Filed Under: Healthy Interiors

Non-Toxic Paint for Laminate Cabinets & Furniture

May 25, 2023 by Corinne Leave a Comment

Melamine plastic, also called laminate when it’s laminated onto particleboard furniture, is one of the trickiest surfaces to paint over.

There are three non-toxic options for paints that can stick to this Melamine/laminate furniture and cabinets. All three will also work on many other factory finishes like UV-cured paints.

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

No-Primer Method

If you want to paint your laminate/Melamine furniture without using a primer or sanding you can paint them directly with Chalk Paint or Linseed Oil paint. These two paint types are also eco-friendly and extremely low in volatile organic compounds (low-VOC), so you won’t need to use a respirator or any special Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).

1. Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

a kitchen with no upper cabinets, light pink walls and deep purple lower cabinets painted with Annie solan chalk paint
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint on Walls and Cabinets

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is a super low-odor, non-toxic option for painting any type of furniture. It sticks to melamine and other factory finishes. (There is hardly anything it won’t stick to). 

It is certified Toy Safe by European standards so you can use this on a crib as well as any other laminate furniture, including IKEA furniture, and cabinets.

It does require a sealer on top, and you can use a natural wax – I would use the non-toxic versions from Real Milk Paint (not the solvent-filled wax from Annie Sloan, personally) or you can use a synthetic clear coat. Annie Sloan’s clear Lacquer needs 14 days for a full cure.

The wax coatings are actually very durable despite being natural.

Buy Chalk Paint through their website or through their stockists. 

2. Linseed Oil Paint 

a laminate serving tray with a paintbrush and open pot of Allback linseed oil paint in a dusty rose colot
Allback linseed oil paint and a laminate tray

Natural Linseed Oil Paint is durable enough for furniture. This all-natural paint is made with only linseed oil and natural pigments.

There is no solvent here and all the odorants are natural. The finish is very flat. 

You need to make sure your humidity and temperature are well within a normal range or this just won’t cure. 

It would (probably) not be considered Toy Safe by European stands due to the manganese drier, so it would not be suitable for a crib that might get chewed on. For other types of laminate furniture, including tables, desks, dressers, and cabinets this is a great option since it’s all-natural and very durable. 

Allback and Earth+Flax are two brands available in North America, you can purchase them through their websites. 

With a Primer

1. BIN Shellac Primer

a can of Bin Advanced synthetic Shellac Primer - ultimate stain blocker

This is a more conventional route but it is also non-toxic once cured. 

BIN Advanced Shellac-Based Primer (water-based) and BIN Shellac-Based Primer (alcohol-based) can both bridge between a plastic coating (like melamine) and really just about any factory coating, and your regular non-toxic latex paint of choice like ECOS Paints, and it seems that Farrow and Ball might be able to go over it too (F&B usually can’t go over other brands primers). 

The alcohol-based version is high in VOCs but that is because of the ethanol. Alcohol is very volatile and so it offgasses very fast. It only needs 3 days for a full cure, the reps said on the phone.

The BIN Advanced, which is water-based, needs 7-10 days for a full cure. (And it starts at 96 g/l which is fairly high for a water-based paint/primer). 

These prime difficult to paint surfaces like laminate/Melamine furniture.

You can paint over these primers with any non-toxic paint that is suitable for your final project:

  • Benjamin Moore Advance (48 g/l when wet) is a durable water-based alkyd paint. Water-based alkyds are a relatively new type of paint that can replace much more toxic oil-based (solvent-based) paints while still providing that same durability. These are used when you need a very durable finish like for cabinets.
  • Sherwin-Williams ProClassic Interior Waterbased Acrylic-Alkyd. This comes in at 14 g/l VOC. Similar to Ben Moore Advance this is ideal for cabinets and high-wear furniture.
  • ECOS Paint in Semi-Gloss or Gloss is an acrylic paint that can be used on furniture and this is a zero-VOC option (zero-VOC at 11 days officially). The only downside is this is not quite as durable as linseed oil-based paint or Alkyd paint.
  • Farrow and Ball – makes acrylic and non-acrylic latex paints. Estate Eggshell is 20% sheen level, available in all F&B colors. Modern Eggshell, Formerly called Floor Paint, is 40% sheen level, available in all F&B colors with a mid-sheen finish, like a satin. Full Gloss is a 90% high sheen level. These can be used on furniture and some use them on cabinets though it’s not as durable as an oil-based paint or water-based Alkyd.

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 8 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

Filed Under: Healthy Interiors

GreenGuard Gold Certified Flooring Brands

March 23, 2023 by Corinne Leave a Comment

GreenGuard Gold certification is the most useful of all the healthy product certifications out there for certifying products low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). 

GreenGuard has two levels of certification that measure VOC levels in products. GreenGuard allows – 500 μg/m3 total VOCs. GreenGuard Gold allows – 220 μg/m3 total VOCs.

For reference, the average house has a total VOC level of about 200 μg/m3, and the outdoor or “background rate” is about 1/10th of that (20 μg/m3).

What Does GreenGuard Gold Certified Indicate for Formaldehyde Levels?

If you look through the individual levels of VOCs and their limits you can dig in even deeper. 

The formaldehyde level allowed in GreenGuard Gold certified products is extremely low – just 9 μg/m3 or 7.3 ppb (parts per billion). 

I have a post that contains a reference level table for formaldehyde. Outdoor urban air contains 1.5- 47 ppb. GreenGuard Gold formaldehyde levels are lower than the outdoor air in many places. 

Formaldehyde levels allowed with standard GreenGuard are significantly higher at 50 ppb (parts per billion) or 61.3 μg/m3 (Compared to GreenGuard Gold 0.0073 ppm). 

Recommendations

This post lists out GreenGuard Gold certified flooring products in each category. I also make recommendations for each type of flooring and what to look for to reduce toxins in ways that go beyond this certification.

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

1. GreenGuard Gold Laminate Flooring

a man installing laminate flooring click together flooring over a foam underlayment

The only real chemical of concern in laminate flooring is formaldehyde, and just about all laminate flooring is made with a formaldehyde binder in the HDF core except for one brand. This is one type of flooring where GreenGuard Gold is extremely helpful to make sure it’s very low formaldehyde (no more than 0.0073 parts per million).

Laminate Flooring Brands that are Certified GreenGuard Gold Include:

  1. Duravana from LL Flooring looks like your typical laminate but the core seemed a little different to me so I asked the company about it. The core has polystyrene added to it (it also contains the usual wood fiber and melamine-urea-formaldehyde) which makes it more inherently waterproof than other brands. It does not have more offgassing than other brands. 
  2. Swiss Krono USA
  3. Traffic Master, A&A and MSI from Home Depot
  4. AquaGuard Laminate from Floor and Decor
  5. Optimax from Floor and Decor (this might be a hybrid of wood fiber and plastic, the company won’t confirm that)
  6. Evoke Surge 
  7. Kaindl

Other:

  • Shaw Laminate is GreenGuard (not Greenguard Gold)
  • Pergo used to have GreenGuard Gold certification before they were bought out by Mohawk. I don’t think the glues have likely changed, Mohawk simply doesn’t use GreenGuard. Judging from the samples I received, I would guess that they use the standard glue. 
  • RevWood from Mohawk is the only formaldehyde-free laminate flooring. The VOCs are listed as 9 ug/m3 which is extremely low and would qualify for GreenGuard Gold based on that test.

My article on laminate flooring goes over the ingredients used in this type of flooring and the additives of the different brands.

2. GreenGuard Gold Engineered Wood Flooring

a stack of the end grain 7 engineered wood flooring pieces, you can see the different layers of the engineered core

With engineered wood, I personally would not look for a certification but instead I would choose a floor based on the construction type. A solid slat core has the least amount of offgassing, followed closely by plywood. I would choose these over the MDF or HDF core which offgasses significantly more.

I would also generally go with a water-based finish which won’t have any offgassing over an oil-based finish unless you know the oil-based finish is natural and/or suitable for you.

The article on engineered wood goes over brands by construction type.

GreenGuard Gold Engineered Wood Flooring Brands:

  1. Shaw Engineered wood – especially good are the Shaw lines with a plywood core like Shaw Castlewood
  2. LL Flooring: AquaSeal, Virginia Mill Works, Bellawood Artisan, Builder’s Pride (you can use the filters on the left hand side to select the core type of solid slat or plywood which are lower in offgassing than MDF)
  3. LifeScapes and Woodland Reserve from Floor and Decor
  4. Pioneer Millworks
  5. Lifecore
  6. Kentwood Floors
  7. Preverco
  8. Johnson Hardwood
  9. Craft Floor

The following brands use a solid slat core which is lower in offgassing than plywood or HDF though these are not GreenGuard certified:

  • Tesoro Coastal Lowlands – White Oak, Hickory, Maple, Walnut
  • Tesoro Great Southern Woods
  • Tesoro Great Northern Woods
  • Mirage Hardwood Trubalance

3. Green Guard Gold Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) Flooring

a man installed a fairly thin vinyl plank flooring that looks like a click together type in a mid brown color

Almost all LVP flooring has the same basic composition of a vinyl top layer and an SPC core (stone + vinyl + plasticizer) or WPC core (wood or plastic + vinyl), and often a plastic foam-based underlayment. The offgassing of most brands, whether certified or not, is extremely minimal and close to zero VOC. The major concern with vinyl is the effect on the environment and the plasticizers which are not considered in GreenGuard Gold.

I would choose the brand based on construction type not certifications personally – choosing SPC core over WPC or vinyl core (vinyl core has no wood or stone) and avoiding cork underlayment if you really want to go extremely low VOC (it is the only underlayment that has significant offgassing).

The following brands are certified GreenGuard Gold:

  1. LL Flooring Coreluxe Rigid Vinyl Plank (what most companies call Luxury Vinyl Plank)
  2. COREtec Pro
  3. Floor and Decor DuraLux and NuCore
  4. Provenza MaxCore
  5. Flexco Natural Elements Luxury Vinyl Tile
  6. Traffic Master, LifeProof, Home Decorators Collection, & MSI Luxury Vinyl Plank from Home Depot
  7. SmartCore from Lowes
  8. Evoke Rigid Core and Luxury Vinyl

4. GreenGuard Gold Hybrid Flooring (Wood Top + Vinyl Core)

the edge of a hybrid flooring with a thin real wood top layer and a grey plastic vinyl + stone core

This type of flooring has a real wood layer on top and an SPC (vinyl + limestone) core. I have not seen any significant differences between brands. I would go with any brand with this construction – the offgassing is extremely minimal.

The following brands are certified GreenGuard Gold:

  1. Aqua Guard Hybrid (listed under engineered hardwood on their website) from Floor and Decor
  2. OptiWood from Home Depot
  3. Raintree Waterproof Hardwood

5. GreenGuard Gold Cork Flooring

a man installing a click together cork flooring and using a hammer to push the pieces together

Amorim Cork is GreenGuard Gold and is the only brand of cork I would go with if you want a very low-VOC product, as most cork flooring brands have significant offgassing.

6. GreenGuard Gold Bamboo Flooring

a close up of the edges of two types of bamboo flooring, one has a real bamboo top layer which is quite thick with a plywood base and the other is a solid strand bamboo which looks solid

A solid strand bamboo floor, pictured right, has various strands of bamboo glued together into one solid piece. It can be made with various glues.

Engineered bamboo (pictured left) is a flooring that has a top layer of bamboo over a plywood, SPC, or HDF core. SPC is “stone polymer composite”, a composite of vinyl, limestone and plasticizer. HDF is high density fibreboard – a mix of wood fibre and formaldehyde. I would avoid the HDF (or MDF) cores if you want to stay really low VOC.

The following brands are GreenGuard Gold certified:

  1. LL Flooring AquaGuard Bamboo (real bamboo top with SPC core)
  2. LL Flooring ReNature (real bamboo top with MDF core)
  3. Home Legend (bamboo with an SPC core, with an HDF core, and solid strand). They say they have GreenGuard Children and Schools which is an old certification that no longer exists but it is the same VOC levels and the Gold level now.
  4. Floor and Decor EcoForest (solid strand bamboo) and AquaGuard (HDF core bamboo).
  5. Wellmade engineered bamboo (with SPC core)
  6. Home Depot’s OptiWood Bamboo (SPC core)

Other:

Solid Bamboo Flooring from Home Decorators Collection, Home Depot is GreenGuard, not GreenGuard Gold.

Similar:

Floor and Decor Eucalyptus Engineered wood (with plywood core) is GreenGuard Gold.

GreenGuard Gold Certified Carpet?

There are no carpet brands that are GreenGuard Gold Certified as of the writing of this article.

Interface Carpet Tiles has some documents saying they are GreenGuard Gold, and they are listed on the UL website, but now the company website says “All Interface flooring and adhesives are third-party certified for low VOC emissions in compliance with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) 01350 Standard. This is the standard used by certifications like GREENGUARD Gold.”

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 8 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

Filed Under: Healthy Interiors

6 Oils For Wooden Floors (Natural & Modified)

March 20, 2023 by Corinne Leave a Comment

Linseed, tung, refined hemp, soy, and poppy seed oil, are all-natural oils that on their own can be used to seal and protect hardwood floors (both solid wood and unfinished engineered wood). They are usually called “penetrating oils” on sales pages but the technical term for these oils is “drying oils”.

Drying oils polymerize in the presence of oxygen, they provide a long-lasting finish that does not turn rancid, and that’s what you need to penetrate, harden and preserve wood.

Non-drying oils won’t polymerize and form a durable coating (source). I wouldn’t recommend using olive oil, coconut oil or other non-drying oils because they don’t harden and some can go rancid on wood.

Linseed and/or tung are often labeled as “teak oil” or “Danish oil”, though this is a non-specific term that can mean either it’s pure or mixed with additives and solvents.

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

Are they 0-VOC?

Some oil finishes are totally natural, solvent-free, and non-toxic. Others are mixed with driers and solvents and can be higher in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odor.

Even with a pure oil like linseed or tung oil, during oxidation (curing), aldehydes and hydrocarbons are produced. Peroxides, alcohols, ketones, and acids may also occur during oxidation (Source). In low concentrations, like those that come off linseed and tung oil, these compounds are not considered toxic. However, those who are chemically sensitive can certainly have trouble with these natural VOCs and should test all options first.

Finish Look

The finish of natural oils is a matte look, though waxes can add a subtle satin sheen. This gives a finish that looks like century-old wood, a rustic look, or a modern matte look.

Many of the oils come in a good range of stain colors as well. With some, you can apply a water-based or alcohol-based stain first before the oil.

Maintenance

The maintenance on natural oil floors is fairly easy as you don’t need to sand it down – you can either spot repair or add a coat over what you have.

You need to reapply a maintenance coat of oil every year to every five years depending mostly on the wear but also check with each brand for what they recommend.

You can clean oiled floors with regular gentle floor cleaners, AFM Superclean, or eco-friendly dish soap.

I’m going to review pure oils, oil mixes, and oils mixed with driers and/or solvents.

PART 1: My Top Three Choices

1. Rubio Monocoat

close up of dark stained oak flooring in a square pattern
By @wdflooring
@fourboardwoodworks flooring & installation
@thomashartshelby photography

This option is the easiest to apply as it’s just one coat. It also comes in the most color options and if you only use Part A it’s the only solvent-free option.

Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C is their interior floor finish. It’s a linseed-based finish (natural and modified) with a wax component (natural and modified as well).

Compared to other natural oil finishes, this one is relatively easy to apply. You apply it with just one coat, and you can touch it up easily with spot treatment without sanding. It can be applied to all wood types.

They claim zero-VOCs but you should test any linseed product before using it if you’re sensitive to chemicals or odors. This is lower odor than regular linseed or tung oil. It smells like honey or lemony incense.

I tested this finish and was very happy with it, it’s my top choice on the list

Color and Finish

It is a matte finish that comes in over 50 colors, including bright colors, greys, and whites along with the usual brown wood stain colors. Even the Fumed product (to grey out the wood) is 0-VOC and ammonia-free.

Chemical Additives in Rubio Monocoat

The accelerator which is a Part B drying agent lists hexamethylene diisocyanate as an ingredient (0.5%), but not all ingredients are listed. Part A (without the drier) takes a long time to dry, and this is likely a purer linseed.

It does contain non-aromatic hydrocarbons which they claim are not solvents. Non-aromatic hydrocarbons that can be used with linseed oil but are not a solvent include alkanes such as pentane, hexane, and heptane, and cycloalkanes such as cyclohexane, as well as the less common alkynes and alkenes.

I could not get the company to claim no metallic driers, though it does say it’s free of the following heavy metal drying agents. But it is Toy Safe EN-17 which means it doesn’t contain any significant levels of aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, boron, cadmium, chromium (III and VI), cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, strontium, tin, organic tin, and zinc. And they add that it’s also free of beryllium.

Other metallic driers for oil-based finishes (that they don’t say they are free of) include: calcium, iron, vanadium, and zirconium.

Cure Time of Rubio Monocoat

Rubio Monocoat (Part A & B mixed) takes one week to cure. You can use just Part A which takes 3 weeks to cure.

How to Apply Rubio Monocoat

Apply one coat using a buffer, trowel, or squeegee. Remove excess oil with a cloth. Perform a final wipe with a clean terry cloth under a buffer.

They have a Maintenance oil that can be reapplied when the wood looks dull, which can help keep it up. You reapply Oil Plus 2C when the color fades or is worn down.

Pros

This is a single-coat finish, making it much easier to apply than most of the other options on this list. It’s also the only one that can be applied without a solvent (if you use only Part A)

a black and white button that says buy that you can click on

You can buy Rubio Monocoat on Amazon or Directly through their website.

You can also buy it in Canada through Amazon.ca, in the UK through Amazon.co.uk, and in Australia through their country specific website.

2. Pure Linseed Oil

close up of a dark stained board of wood between a mans hands

This is technically the purest option if you use only the polymerized linseed (though they recommend the Sylvetac resin version for floors).

Polymerized linseed oil or stand oil is a pure, 100% linseed oil formula that is food-safe.

I like the brand Tried and True because it’s 100% pure linseed, and because of their total transparency with ingredients and additives. No driers are used.

For floors, you use the Danish Oil first which is only linseed oil. (Or you can use the oil with a stain in it). And then the Varnish Oil which is linseed oil and Pine Resin (listed on the sales page) or more accurately Sylvetac Resin (listed on the SDS). They also recommend that shellac is used to prime before any of the linseed coats.

Those with chemical sensitivity should test the pure linseed, the oil with the resin, and the shellac.

It’s relatively easy to repair, as you can repair it with a spot treatment.

Color and Finish

It’s a matte finish but the options with a wax can give it a little sheen. It comes in 5 different natural looking stain colors.

I tested out their pure linseed and linseed + stain option. I really liked the look of the Java stain, it went on beautifully even though I did not sand and prep my wood very well.

How to Apply

Sand the floor. They recommend using shellac first as a grain filler for most floors. Burnish (optional). Use Danish Oil (100% linseed oil) as the prime coat. Then 2-3 coats of Varnish Oil (which is linseed oil and pine resin). Buff floor. Full instructions can be found on their website.

If the floor needs repair, you can either spot apply new oil, or if the whole floor needs redoing, you can sand and reapply (no stripping necessary).

Cure Time

If possible avoid placing area rugs for a week after finishing.

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Available through Amazon.com

In the UK through Amazon.co.uk, in Canada through Amazon.ca

3. Pure Tung Oil

a close up of Tung Oil on floors with a rustic texture added

While this option requires the most coats (wet on wet), it is also the most durable – this finish has historically been used on boats. It does require a solvent and you can choose which one.

Tung Oil is the most durable of the natural oil finishes. It does usually need to be cut with a solvent when used on most hardwood floors. (It’s possible that reclaimed older wood doesn’t need a solvent).

For solvents, you can use the all-natural Citrus Solvent (d-limonine) or Odorless Mineral Spirits. Please see my article on solvents if you want to review the toxicity of each option.

I’ve tested this brand’s tung oil and other brands of tung oil, and this one is definitely lower in odor. And while this option involved a lot more coats than the other oils on this list, the end durability is worth it.

Color and Finish

Tung oil comes in a 100% natural option and in a darker “Dark Tung Oil” which contains an asphalt product to give it more color. You can also use water-based or alcohol-based stains on the wood before applying tung oil.

It produces a matte finish.

How to Apply

Sand floor as you normally would. Apply a generous first coat with a foam roller on a long paint stick. Let the tung oil absorb into the surface for up to 40 minutes. Apply another coat, let it absorb for 40 min, continue until the wood is saturated. Taking a clean rag or cloth, remove any excess tung oil. You don’t need to sand or buff between coats.

It can benefit from then coming back in 24 hours to apply again up to saturation. So it’s a one or two day affair.

For surfaces that receive moderate to heavy use, you need a minimum of three and up to six coats.

Maintenance coats are on an as-needed basis. When doing a maintenance coat you do not need to sand the surface again. Just add a 2:1 ratio of solvent to tung oil in a thin coat, wipe up the excess, and let it cure for 24 hours.

Cure Time

During the first 15 days of curing you can walk on the floor with socks on. You will want to avoid getting it dirty or allowing liquids to puddle on the surface during this period.

You can move furniture back into the room after applying the tung oil (with plastic sliders under wooden legs). However, keep area rugs and furniture that sits close to the floor off until a full 30 days of curing are complete. You also need to wait 30 days before you can wash the floor.

Citrus solvent takes two about weeks for most people to not smell the orange scent. More sensitive folks might pick up the remnants of citrus for longer.

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You can buy Tung Oil and the solvents on Amazon or directly through their website (where you can get 10% off with code mychemicalfreehouse)

In Canada, you can get Tung Oil through Amazon.ca and in the UK through Amazon.co.uk

Part 2: Natural Oil + Solvent Mixes

1. AFM Naturals Oil Wax Finish

This mix of natural oils includes mineral spirits and goes on in 2-3 coats.

AFM Naturals Oil Wax Finish is made from polymerized linseed oil, organic safflower oil, isoaliphate (mineral spirits solvent), tung oil, sunflower oil, carnauba wax, microcrystalline wax, modified soybean oil, hemp oil, and carboxylate metallic salts of calcium, manganese & zirconium.

VOCs are listed as 250g/l.

Colors and Finish

Like all natural oils, it imbues a light ambering matte sheen. This doesn’t come in any stain colors.

Application

Sand. Apply one even coat with a brush or roller and allow the finish to penetrate for 10-15 minutes, apply a second coat (on top of the first wet coat), allow to penetrate for 10-15 minutes then wipe off the excess with a cloth. If the wood is still absorptive, another coat can be applied 24 hours later.

Cure Time

It’s dry and ready to use at 24-48 hours but takes a full 2-3 weeks for a full cure. Put back rugs at 3 weeks.

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Available in the US through Green Design Center or Amazon.

In the UK through Old Fashioned Milk Paint.

2. Penofin Verde

This mix is based on Rosewood oil but they do not declare all ingredients. It likely contains soy solvent which is quite a mild solvent. A plus side is it could be applied with just one coat.

Another oil to check out is Penofin Verde which is Brazilian rosewood oil mixed with other natural oils. They use “vegetable ester solvents” which could mean ethyl lactate or methyl soyate (i.e. soy solvent, explained here). They say “no heavy metal compounds”, so it could contain metallic driers, we just don’t know which ones.

VOCs are listed at less than 1 g/liter.

Colors and Finish

Comes in 21 natural colors including lightening shades. Matte finish.

Application

Using a brush, pad, or pump sprayer apply a liberal coat to the wood. Allow Verde 10-20 minutes to penetrate into the wood then wipe the surface thoroughly with clean lint-free cloths to remove any excess finish.

They recommend re-coating horizontal surfaces every 9-24 months.

Cure Time

Verde will dry to the touch in 4 hours and is serviceable after 12 hours.

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Available on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca

3. OSMO Hard Wax Oil

The strongest in odor of the options I tested, this has the second best color selection, and is a well-known brand that many contractors will be familiar with.

A well-known worldwide brand, OSMO stains are extremely low odor but they are meant to be used with the top coat of Polyx Oil.

The Polyx Oil had a very noticeable solvent odor for me, the majority of that odor did flash off somewhat quickly but the general odor did take more time than I expected to go down in my test.

Polyx Oil Original contains sunflower, soya, and thistle oil, with waxes, including paraffin, plus de-aromatized white spirits (solvent, explained here), siccatives (drying agents, usually metals/minerals), and polysiloxanes. It’s EN 71.3 which means it doesn’t contain any significant levels of aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, boron, cadmium, chromium (III and VI), cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, strontium, tin, organic tin, and zinc.

Colors and Finish

I did really like the stain colors I tested of the Wood Wax which comes in bright colors (along with the usual wood stain colors and greys and white).

The Oil Stain, is also for floors. It comes in 10 colors including lightening shades.

Polyx Tints is a topcoat and color in one, it comes in more subtle shades of white, light grey, honey, amber, terra, graphite, and black (all in satin).

Polx Original (the transparent topcoat to their stains and their main finish) comes in glossy, satin, matte, and semi-matte.

Application

Wood Wax stains are applied in one coat, followed by Polyx Oil for floors.

Oil Stain is applied in 1-2 coats and is followed by Polyx Oil.

Polyx Tints (stain and topcoat in one) is applied in 1-2 coats.

Polyx Oil is applied in two coats. With Osmo flat brush, floor brush, oil finish applicator fleece (hand pad holder), or Osmo microfibre roller, apply thinly along the wood grain and spread well. Allow to dry for approximately 8-10 hours under good ventilation. After drying, apply a second coat also thinly.

When renovating or recoating an already oiled surface, one coat applied to the clean and dry surface is usually sufficient.

Cure Time

After 2-3 weeks, the surface is fully cured.

a black and white button that says buy that you can click on

Available in the US on Amazon.

Available in the UK through Amazon.co.uk, in Canada through Amazon.ca, and in Australia through their country specific website.

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 8 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

Filed Under: Healthy Interiors

Food-Safe Clear Coatings (Non-Toxic & Food-Contact Safe)

March 9, 2023 by Corinne Leave a Comment

This article focuses on food contact safe clear coatings/varnishes that can be used on residential household items like tabletops, serving trays (or boards), highchairs, countertops, and decorative bowls. 

For these applications, we won’t find too many clear coatings that are officially FDA tested. But many coatings will meet food-safe requirements. 

Most coatings will not leach chemicals once they are fully cured. Water-based and solvent-based coatings do not leach bisphenols (only epoxy coatings leach bisphenols), phthalates (found in caulking but not in paints), or lead (the main ingredient that made some paints not safe for food contact in the past). 

Does that mean any clear coating can be used on food contact surfaces? It depends on how you use the item, but I would say no! 

I will look at FDA approval, use the FDA’s list of approved ingredients, and use Toy Safe Certifications to determine if a coating is food safe.

a dark wooden background and a wooden cutting board

Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs)

The list of coatings in this article gives priority to brands that are very low or zero-VOC. However, if you have used a solvent-based coating that has fully cured, that can be safe too, it just takes longer to cure, and is not non-toxic for some time. 

Real Use Case

Whether a coating is food-safe really depends on how you are using it. We are focusing here on objects like tables and trays, where you might place some foods or have some incidental contact. The items will not be going into a dishwasher, the items are not bowls that you eat liquid food out of, and they are not items that go directly into your mouth. I personally would not use any synthetic coating on a cutting board, as no synthetic coating is suited to actual ingestion on a regular basis. 

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

There are three main regulations that we are going to use to determine if a coating is food-grade or food-safe. 

First, to clarify the terms, food-grade refers to the material, and food-safe refers to the product being safe in the actual conditions that the material is being used in. 

The FDA states in 117.40 in Subpart B  “Food-contact surfaces must be made of non-toxic materials and designed to withstand the environment of their intended use and the action of food, and, if applicable, cleaning compounds, sanitizing agents, and cleaning procedures.”

Regulations we will consider:

1. FDA Title 21, Section 175.300

Section 175:300 lists cleared ingredient materials for resinous and polymeric coatings. Paints can be tested by this regulation (extraction testing), certified by a third party, or the company can provide a signed letter of guarantee that it meets the requirements. Most paints unfortunately do not have these official documents. For those that don’t, we can use the list of approved ingredients in 175:300 to see if a product would likely fit within this regulation. 

Coatings used in the home, for tabletops, high chairs, and other consumer goods are often not officially tested. 

(We should note that this is not the only regulation for coating ingredient safety in the US, there can also be national, and state laws like California Prop 65 that apply to ingredients in coatings). 

2. FDA Title 21, Section 174

Section 174 lists ingredients considered GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) for their intended use. For example, Carnauba wax, an ingredient in many wax coatings, is GRAS and therefore is considered safe in coatings. 

3. Toy Safe Standard EN 71:2019

This is a European standard, but there are a number of certified brands that sell their products in North America as well, so this turned out to be a useful regulation for the coatings and paints.

This tests for the leaching of toxic elements such as aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, boron, cadmium, Chromium (III), Chromium (VI), cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, strontium, tin, organic tin, and zinc. 

This standard simulates the leaching of metals in the stomach as if the paint were ingested by a child.

There is no equivalent testing in North America, so it’s good we have some brands tested in Europe that are available in North America. 

Coating Cure Times

The final thing we want to keep in mind before looking at the best brands to use is how long it takes to cure. The coating should be fully cured before we put it to use on food contact areas. 

Water-based zero-VOC coatings generally need one-two weeks to cure to the point of not offgassing chemicals. Be sure to check the time frame based on when you can begin wiping down the coating or when the company says it’s food contact safe. Solvent-based coatings take longer for the solvents to flash off. At least a month is needed for those paints before you should put food on them.

Food Contact Safe Clear Sealants  

1. Epoxy Coating

Epoxy coatings are thick and form a very good barrier between the paint and you. Epoxy generally contains bisphenols (like BPA), however. This can still be considered food contact safe by the FDA, though not always by state regulations. 

I generally don’t talk about epoxies on this website since they are very strong in odor and VOCs when wet. The two parts need to come together and form a chemical reaction. While it is still curing can be very difficult to tolerate for those sensitive to chemicals. Though once it cures it should be just fine. The cure time is not always what they say, real-life conditions can mean it takes longer. 

Epoxies are often used on trays, tabletops, bartops, countertops, bowls, and cups. 

The following brands are FDA approved as food-safe:

  • ZDSpoxy
  • Max CLR

2. Clear Synthetic Sealer

A clear water-based polyurethane, acrylic, or polyacrylic sealer can be used over a painted wood or other painted surface to form an extra layer of durability and protection.

Most brands of low and zero-VOC polyurethane, acrylic, and polyacrylic are likely food-safe, though most are not tested by the FDA’s standards. They are considered food-safe based on the raw ingredients. 

Good brands include:

  • Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Lacquer (which is Toy Safe)
  • AFM Acriglaze (defacto food safe according to the company based on ingredients)
  • AFM EXT (defacto food safe according to the company based on ingredients)
  • Fakolith is a European company that makes food-grade varnishes that are tested and certified for direct, indirect, and occasional contact with food, beverages, and drinking water, according to European regulation EU 10/2011, and/or American regulation FDA 21 CFR 175.300. They make various products including clear sealants, acrylic enamel paints, and a food-grade epoxy paint. (But it’s not clear where to buy them).

3. Shellac

While many websites and companies state that shellac is considered GRAS (generally regarded as safe) by the FDA, that does not appear to be accurate. This document by the FDA states that shellac is not GRAS, it’s also not listed in the GRAS database here. 

It is however listed as an approved raw ingredient in resinous and polymeric coatings that come into contact with food (FDA CFR title 21 Volume 3 Sec. 175.300 Resinous and Polymeric Coatings) and it is used to coat foods, even organic foods can be coated with approved shellacs. I consider shellac to be very safe for food contact surfaces. If you were going to eat it you would want to look more closely at how it was processed. 

Zinsser Shellac, the biggest brand of premixed shellac products are not FDA approved for food contact surfaces.

What you should do (ideally) is to buy the shellac from a reputable seller like Wellermart and mix it with a food-grade alcohol like Everclear. 

4. Natural Oil Sealers

Many penetrating oil sealers are food-safe if they are all natural:

  • Tung Oil from The Real Milk Paint Company (used with Citrus Solvent only)
  • Pure Linseed Oil from Tried and True (with no driers or other additives)
  • Pure Hemp Oil
  • Pure Walnut Oil with Carnauba Wax

Food Safe Sprayed on Coatings

I don’t know of any spray can coatings that are officially food contact safe. But like other options above, once cured, they could be considered safe based on raw ingredients. 

Spray can coatings are also higher in VOCs than brush-on coatings, even the best water-based spray cans use a solvent propellant. For solvent-based sprayed on coatings, most of them were still offgassing at one month’s time. My post on non-toxic spray paints goes over brands that are much safer that could be used on furniture. 

Krylon said: “We don’t manufacture a product that is FDA approved [to be food-safe]. An FDA approval is important in terms of whether a product film is safe for incidental ingestion. We do not perform animal testing and cannot test for ingestion. Therefore, we offer nothing that is guaranteed to be food safe if it is ingested or encounters someone’s mouth. Having said that, many of our customers apply our products on countertops. Just make sure to set or prepare food on a cutting board/trivet/food-safe surface.” 

None of Rustoleum’s sprayed on coatings are food safe, they said in an email. 

Filed Under: Healthy Interiors

Non-Toxic Paint for Plastic (Toys, Furniture, Decor)

March 7, 2023 by Corinne Leave a Comment

The focus here is on non-toxic paints and primers that stick to plastic. For most paints we need a special primer to stick to plastic and then we can use a variety of paints over it.

There are also two brush on paints, and one spray paint that can go directly over plastic with no primer, they are very tenacious.

For each paint or primer I note if it’s certified Toy Safe since painting toys has this extra layer of complication.

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

a bunch of small plastic toys thrown into a pile. they are bright colors like yellow, red, green, blue.

Primers That Stick to Plastic

If you want to use an acrylic paint we need a really strong primer to stick to the plastic first. Below are also two alternative paint options the don’t require a primer.

1. BIN Shellac Primer (Under Latex Paint)

a can of BIN advanced synthetic shellac Primer "ultimate stain blocker"

This is the main primer option that we need to use under latex paints.

BIN Advanced Shellac-Based Primer (water-based) and BIN Shellac-Based Primer (alcohol-based) can both bridge between a plastic coating and your regular latex paint of choice. 

The alcohol-based version is high in VOCs but that is because of the ethanol. Alcohol is very volatile and so it offgasses very fast. It does need 7 days to cure when used on toys, the reps said on the phone, 3 days when used in a child’s room on furniture.

The BIN Advanced, which is acrylic water-based, needs 7-10 days for a full cure. (And it starts at 96 g/l which is fairly high for a water-based paint/primer).

I’ve used these myself and would use either version again.

BIN Shellac & Advanced have minimal exterior use, not for any surface subject to immersion or prolonged contact with water. 

These primers are not officially toy safe or food-safe but the reps said on the phone that it can be used on toys with a top coat of paint on top and unless the child is chewing through multiple layers they consider this safe.

Adheres to: Almost anything – most plastics including Formica, melamine, PVC, fiberglass.

Buy BIN Advanced through Amazon. BIN Shellac from a local hardware store.

2. Pure Shellac

pure yellow shellac flakes

Shellac is the completely natural food-safe primer option.

Shellac is a natural resin that comes from a beetle mixed into alcohol. Shellac as an ingredient is considered food contact safe (it is also used directly on food, like to coat candies and apples).

You can buy it premixed, though those brands are not food contact safe. For toys, go with the all-natural version – buy the flakes from Wellermart which is a good brand and mix them yourself with Everclear alcohol. You generally want dewaxed shellac which is easier to paint over.

Adheres to: Just about all plastics but it won’t stay stuck to SBR rubber in my experiments.

To paint over shellac you have three options:

  • Dewaxed shellac (then sand slightly), then AFM Transitional Primer, then AFM or ECOS Paint. (AFM is not certified Toy Safe but they do say it’s defacto food-safe based on ingredients).
  • Dewaxed shellac (then scuff it), then ECOS Universal Primer, then ECOS Paint for a sequence that is all Toy Safe.
  • Waxed or dewaxed shellac, then Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (however, Chalk Paint usually can go directly over plastic with no primer, see section below), then a Toy Safe top coat.

Buy pure shellac through Amazon!

Brush-On Paints for Plastic

1. Zero-VOC Acrylic Latex Paint

little blobs of ECOS Paint in their lullaby line which is pastel colors.

ECOS Paint is a 0-VOC Toy Safe Paint that can go over shellac-based primers.

ECOS Paints is a fantastic 0-VOC acrylic paint that can be used on toys. Once this paint is cured (at 11 days) it doesn’t offgas any VOCs. ECOS Paints are Toy Safe EN-71 certified for use on children’s toys. 

I’ve used this paint and it’s great quality and certainly my top pick for an acrylic paint.

You can use either ECOS interior paints or ECOS exterior paints for toys, play houses, play-sets, decor items, crafts used inside or outside.

You can color match it to any color from other big brands, the photo above is just an example of their nursery colors.

Adheres to: Regular ECOS Paints (Interior and Exterior) can go over BIN Shellac primers or the ECOS Universal Primer can go over sanded dewaxed shellac.

Buy ECOS Paints Online!

What about the Toy Safe Farrow and Ball?

Farrow and Ball is incompatible with many primers and I couldn’t get a clear answer from them on whether it can go over BIN Shellac (and likely not, based on other people’s experience). So if you really want to use F&B you would have to test that. It’s almost certain that you would need a coat of F&B primer over BIN (if that works at all) before the paint.

2. Linseed Oil Paint

a color fan deck of Allback linseed oil paint colors which are heritage colors.

No primer is needed with this paint over plastic. This paint goes over almost any plastic except silicone. 

Allbäck linseed oil paint is one brand that is available in North America that is made without solvents. 

The ingredients are boiled linseed and pigments made from titanium oxide, iron oxides, chromium oxide green, and ultramarine blue. The drying agent is manganese.

The manganese makes it likely not safe by European standards for toys that will be chewed on but for other toys and play-sets as well as decor, crafts and plastic furniture this is a great option. It can be used on interior and exterior items.

I’ve used this paint and I like it a lot, the ability to self prime over almost any substrate is convenient and it also is a very durable finish that stays flexible.

Adheres to: The Allbäck Linseed Oil Paint can be used on all kinds of plastic surfaces that we are aware of, says the company, except for silicone. The surfaces should be clean and dry, with no silicone or uncured chemicals present. Generally sanding is not required, but a light sanding can help adhesion. Apply thin coats and let dry well between coats. Make sure your humidity is not too high during curing. Let cure well prior to using. Always a good idea to test first.

Buy through their website.

3. Chalk Paint 

a little mini pot of Annie Sloan chalk paint

No primer is needed with Annie Sloan (and other brands of chalk style paint). It sticks to most plastics.

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is a super low-odor, non-toxic option for painting plastic items that will be used indoors.

It is certified Toy Safe by European standards so you can use this on a toys even if they go in a child’s mouth. They recommend giving it a few days to cure.

It does require a sealer on top if you want this to be at all durable to water and stains. You can use a natural wax – I would use the non-toxic food-safe versions from Real Milk Paint (not the solvent-filled wax from Annie Sloan, personally) or you can use a synthetic clear coat. The wax coatings are actually very durable despite being natural.

Annie Sloan’s clear Lacquer is Toy Safe but needs 14 days to cure.

Chalk Paint Adheres to: Most plastics though you may need to sand it first, and the company said it can flake off if the surface is not hard and flat.

Buy through local stockists.

4. Painter’s Touch Brush-On

a can of Rustoleum Painters Touch Ultra Cover Premium Latex Paint

Now we are more in the conventional higher VOC lines, some of which are certified Toy Safe but only in Europe.

A water-based paint for both interior and exterior projects, Painter’s Touch brush-on paint is Certified Toy Safe (EN71-3: 2019) in Europe. However, the following colors are not certified toy safe: Gold, Antique Gold, Bronze, and Old Penny Bronze.

I’m assuming this is the same product as Painter’s Touch brush on in the US however, the company said in an email the closest version is the little mini pots in their Testors line.

Painter’s Touch is not low in VOCs at <250 g/l for the water-based version. (The solvents are water and glycol ethers). The data sheets describe the odor as solvent-like.

The company recommends a full cure time of one week for toys.

This is not a paint I would normally use or recommend since I would not consider this non-toxic, but once it has sufficient time to cure I would consider it totally safe for everyday use.

Adheres to: Needs a primer to bond to plastic.

Buy through Amazon!

Spray Paints for Plastic (Toys, Crafts, Decor +)

1. Pintyplus Evolution

two cans of Pinty Blue Evolution spray paint

This water-based spray paint is low odor and can go directly over many plastics.

Pintyplus Evolution Water Based paint is suitable for painting toys, as it’s certified by EN 71 in Europe and and ASTM F963 – 17 Standard Consumer Safety Specification on Toy Safety in the US.

This water-based acrylic spray paint is general purpose and more durable than the brand’s other lines. You can use it on decor, crafts and toys.

It’s low odor during spraying (especially compared to other spray paints, most of which are solvent-based) and once dry it has no odor they say. (Note that this is not as low odor as the brush on paints like Chalk Paint or ECOS Paint).

It’s an extra-quick drying; total drying is 15 minutes, you can repaint after 5 minutes.

Adheres to: It works on most plastics including foams and rubber.

Buy through Amazon!

2. Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Craft Enamel

a can of the European version of Rustoleum painters touch craft enamel spray paint in gold.

Painter’s Touch Craft Enamel is certified Toy Safe in Europe. Note the following colours are not certified toy safe: Copper & Gold.

They suggest using the Plastic primer first on plastics before application of the Painters Touch Craft Enamel. This primer works on all plastics, except polycarbonate type plastics as these can have a reaction with the paints. Though the primer is not Toy Safe.

The company said in an email that the closest US product is the Painter’s Touch 2X Ultra Cover Spray .

Painters Touch 2X is an Acrylic Modified Alkyd and it’s solvent based (solvents are Acetone, n-Butyl Acetate, Naptha, Xylene). The propellant appears to be propane. The VOCs are listed as 553 g/l. There is a Prop 65 for at least ethylbenzene and titanium dioxide.

I would not generally consider this non-toxic but it will be once totally cured. At 14 days UltraCover 2X was very close to odorless to me but at one month time I could still pick up slight solvent odor.

Adheres to: Painter’s Touch 2X is suitable for use on most indoor and outdoor surfaces including plastic. Some plastics made of polyethylene such as plastic storage containers are manufactured in a way that may hinder maximum paint adhesion. Test paint in a hidden area first.

Related posts:

  • Paint for wooden toys
  • Food-safe paint

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 8 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

Filed Under: Healthy Interiors

Essential Oils That Kill Mold (And How to Use Them Safely)

March 5, 2023 by Corinne Leave a Comment

A lot of essential oils are effective fungicides. It’s no surprise since the plants need to protect themselves from fungi all around them.

You could mix up the oils yourself, but having a calculated mix of oils in a blend can help it kill a wider variety of molds.

You can mix the oil blends into a liquid cleaner or use the products that come pre-mixed in a surfactant to kill mold on hard and porous surfaces in the home. You can also fog to kill mold spores in the air.

We will go over all of these methods in detail.

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

Essential Oils That Kill Mold

1. Fir Oil

Essential oil from Pinus sibirica (Siberian pine) and Аbies sibirica (Siberian fir) are effective against Candida albicans(source). 

2. Lemon Oil

Citrus limon (lemon) essential oil showed inhibitory anti-fungal activity against Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium spp., Aspergillus niger (source), Aspergillus parasiticus, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Eurotium herbariorum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus carbonarius (source) and Penicillium verrucosum(source).

Similar: Other citrus oils like mandarin (Citrus reticulata L.), grapefruit (Citrus paradisi L.) and orange (Citrus sinensis L.) showed anti-fungal activity against the molds Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium verrucosum (source).

3. Cinnamon Oil

Cinnamon oil proved to be a potent fungitoxicant against: Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida pseudotropicalis (Candida kefyr), Histoplasma capsulatum (source), Coriolus versicolor, Laetiporus sulphureus (Source), Eurotium spp., Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp. (source), and Botrytis cinerea (source).

4. Rosemary Oil

Rosemary essential oil exhibited anti-fungal activity against Eurotium spp., Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp. (source). Other studies show Rosemary’s anti-fungal activity (source).

5. Clove Oil

Clove essential oil exhibited anti-fungal activity against Eurotium spp., Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp  (Source), and Botrytis cinerea (source).

6. Copaiba Oil

Copaiba oil displays anti-microbial action against fungi, such as Candida spp (source and source), Candida parapsilosis, Aspergillus flavus, and A tamarii (source). 

7. Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil is effective against Candida albicans, as well as a range of yeasts, dermatophytes, and other filamentous fungi (source).

8. Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is a potent antifungal agent against C. albicans and its biofilm (source) and Penicillium funiculosum, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus (source).

9. Thyme

Thyme oil exhibited antifungal properties against Aspergillus spp, such as A. flavus, A. ochraceus and Fusarium spp, for example F. oxysporum, Candida spp, for example Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis, Penicillium spp and Cladosporium spp, Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria brassicae, and Dermatophytes (source and source).

*Please note that spp means multiple species.

two amber bottles on a printed paper with chemical symbols on it and lavender and a yellow flower too

Essential Oil Blends That are Anti-Fungal

Germ Fighter by Plant Therapy – Cinnamon Cassia, Lemon, Eucalyptus, Clove, Rosemary. This is a well-priced non-MLM brand that is high-quality and legit (they produce GC-MS testing by several third-party laboratories).

On Guard by doTerra – Wild Orange Peel, Clove Bud, Cinnamon Leaf, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Leaf, and Rosemary Leaf/Flower.

Thieves Oil by Young Living – Clove bud oil, Lemon peel oil, Cinnamon bark oil, Eucalyptus leaf oil, Rosemary leaf oil.

Diffusing/Fogging Essential Oils to Kill Mold in The Air

Diffusing/nebulizing essential oils is the best way to deploy them to kill mold spores in a building. I would do this when people and pets are out of the room because diffusing creates high levels of VOCs and PM2.5 particulates. 

Fogging to Kill Mold Spores

the aroma ace atomizing diffuser

Dr. Edward R. Close, PhD in Environmental Engineering, diffused Thieves Oil blend (a blend of Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) bud oil, Lemon (Citrus limon) peel oil, Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) bark oil, Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus radiata) leaf oil, and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) leaf oil) in the Aroma-Ace Atomizing Diffuser in homes for a 24-hour period. 

(You could also use the mix by Plant Therapy, which is made with the same plants but is less expensive). 

Dr. Close and his wife, Jacquelyn Close, discovered that diffusing essential oils with a waterless cold air nebulizer was the best solution to address mold spores in buildings. The results of their case studies showed a huge reduction in mold spores and it had residual effect (i.e. the spores did not come back quickly). 

His research showed that the essential oils digest the mold spores that they come in contact with and don’t leave dead mold spores behind.

NOTE! If you have mold growing in the wall this does not address that underlying problem and the mycotoxins and mold VOCs being produced. Putting a bandaid on the situation could cause a false sense of security. 

They recommend that you place one diffuser in each room (one for every 1000 sq ft) and diffuse continuously for a minimum of 24 hours. How long you have to diffuse (24-48 hours or longer) is determined by air sampling or tape-lift sampling. Use a glass plate under the diffuser to protect surfaces from the oil. 

This book by Dr Close and his wife goes into more detail. 

If you prefer to watch a seminar about Dr Close’s methods, this masterclass will be helpful. He is talking with mold-preventative architect Cheryl Ciecko. The other classes in the series will also be helpful in making sure you properly identify the source of the mold and safely clean mold (as you could do a lot of harm cleaning it yourself). Don’t just put a bandaid over it!

the promo banner for Cheryls mold expert masterclass summit. it has her logo and says eduction to dwell well, build well and prevent mold. the summit details say over 5 hours of in depth video eduction hosted by Cheryl ciecko architect FALA AIA LEED AP, featuring mold are guest wellness experts. on the side it shows each class: how to use moisture meters, what to do first when you find mold, cleaning mold safely, duct cleaning basics and essential oils for mold

Cleaning Surface Mold With Essential Oils

“The surface mold is usually being caused by moisture and mold spores somewhere else that is causing the ‘surface mold’ to appear in the first place. If the surface is porous (wood, drywall, grout, brick, concrete or other materials) then cleaning the surface mold can be like cutting down a plant while leaving the roots below the surface. The plant and the mold will grow back.” says Cheryl Ciecko, mold preventative architect.

Make sure you have identified the source of the problem, corrected the problem, dried out the area. Many moldy materials need to be totally removed – like moldy drywall and most moldy wood. But if you truly have a superficial mold problem you can clean it with essential oil based cleaners then dry out the area again with dehumifdifiers, says Cheryl Ciecko.

Cleaners for mold on surfaces:

Thieves Cleaner – is made with Clove bud oil, Lemon peel oil, Cinnamon bark oil, Eucalyptus leaf oil, Rosemary leaf oil and surfactants.

Benefect Decon 30 is an EPA approved fungicide. The product’s active ingredient is natural Thymol (from Thyme) which kills Trichophyton Mentagrophytes which is the representative organism over the entire category of mold/fungi/yeast; ie, the hardest to kill as per the EPA. It is also effective against Candida Albicans and Aspergillus Niger.

Cleaning Mold Off Concrete With Essential Oils

Make sure you diagnose the cause, and correct the problem first says Cheryl. Next up make sure to dry out the concrete before cleaning (if it’s interior concrete, like basement walls).

To clean use diluted Thieves Cleaner with a scrub brush. You can see Dr Close show his experiment with a moldy patio in Cheryl’s recorded webinar with him (I do consider this webinar series essential if you want to learn how to safely clean mold yourself).

You can also use Benefect Decon 30. Wet the surface by sprayer (high or low pressure, hand or power operated), cloth, sponge or mop. Leave for 10 minutes. Allow to air-dry. No rinsing or wiping is required.

Make sure you’re using PPE (respirator, goggles, Tyvek suites). You may want to use a HEPA vacuum as well first to pick up spores.

Dry again after cleaning using dehumidifiers (for indoor concrete).

Cleaning Mold Off Wood With Essential Oils

Make sure you have identified the source of the problem and corrected it. Moldy wood usually needs to be wet sanded or removed. Test it with a moisture meter to make sure the problem is resolved. Remember that structural wood needs to be evaluated by an engineer before removing it (that includes small areas of subfloors).

If you have superficial mold on wood, or after you have sanded it, Cheryl Ciecko recommends scrubbing with a stiff scrub brush using Thieves cleaner only slightly diluted or undiluted to not add much water. Then dry the area well.

The Thieves cleaner will result in some color changes to the wood (as do all essential oils in my experience).

You can also use Benefect Decon 30. Wet the surface by sprayer (high or low pressure, hand or power operated), cloth, sponge or mop. Leave for 10 minutes. Allow to air-dry. No rinsing or wiping is required.

Use protection for yourself (respirator, goggles, Tyvek suites) and a HEPA vacuum as well to clean up spores.

Cleaning Mold Off Drywall Walls With Essential Oils

Cheryl Ciecko cautions cleaning mold off drywall. Mold on drywall is often a sign of water damage behind it and if mold is in the paper layers or the gypsum layer it must be removed she says.

It is possible that you have superficial mold growing only on top of the paint. You still need to correct the source of this problem which is high humidity.

But you can clean mold off the paint with a gentle all purpose cleaner, Thieves Oil cleaner or Benefect Decon 30 (Benefect needs a dwell time of 10 minutes).

Cleaning Mold Off Shower Walls and Grout With Essential Oils

Two things to note first about mold in showers/grout. Mold is grout is very common but not “normal”. Cheryl says about her well built shower that she never has mold in the shower area. Mold in grout is often a sign that there is mold behind the grout/tiles.

Keep in mind that the grout is not the water protection layer, there is a layer behind the mortar for water control (which is so often done wrong). Use a moisture meter to test your tiles/grout for possible water damage behind. Grout doesn’t need to be sealed to prevent mold and you don’t need this to be your water control area. You can use a breathable grout sealer, outlined here, which makes it a little easier to clean.

Make sure to keep soap scum off the grout by regularly cleaning it and make sure your exhaust fan is adequate to dry out the room during and after each shower and bath.

You can clean your grout with Thieves oil cleaner, or Benefect Decon 30 (with a dwell time of 10 minutes). You can use hydrogen peroxide with baking soda (mixed together) to remove the leftover mold stains. (Don’t mix essential oils with hydrogen peroxide).

Cleaning Mold Off Soft Items

Using Essential Oils in Laundry to Kill Mold

Those who are extremely sensitive to mold that gets on clothing from the home or workplace use a variety of methods to clean laundry. There isn’t one solution that works best on all molds.

The most popular non essential oil products are borax, ammonia and TSP (separate, not all together!)

Essential oil based cleaning products for laundry that folks like include:

  • EC3 laundry Additive – is made from Citrus Seed extracts, Tea Tree oil, and natural surfactants.
  • Thieves Oil Laundry Soap – contains Clove bud oil, Lemon peel oil, Cinnamon bark oil, Eucalyptus leaf oil, Rosemary leaf oil, Jade Lemon, and Bergamot essential oils, enzyme cleaners, and surfactants.
  • On Guard Laundry Detergent -contains Wild Orange Peel, Clove Bud, Cinnamon Leaf, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Leaf, and Rosemary Leaf/Flower essential oils, surfactants, and enzymes.
  • Or add essential oils of your choice to your unscented liquid laundry detergent and mix together before adding it to the wash.

Using Essential Oils to Kill Mold on Carpet

For carpet in a car Cheryl Ciecko recommends using diluted Thieves cleaner to clean and scrub, then blot out moisture with towels moving on to using paper towels until no more moisture comes out.

It terms of carpet in a house that is a different story. It depends on where the mold is and how it got there. If you have moisture rising from below then you need to remove the carpet. If a flood caused major mold then I would remove it as well.

If the problem is smaller or more superficial, then you can first HEPA vacuum and then fog essential oils as described in the above section on fogging. You may need to do this every 3 months says Dr Close.

Cheryl Ciecko believes that shampooing is not a good ideas as it adds water which will feed mold spores.

If you do want to shampoo your carpet Benefect Decon 30 is an EPA approved carpet sanitizer. Apply to the pre-cleaned carpet area by wand, sprayer, extractor, spin bonnet or immersion processes until saturated (spot test fibers for colorfastness before use). Scrub or agitate the carpet as needed to ensure the test substance is delivered throughout the carpet pile and backing. Allow the product to remain on the carpet undisturbed for a minimum of 60 minutes. Extract & allow to air-dry. (Use a dehumidifier after if your humidity is not low).

Can You Mix Essential Oils With Other Cleaning Products?

You can mix essential oils into vinegar, or a liquid soap. Mixing essential oils and hydrogen peroxide produces a strange oxidized odor in my experience, so I would not mix those myself.

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 8 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

Filed Under: Healthy Interiors, Mold-Free Interiors

Washing Machines Without a Prop 65 Warning

February 27, 2023 by Corinne Leave a Comment

What is Prop 65

Proposition 65 is a warning label for Californians about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. Any product that is sold in California will have this label even at retailers outside of California.

The list contains naturally occurring and synthetic chemicals. It is updated yearly and there are currently 900 chemicals on the list in 2023.

Exposure Limit?

Technically this label is for “significant exposures” and the chemicals need not be listed if “the exposure is low enough to pose no significant risk of cancer or is significantly below levels observed to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.”

However, in reality the exposure risk is not usually calculated and you will still see the label if the products contains only trace levels of the Prop 65 chemicals or even when the chemicals are enclosed within the product and there is no reasonable way to gain exposure to them.

Are Companies Adding This to Everything?

It does seem like there are companies that add this to all their products even though they might not contain a chemical on the list, if the exposure is extremely minimal, or exposure is not expected with regular use.

There is no penalty for providing an unnecessary warning, this part is frustrating to me.

You will often see the statement that a company “has elected to provide the Proposition 65 notice out of an abundance of caution in order to avoid the potential for liability.”

However when it comes to washing machines, they do likely contain quite a few Prop 65 chemicals, they are not being overly cautious in declaring that Prop 65 chemicals are present. The real question and uncertainly around washing machines comes down to whether that exposure is really large enough to be of concern, especially since the chemicals are largely enclosed within the appliance.

I’ll go over which Prop 65 chemicals are found in washing machines, which brands have the label and which brands don’t, and how to minimize your exposure.

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

a washing machine with the door open and a plastic laundry basket on top

Which Prop 65 Chemicals Can Be Found in Washing Machines:

1. Phthalates may be present in plastic components of appliances (specifically in flexible vinyl) according to the Prop 65 website. Electrical wiring is often coated in vinyl, and there may be other PVC tubes or hoses.

2. Flame retardants may be present in plastic components of appliances according to the Prop 65 website. Electrical wiring and cords also usually contain flame retardants.

3. Antimony: Tamara Rubin has found that most appliance electrical cords will test positive for Antimony (as a component for added flame retardants). When she tests electrical cords of appliances, she normally finds the level in the range of 5,000 to 15,000 parts per million (ppm).

4. Arsenic: Tamara says she often finds trace Arsenic in black plastic handles of kitchen tools and appliances. She believes it is likely a contaminant of the black pigmentation. In one test she found extremely low levels of Arsenic in the black plastic handle of a kettle (3 +/- 1 ppm). This is safe, by any standard she explains, though it’s still a Prop 65 Chemical.

5. Lead: is almost always a component of brass parts, and it can be found in plastic, solder, electrical cords, nuts, painted parts, and more in appliances.

6. Nickle: is part of stainless steel.

7. Other Proposition 65 chemicals may also be present in enclosed components of the appliance (such as printed circuit boards). During normal use, consumer exposure to these chemicals is expected to be negligible according to the Prop 65 website.

Minimize Exposure to Prop 65 Chemicals From Washing Machines

Most of these chemicals are found in internal parts, and some are found in extremely low levels.

Flame retardants and phthalates do tend to leach out into household dust and so to minimize exposure to these chemicals, minimize your exposure to dust:

  • Clean floors regularly, using a wet mop for hard surfaces and a HEPA vac for soft or hard surfaces. The HEPA component is important as it picks up these tiny contaminants (and is one of the best interventions you can make toward a healthy home).
  • Wipe up dust regularly, using a damp cloth free of chemicals.
  • Wash your hands after touching the electrical cords of appliances.
  • Wash your hands before preparing food and before eating.

Washing Machine Brands With a Prop 65 Warning

Maytag, Samsung, Whirlpool, LG, GE, Bosch, BLACK+DECKER, Magic Chef, Midea, and Amana all have the warning.

Washing Machine Brands Without a Prop 65 Warning

The brands I’ve seen without the warning are Equator, Miele, and Electrolux.

Washing Machine Brands for the Mold and Chemically Sensitive

If you’re looking for washing machines that are lower in initial offgassing and easier to keep mold free, this post on appliances for the chemically sensitive has some ideas. These are all based on the experience of highly sensitive folks, not on empirical testing.

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 8 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.

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Filed Under: Healthy Interiors

The Best Air Purifiers for Those with Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)

February 16, 2023 by Corinne 101 Comments

Updated 2023

This post lists and compares the 7 best air purifiers to reduce VOCs (offgassing from new building materials).

I also focus on which units have the highest amount of sorbent material, the least amount of offgassing, and are best for the chemically sensitive.

I have a separate post for air purifiers that work best for mold, however the True HEPA filter in these units does help in capturing mold spores.

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

A air purifier opened to show the HEPA and carbon filters

What to Look for in a Good Air Purifier:

  • Good Amount of Tolerable Sorbent Material – How many lbs, type of material, tolerability of material, does it have potassium permanganate (which may be harder to tolerate but provides better absorption of many VOCs), do they have test kits to try the material.
  • Ideally “True HEPA” – 99.97% of particles done to 0.3 microns.
  • Around 5 ACH – CFM to tell you the air changes/hour, you want a least 1 ACH, ideally 5.
  • Minimal Offgassing – Plastic or glue in the unit? Glue in the filters? Motors “burned in” or encased/sealed?
  • Other Comparisons – How loud they are (dB), the cost of replacing filters, and year established (so you can feel certain they will be around to replace filters and parts).

Air Change Per Hour (ACH)

What are Air Changes Per Hour (ACH) – This is how many times you are “replacing” the air in the room per hour, this is a key area of comparison with air purifiers. ASHRAE (The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) recommends a minimum of 4 ACH for patient rooms in hospitals, 5 for intensive care units, and 25 for operating rooms. 

How Many ACH Do We Need – For the purposes of those extremely sensitive to mold and VOCs, we want about 5-10 air exchanges per hour. To maximize how much air in the room the air purifier can process, put it in a central location.

How Do You Calculate the ACH From a Unit’s Specs – You always want to find the CFM of the unit. The CFM is the capacity of the unit to move air – how much air it moves through the machine. CFM stands for Cubic Feet Per Minute. You need the CFM to calculate ACH. I have two calculators here to properly size these units. 

If you are interested in PCO technology that is more geared towards filtering mold, see my article on air purifiers that use that technology. This article is about the classic types.

Top Brands of Air Purifiers for MCS and Offgassing

1. AllerAir

the black round air medic pro by allerair

AirMedic Pro 5 Ultra
$1049  * 28-30 lbs carbon * “Super HEPA” * 400 CFM * 39-62 dB @ 6 feet * EST 1994

Filter replacement: Carbon Filter 2-5 years $172; Super HEPA 2 years $131;
Pre-filter 3 months $132

Some of the most extremely sensitive folks prefer this brand but not all have tolerated it. All-metal. Filters don’t offgas. No glue on the HEPA like true HEPA has. Option to have true HEPA which has glue.

AirMedic Pro 5 HD MCS is made for MCS –  The burn-in motor by running and offgassing it for 6-8 hours. You can choose the carbon blend from an option of 7 blends in a test kit. It has 24lbs carbon and is dB 35-60 @1ft.

a black and white button that says buy that you can click on

You can buy some models at Walmart or through Amazon.

2. AustinAir 

the tan and rounded square health mate plus by Austin Air

Healthmate Plus
$885 * 250 CFM * 15 lbs of Activated Carbon Impregnated with Potassium Iodide and Zeolite * True HEPA * dB 50-66 3-5ft (they are not sure) * EST early 90s

Filter replacement: HEPA/carbon prefilter 3-5 years (5-year warranty filter warranty) $360

There are different filter options with different types of carbon/absorptive material. Again, reactions are often attributed to Potassium permanganate. You can test out their different filter options.

Steel units, plastic on the wheels, not plastic inside.

Some with extreme MCS have picked up offgassing, but many with MCS prefer this brand.

a black and white button that says buy that you can click on

You can buy them at Green Design Center, and Amazon.

3. EnviroKlenz

 the square white enviroklenze air purifier


$699 * CFM 250 * dB 50 on high @6 ft

EnviroKlenz is a slightly different technology than the others here. I have been using this unit and am happy with it.

Like the others, this unit has a HEPA filter, but instead of charcoal/PP/zeolite it uses minerals including magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide to neutralize VOCs, chemical odors, and smoke.

The EnviroKlenz according to the literature, destroys most pollutants. Contrary to odor masking methods, the nanocrystalline materials contact, adsorb and then neutralize the odor-causing substances.

It is effective against aldehydes and pollutants and particularly effective against different kinds of smoke and pesticides. Activated carbon does not help that much with formaldehyde and smoke can be difficult to filter as well. My preference for this unit comes from its ability to deal with formaldehyde and smoke.

EnviroKlenz materials will chemically dismantle many VOCs. Hydrocarbons will be absorbed but not chemically modified.

The company has a number of patents and it has been tested you can see that info here (you can search and read patents here), and for a summary of research articles and references on this technology the company also provides a technical report.

Filter replacement costs: Mineral cartridge 4-5 months 100$, HEPA every 2-3 years $150. Rated the same as true HEPA.

This air purifier has been in production for 8 years.

a black and white button that says buy that you can click on

Buy through their website.

4. E.L. Foust

EL foust air purifier tower in white

400 Series Air Purifier
$775 * CFM 380 * 60% Coconut shell carbon / 40% potassium permanganate (Standard Mix) 8 lbs * not true HEPA, 99.97  * dB 22-24 @3ft * EST 1974

Filter replacement: HEPA which can last up to 2-3 years $112. Pre-filter 2-3 months $13. Carbon media tray 6-9 months, up to a year $75

They have a sealed motor – bearings are sealed in. They run the motors outside for 2-3 days first to offgas them.

Metal construction uses no adhesives, has HEPA filters without any glue. These are made for the chemically sensitive and some of the most extremely sensitive like this brand.

They sell filter sample kits so that you can check out the different materials used. Generally, for the extremely sensitive, PP is difficult to tolerate. The most sensitive should start with their pure Bituminous coal filters.

Having a sealed motor will be key for the most sensitive. The downside is this one has a lot less carbon than the other models.

a black and white button that says buy that you can click on

Purchase only from their website.

5. IQAir 

the IQ air large tower air purifier in off white

IQAir Multigas
$1299  * CFM 300 * 12 lbs granular activated carbon & Alumina impregnated with Potassium Permanganate * True HEPA * dB 35-69 at 3 ft. * EST 1963

Their HealthPro is (40 to 300 CFM) (2 air changes/hr in 1125 sq. ft), dB 25 to 59

Filter replacement: Multigas cartilage 2 years $400; Post Filter 2.5 year $129; HEPA about a year (on 10 hours a day on speed 3) $109; optional Filter Pads $79

This might be one of the best-known brand names in air purifiers. Some people with MCS swear by it. But, the most severely sensitive do not always tolerate it.

The unit is made of plastic and the offgassing of the unit itself might be an issue. The potassium insert can be hard to tolerate for many (which is not a unique issue to this brand). Some people have sent back filters that smelt especially sweet or strong and received ones that were more tolerable.

Nevertheless, this is a favorite and well-trusted brand for many with MCS who want a robust top-of-the-line air purifier.

a black and white button that says buy that you can click on

You can buy the Healhpro and Multigas directly through the IQAir website. The Multigas can also be found on Amazon.

6. Amaircare 

amaircare air purifier filter which has 6 sides to it and is in white

Amaircare 3000
$759 * 265 CFM (in 1688 sq ft 1 ACH) * Claims no offgassing * Depending on the option you choose it contains up to 30 lbs of carbon * True HEPA * dB 43 to 61 @ 6 ft * EST 1994 * Made in Canada

Filter replacement: Prefilters + VOC media/year (12 lbs) $119; HEPA Filter 2-5 years $200

Made of metal, no plastic or foam. The HEPA is rated at 2-5 years when the prefilter is maintained. One person with moderate MCS said the HEPA filters smelled like chemicals. He requested a new one which was better.

On top of the plain carbon, they also have the following filter options for a wider range of filtration: Formaldesorb option for formaldehyde, Acitisorb for nitric and hydrochloric acid, Multisorb for a mix of VOCs. They don’t say what is in these sorbent mixes but presumably they are adding to the carbon.

a black and white button that says buy that you can click on

The 3000 is available on Sylvane and on Amazon.

7. Airpura

airpura air purifier filter which is round and black

Airpura C600
$900 * 440 CFM  (2 air exchanges an hour 2000 sq. ft. with) * 26 lb Coconut Shell Carbon * dB 28.1 – 62.3 @6ft. * EST 2004

Filter replacement: Carbon filter 2-3 years $350; Post filter 1 year $100; Pre-filter 6-12 months $40; HEPA (not true HEPA) 1-2 years $60

Airpura does not use any silicone, rubber, or plastic in their gaskets or internal parts and the body is made up of non-off gassing powder coated steel. The motor and electrical parts are separated in a sealed chamber that prevents any off-gassing while protecting the components from any of the contaminants.

Other units contain different carbon mixes for specific chemicals. The F600 DLX has 26 lbs of Activated Carbon with Potassium Permanganate for extra help with formaldehyde.

a black and white button that says buy that you can click on

They sell these at Walmart, Sylvane.

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 8 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.

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Filed Under: Healthy Interiors Tagged With: healthy interiors

The 18 Best Non-Toxic Rugs (That You Can Buy Online)

February 5, 2023 by Corinne 123 Comments

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 healthy area rugs safe for those avoiding toxins in the home, as well as safe for nurseries with crawling babies, and sensitive pets.

Those avoiding chemicals should avoid area rugs with synthetic latex backing, glues, synthetic moth treatment which is a pesticide – usually permethrin, 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 18 Best Non-Toxic Rugs (That You Can Buy Online)

Filed Under: Healthy Interiors Tagged With: healthy decor, healthy interiors

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ABOUT ME

Hi, I’m Corinne Segura, I hold a certificate in Building Biology, and a certificate in Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, among other credentials below. I have 8 years of experience helping people create healthy homes.

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