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My Chemical-Free House

A Guide to Creating a Healthy Home

  • Healthy Building
    • Insulation
    • Windows & Window Treatments
    • Glues & Caulks
    • Grout & Mortar
    • Drywall
      • Drywall Mud & Wall Texture
    • Showers
    • Doors
    • Pressed Wood Products
    • Sheathing & Subfloor
    • Pipes
    • Alternative Building Systems
    • Non-Toxic Prefabs
    • Building for the Chemically Sensitive
    • How to Test Materials
  • Healthy Interiors
    • Flooring
      • Gym Flooring
      • Flooring Underlayment
    • Kitchen Cabinets
    • Countertops
    • Mattresses
    • Sofas
    • Leather Furniture
    • Desks and Chairs
    • Sealers
      • Paint
      • Mineral Paints
      • Linseed & Tung Oil
      • Natural Wood Pigments
      • Natural Plaster
      • Natural Countertop Sealers
      • Concrete Sealers
      • Wood Finishes
    • Bathroom
      • Bathroom Vanities
    • Rugs
    • Wallpaper
    • Kitchen Appliances
    • Heaters
    • Reduce Flame Retardants
    • Reduce New Home Offgassing
    • Reduce Fragrance & Smoke
    • Air Purifiers for VOCs
    • Cleaning Products & Air Fresheners
    • Personal Care Products
    • Green Certifications
    • Gift Guide
  • Healthy exteriors/gardens
    • Decking Materials
    • Deck Stains
    • Deck Cleaners
    • Exterior Paints
    • Sealant for Concrete Birdbaths
  • Tiny Homes and Trailers
    • List: Simple Homes & Shelters
    • List: Trailers & RVs
    • List: Emergency Housing
    • Cargo Van Conversion
    • All Metal Tiny Home
    • Simple Insulated Shelter
    • All Aluminum Travel Trailer
    • Cargo Trailer Conversion
    • Teardrop Trailer
    • Tiny House Systems
    • Flooring for Vans, Trailers
    • Composting Toilets
    • How to Offgas that New Car Smell
    • Building for Chemically Sensitivity
  • Mold-Free Building
    • A Detailed Mold Preventative Build
    • The Causes of Mold in Tiny Houses
    • How “High Performance” can Help Prevent Mold
  • Mold-Free Interiors
    • Mold Testing Overview
    • Air Purifiers for Mold
    • Ozone to Kill Mold
  • Mold Avoidance Paradigm
    • Decon your Car
    • Camping Gear
    • Planning a Sabbatical
    • Traveling with Environmental Sensitivities
    • Locations Effect Ebook
    • The Locations Effect – Canadian Locations
    • The Locations Effect – Caribbean Campsites
    • Interview: Healing MCS with Mold Avoidance

healthy interiors

Non-Toxic Weatherstripping (PVC-Free)

November 19, 2021 by Corinne Leave a Comment

This post is an overview of the different types of weatherstripping for doors and windows, what they are made of, and which materials are the less-toxic options that are low in odor and do not contain PVC.

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

a close of of a roll of foam weatherstripping

1. Foam Tape

Foam tape is an open or closed-cell foam or EPDM rubber with an adhesive backing. It comes in various widths and thicknesses. It goes inside door frames and at the top and bottom of window frames.

Closed-cell foam is likely to be more tolerable them EPDM rubber for sensitive folks. But you may need to try different types. You may want to check out a few to see how strong the adhesive odor is.

This is a foam option from Amazon.

2. Door Sweep

Door sweeps usually have a top piece which is plastic, aluminum, or stainless steel with a bottom strip of nylon, plastic, or vinyl. There are also one-piece silicone styles or a sponge brush. It fills the space between the door and threshold on the interior side of the door.

This door stop is all silicone (very non-toxic).

This super simple silicone strip can act as a basic door sweep or be used in place of the closed-cell foam strips.

Aluminum with a nylon brush can work well too for sensitive folks. This one is from Grainger and here is one from Amazon.

3. Felt

Felt is sold in rolls it can be pure felt or felt with a peel and stick side, or it can have a flexible metal strip. It’s not expected to last more than a year or two but it could be a tolerable option for chemically sensitive folks. It goes around a door or window sash as well as in the door’s jamb where it will compress against the door.

This option from Amazon is just felt.

4. V Strip (Tension Seal)

V strip (v-channel or tension seal), is a plastic or metal strip in the shape of a ‘V’. The “V” springs open to bridge gaps. It can also be made from polyurethane foam which is low in offgassing.

This goes along the sides of double-hung and sliding windows as well as on the top and sides of a door.

This one is polypropylene, a plastic that is very non-toxic.

5. Tubular Weatherpoofing

Tubular weatherproofing comes in rubber, vinyl, or silicone. These tubes are good for air sealing. Some are made of a spongy rubber or vinyl tubing which is attached to a wood or metal strip.

It goes at the base of doors and windows and at the top or bottom of a window sash, the bottom of a door, and between a door and the jamb.

Here are two silicone options from Amazon, by MD and Pemko.

Filed Under: Healthy Interiors Tagged With: healthy interiors

Non-Toxic Degreasers for All Surfaces (The 3 Best Options)

November 8, 2021 by Corinne 4 Comments

These three heavy-duty cleaners will cover all household needs for safer degreasers. They are all biodegradable, non-hazardous, and non-toxic.

Ranked by the strength of the cleaners, and their ability to act as a degreaser ECOS PRO is the mildest, AFM Superclean is in the middle, and Crystal is the toughest (truly industrial) degreaser and cleaner on the list.

Super clean and Crystal are fragrance-free and ECOS comes in unscented or with natural fragrance.

[Read more…] about Non-Toxic Degreasers for All Surfaces (The 3 Best Options)

Filed Under: Healthy Interiors Tagged With: healthy cleaning products, healthy interiors

5 Non-Toxic Radiator Paint Options

November 5, 2021 by Corinne Leave a Comment

The usual paints recommended for radiators include enamel paints and oil-based paints. These are often higher in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and that won’t be suitable for everyone.

If you are repainting your radiator then you need to find out if it has an oil or water-based paint on it. If it has an oil-based paint on it, we have to use special paints or primers to go over that. It could also have a varnish on it and not a paint.

In some cases, a rust-resistant paint is needed and you generally want the paint to be able to withstand 200 degrees F.

This post goes over the VOC-free, non-toxic options that will work on new and old radiators.

[Read more…] about 5 Non-Toxic Radiator Paint Options

Filed Under: Healthy Interiors Tagged With: healthy interiors

Smoothing the Seams in Mobile Home Walls (With Non-Toxic Materials)

October 29, 2021 by Corinne 1 Comment

Walls in mobile homes have a vinyl layer on the wallboard and battens covering the seam gaps. It is possible to remove the battens and mud over the seams. It is also a good idea to prime the walls with BIN Shellac primer to stop any offgassing or leaching of plasticizers from the vinyl.

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

That Kilted Guy recommends the following:

  • Remove the strip
  • Sink the existing nails
  • If there is movement in the boards use screws to secure it, that will prevent cracking of the mud
  • Use drywall mesh tape on the seams
  • Use USG Easy Sand 45 or Easy Sand 20 which are zero-VOC drywall muds.
  • Add texture to even out the surface (since the vinyl is not smooth like the mud)

Corners:

Another contractor recommends using paintable caulk at the small seams like in the corners. Regular paintable caulk is an acrylic latex, and in my opinion, this is too high in offgassing.

A healthier option is a polyether caulk there like AFM Caulking Compound. If you don’t do well with polyether caulking you can use a 100% silicone (like the non-toxic brands outlined here) but then you need a shellac primer before you can paint the caulk with regular paint.

Painting:

One contractor recommends painting the vinyl walls first with a Zinsser primer. BIN Shellac is a great block of VOCs or other chemicals that could be leaching from the vinyl. Those who are chemically sensitive do find that BIN Shellac needs some time to offgas itself but it’s usually well worth it to wait for that to offgas so that you can achieve that blocking of what is below.

Texture:

Orange peel texture often works the best over these types of walls. USG Sheetrock Spray Texture is a good one that is zero-VOC. There is more info in my post on drywall texture and drywall mud.

You can watch a video tutorial here:

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

What are Non-Fluorinated Stain Guard Chemicals?

October 16, 2021 by Corinne Leave a Comment

Fabrics, especially those for furniture, and carpets are typically treated for soil, stain, and water resistance with per and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Scotchguard is one well-known brand.

But many people have health concerns and environmental concerns with these “forever chemicals”.

Some companies make stain-resistant upholstery fabrics and carpets that are free of PFAS, but they do not list which chemicals they have used to replace them. One branded fabric line is Crypton, which explicitly states they are free of PFAS and PFCs, a related chemical class.

A review of the literature shows that non-fluorinated stain guard treatments are most likely acrylic, polyurethane, or silicone-based coatings.

Red wine spilling on a sofa that has stain guard chemicals

Acrylic and Polyurethane Alternatives

A 2015 patent describes the current common non-per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (non-PFAS) used as water and dirt repellant fabric treatments are made mainly of copolymers based on polyacrylates or urethanes. (ie. acrylic or polyurethane plastic coatings). (source)

Another 2015 patent that is active and was filed in many countries outlines a stain-resistant coating for carpets based on nanoparticulate silicate clay and an acrylic-based copolymer. (source)

In an overview of the industry written by DuPont they outline the preferred non-fluorinated (non-PFAS) soil resistant agents, which include:

  • polymethylmethacrylate (acrylic)
  • methyl methacrylate/ethyl methacrylate copolymer (acrylic)
  • an alkali metal salt of a hydrolyzed styrene maleic anhydride copolymer or of a hydrolyzed styrene/maleic anhydride/cumene terpolymer
  • an ammonium salt of a hydrolyzed styrene/maleic anhydride copolymer or of a hydrolyzed styrene-maleic anhydride/cumene terpolymer
  • amorphous silicon dioxide
  • colloidal silica and amorphous silica
  • (source)

Silicone-Based Alternatives

A 2014 patent that pertains to non-fluorinated stain guard carpet coatings describes a textile treatment made of silicone and quaternary ammonia. The patent is active and was filed in many countries around the world and so I would assume that this is in production. (source)

And in two other patents, one by 3M regarding carpet, and one for textiles by a Chinese company, they outline a silicone-based stain-resistant coating (source and source)

Conclusions

Based on the reading of all the patents I could find on this topic:

  • I would expect the main PFAS-free stain and water resistant coatings to be based on acrylic, polyurethane or silicone
  • I would not expect non-flourinated stain resistant coatings to contain bisphenols like BPA
  • I would not expect non-flourinated stain resistant coatings to contain phthalates
  • It is possible for stain resistant coatings to contain formaldehyde
  • It is possible that stain resistant coatings can contain soy protien as just one component. If they claim that they use a “soy-based” or “bio-based” stain resistant coating I would not expect that to be wholey accurate to explain the entire coating

Non-Toxic Brands to Look for:

For sofa brands free of PFAS see my post on non-toxic sofas.

For carpet brands free of PFAS see my review of non-toxic carpet types and brands.

For rug brands free of PFAS see my post on non-toxic rug options.

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!

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

Non-Toxic Furniture for the Bedroom, Living Room & Dining Room

September 8, 2021 by Corinne 3 Comments

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.

This post was originally written for those highly sensitive to chemicals as well as those very sensitive to dust and mold.

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

Tables, Chairs, Bookcases and Storage

For non-toxic 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 particleboard and MDF if you are sensitive to formaldehyde. HDF is another pressed wood product made with formaldehyde which can be found as the backing of many boocases and storage units. Plywood is not as high in offgassing as MDF or particleboard and can work for many sensitive people.

There are some formaldehyde-free engineered wood products like Purebond plywood (though some sensitive folks react to their soy 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. Laminate or melamine furniture has particleboard inside.

Non-toxic solid wood bookcases
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 zero-VOC glues.

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

Non-toxic solid wood table
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.

Non-toxic solid wood and rope chair

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 side table made of wood, cloth and plastic

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

Non-toxic solid wood desk with low-VOC finish
Urbangreenfurniture

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

Uplift makes standing desks with solid wood and very low-VOC finishes.

Solid wood desks from specialty stores tend to be pricey.

A dedicated post on non-toxic desks (and desk chairs) can be found here!

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

Non-toxic desk made of glass and metal
Glass and Metal Desk from Amazon

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

Bedroom Furniture

Non-toxic dresser
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 Cabinet
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.

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 don’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.

Zero VOC all metal chair

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.

Non-offgassing pink metal console table

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.

Inert glass coffee table

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 like polypropelene. 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.

Non-toxic chairs made of plastic and wood

Hard polypropylene, ABX and acrylic are all highly tolerable, low to no offgassing plastics. These polypropylene shelves/organizers pictured below could look cool (they come in metal as well).

Non VOC shelving made of hard plastic

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.

Clear acrylic rounded table that has no odor

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.

All plastic small drawer unit that can be used with a desk

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.

Plastic rattan chair made of non-offgassing material

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.

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 zero-VOC. Be sure to check out what it is made of.

This faux marble island is quartz, which is safe and zero-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.

Real rattan chairs made of organic natural reeds

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.

Seagrass stool/storage bin made of natural materials

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!

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

Non-Toxic Paint Strippers (All Types Compared)

September 8, 2021 by Corinne 5 Comments

First, a History of “Whack A Mole” on Toxic Solvent-Based Strippers

Pre-1970s benzene was a popular paint stripper, it was later determined to be carcinogenic. It was replaced by methylene chloride, a very fast and effective paint remover. Methylene chloride/dichloromethane (DCM) is now considered a neurotoxin and a possible carcinogen that has caused many fatalities. It is banned in the US and many countries.

The latest replacement, NMP (n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone), which is not as harsh as Methylene chloride, and is actually quite tolerable for many chemically sensitive folks, does have a Prop 65 warning for birth defects or other reproductive harm. I list only one paint remover with this chemical alongside the best alternatives.

In the mainstream realm, new formulas are being sold with acetone, turpentine, toluene, and xylene. I don’t list any paint strippers with these solvents because their higher VOC levels emit the strongest fumes and they are challenging to use.

An Alternative – Safer Solvents?

There are better options now, lower (and even zero-VOC) formulas. Safer more environmentally friendly solvents include dibasic ester, bio-based solvents, and alcohol solvents.

In this article, I look at those options along with “soy-based” and “citrus-based” paint and varnish strippers – though these terms are misleading because they don’t refer to the active majority ingredient. (Often the majority ingredient is NMP, but I list brands with safer solvents).

You still need to wear protective gear including safety glasses, gloves, and a mask. Though all of the options here can technically be used indoors.

These safer solvents are effective but they take considerably longer on most coatings than the harsh solvents of the past.

Solvent-Free Options to Remove Paint

Depending on what kind of paint or varnish you are removing and what the substrate is, there may be other (solvent-free) options. In this post I discuss – boiling with baking soda, mechanical options, and eco-friendly water-based options.

[Read more…] about Non-Toxic Paint Strippers (All Types Compared)

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

Durable Natural Finishes for Tables & Desks

August 30, 2021 by Corinne Leave a Comment

Achieving a natural or non-toxic finish that is durable enough for a table or desk top is only possible with a few select brands and products.

We can’t quite get to the same level of durability as an oil-based polyurethane, but we can get quite a good level of durability with either of these options.

There are two ways to go, the all-natural route with drying oils, finished with a wax for extra durability, or with a non-toxic water-based polyurethane. Both options are food safe, relatively durable, but differ in their application, odors, offgassing, and maintenance.

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

The All-Natural Option

Tung Oil with Wax

A wooden dining table finished in all natural durable tung oil

Out of the all-natural finishes, tung oil is the most durable drying oil. You can mix it with citrus solvent, which is all-natural and food-safe. Fair warning – it is a very potent solvent when wet! I usually prefer to use odorless mineral spirits but that is not food safe and therefore not the best option for tabletops. (You could use it on a work desk but then you can’t put the wax over anything with mineral oil).

Natural oils are not required to list any VOCs but they do give off natural aldehydes and other compounds while curing.

To make the surface more durable you can add the Real Milk Paint company’s Wood Wax which is a walnut oil and carnauba wax. You can reapply the Wood Wax when the surface looks dry or worn. Just buff it in with a cloth to blend it into the old wax. You have to give it 5 to 7 days before lightly using the item and 15 to 30 days for a full cure.

This is not quite as durable as a water or oil-based polyurethane but it is easier to repair.

You can use code mychemicalfreehouse for 10% off with The Real Milk Paint company.

A can of wood wax over a partially waxed wooden table

The mainstream recommendation for adding durability to a tung oiled surface is to add an oil-based polyurethane on top. But this is not a non-toxic option. Water-based polyurethanes can be non-toxic but do not adhere to natural oil finishes.

Linseed Oil

Cans of tried and true Danish Oil 100% pure Linseed Oil

If you don’t do well with tung oil or the solvents used with tung oil, linseed oil is the next most durable natural option.

The purist linseed oil is a polymerized oil – this does not contain driers, solvents, or any other ingredients. It’s totally food-safe. The brand I liked the best is Tried and True. They have some options with integrated stains as well as just the pure linseed.

You can also add the walnut oil/carnauba Wood Wax over linseed to add durability.

Non-Toxic Water-Based Polyurethane

Vermont Natural Coatings Polywhey

Vermont Natural Coatings is my top brand pick for a non-toxic, low odor, low, VOC polyurethane.

I found it to have a good balance of durable and low odor. I compared many different low-VOC brands of polyurethane – this isn’t the only option that could be used on furniture but it’s a good one. Check out the comparison if you want to test multiple brands.

The company recommends their PolyWhey Floor Finish for a clear water-based durable coating on your desk and tables. If you want an oil look you can use their Hydro Lacquer Reactive Sealer (which leaves an oil-based look to it) and then PolyWhey.

Another really good option is EarthPaint EasySafe 1K.

Related Posts:

  • Affordable Non-Toxic Countertops (and their finishes)
  • Non-Toxic Polyurethanes Tested and Compared
  • All-Natural Floor Finishes
  • Comparison of Tung and Linseed Oil (additives, offgassing, tips)

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!

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

Air Fresheners for the Chemically Sensitive

August 15, 2021 by Corinne Leave a Comment

A banner that says air fresheners for the chemically sensitive

Simmering Recipes for the Home

A bottle of vanilla extract

I tried various natural DIY air fresheners including the popular Pinterest post on simmering vanilla, rosemary, and lemon.

This method was so-so at producing a noticeable aroma (if you grate the lemon rind before adding it you will get more lemon scent out).

I also tried simmering black tea with spices (cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg), which worked, but it was mild.

Mild can be good for the chemically sensitive!

Food-Based Aromas for the Home

a bag of coffee beans

If you cannot tolerate simmering spices to create aromas, but need to have your house smelling good, you can brew coffee or bake cookies in the oven.

This is a wonderful and safe way to add that feel-good feeling to a house that won’t trigger anyone’s allergies.

Potted herbs like basil could produce a nice aroma if you have a good amount of it at full growth. It’s not very noticeable for many people. Other herbs like thyme and oregano have even less of an aroma.

Wood and Plant-Based Aromas for the Home

Cedar wood rings

A natural “mothball” that protects clothing and also produces a pleasant aroma is real cedarwood placed around clothes in the closet.

Folks have said just the wood is enough to protect the clothes from moths.

If you really like the smell of cedar, you can add cedarwood essential oil to the wood. Wood holds on to essential oils nicely. You can also add an essential oil mix with a cedar base.

Dried eucalyptus branches

Eucalyptus branches from the florist have a significant aroma to them. You can make a pretty strong impression in a room with a vase of dried eucalyptus.

I personally like using sweetgrass, which is a traditional Native American plant.

Natural Beeswax Candles

A beeswax candle

Beeswax candles are an alternative to scented candles.

Even soy candles are not usually suitable for the chemically sensitive.

But beeswax candles have a gentle and more subtle natural aroma that is tolerable for most chemically sensitive folks.

Some beeswax candles have essential oils added for more of a scent.

Removing Malodors, Naturally without Scents

A bottle of Biokleen enzymes

You may also consider removing odors instead of adding scents.

Enzyme Cleaners to Break Down Odors

Strategies like using enzyme cleaners to properly and safely break down and degrade pet odors (and other problematic odors) is a great way to get a proper clean.

Clean has no smell, and even if you are staging the house to sell it, no odor could be a selling point.

Sorbent Materials (Absorb Odors)

To absorb odors, I like charcoal sachets used around the house.

Zeolite absorbs odors and it can be used as a powder that is vacuumed up, or as a spray (I’m not a proponent of those methods because it’s not safe to breathe in zeolite that has been sprayed or dispersed around a room).

It is safer to use in sachets.

Many chemically sensitive people have recommended Deoderoc, which is also made of natural minerals (possibly zeolite) and is reported to work well.

Mineral Technologies to Break Down Odors

1. ZorbX is an interesting product. They don’t mention any ingredient which is normally a red flag for me. By reading the patent one could guess that it is made of zinc salt of ricinoleic acid, and a solubility promoter including sodium iminodisuccinate, and water.

Some versions of Zorbx are unscented though the patent says they might contain antifungals (which I have had problems with in the past). Not knowing what’s in it and if it contains an antifungal makes me a little wary, however, I go by my own reactions to products.

2. EnviroKlenze is a company that makes many odor-neutralizing sprays made of minerals and metals. They have quite a few formulas but they are all very similar. Folks do report that these work well on some odors and not as well on others.

Their Everyday Odor Eliminator is one of the products that can be used around the house. It contains, magnesium hydroxide/magnesium oxide, zinc oxide and titanium oxide. Titanium oxide is one that I have concerns about breathing in if it does get into dust form.

Essential Oils for the Chemically Sensitive?

A water free essential oils nebuliser

Many people with chemical sensitivities don’t tolerate essential oils. Know that this can be an accessibility barrier. If you are selling a house this may not be the best natural air freshener.

If you do tolerate them, you should use a water-free nebulizer (so that you don’t raise humidity too much).

Keep in mind, in attached housing, this affects neighbors (who might be chemically sensitive).

The most tolerable essential oils tend to be vanilla, citrus, as well as peppermint. But individual tolerance varies greatly.

If diffusing is too harsh, you can dilute oils and spray them around the house, or put them on cotton balls in strategic places.

Related Posts:

  • Non-toxic alternatives to Febreeze
  • Cleaning products for the chemically sensitive
  • Removing Febreeze, smoke, and other chemical residues

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Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 7 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. I have lived with environmental sensitivities for most of my life.

For individual help on choosing the best products and materials for you and your home, you can schedule a consultation with me here.

Filed Under: Healthy Interiors Tagged With: healthy cleaning products, healthy interiors

Non-Toxic Closet & Shelving Systems

August 8, 2021 by Corinne 1 Comment

Non-toxic healthy closet, storage, and organization systems should be made of materials that do not offgas VOCs or are extremely low in VOCs.

The following options can be considered for the chemically sensitive or those avoiding toxins for health reasons.

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

Solid Wood Closets and Shelving

A non-toxic real wood closet system

Most closet systems are made with engineered wood. Lundia USA is one company that makes beautiful solid wood closet systems.

The framing, drawers, and shelves are all solid pine. These are not just for bedroom closets – they make systems that work well for any kind of storage shelving area.

When using solid wood don’t forget to consider the wood glues used and the paint or finish.

If you would like to block the natural odorants of pine you can paint it and/or coat it with shellac. The safest wood glues are listed here.

Metal Shelving Organizer Systems

A metal closet system

Metal closet systems are certainly the most inert material on the list as it has no natural or chemical offgassing at all.

Metal that is powder coated or coated with an epoxy paint is usually totally cured by the time it gets to you so there usually isn’t any offgassing of VOCs at all.

The type to avoid is metal racking that is coated in PVC vinyl.

For simple systems that are going to be safe and healthy for just about everyone, metal is often the way to go.

Many companies make safe metal closet systems that have framing, shelves, and pull-out baskets/drawers made of wire or mesh metal.

The brand pictured is Rubbermaid.

Walmart has a great selection of inert metal closet systems.

Similar metal systems include the Elfa system from The Container Store and IKEA systems like the JONAXEL.

Plastic Shelving Systems

A plastic cubby shelving system

There are a number of polypropylene-based shelving systems available at big retailers.

Polypropylene is one of the safest plastics, especially if you are not heating it up or eating off of it. It generally does not offgas VOCs and it doesn’t contain BPA or phthalates and so it is safe, at least for non-food usage.

If you want a simple closet system, plastic is not a bad way to go. The one pictured is around $100 on Amazon.

You can also find these modular boxes in clear, white, and other colors. It can come in under $30 for 6 boxes.

The Container Store also has a good selection of polypropylene drawer systems.

Plywood-Based Closets and Shelving

Sheets of plywood

After solid wood, plywood is the next safest wood product to build a closet or shelving system out of.

Columbia Forest Products Purebond Plywood is made without any formaldehyde adhesives and some sensitive people prefer this type.

You could make the closet yourself, have a carpenter custom build one, or go with a company like Southern Stone Cabinets that uses Purebond Plywood as an option for their closets.

I also think that regular plywood made with phenol-formaldehyde is very fast to offgas to undetectable levels and that will also work for many people. It’s certainly far healthier than particleboard, HDF, or MDF which have higher levels of formaldehyde.

A lot of furniture plywood comes prefinished with a UV cured water-based polyurethane finish, which doesn’t have any offgassing. But if you wanted to finish it yourself, you can check out the posts on healthy sealers and healthy paints.

PS. Cedar blocks are a non-toxic moth repellant for closets

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

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

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Hi, I’m Corinne, I am a Certified Building Biologist Practitioner with 7 years of experience helping people create healthy homes.

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