Property/DIY
Share your tips for a 'non-toxic' house
Lullabybutterfly · 17/03/2023 13:36
I feel as though there is an awful lot of information out there about things that are probably quite bad for us (forever chemicals, phthalates, BPA etc etc) but trying to find 'healthier' alternatives on a budget is a minefield. I recently spent several days wading through lists of mattresses that don't contain chemical flame retardants (mostly costing thousands of pounds) before almost accidentally discovering that Silentnight do them at normal prices. I'm now researching the formaldehyde emissions of laminate flooring to try and find the lowest one, and trying to decide if that is better or worse than carpet for VOCs...
I'm fully aware that I'm a bit obsessive and most people probably don't give a second thought to this stuff, but if anyone else is like me and has wasted hours down these rabbit holes, maybe we could share some tips and save each other some time?
Hollyhocksandlarkspur · 17/03/2023 13:45
I think you’re right to be concerned and there are many of us who do worry about household products causing ill health and releasing toxins. Do you think a focus on natural products is the way to avoid some of this, e.g. we have solid wooden floors, plain linen curtains, feather filled cushions and avoid manmade fabrics and oil based products. I my own cleaning and some cosmetic products too for the same reasons, eg white vinegar and citrus surface cleaner. Really interested to hear what others think.
7Worfs · 17/03/2023 13:48
Interested in this as well - thank you for creating a thread, OP!
Pocketfullofdogtreats · 17/03/2023 13:52
I'm interested too. I have a septic tank and have to be careful what goes down there so buy citric acid, bicarb, lemons and write vinegar, which are all relatively cheap and between them do all the cleaning and also de-gunge the dishwasher etc.
Lullabybutterfly · 17/03/2023 14:38
I'm so glad I'm not the only one!
@Hollyhocksandlarkspur I definitely think natural is best, sounds like you have got a great set up! Everything I've read basically said solid wood is the only flooring that doesn't emit anything, but it's not always a practical or budget option, so I'm currently trying to find the least bad alternative.
I'm also with you on the curtains (apparently these often contain chemical fire retardants) and feather cushions - I have a reasonably priced down duvet and pillows from IKEA as well. And always use vinegar @Pocketfullofdogtreats ! For things that need a bit more cleaning oomph I tend to use Dr Bronner's Sal Suds (works on dishes and laundry too).
Lullabybutterfly · 17/03/2023 14:45
*and I always use vinegar
I haven't used citric acid though, so will give that a go too 😀
APurpleSquirrel · 17/03/2023 14:52
I'd also suggest you look into air-purifying plants like spider plants, snake plants etc which are good at filtering toxins from the air.
Onnabugeisha · 17/03/2023 14:57
I also go natural as much as possible in my home. Also stick to silentnight mattresses. Also do the natural fibres and fabrics.
One comment on solid wood floors- they have to be treated and sealed and depending on which ones used, can give off as much VOCs as laminate so the devil is in the details as to which is lower in toxins.
I have a water softener which means I’m not fighting lime scale or crunchy clothes with harsh cleaning chemicals or fabric softners. So having one is high on my list as I live in a very hard water area.
I think one thing to consider is indoor air quality. So don’t use sprays like febreze or perfumes like diffuser sticks, scented candles, body spray etc. Do open a window in every room for min ten minutes a day, even in winter unless you are urban in which case get an air purifier Blu is a good one- very energy efficient, quiet. Certain houseplants can also improve indoor air quality.
Spray deodorant kills a few people (even children) every year so I’d ban that.
Another is trying to cook from scratch as much as possible so as to avoid ingesting too many preservatives. On a side note, always use lump wood charcol for BBQs, never use charcoal briquettes.
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 17/03/2023 18:58
This is interesting - also try to be as natural here as possible with low voc paints, lots of plants, and natural materials. For carpets I bought 100% wool remnants from Designer Carpets, and I'll be getting wood flooring in the sale. Interesting about the sealants for wood being as bad as laminate - I'll have to make sure to look into these and not let the flooring installer have free reign
Pocketfullofdogtreats · 17/03/2023 19:27
Just a word about fire retardants - DH looped our front room curtains around the wall lights so they were out of the way while he painted the skirting boards and then switched the lights on! Wondered what the funny smell was! So I am very pleased that my lovely curtains (from the Natural Curtain Company) have fire-retardants.
EffortlessDesmond · 17/03/2023 20:24
I had massive moth problems with 100% wool carpets last year, and now have moth infestation in sweaters. So wool may be natural, but it brings its own issues.
OuiLaLa · 17/03/2023 21:15
We also had a huge moth problem with the carpets we inherited here!
I don’t gave to much to add yet apart from I’m a stickler for water based paints and actually find farrow and call really easy to use- but following as we are renovating and I care about this stuff.
Great thread idea!
Onnabugeisha · 17/03/2023 21:40
EffortlessDesmond · 17/03/2023 20:24
I had massive moth problems with 100% wool carpets last year, and now have moth infestation in sweaters. So wool may be natural, but it brings its own issues.
This is true and why we went with wood & ceramic tile floors with wool rugs to go on top for warmth and cosiness. We ensure the rugs don’t go under any furniture and every cm is hoovered twice a week. The wood or tile floor under is swept and mopped once a week. Every 3yrs, the rugs get rolled up and sent to specialist rug cleaners (the rugs are quite valuable).
The thing with moths is they like dark, undisturbed areas. To prevent them you have to Hoover every cm of the wool carpet a minimum of once a week. If you have carpet- you’re going to have furniture on it. Often heavy furniture. And no one can be shifting wardrobes, beds, sofas and such to hoover under them every week. That’s just not realistic with everyone’s busy lives these days.
So I’d never install wool carpet- except on stairs and in hallways- because it’s too much work to prevent moths.
johnd2 · 17/03/2023 21:54
I would recommend getting a ventilation system. Then whatever is inevitably in the air will be regularly diluted.
You can get heat recovery ones which save on cool draughts but any kind is fine, even just loft positive vent system would be better than nothing.
Lullabybutterfly · 17/03/2023 22:10
Thanks everyone, lots of great tips! I spent some time researching low VOC paints @OuiLaLa and @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 and even bought some ridiculously priced paint from Lakeland which was apparently the most natural. But then I listened to a podcast (The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread) where they interviewed some experts who basically said virtually all paint is low VOC now and once it's dried it makes no difference which one you used. So I'm going back to the cheap ones!
I find it hard to navigate the 'non-toxic' world, as a lot of people make a lot of claims about their products, and it can be really hard work unpicking what is really going to make a difference to your health, and what is just clever marketing.
JaninaDuszejko · 18/03/2023 20:59
Kate Watson Smyth of Mad About the House does a Do Less Harm Directory which you'll probably find useful.
With flooring, does anyone know if there are there any issues with linoleum (the proper stuff made from linseed oil, not the PVC plastic stuff) or cork?
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