9 Toxic Chemicals to Avoid in Furniture
with founder Deborah DiMare
Watch this 3 minute VIDEO. DEBORAH lists 9 CHEMICALS YOU MUST AVOID IN FURNITURE!
Here are nine chemicals that are in everyday fabrics, mattresses, and furniture. And these are things for you to keep an eye out for when you're getting ready to buy furniture.
PBTE flame retardants. A recent study found these chemicals are the greatest contributor to intellectual disabilities like ADHD and autism. That's one.
PFAS. They're in really pretty much everything, including upholstery, and it's called the forever chemical. A recent study found PFAS was detected in the blood of 97% of Americans, including babies and children.
Formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is actually in tons of fabrics, and it's one of the biggest chemicals in leather. Very, very dangerous. And also in wrinkle-free sheets. Don't ever buy wrinkle-free sheets. They contain formaldehyde.
Azo dyes, this dye is banned in Europe. So if you buy a printed fabric, for example, or a printed set of sheets, and it does not say that there's azo dyes in it, you can assume the dye is in the fabric. So don't buy them.
Chlorine, it’s used in the process of cleaning wool.
Wool also contains a ton of pesticides, which is next on my list. Most animal-based materials contain pesticides. Even if they say they don't in the final product, they had pesticides in them from the beginning. So they're never free.
Phthalates, a class of chemicals used in nearly every consumer product from plastics to tablecloths. As for furniture, they can be found in floor tiles, furniture, upholstery and carpet backings. More than 470 million pounds of phthalates are produced or imported in the US yearly.
Arsenic, another chemical that is also found in leather and many other animal skins. Arsenic. Crazy, right? Tanneries are one of the most toxic industries in the world. That's where the skins are tanned. Leather is really the skin of a dead animal. Correct? So if you just leave it there, it's going to rot, just like a scab that we have on our skin. So leather has to be soaked in chemicals, just like any other animal-based material.
And last, chromium, a lethal chemical also used in the tanning process of leather.
So those are nine chemicals to stay away from.
Join my Facebook Community “Design for a Non-Toxic & Cruelty-Free Home.
Wish to receive more articles like this? Subscribe to my newsletter.
Check out our non-toxic and cruelty-free Amazon shop.
Learn how to design spaces that are non-toxic, non-animal based (vegan), and promote wellbeing,
by subscribing to our Youtube Channel.
🌸 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 🌸
Have you taken our newest beginner course?!
Learn more about the Online Nursery & Kids Room Design Course.
Need help finding non-toxic and cruelty-free furniture & decor?
Check our Resource Guide (150+ brands!)
Need help creating a safe & healthy home for you & your family?
BOOK US for a 20-minute call!
Need even more family-friendly home design tips?
Check out our FREE 23 Chemical and Cruelty Free Design Tips Sheet
Here’s a link to a financial guide for parents of children with disabilities
Why go vegan on your mattress
Meghan Markle and her choice of nursery paint
Apps for kids with Autism
Check out a complete guide to renovating your kitchen
Creating a Chemical Stress-Free Home
Bentley Goes Vegan and Leather Alternatives 101
Why You Should Always Say Yes to a Nursery Design Project
31 Best Outdoor Furniture Stores to Turn Your Space Into an Oasis
Just a heads up, this article may contain links to affiliate sites, products or services. If you purchase something through one of those links, you won’t pay a penny more! The affiliate simply provides us with a small commission which helps us fund our operations, promoting healthy & compassionate interior decorating.
