Question from Lost in Maryland

I am in the process of buying new furniture and am trying to buy the safest and least expensive options possible. I was looking for natural materials, such as metal and unfinished solid wood. Ikea has these items for great prices as many know.

However, I realized that Ikea’s “solid” wood is really pieces of wood glued together. My first question was whether this is the normal practice of “solid” wood or if ikea can just market it this way and still be correct. And mostly…is the glue used to glue these pieces together toxic? Am I defeating the purpose of buying unfinished solid wood by buying items that are actually solid pieces of wood glued together?

Also, if I turn to the option of metal furniture…ikea identifies a metal frame as Frame/ Frame: Steel, Pigmented epoxy/polyester powder coating. Is the pigmented epoxy/polyester powder coating safe? Is it inert once it is on the metal, or does it still offgas? What about lacquered products? Does lacquer offgas during its full lifetime, or only while it is drying?

Also, I ended buying a bench from ikea that was “solid” wood and had been treated only with wood treatment oil, which i found out is linseed oil with an added metallic drying agent…don’t know if this metallic drying agent is toxic either.

Perhaps I am being too picky here, but Debra’s Home Safe Home only specifies to look for natural materials like solid wood or metal. Thanks for any comments/and or suggestions!

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know if there is a legal definition for “solid wood,” but is generally refers to a solid piece of wood, not pieces of wood glued together. If there is no legal definition, IKEA would not be in violation, but may be fraudulent, as the word “solid” means “not interrupted”. Something solid needs to be all of one piece.

The glue used to adhere strips of wood together may or may not be toxic, depending on what glue was used. I personally have a table made of blocks of wood glued together, which I found to be acceptable. So with glued-together wood pieces, one needs to be watchful for toxic glues, but don’t assume all are toxic. The sniff test is adequate, as an MSDS may show something toxic, but by the time it is dry would be inert.

Metal frames are coated with finishes that are baked on. In general, I consider them to be nontoxic (however, I just want to add with space heaters specifically, the heat from the heater can cause the finish to outgas for a period of time).

Metallic drying agents may or may not be toxic, depending on the metal and the amount used.

When I am choosing furniture, I generally smell it, and if I can’t smell anything and I don’t have any reactions, I buy it if I want it. The biggest problems are particleboard, some plywoods, the finishes, and glues. I’ve had no problems with any unfinished solid wood or coated metal furniture I have purchased.

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Question from Donna

Anyone have any green ideas for removing wallpaper?

Thanks,

Donna

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from Gina

I hope you can help me. I bought a chair from Norwalk furniture for $1,200.00 2 years ago and it still smells. My plan is to reupholster it and use natural latex foam but once the toxic foam is removed do you think the wood frame will have obsorbed some of the toxic chemicals from the foam, fire retardent etc..the latex foam should cost about $200, hemp fabric $150 labor $300.??.I just don’t know if it’s even worth the trouble…

Debra’s Answer

Wood is somewhat porous so it can absorb contaminants, however, it can also release them.

I have stripped down old chairs and reupholstered them and they turned out very well.

I would sugggest that you remove the existing upholstery and foam first to determine that the frame itself is acceptable before you hand it over to the upholsterer. If there seem to be fumes, putting it out in the sun should take care of them.

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Question from ib

Hello Debra,

First of all thank you for your valuable information.

If you wash organic clothing or towels with non-organic clothing, does it affect the organic item, will the organic item become non-organic?

Thank you

ib

Debra’s Answer

Hmmmm…hadn’t thought about that before.

Since pesticide residues do not remain by the time cotton is processed into fabric, no pesticides would be released from non-organic clothing. And if the dyes are colorfast, they would not be released either. That would leave fabric finishes, but they are not removed by washing either, so I would say, your organic clothing should remain organic even when washed with non-organic clothing.

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Question from Suzanne

Is there a propane that would be considered less toxic, or non-toxic?

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know of one. My understanding is that what makes a difference is the completeness of combustion of the gas–less complete combustion produces more toxic combustion by-products.

Readers?

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Question from Dana

Hi Debra,

I have some old vinyl floor tiles that are breaking apart and peeling off. I noticed underneath the tiles is some perfectly good wood flooring! I can get the tiles off easily enough but what can I use to remove the adhesive underneath?

Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

Readers? What nontoxic product have you had success with?

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Question from Nadine

Just wondering if agave can be used to make homemade alcoholic drinks in order to avoid refined sugar? If yes, what would be the measurement?

Thanks

Nadine

Debra’s Answer

I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work

Agave can usually be substituted equally for refined white sugar, so use the normal amount at first and adjust to taste.

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Question from Suzanne Olson

My neighbor just bought a propane barbecue, and the fumes put me out of the house. Is propane the problem, or is it the new barbecue out gassing?

Debra’s Answer

I’d say it was the propane. Barbeques have a baked-on finish that usually doesn’t emit fumes.

Question from Sara

Hi Debra, I am expecting my baby in 1 month and I need to get a good crib mattress, and I have been reading alot on line, but still feel confused on what to get for my baby crib ( pacific rim ), I have read about different types of organic non-toxic mattress. I am worried that with no special cover to keep the vomit/ urine/ moisture away, that over time there would be problems with mold and other things in the mattress, I am not sure if the wool inside the mattress or the wool puddle pads will be enough to keep all the accidental spills away. Is there a special plastic cover that can be used to prevent this problem, but also will be safe and non-toxic. sorry for the long question, but I am not sure what is the best thing to do, I haven’t seen an organic mattress up close, but it looks like you can’t just wipe it like the regular mattress.

thanks for your help,

Debra’s Answer

Since I have no personal, first hand experience with this, readers, could you answer these questions about natural crib mattresses?

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Question from sheila norgate

Hello Debra. First off, thanks so much for doing the webinar tonight. I appreciate it – and your efforts – very much.

With bottled water, how do we get around the problem of the plastic leaching into the water? I use a metal water bottle and refill it but there are times when I have to buy bottled water which of course comes in plastic only.

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Debra’s Answer

There is no way to get around the problem of plastic leaching into the water if you buy water in plastic bottles. There are times when I, too, need to buy water in plastic bottles. And we just need to do it. Consider the options: no water leads to dehydration and death, bottled water gives some plastic leaching, tap water contains even more toxic chemicals. So do the best you can and use bottled water only when necessary to prevent dehydration.

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