Question from Erika
I am planning to install all natural wool carpet in our bedrooms but I’m unsure of the carpet pad choices to go with.
I’m considering a frothed polyurethane cushion such as Healthier Choice. I like the springiness, low VOCs and no Penta Bromide additive, B.H.T., or 4-P.C. but does contain an antimicrobial which I’m unsure about.
Then there’s sponge rubber by Sponge Cushion Inc.
Alternatively and most cost effective, there’s synthetic felted pads consisting of either post-consumer or industrial (carpet manufacturing) recycled content. I’m wary of possible VOC or dust concerns and although fire retardants are not added, I wonder about possible residual fire retardants in the blend (http://www.shawhospitalitygroup.com/downloads/EcoFiber-TouchOverview.pdf or ).
I have not been able to source any other natural cotton or felt pads. I know there’s always wool padding but it’s the most pricey (I’m already spending a fortune on the carpet) and I do have some fears about moths possibly settling down into the pad. Your thoughts on this are much appreciated!
Debra’s Answer
This is part of why I don’t recommend carpets at all, and haven’t had a carpet for more than thirty years.
This is more than I can evaluate in a blog question, but if you would like to call me for a consultation , we can look at each of these products together and I can help you evaluate which one best meets your needs.
Readers, any suggestions for carpet pads?
I just wanted to update that I decided to go with Natures Carpet (I chose one from their greenest line which is completely chemical free) and a padding from Reliance Carpet Cushion which is a fiber pad essembles without any glues or chemicals. We had it installed last week and apart from the light straw smell eminating from the wool which is not at all bothersome, I am so very happy. Thanks to this website, I am relieved that I can make good decisions about using safe products in my home.
We bought a pet-safe pad, coated and sealed with plastic, to keep urine from leaching into the pad. It works, and we wouldn’t buy any other kind now. I have no idea what type of plastic, but there are oddles of problems with anything being able to leach into any carpet pad – liquids, body fluids, allergens, dander, mites…nasty. A sealed, impervious pad seems like a good alternative for you if you must have carpet. I don’t like carpet either, but my husband insisted on it in the bedrooms.
This company has carpet and offers a felted wool carpet pad.
http://www.organicandhealthy.com/naturescarpet.html
I used this:
http://www.rugpadcorner.com/ultra-premium-felt-and-rubber-rug-pads.aspx
They also have one without the natural rubber, that is just the felt. No glue, latex, adhesives, etc. You can call and talk to a live person and they were very forthcoming in answering questions. They told me it is natural rubber, if you get the one with rubber. When I got it and unrolled it, no smell and no reactions. I should note that I do not have MCS, so how it affects you may be different.
Erika, Where did you buy your all natural wool carpet? In what colors does it come?
E L Foust Co. sells a product called Lockout that you can spray on new carpet and it locks the chemicals in the carpet and pad and helps it to outgass at a bare unnoticable minimum. It is especially made for people with MCS (like me)
We just put a new carpet in the basement den and I was extremely sick for about a week until our shipment of lockout came and my husband put it down. Two days later, with the help of liquid zeolite I was able to detox out of this assault on my body and felt well again.
We have had the carpet for two weeks now and I have been fine…
Also http://www.Earthweave.com offers natural pad