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Question from Jennifer L.

Hello Debra,

My husband and I bought the “Trued and True” varnish and danish oil to finish our hardwood floor, due to concerns over our baby’s health while crawling. We hired a “professional” to do the work and unfortunately he did not follow the directions, and left it puddling on the floor for days! The floor has taken weeks to dry after wiping it clean.

Although it is now dry, there is a lingering odor that smells like the linseed oil. My question is, do you believe the smell/fumes to be harmful to little lungs even though it has been described as one of the least toxic floor finish by several sources? It is a no VOC product but the smell is so strong!

I should also mention that we are not moved into the house yet and we are turning the heat on 80 degrees at night with the windows closed and opening up the house during the day. I am afraid to turn the heat up too high for a bake out. Is this temperature OK?

Thanks very much for any help and advise you can give us!

–Jennifer

Debra’s Answer

This looks like a wonderful wood finish from the description on the Tried & True Wood Finishes website. All renewable resources, no VOCs, even meets the FDA food safe standards.

There’s nothing toxic here that I can see.

However, I have had experience in the past using other all-natural paints and wood finishes made from natural oils and resins as these are, and I find the odors from the natural resins themselves can be very strong. And they can take a long time to completely cure.

The instructions say to use a very small amount, so if instructions were not followed, there may be more resin offgassing than intended.

You’re going in the right direction with the heat.

I have no personal experience with this product. You can always contact the manufacturer with this kind of question. They should be able to tell you exactly what to do.

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