Question from Gigi
I have to decide whether it would still be advisable for me to purchase wool mattresses and bedding.
I will be repainting my entire interior walls with low or no VOC latex paints. However, it seems as if I have no choice but to prime some of my walls with an oil-based primer first due to the fact that all of the painted walls have oil-based paint, and SOME of those were had texture, and/or wall paper. This is the case for the bedrooms for which I wanted to place wool mattresses in. However, I remember reading somewhere (I think on this blog) that wool absorbs formaldehyde. Can I bake out the primer after I paint over it with latex and once that is done, purchase my wool mattresses? Or do I have to choose between the oil-based primer and the wool mattresses and bedding? It looks as if mudding the entire interior wall surface is not feasible. Do you have any other recommendations? I would not like to lay in a bed that is full of formaldehyde due to absorbing the outgassing.
Debra’s Answer
I just learned of a product called Enviro-3000, which is a very low odor, zero VOC primer and sealer. I haven’t used it yet myself, but I heard about it through someone who had used it that has a wife who is chemically sensitive, and she tolerated it. It can be used on most surfaces, so you might see if you can used that instead of oil-based primer.
It will take a lot of time or heat to cure the oil-based primer. If it is the only option, apply the primer and dry it thoroughly with heat before applying the paint and brining in the wool mattress.
