Did you know that particle board and plywood furniture is a source of off-gassing? First of all, what in the world is off-gassing?
Off-gassing is the release of chemicals from items, such as new furniture, that we bring into our home (I'll list a few more offenders in just a bit). Formaldehyde is part of the glue that binds particle board together, and its gases are released into the air for a period of time. This can be unhealthy when new particleboard or plywood furniture is brought into a small, closed-off room.
What are some ways we can avoid inhaling these toxic fumes?
How to safely off-gas new furniture
Besides buying solid wood furniture rather than particle board, here are a few ideas to avoid the buildup of harmful chemicals in your home.
- Buy gently used furniture that has already had time to off-gas.
- Weather permitting, leave the furniture outside for a few days (or at least a day) to off-gas.
- Leave the furniture in an unused room for a few days and open the window, at least as long as the weather permits.
- If you must bring it inside, open up windows for as long as you're able, as a way to circulate air.
What are some ways you have safely off-gassed new furniture?
More surprising sources of off-gassing
Furniture is not the only source of chemical off-gassing, though. Here are a few others to look out for.
- Dryer sheets
- Air fresheners
- Commercial cleaning products
- Nail polish remover
- Electronics
- Non-stick pans
- Laser printers/photocopiers
The best way to avoid breathing in unhealthy fumes is to avoid these products where you can. For example, switch out dryer sheets for wool dryer balls and store-bought air fresheners for homemade alternatives. Make your own cleaning products. Use cast iron or stainless steel pans.
What are some ways you avoid chemical off-gassing in your everyday life?
Photo courtesy of Flickr / bfi
~ ~ ~
Your challenge: This week, consider the ways you can avoid off-gassing, whether from new furniture or other sources.
______________________________________________________
**This post is part of a weekly challenge {Go Green in 2014}, during
which the author has challenged herself - and you - to find 52 ways to
lead a greener life in 2014. You can follow the weekly posts on this page.**
No comments:
Post a Comment