Breathe Easy

You’ve learned how to prepare kale in 18 different ways. And you’d never think of eating a nonorganic strawberry, but have you considered how toxins are seeping into the air from just about everything in your home? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, our indoor air is three times more polluted than outdoor air. And we spend 90 percent of our time indoors. What to do?

Wake Up Call
Most of us spend more time in bed than anywhere else in the house (with the possible exception of couch potatoes). Did you know that most mattresses are made of synthetic materials known for outgassing potentially toxic fumes—petroleum-based pesticides, herbicides, flame-retardants, and other materials linked to cancer and nervous system disorders? When Beth Lee Schlendorf began to get headaches after purchasing a memory foam mattress a couple of years ago, she discovered it was comprised of more than 60 chemicals. In fact it was so stinky she was advised to air it out for two days. She did more than that: she tossed it.

After researching the mattress industry, she left her banking career and opened Bliss Sleep Center, a Water Mill shop specializing in reasonably priced organic mattresses made of latex, cotton and wool, which are naturally flame-retardant and dust, mold, and mildew resistant. Bliss also carries organic toppers, duvets, dog beds, and pillows made with nine different fillings from buckwheat to kapok, a cotton-like seedpod from the rainforest.

Pull the Rug Out
Most carpets are made from petroleum byproducts and synthetics…that’s before being treated with stain repellents, antistatic sprays, artificial dyes, and antimicrobial treatments. Never mind the poisons used in the backing and padding. The more natural the fiber, the more likely it’s nontoxic–but not necessarily. Even “100 percent wool” can be treated. Look for rugs made from organic cotton or wool or more exotic materials like hemp, bamboo, sisal, jute, sea grass, coir (coconut husk) and even corn leaves and stalks (GMO-free, please). If a rug is dyed be sure it is vegetable-based, not synthetic. Flor, a brand of chic carpet “tiles” “meet or exceed the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label Plus standards for low VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). And they’re uber stylish.

Color Me Healthy
Paints notoriously give off noxious fumes—for years and years. Jeez, remember when they were lead based? Luckily today there are many low and no-VOC paints on the market made from natural ingredients like water, milk casein, latex, plant oils, resins, and even essential oils. Here’s a sampling of paints containing no VOCs: Benjamin Moore Natura (100% acrylic); Bioshield (odorless powder-based paint made from earthborn clays and pigments); Yolo Colorhouse (created by Portland artists); Sherwin-Williams Harmony (soy and sunflower oils).

FormaldeHell-No
Use a builder who knows about these things such as John Barrows of P3 Builder Group, who is also a “green consultant.” He recommends making sure your contractor substitutes the usual medium-density fiberboard (used for millwork or case goods) with a version that is low in urea and formaldehyde. Bellmont Cabinets, which come in woods including alder, bamboo, and cherry, are made in Washington State in an eco-friendly manufacturing process and meet the CPA standards for low formaldehyde levels.

Décor to Dye For
East Hampton interior designer Barbara Feldman has amassed a collection of nontoxic fabrics that she uses on wall coverings, window treatments and upholstery in the “family friendly” spaces she designs. Because she requires they be child and pet proof, they must also be “cleanable”–by nontoxic products whenever possible. She uses “solution dye” textiles in an array of “Hampton-y” colors, textures and patterns that can—believe it or not—actually be bleached without losing their integrity.

“When I make a sofa I’m very careful about using nontoxic, antimicrobial and hypoallergenic fabrics and fills in pillows,” she says. “It’s best to avoid fabrics that have protective coatings.” She recommends Crypton, a manufacturer that makes 100-percent wool with heavy-metal-free dyes.  “Nontoxic fabrics are not treated with insecticides, fungicides or herbicides and are printed with patterns using VOC-free, water-based ink. The trade off is that they are hard to keep clean, but be careful of anything labeled ‘easy care’ or ‘no-iron,’ because they are usually treated with formaldehyde.”

Breath of Fresh Air
If all else fails, at least you can go literally green by adding botanical accents to your home. Certain houseplants help rid the air of pollutants. The folks at NASA recommend 15 – 18 good size plants for an 1,800-square-foot house. They also published a list of the 10 best plants for purifying the air, the top three being bamboo palm, Chinese evergreen and English ivy.

Going Green
Look for GREENGUARD Certified products, which must meet stringent chemical emissions requirements, such as being screened for more than 10,000 VOCs. You read that right: 10,000! Check out their website for certified products from countertops to window treatments, and even the proverbial kitchen sink. www.greenguard.org

Green Depot is the Home Depot of eco-conscious home products selling items from air filters to PVC-free shower curtains. www.greendepot.com