Renew Your Room

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Renew Your Room

_http://www.motherearthnews.com/print-article.aspx?id=74264_

(http://www.motherearthnews.com/print-article.aspx?id=74264)

By Claire Anderson

A bedroom should be a clean, comfortable haven from a stressful world, but

many of the comfort items with which we surround ourselves can unintentionally

cause us more harm than good. To make sure your sleeping quarters are as “

green†as possible, just follow these easy strategies.

First, when it’s time to repaint, be sure to use no-VOC or low-VOC paints —

you’ll get the benefits of both a new look and a healthier environment. VOC

stands for volatile organic compounds — a class of chemicals you don’t want

for a sleeping partner. (See below for more about VOCs.)

Now for your furniture. Choose solid-wood new or used furniture. Both are

healthy alternatives to furniture made of particleboard, which can release

toxic formaldehyde into the air.

Strip down to a bare floor, too, if you can. Instead of wall-to-wall

carpeting, opt for colorful area rugs. For great bedroom floor accents,

consider

washable organic cotton throws, sheepskins or wool rugs with natural rubber or

jute backing.

Next, check out natural fiber mattresses, linens and curtains; there’s a

world of cozy comfort on the market in organic cotton bedding and window

dressings. And mattresses made of organic cotton or wool are out there, too.

The same reasons you should opt for no-VOC paints and solid-wood furniture

also extend to going “green†with your bedroom’s fiber products.

According to

Maureen Marchetta, program director at the _Children’s Health Environmental

Coalition_ (http://www.checnet.org/improve_main.asp) , Americans now face

pollution risks from indoor exposure to more than 80,000 synthetic chemicals.

“Most have not been assessed for their potential to cause harm to human

health, but a growing body of scientific evidence indicates that indoor air can

be more polluted than outdoor air, even in industrialized cities,†she says.

Indeed, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found indoor levels of “a

dozen common pollutants to be two to five times†higher than outside air.

Homes that are sealed tightly to improve energy efficiency may trap VOCs that

slowly release from particleboard, vinyl wallcoverings, carpeting, paint,

fabrics and cleaning products. The EPA says many VOCs are respiratory irritants

and can inflame the nose, throat and lungs. Some even have been linked to brain

damage, birth defects and cancer.

Marchetta says many chronic health problems such as asthma and multiple

chemical sensitivity, which are tied in part to indoor air pollution, may be

preventable. “Indoor air pollution increases risks both for developing

disease

and for setting off asthma attacks,†she says, “and since we spend a

significant portion of our lives sleeping, the environmental health of our

bedroom

should be a high priority.â€

She recommends being “an informed consumer†and pursuing green options

whenever you can. Here are some specific reasons why:

Furniture. A major source of household VOC pollution comes from

formaldehyde, a chemical found in furniture and fabrics, as well as adhesives,

paints and

plastics. Particleboard products, fabricated from chips of shaved wood held

together by a chemical resin, all release small amounts of formaldehyde, a

suspected carcinogen and known respiratory irritant that causes asthma attacks,

headaches, and irritation to the eyes, nose, throat and skin, according to

the EPA.

Emissions decrease with time, so older furniture usually will have offgassed

sufficiently.

Carpet and flooring. Synthetic carpeting and padding can be one of the

biggest sources of air pollution in your bedroom. A study by the U.S. Consumer

Product Safety Commission identified more than 31 different chemicals in

carpeting that outgas over time. Besides its chemical content, carpet attracts

and

holds other household toxins, dirt and dust.

Bedding. Opt for organic cotton sheets or “green†cotton sheets.

“Greenâ€

cotton is processed without bleaches, dyes and other chemicals, although the

cotton may have been grown with pesticides. Organic cotton sheets are more

expensive, but, unlike sheets marked “permanent press,†they are not coated

with formaldehyde resins to keep them wrinkle-free.

Organic cotton also is a good choice for mattresses, as is wool, which is

inherently flame-resistant. Most mattresses are treated with stain-resistant

finishes and flame retardants, such as polybrominated diphenylethers, which are

toxins known to accumulate in the body.

Marchetta says the chemicals in conventional mattresses dissipate over time.

To avoid the increase of biological contaminants such as dust mold and

mites, “don’t allow your mattress to get damp,†Marchetta says. “Wash

your

bedding in hot water at least once a week and keep household humidity low to

discourage mold and mildew.â€

Cleaners and clutter. You don’t need harsh chemicals to keep your bedroom

clean. To bust dust, use real wool dusting cloths or cotton rags. Wipe floors

and window sills at least once a week with a damp mop or cloth.

Many commercial furniture waxes and polishes contain toxic petroleum

solvents. For nontoxic polish, make your own blend of 10 drops lemon oil, 2

tablespoons lemon juice and a few drops of jojoba oil.

To perfume your room safely, try dried herbs and leaves such as lavender or

eucalyptus, or pure essential oils. For a quick, fragrant pick-me-up, mix

several drops of a pure essential oil with some grain alcohol in a spray

bottle.

And last but certainly not least, keep your bedroom as free of clutter as

you can. By eliminating places for dust to collect, you also reduce the stress

clutter can cause.

Atmosphere. After you’ve redone your bedroom in “green,†open those

windows

whenever you can to let some fresh air in, and use a window fan to keep it

circulating. If you live where the outside air is less than stellar, consider

using an air filter. The EPA says room-sized High Efficiency Particle Air

filters, or HEPA filters for short, can remove up to 99 percent of dust

particles, including asbestos, although air cleaners generally are not designed

to

remove VOCs and other gaseous pollutants.

Slumber Sweetly, Safely Organic cotton and natural bedding

_Abundant Earth_ (http://www.abundantearth.com/) . Sheets and mattresses:

(888) 513-2784

_EcoChoices_ (http://www.ecobedroom.com/) . Organic cotton, hemp and wool

mattresses: (626) 969-3707

_Obasan_ (http://www.obasan.ca/) . Organic cotton and wool sleep systems

(innerspring, rubber mattresses, natural futons): (800) 313-3799

_Shepherd’s Dream_ (http://www.shepherdsdream.com/) . Wool bedding and

mattresses: (800) 966-5540

_Tomorrow’s World_ (http://tomorrowsworld.com/) . Organic clothing and

bedding: (800) 229-7571

Visit _OrganicConsumers.org_

(http://www.organicconsumers.org/btc/BuyingGuide.cfm) for a listing by state

of shops that offer organic cotton products.

Natural rugs and carpeting

_Abundant Earth_ (http://www.abundantearth.com/) . Hemp area rugs: (888)

513-2784

_Earth Weave_ (http://www.earthweave.com/) . Hemp wall-to-wall carpeting and

wool-based carpet padding: (706) 278-8200

Greener cleaners

_Planet Natural_ (http://www.planetnatural.com/) . (800) 289-6656

_Seventh Generation_ (http://www.seventhgeneration.com/) . (800) 456-1191,

or at natural food and grocery stores nationwide.