A while ago, I received a new rug that I had ordered for my home. When I unpacked it in the room, the chemical odor was overpowering. Luckily, the rug wasn’t for a kid’s room, but it easily could have been. Unfortunately, this is an issue that occurs so often when redecorating. Brand new items are factory fresh and often come with lots of finishing chemicals and VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
One way to avoid the chance of these toxic chemicals is to buy from brands that are eco-friendly, Greenguard certified and that use non-toxic paints and finishes. Though, often even these products can come with their own set of problems. And no matter how careful or cautious you try to be, there is always going to be that one item that was purchased as a gift that completely offsets your eco-friendly vibe.
1. Falling Dot Organic Crib Sheets | 2. Sage Organic Cotton Baby Towels | 3. Organic Breathable Crib Mattress | 4. GOTS Certified Floral Antique Rug | 5. Greenguard Gold Certified Gelato Convertible Crib | 6. Non-Toxic Milo Nursery Swivel Glider | 7. Vera Organic Cotton Bed Canopy | 8. Puracy Natural & Organic Baby Care Set | 9. Arroyo Organic Knit Baby Blanket | 10. Sublime Organic Cotton Pillow
I’ve put together a round up of non-toxic and organic baby products that I love, and have also organized some of my tips on how to help you to avoid harmful chemicals and minimize any existing odors you might already have in your nursery, kid’s room, or home. I go into more detail about this in my book, Your Perfect Nursery, if you happen to also be planning your nursery design!
Do your research. Do your best to find out as much information about the company that you plan to purchase from. Give the company a call and ask for information regarding the types of chemicals that they use. Often times, the representative will avoid answering or will not have access to the necessary information. Companies that have nothing to hide will be open with their information and will be able to reassure you regarding the safety of their products.
Beware of humidity. Humidity is likely to make matters worse. For humid environments, be sure to keep windows closed and ensure the AC is running. Supplement with the addition of a dehumidifier until the odors suffice (if you have an infant, run this by your doctor first). Airflow is always good as well, so consider a ceiling fan or table fan to help circulate the air.
Harlow Acrylic Crib – Greenguard Gold Certified
Air it out. Anytime you receive a new item for the nursery, even if it’s low VOC, unbox it and let it air out. If possible, place the item directly outside in the fresh air. If this is not a possibility, the garage or a room with windows that can be opened alongside the addition of a ceiling fan will also do. For rugs, be sure to vacuum them a few times when they are new. For any items that are washable, go ahead and wash them several times with a non-toxic detergent.
Sprinkle on the baking soda. If all else has failed, try out baking soda. Be sure to double check care labels and spot check before attempting full-on! For rugs, simply sprinkle on the baking powder generously, let it sit for a period of time and then vacuum it (you may have to vacuum a few times depending). For items that can be washed, sprinkle the baking soda on top and then throw it into the wash. You can also add vinegar to your wash cycle. Always be sure to check your washing machine as well to ensure that it is capable of handling this, of course. For furniture items such as dressers, sprinkle the baking soda inside the drawers, allow to sit overnight and then use a hand-vacuum to remove the excess.
Avoid VOCs in the first place. If you can, search out brands that are Greenguard certified. Just because a company uses the terms “eco-friendly” or “green” on its label does not mean that the items are all safe. Instead, find out if there is a certification involved. Although certified products are often more pricey, the payoff is well worthwhile. Pieces especially worth investing in are items that will be close to the baby’s face like the crib, mattresses, rugs and bedding.
Here are some more of my favorite products that are Greenguard Gold certified, organic, and/or non-toxic:
Babyletto Hudson Crib – This is a great modern crib that’s stylish and also Greenguard Gold certified. It’s also affordable, and comes in lots of colors.
Babyletto PureCore Non-Toxic Crib Mattress – This is a great option for a non-toxic crib mattress that’s not too expensive.
Naturepedic Organic Cotton Crib Mattress – If you’re willing to invest a little more in an organic crib mattress, this is a great one!
Pottery Barn Kids Organic Crib Sheets – PBKids actually has a ton of organic crib bedding in lots of fun patterns.
West Elm x PBK Phoebe Rocking Chair – Yes, you can even get a Greenguard Gold certified rocking chair. PBKids has a bunch!
Crate & Kids Organic Crib Sheets – Crate & Kids also has a great selection of organic crib bedding.
Ruggable Rugs – Have you heard of Ruggable? Well, they have machine washable rugs that aren’t treated with chemicals. Literally the perfect thing for a nursery!
West Elm Rugs – West Elm has a wide variety of natural and non-toxic rugs.
When in doubt, keep any products away from your baby until the smell has dissipated. Also, pregnant women should use extra caution! Sometimes VOCs can take weeks, or even months to off-gas enough to where the smell isn’t noticeable anymore. For the above mentioned rug I bought for my house, we spread it out in the garage over some boxes (so it had airflow underneath), and it took several weeks for the smell to dissipate.
If you want more info on non-toxic nursery practices, check out check out my book, Your Perfect Nursery, for a ton of in depth information about all things nursery!
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