Wax oils for wood
You don't need industrial yacht varnish to protect your expensive hard wood flooring from stilettoes tramping all over it. There are several entirely natural hard wax oils that offer resilient protection with no fear of bubbling or blistering, and will actually condition the wood with natural vegetable oils and waxes. Once treated, the floor can be kept in perfect condition without having to strip it back for renovation, necessary with most synthetic varnishes. Try Eco Shop's transparent hard wax (from £1.70) for furniture and wooden floors.
Chemical brothers
Some products aren’t as natural as they seem, due to ‘pre-treatments’. Tanalith (which contains arsenic) and Protim are common and highly toxic chemicals applied to wood to protect it from insect or fungus attacks. Over the last fifty years some incredibly toxic chemicals have been introduced into our homes and buildings in the cause of timber treatment, where an entirely natural product, like linseed oil (£3.45 for 500ml) from Godfrey's DIY, will do the job. If you are having new windows, doors or sills fitted, it's worth checking if the wood has been pre-treated.
Low toxic wallpaper
When it comes to pasting it up there’s a simple recipe for a toxic-free paste at Care2.com. If homemade paste is not an option for you, this low VOC fungicide free wallpaper paste (£4.11) is available from Urbane Living. When it comes to the wallpaper itself, choose those made with water-based inks or paints. Farrow & Ball have a great selection, and Graham & Brown has teamed up with talented students from Central St.Martins to launch eco-wallpapers that highlight environmental issues. We like their rainforest design (£25 per roll).
If you don’t DIY...
An increasing number of contractors and one-man bands offer a full eco-friendly decorating service. They source and use all-natural low-VOC or toxic-free products and are experienced at the proper application of the products they use, so all you have to worry about is the bill. Try Garry Potter, Pure Paint or Eco Decorator for a quote.
Short cut materials
MDF, plywood, particleboard and pressed wood are increasingly popular DIY choices. Be aware that most of these composite materials are treated with formaldehyde, which is highly toxic and affects our neurological and immune systems. They can also still be ‘off-gassing’ (radiating toxins into the air) up to five years later. If you still want to use it then it’s best to get it cut off-site at the wood merchants, and if possible sealed with a low VOC sealant before installation. The Forest Commission-backed site Wood For Good offers details of suppliers as well as tips for building with sustainable wood. Friends of the Earth’s Good Wood Guide is another useful tool for basic tips on buying wood.
Give the world a chance - feed your eco hunger and read our guide to reclaimed furniture and buying green wood.
