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UPDATED: November 2021

Written by Maia & John

Finding a non-toxic mattress is super-important, but also super-confusing to work through. If your head hurts just looking at the length of this page, please feel free to email our Home Health Director, John, for individualized help. You can also call him at 802-613-3254.

This video is several years old (from the last time we updated this guide!), but everything in it still holds true. The only change is that Happsy mattress is also the very Best Stuff!

EXCLUSIVE NON-TOXIC MATTRESS COUPONS

The Best Discounts on our Best Stuff mattresses! We’ve negotiated these discounts for you. (See below, under Best Stuff and Good Stuff for Black Friday deals).

Plush Beds: $100 extra off, in addition to whatever other deals they’re running. Use code GIMME100.

Naturepedic: 15% off site-wide. Use code GIMME15.

Happsy: $225 off mattresses. Use code GIMME225. (With this discount, Happsy is the most affordable of the bunch.)

I hope these shortcuts are helpful for those of you looking to make a quick decision.

For the rest of you, read on for what to look for in a non-toxic mattress, the confusing world of certifications, and of course, our lists of Best, Good, Okay, Bad, and Sneaky mattress brands.

A Note on This Updated Guide

Thanks to the demands of customers like you, more and more mattress manufacturers have taken the steps to make truly safe mattresses with top-level certifications. This means that consumers have more choices – and our Best Stuff and Good Stuff categories have grown to include more brands than ever before.

We still believe that a fully-certified mattress is of the utmost importance. In this guide, we decided to give special attention to the brands that manufacture only toxin-free mattresses. Several mattress companies now have the proper certifications, but they are owned by other entities that make conventional (toxic) mattresses. Our updated Best Stuff category includes only the brands that a) have the top certifications that guarantee the mattresses they sell are free of all toxins, and b) aren’t owned by parent companies that pollute the environment by manufacturing toxic mattresses.

My Own Non-Toxic Mattress Choices

When I was pregnant for the first time, we decided to upgrade to a king-sized bed in anticipation of co-sleeping with our newborn.

Of course, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t agonize and research before making any purchase… and there was plenty to agonize over when it came to finding a non-toxic mattress!

At the time of writing this updated post, I have an 8-year-old and a 11-year-old, one of whom still spends a lot of time in our bed. I’m so glad I feel comfortable with (and comfortable on!) the non-toxic mattresses we chose, which is the Soaring Heart Zoned.

Our Top Pick for Non-Toxic Mattress

As you’ll see below, there are only three non-toxic mattress brands that qualify as the Best Stuff, thanks to their super-legit certifications and demonstrated commitment to safety and environmental responsibility.

We are both (Maia and John) now sleeping on Soaring Heart mattresses, which happen to also be the most comfortable, luxurious mattresses we’ve found.

Why a Non-Toxic Mattress Matters

I often tell my private consulting clients that their mattress is the very first thing they should upgrade when detoxing their homes. This is particularly true when it comes to a crib mattress.

The reason I feel so strongly about sleeping on a non-toxic mattress? Well, for one thing, babies and kids spend a lot of time sleeping, and even busy, night-owl grownups spend at least 25% of their lives in bed.

Moreover, there is evidence that your immune system works hardest at night, so it seems reasonable to make your sleep environment as clean as possible.

Toxins in Mattresses

Unfortunately, mattresses are loaded with noxious chemicals, including:

• Various petrochemicals. Indeed, MOST of what a conventional mattress is made of is petroleum-based.
• Polyurethane foam is the main ingredient in most mattresses. It’s composed of polyol and diisocyanate, both of which are derived from petroleum. Polyurethane is not environmentally-friendly and is dangerous for workers who work in its manufacturing.
• Flame-retardant chemicals are needed in part because polyurethane is so flammable. There is some good news on the flame-retardant front – more on that in a minute!
• Soybean foam is a Sneaky ingredient that sounds non-toxic. Unfortunately, the majority of this type of foam is still polyurethane.
• Synthetic latex, which usually made from styrene, a human carcinogen.
• Adhesives that may contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. Some organic manufacturers skip the glues all together–mattresses can be bound with thread, clips, or heat.

This chemical cocktail releases VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which are linked to a host of health problems, from respiratory irritation to cancer.

A Myth About Off-Gassing

Many of my clients think that their mattresses are okay if they are old because they have “already off-gassed.” Unfortunately, this is not true in the case of foam mattresses. In fact, as the foam degrades, more PBDEs (hormone-disrupting flame retardants) may be released.

Fire “Safety”: The Most Dangerous Part of Your Mattress

Mattresses are required by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to meet flammability laws, which previously meant that they were almost always treated with bromated or chlorinated flame-retardant chemicals, typically one of the first three on this list:

• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers. PBDEs are associated with hormone-disruption, and neurodevelopmental delays, including lowered IQ. The European Union has banned the use of PBDEs in electronic devices. Studies show that children in the United States have higher levels of PBDEs than adults do. Oh, and here’s the kicker: they don’t even work very well at stopping fires.
• Firemaster 550. This nasty chemical cocktail is made with bis (2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate (TBPH). Yes, you saw that word in there: phthalate. TBPH is nearly identical to to DEHP, the phthalate banned in children’s products (including mattresses!!) due to evidence of carcinogenicity and developmental toxicity.
• Chlorinated tris. This is the notorious chemical that was removed from children’s pajamas in the 1970s because it was shown to cause cancer.
• Halogen-free flame retardants. This newer class of chemicals (such as ammonium polyphosphate, aluminium diethyl phosphinate, and melamine polyphosphate) is believed to be much less likely to bioaccumulate than bromated flame retardants. I still prefer my mattresses to be free of even these.

In addition to these notoriously toxic flame retardants, companies may use some of the following ingredients to pass flammability tests: boric acid, silica, melamine, vinylidene chloride, and fiberglass.

Are Coils Bad Stuff?

There has been a lot of online chatter in recent years regarding metal coils in beds. We paid close attention to this and did some research, and arrived at the conclusion that steel springs present no known danger.

The bottom line is that there is no reason for concern. We simply cannot find any credible evidence showing that metal coils can act like an antenna and concentrate EMFs into our sleeping bodies.

What to Look for in a Non-Toxic Mattress

Now that you know what can make a mattress toxic, let me tell you about the materials and certifications that make up a non-toxic mattress. They include:

• Organic wool (untreated) is naturally flame- and mildew/dust mite-resistant.
• 100% natural latex (made from rubber trees) is safer than latex blends, which may contain petroleum-based polyurethane. You’ll probably read a lot about Talalay versus Dunlop latex in your search for an organic mattress. In terms of comfort, Dunlop is firmer and Talalay is lighter and softer. If you’re looking for a GOLS-certified mattress (more on this below), you’ll need to choose a mattress made of Dunlop latex.
• Organic cotton (grown in untreated soil, without pesticides) can be used for batting or mattress wrapping. There is a robust debate about whether or not the herbicides and pesticides used on cotton crops will wash/bleach out as the cotton is processed. Most studies show that it does, but some folks believe that a residue remains. We believe that the risk of sleeping on a mattress or sheets made from conventionally grown cotton are tiny. Still, for the good of the planet, we should all choose organically-grown cotton whenever possible. (Sadly, certified organic cotton is costly… about two times the cost of conventional.)
• Trusted certifications from third-party certifying bodies mean that some ingredients in the mattress have been vetted by organizations committed to improving air quality. This also means a safer sleeping surface for you. However, all certifications are not created equally!

If You Can’t Afford a Non-Toxic Mattress

Let’s say that you’ve looked all the way down to our Okay Stuff category, and checked out the coupons (top of this page), and you simply don’t have it in your budget to upgrade to a safe mattress right now. Unfortunately, there’s no way to wrap a mattress to protect yourself from VOCs. However, running a robust air filter will go a long way towards purifying your indoor air. This is the one I have in my bedroom, because while I do have a toxin-free mattress, I also have other furniture and rugs that aren’t as clean. I love knowing that the air filter is mitigating the damage!

Sign up for our newsletter to be alerted when we publish or update Safe Product Guides. Thank you so much for reading!

Non-Toxic Mattress Certifications

Sorting through mattress certifications is maddening. Here’s just some of why that is:

1. First of all, not all certifications are created equal – some offer great assurance that your new mattress will be non-toxic, while others are essentially meaningless.
2. What’s more, just because a company shows a certification doesn’t mean all of the material in that mattress is certified. One of our readers wrote to us about a mattress that contained Oeko-Tex 100 certified wool, but the company wouldn’t confirm that they solely purchase the wool from this source. Thus, in this case it would be impossible to know if the mattress you’re purchasing contains the certified wool or not (to say nothing of the other materials in this mattress).
3. Sometimes, a mattress will claim to have a certification that they don’t really have. One of the most common deceptive practices is when a manufacturer claims to have GOLS-certification for their latex mattress, and they even display the GOLS logo on their website. They might even show an actual copy of it on their website, complete with date and signatures. If, however, the certificate is not written to the same name as the manufacturer, it is not particularly meaningful. They are commonly written to a latex supplier out of Sri Lanka or India or South America. A certification written to an entity or person in Sri Lanka shows only that the latex was certified up to that point on its journey to becoming someone’s bed. Between Sri Lanka and your bedroom, all sorts of things can (and do) happen to the latex to cause it to be more toxic than the certification implies.a mattress will claim to have a certification that they don’t really have. One of the of the most common deceptive practices is when a manufacturer claims to have GOLS certification for their latex mattress, and they even display the GOLS logo on their website. They might even show an actual copy of it on their website, complete with date and signatures. If, however, the certificate is not written to the same name as the manufacturer, it is not particularly meaningful. They are commonly written to a latex supplier out of Sri Lanka or India or South America. A certification written to an entity or person in Sri Lanka shows only that the latex was certified up to that point on its journey to becoming someone’s bed. Between Sri Lanka and your bedroom all sorts of things can (and do) happen to the latex to cause it to be more toxic than the certification implies.

Best Non-Toxic Mattress Certifications

The two certifications to look for in your mattress are GOLS (for latex) and GOTS (for textiles). It’s worth repeating: the best organic mattress brands that have these certifications have the certifications written directly to the mattress manufacturer.

To obtain a GOTS certification, at least 95% of the mattress must be made of certified-organic materials, and certain chemistries are prohibited entirely, even for that other 5%. These include polyurethane foam, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and the fire-retardants listed above. A GOTS certification on a mattress means that the entire manufacturing and distribution process is environmentally-safe and socially-responsible. If you are curious about a brand that we don’t review in this guide, you can check for GOTS certification in the GOTS database.

One thing we love about GOTS certification is that in order to obtain it, a mattress must be produced in a facility that is also certified. This gives you extra peace of mind.

Similar to GOTS, a GOLS certification means that the mattress is made of at least 95% organic latex. Once again, the remaining 5% of the materials are also restricted in important ways.

Good Non-Toxic Mattress Certifications

While Oeko-Tex Standard 100 doesn’t require any organic materials to be used in a mattress, it does set limits for VOC emissions (such as formaldehyde). It also prohibits the use of dangerous flame-retardants and dyes.

Greenguard-certified mattresses have been tested, and are within limits, of certain VOCS, such as formaldehyde. Greenguard Gold has stricter standards than plain old Greenguard.

Okay Mattress Certifications

Organic Content Standard 100 just means that some of the ingredients are organic, but doesn’t ban flame-retardants or other harmful chemicals.

CertiPUR was developed “by members of the global foam industry,” although it does ban the use of some chemicals, such as PBDE flame-retardants and formaldehyde. It’s important to know that CertiPUR does not certify an entire mattress, only the foam portion.

Sneaky Mattress Certification

NAOMI (National Association of Organic Mattress Industry) was created by Pure Rest Organics, which is a mattress company, so, it is in no way independent or third-party, obviously!

The Bottom Line on Non-Toxic Mattress Certifications

Most certifications are of SOME value, but they can be used sneakily by mattress manufacturers. Manufacturers may claim to have a certification that they don’t actually have. So you really need to ask to see the actual signed certification, keeping in mind that if it’s out of date, it’s worthless. You also want to make sure that the entire factory that produces your mattress is certified free of toxins (particularly flame retardants), to guarantee that you don’t have to worry about cross-contamination.

The Best Stuff

The Good Stuff

The Okay Stuff

The Bad Stuff

The Sneaky Stuff

The post Safe Mattress Guide appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

In case you haven’t seen the headlines, here are the key points from the study:

• New research from NYU revealed that flame retardants (specifically PBDEs) pose a growing threat children’s IQ–more than lead or mercury.
• The damage done by these chemicals can be sudden and cannot be reserved once it occurs.
• The study found that flame retardants cost U.S. children 162 million IQ points between 2001 and 2016. Lead cost them 78 million IQ points during this same15-year period, while pesticides caused a loss of almost 27 million IQ points and mercury caused a loss of 2.5 million IQ points.
• Some states have adopted legislation that restricts the use of flame retardants in household products, but none of the chemicals are banned federally.

It’s worth noting that a lower IQ isn’t the only risk from exposure to PBDEs. They are also linked with cancer, thyroid disorders, hyperactivity, and a bunch of other scary stuff.

Where Are Flame Retardants Found?

If you’re wondering which products contain flame retardants, here is a partial list:

• Mattresses
• Sofas and upholstered furniture
• Electronics
• Carpets and rugs
• Curtains
• Airplane and car interiors
• Car seats and strollers

Our post on carpets can help you find one without flame retardants.

Of course, where these chemicals are added is not the same as where they are found. PBDEs are heavily concentrated in household dust, and are unfortunately now in our food supply and soil.

Is Foam Safe After It Off-Gasses?

I want to clear up a myth about “off-gassing.” Unfortunately, foam–like the stuff that’s in a mattress–that has been treated with PBDEs will never off-gas. (By “off-gas,” I mean finish releasing toxins and become inert–the way paint, etc., eventually will.) As the foam degrades over time, it actually releases more chemicals, which then gather in household dust.

The Medley sofas in my parents’ living room don’t contain flame retardants. Get 5% off with code GOODSTUFF5.

Reducing Your Exposure to Flame Retardant Chemicals

This is all super scary, but don’t panic. Here are four straightforward ways to reduce your exposure to flame retardant chemicals:

1) Our Safe Mattress Guide provides lots of options for mattresses that do NOT contain PBDE chemicals–these are now easier to find than ever. Anything we’ve listed as Best Stuff, Good Stuff, or even Okay Stuff will be free of flame retardants.

2) You can also check our posts on rugs, carpeting, and sofas to make sure you aren’t exposing your family from these sources. Note: My top sofa pick, Medley, extends my readers 5% off with code GOODSTUFF5.

3) Sweeping just spreads the toxins around. Instead, use a HEPA-sealed vaccuum or a wet mop to reduce toxic dust.

4) PBDEs accumulate in fats–highest levels are found in poultry (even organic), and they are also present in cheese and beef. Eating less meat and dairy will cut your exposure.

Stay sane,

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The post Flame Retardants Cost Kids 162 IQ Points appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

Written by Maia, President & Founder

Recently, I’ve had a few private consulting clients ask about non-toxic carpeting. As a result, I’ve spent some time more deeply looking into this.  I hope this post helps answer the big question: Is there such thing as truly safe, non-toxic carpeting?

What Makes Carpeting Toxic?

As my dad wrote in the flooring post about our non-toxic renovation undertaking, Project One-Eleven, carpeting is problematic for a variety of reasons, including:

1. The chemicals and materials used to make the carpets and pads beneath them, including plastics, wool that’s laden with fungicides, synthetic rubber that may contain endocrine-disrupting phthalates, toxic dyes, and chemicals that are meant to repel flame, water, and stains.
2. The materials used in the carpet installation process, including glues and other adhesives that contain formaldehyde and a range of VOCs that off-gas into the home environment.
3. Carpet’s tendency that to accumulate dust mites, dirt, pesticides, and other toxins brought into our homes on our feet (and our pets’ feet!).

So Are All Carpet Bad News?

The older the carpets, the more likely they are to contain bad chemicals and pounds of accumulated junk. So I’d say that yes, old carpets are categorically bad news. But because we have some really safe options available these days, newer carpets can be a good choice for your home.

And this is important: In addition to choosing safe carpets, you should clean them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This usually involves frequent vacuuming (make sure you use a HEPA-sealed vacuum that’s RoHS certified, like the ones from Miele) and occasional steam cleaning. You also might consider investing in a robust electronic air filter.

Non-toxic Carpeting Brands

We’ve done the research on natural, non-toxic carpeting, and we found three safe brands to recommend:

Earth Weave is the gold standard among non-toxic carpeting. They simply make the very best stuff.

Earth Weave’s natural, non-toxic carpeting is made in the United States from carefully selected European wool, hemp, cotton, natural latex, and jute.

Earth Weave uses only safe dying methods for some of their colors; the other colors are natural wool hues. Even better, they don’t treat their carpets with any worrisome chemicals.

We used Earth Weave on the staircases and landings in our home in Lancaster, PA, and I’m someone who has never had a carpet (I’ve never much cared for it). I have to say that our Earth Weave carpet is beautiful, cozy, and great for my peace of mind when little kids are running up and down stairs! I’m considering carpeting the bedrooms next.

If you’d like to order Earth Weave through Gimme the Good Stuff, email suzanne@gimmethegoodstuff.org or click here. (We also offer our customers Earth Weave area rugs.)

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Nature’s Carpet’s Everest carpet from their “Dark Green” collections is made from a blend of European and New Zealand wool. It’s chemical-free with a cotton and jute backing as well as a natural rubber latex adhesive. The Aberdeen and Element carpets, also from the Dark Green collection, are made with 98% natural materials. These ones have a woven polypropylene backing. (I consider polypropylene to be an non-toxic plastic). All three carpet styles in the Dark Green category from Nature’s Carpet use un-dyed wool and do not contain any moth-proofing or flame-retardant chemicals.

Unique Carpets makes a Four Seasons collection that is less expensive than the others I’ve mentioned while still being mostly natural, with un-dyed wool from the UK and no added treatment chemicals. This carpet does have some polypropylene-based backing, although much of their backing is jute. Note that other collections from Unique Carpets are not as natural as the Four Seasons line, and I can’t call them truly non-toxic carpeting.

Non-Toxic Rug Pads & Grippers

Rug and carpet sales people always recommend that you use rug pads and/or grippers to prevent slipping, increase cushioning, prolong the life of the floor covering, and protect the floor underneath. Most of these products are at least as toxic as conventional rugs and carpets themselves, but there is a safe alternative:

Earth Weave makes natural rug pads made from a combination of wool and plant fiber. These pads contain no glues, dyes, flame retardant chemicals, or mothproofing chemicals. We also love Earth Weave’s natural rug grippers made from 100% natural latex.

Do you have experience with any of these–or other–carpet brands, or have other questions about non-toxic carpeting? Please post below!

Stay sane,

P.S. Here’s our post on choosing a non-toxic area rug.

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The post Choosing a Non-Toxic Carpet appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

This is by far the biggest giveaway we’ve ever run–with a total value of nearly $2,000.

Metta Bed is free of all flame retardant chemicals, and is made with GOTS. With certified organic cotton and wool, it meets our standards as Good Stuff.

Enter for your chance to win by using the link below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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The post GIVEAWAY: Bedroom Makeover from Metta Bed appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

Written by Suzanne, AKA “Nana”

This post is for all of the conscious grandparents out there – the ones trying to navigate this world of natural living so that a non-toxic lifestyle can be passed down to future generations!

Of course, parenting has changed over the decades and will continue to evolve. What we thought was safe and healthy for our children may be very different from what our own children think is best for their kids.

Perhaps you, like me, are a 1970s hippie who has been making organic smoothies for half a century. Or maybe your child is the one who has introduced you to a more holistic lifestyle. Maybe your daughter freaked out when you gave your granddaughter a plastic toy or your son quietly returned the non-organic crib sheets you sent his new baby.

Either way, we can help you!

Gimme the Good Stuff is a multi-generational company, and as a grandmother myself, I can imagine how sudden demands to be more “conscious” could seem overwhelming.

If you have any inclination to learn more from a fellow grandparent and “wow!” your children by being the hippest grandma on the block, here are some ideas.

Top 10 Natural Grandparenting Tips

1. Create a non-toxic sleep environment in your home.

Children spend so much time in their beds–even when visiting their grandparents–and non-toxic bedding, especially crib or twin-sized mattress, ensures that they won’t be exposed to a range of scary toxins. Learn more in our mattress guide.

2. Wear your grandchild.

Carrying babies is so much better for their developing brains than putting them in chairs and strollers. It provides other health benefits for both the baby and parent (or grandparent!), while also limiting baby’s exposure to outside toxins. I remember singing and reciting poems to my first grandchild when I “wore” him around the neighborhood in this carrier.

3. Invest in a water filter for your home.

There are so many nasty chemicals in most tap water, and a robust water filter protects your grandchildren from chlorine, trace pharmaceuticals, and heavy metals.

4. Opt for natural laundry products.

If you make the switch to natural laundry soap and dryer balls and sheets, your kids will be thrilled to do a load of laundry when they are at your house. (Wait, maybe you don’t want that?!).

5. Buy your grandkids organic clothing.

Skip polyester and other synthetic materials, and instead choose all natural fibers–preferably organic–when buying clothing or swaddles for your grandchildren.

6. Don’t wear perfume around your grandchildren.

Unfortunately, perfume is full of phthalates. I can always tell when a scented caregiver has snuggled a baby because the scent will linger on their little fuzzy heads! Instead, opt for alternative fragrances like all-natural lotions, balms, essential oils, and soaps.

7. Avoid plastic toys.

Most plastic toys contain an assortment of toxins like chlorine and PVC, which can be harmful when babies invariably use all toys as chew toys! (Not to mention the environmental impact of mass-producing all those plastic toys!) Instead, consider gifting your grandkids higher-quality, non-toxic toys. Check out our Non-Toxic Toy Guide for suggestions.

8. Upgrade bathtime.

Treat yourself and your family by investing in conscious bath and body products. Our Safe Product Guides provide tons of product options for bubble baths, shampoos, soaps, and bath toys to provide quality bath and body care, as well as some peace of mind knowing bathtime is chemical free.

9. Make Screen-Time Safer

For your children and grandchildren using tablets, iPads, smartphones, and other screen technology, investing in screen protectors that shield radiation will offer a drastic decrease in the amount of EMFs (electromagnetic radiation fields) they are exposed to.

10. Make Mealtime Healthy.

Your kids will undoubtedly applaud you if you offer their children veggie-heavy snacks and healthy desserts, ideally using organic ingredients. Garner bonus points by sending home leftovers in plastic-free food storage containers.

Are You a Natural Grandparent?

Okay, grandmas, I want to hear from you! What other steps have you taken to be a conscious grandparent?

And parents–what other things do you WISH your parents would do to give you peace of mind about your children’s health when they are with their grandparents?

Please share below!

To your health,

P.S. Let’s not forget that studies show that simply being in each others’ company is healthful for both grandparents and grandchildren.

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Written by Maia, President & Founder

If you’re looking for non-toxic rugs you may already know that most rugs can bring a lot of unwanted toxins into your home. (The international rug industry is also famous for using child labor.) This is a bummer, especially if you have babies and young kids who spend a lot of time rolling, crawling and playing on the floor.

RELATED: Non-toxic playmat for babies.

Don’t despair (and/or hate me for being the messenger of bad news, are usual!). There are some safe and beautiful non-toxic rugs out there. We’ve done the research to help you find a safe area rugs (and if you’re looking for non-toxic wall-to- wall carpeting, we wrote about that here.)

What’s Toxic About Most Rugs?

The variety of sketchy materials and chemicals that go into most rugs and related products is actually kind of crazy, and include:

• Synthetic primary materials, including plastics like polypropylene and nylon. And “natural” materials —like cotton and wool—that are not carefully sourced can be laden with pesticides and other agricultural chemicals, as well as chemicals used to process the fibers.
• In addition to the primary materials, rugs usually also include materials that are hidden from the eye but integral to the product, such as synthetic rubber that may contain endocrine-disrupting phthalates.
• Toxic dyes and other chemicals used in the dying process give area rugs their good looks. This is particularly true for conventional wool products; wool naturally resists color and has to be treated to extra harsh chemicals to achieve different colors. (Note: Companies like Earth Weave have created innovative ways of coloring wool without the worrisome chemicals.)
• Glues and other adhesives often can contain formaldehyde and other chemicals that off-gas into the home environment.
• Toxic pesticides and fungicides are common.
• Flame retardant chemicals are also common (and toxic, and not particularly effective!). For instance, nylon, polypropylene and viscose aren’t toxic in and of themselves, but they are almost always treated with fire retardants that ARE toxic.
• Rugs that boast about being stain-resistant and water-repellent often get those properties from yet another class of worrisome chemical (PFCs).

7 Companies That Make Non-toxic Rugs

Like I said, there are a lot of good non-toxic rug options out there. Rugs and carpets can be made exclusively or primarily from natural and safe materials, while still being gorgeous and durable. Also, thanks to greater awareness about child labor, you can buy from several brands that don’t support bad practices.

Here are my favorite brands for non-toxic rugs:

Earth Weave Wool Non-toxic Rugs

Earth Weave makes area rugs out of their ultra-natural wool carpet material, bound in a variety of sizes.

We sell these in our online store, and have them in our own homes, too.

(We also cover shipping for these rugs, making them more affordable than anywhere else online.)

Shop Earth Weave Rugs

ecoFiber Custom Rugs is based in Colorado and sources its rugs from Nepal. The company emphasizes natural, safe materials, sustainable practices, and no child labor. To purchase from ecoFiber, you must go through a design professional.

Hook & Loom rugs are both safe and affordable. Rugs are made from un-dyed natural wool or from recycled cotton fabric, in a variety of colors, patterns, sizes, and thicknesses.

Hook & Loom does not use any chemicals, dyes or latex in the production of their rugs, and they ship for free in minimal packaging.

Hook & Loom is based in Massachusetts and the rugs are made in carefully selected workshops in India that do not employ child labor.

2021 update: Hook & Loom has a beautiful new organic line, and we love love love it.

Shop Hook & Loom

Lorena Canals Non-toxic Rugs for Kids

Lorena Canals offers my favorite rugs for kids, though many of their designs are sophisticated enough to use elsewhere in your home.

These rugs are made entirely from naturally dyed cotton. They’re machine washable (score for parents!) and are hand-sewn in India in facilities that do not employ child labor.

The variety of colors, shapes and designs is really fun. It seems like the company is always debuting new styles, which you can now find in online store.

Shop Lorena Canals Rugs

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Merida has revived a corner of the American textile industry by producing its made-to- order rugs in a traditional mill town in Massachusetts. They make very high-quality, customizable rugs using a variety of natural materials (like wool, mohair, jute, and sisal). To purchase from Merida, you must go through a design professional.

Organic Weave rugs are the only area rugs on the market to earn GOTs certification. All rugs are handmade in India by skilled women artisans. Organic Weave sells everything from shag rugs to rugs for kids to yoga mats to organic wall-to-wall carpets. Use code GIMMEGOOD at checkout for 5% off your order. 

Shop Organic Weave Rugs

Under the Nile rugs are hand-loomed with leftover scraps from their clothing production. The durability and softness of these rugs is great for play or for decoration in baby’s room, bathrooms or any room in the house. Each rug is handmade and finished with decorative tassels on two ends.

Shop Under the Nile Rugs

Non-toxic Rug Pads & Grippers

Rug and carpet people recommend that you use rug pads and/or grippers to prevent slipping, increase cushioning, prolong the life of the floor covering, and protect the floor underneath. Most of these products are at least as toxic as conventional rugs and carpets themselves.

Thankfully, Earth Weave sells natural rug grippers made from 100% natural latex. They also offer natural rug pads made from a combination of wool and plant fiber (and no glues, dyes, flame retardant chemicals, or mothproofing chemicals). They also sell

Please comment below with brands you’ve found that make natural, non-toxic rugs!

Stay sane,

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By John, Certified Holistic Health Coach

In January of  2018, instead of making the usual resolutions that we’ve given up on by the end of the month, we decided to break it up by dividing some big goals into manageable chunks.

Each month, we invite you to overhaul one aspect of your life to reduce toxins, improve health, and increase your peace of mind. Our promise is that these changes will be easy to implement, helping you avoid resolution overwhelm. 

If you’re just joining us, you’ll want to check out:

• January’s mini resolution on upgrading junk foods
• February’s with a medicine cabinet detox
• March’s on improving indoor air quality
• April’s five ways to clean up your cleaning products
• May’s on making your yard non-toxic
• June’s water safety tips
• July’s guide to natural skincare products
• August’s with seven ways to have a healthier pet.

September’s resolution is for those of you who are worried that your existing bed might be dangerous and want to get a toxin-free mattress.

You might be worried about some well-known contaminants, such as flame retardants, phthalates, and other VOCs. We’ve written and frequently updated a comprehensive Safe Mattress Guide, but maybe you still feel confused.

Below are the three scenarios we encounter most often when helping our readers find the best toxin-free mattress for their budget. If none of them fits your situation, comment below and I’ll be happy to help!

If you….

1) …want to have the safest toxin-free mattress on the market, and aren’t so worried about cost…

As of this writing, there are only three mattress manufacturers that have top-notch, independent, third-party certifications for their products. We categorize these mattresses as The Best Stuff, and they are:

1. Soaring Heart
2. Naturepedic (Use code Gimme15 for 15% off on Naturepedic’s site).
3. My Green Mattress ($125 off mattresses twin and larger and 15% off the Emily crib and accessories with code gtgs at checkout.)

(At Gimme the Good Stuff, we all sleep on Soaring Heart mattresses ourselves, as we found them to be the most luxurious in terms of comfort.)

2)…are worried about your mattress but can’t afford the ones recommended above…

The following four mattresses, while they do not have the very best certifications of non-toxicity, contain no chemical flame-retardants and seem to be fairly committed to non-toxicity.

1. Savvy Rest
2. White Lotus

What if these are still too expensive?

If you don’t like these four options, or the price is still too high, the next six mattress brands also do not have chemical flame-retardants, but they have even less reliable/rigorous certifications than the ones listed above.

1. Avocado
2. Brooklyn Bedding
3. Coco-Mat
4. Eco Terra
5. Essentia
6. PlushBeds

3) …have a toxic mattress but cannot afford to replace it at all…

First, don’t bother trying to wrap the mattress to trap the toxins inside. Our extensive research shows that there is no non-toxic wrap or case for a mattress that can block toxic flame-retardants and VOCs.

Instead, if you are stuck with your potentially toxic mattress for the time being, you can do the following to significantly reduce your exposure to its problematic chemicals.

Invest in a high-quality portable air filter. Running one in the bedrooms will do a lot to not only reduce toxins (particles and VOC’s) from your mattress but will also knock back many other toxins found in your home. Having one on wheels will make moving it from a bedroom to a living area much easier. Start with kids’ rooms first if you’re worried about their mattresses—as you probably know, tiny bodies are more sensitive to a range of toxins! 

$995.00Buy Now

Get a good true HEPA vacuum cleaner and use it daily in your bedrooms. Older mattresses can contain chemical flame retardants that shed from the mattress throughout its life. They are tiny particles (as opposed to a gas) so they constantly fall to the floor and are easily spread into the air throughout your home. Vacuuming daily with a true HEPA machine is the best solution. Don’t sweep; that will just spread the dust around.

Make sure the rest of your bed is toxin-free. Invest in some good natural pillows, organic sheets, and perhaps even a safer bed frame.

I hope that this helps simplify the process of buying a toxin-free mattress. (Here is another post on making your bedroom a true sanctuary from toxins and radiation.)

Feel free to ask questions below, and for more about why conventional mattresses are so dangerous, and what makes some certifications better than others, read our Safe Mattress Guide.

Stay sane,

P.S. We have codes for discounted rates on two of the mattresses mentioned above:

1. Use code SAVE50 at checkout for $50 off on LifeKind’s website.
2. Get 5% off your entire order at Metta Bed with code GOODSTUFF at checkout.

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The post September: Detox Your Mattress! Easy Toxin-Free Mattress Help appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

By John, Certified Holistic Health Coach

We are often asked, “I want to detox my home…where should I start?” And we almost always answer: the bedroom.

Bedrooms are a sanctuary: a peaceful, soft place…a place to lay back…a place to let everything go… a place to rest…to heal…to rejuvenate.

And yes, we spend 1/3 of our lives asleep, but let’s take a look at what that really means.

During sleep, we do much of the healing and cleanup needed to keep us functioning at a healthy level. This is why we feel so weird when we are sleep-deprived.

Evidence suggests that sleep actually clears the brain of toxic metabolic byproducts, which is why having a safe sleep environment and non-toxic bedroom is so important.

On average, we breathe about 24,000 times during an 8-hour sleep. That is 24,000 opportunities to bring in fresh air and 24,000 opportunities to release toxins.

Of course, if we are breathing in toxins while sleeping, then we are diminishing our body’s ability to detox and heal.

So, what’s so toxic about a bedroom? Unfortunately, lots, with one of the biggest concerns being the bed itself.

Toxins in Beds

Most mattresses are made from a wide variety of materials, many of which off-gas all sorts of nasty VOCs…for years! It’s hard to have a non-toxic bedroom with a conventional mattress.

For example, polyurethane foam typically contains chemicals like toluene, benzene, and formaldehyde—all of which are carcinogens. (Safer mattress materials include natural latex, cotton, and wool.)

But that is not the worst of it. Until recently, mattresses and other upholstered furnishings were required by law to contain flame retardant chemicals.

New flammability standards can be met without the use of some of worst chemical fire retardants, which are linked to hormone disruption, hyperactivity, and lowered IQ. Unfortunately, the new law does not ban the use of the chemicals, and it’s hard to know for sure which companies are still using treated foam.

This interesting bunch of chemistry easily enters our lungs and travels around the body doing all sorts of mischief, especially to our liver and thyroid.

Commonly Used Flame Retardant Chemicals

• polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
• tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and derivates
• hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)
• polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs)

Flame Retardants & Children

To add insult to injury, while the negative impact of flame retardant chemicals to adults is serious, to a developing fetus or a growing child the outcomes can be far worse.

And unlike VOCs, these chemical compounds grow brittle with age and continuously shed for as long as the mattress exists! Those we don’t inhale will accumulate on the floor. When we sweep they become airborne and migrate around our homes. I know–it’s disgusting!

Oh, and get this: these chemicals are not actually all that good at preventing fires.

How to Get a Safe Mattress for Your Non-Toxic Bedroom

The solution of course, is to replace your mattress with a non-toxic one that contains zero detrimental flame retardants. Be cautious because while there are many great non-toxic mattresses, there are quite a few sneaky versions marketed to seem non-toxic. Check out our Safe Mattress Guide for help choosing a truly safe mattress for your non-toxic bedroom. You will also find information regarding organic/non-toxic crib mattresses.

The good news is that comfort need not be traded for “healthy.” Many non-toxic mattresses are super comfy and offer a superior night’s sleep.

My pick for the best mattress, and the one I am upgrading to, is this Soaring Heart Zoned Latex Mattress.

One Other Mattress Danger

Some new studies are suggesting that the metal coils in our box springs and mattresses may be amplifying ambient electromagnetic fields and are delivering this energy right into us as we sleep. I’m not convinced this is true, and more study is needed, but why take the risk when metal coils are unnecessary?

Non-toxic Bedroom 2.0

Upgrading to a safe mattress will slash your exposure to toxins, but there is more you can do–especially if you CAN’T afford to upgrade your mattress right now.

Here are some other ways to create a non-toxic bedroom:

1. Invest in some non-toxic pillows. Most of the issues pertaining to mattresses also pertain to pillows. You can check out our selection of non-toxic pillows here.
2. Switch to organic bedding. Sheets and comforters made from organic sources ensures that you don’t introduce pesticides and herbicides into your bedroom.
3. Get a non-toxic bed frame. Bed frames and other “wooden” furniture can be made from plywood that can outgas toxins (namely, formaldehyde) for years. They may also be finished with varnishes and stains that you don’t want to inhale. Here’s our favorite line of safe frames.
4. Put air filters in your bedroom. Unlike typical air fresheners, Moso’s nontoxic filters aren’t toxic to breathe, and scrub the air of VOCs. For more robust filtration, invest in a good electronic filter.
5. 

   Moso bags naturally purify indoor air.

   Detox with plants. Plants do double duty by absorbing airborne toxins and producing clean oxygen. Here’s a list of the best plants for air purifying, any of which will get you a step closer to a non-toxic bedroom.

6. Use only fragrance-free and chemical-free laundry soap and cleaners. Make sure you aren’t tucking yourself into sheets that smell like Tide. Our Safe Laundry Detergent Guide can help you find the Good Stuff.
7. Burn 100% beeswax candles. Most candles are made of paraffin wax, which creates highly toxic benzene and toluene (known carcinogens) when burned. These toxins are the same as those found in diesel fuel fumes. In the U.S., the term “pure” on a label means only 51% of an ingredient. Companies sell both “pure” beeswax candles and “pure” soy candle, which contain a combination of 51% beeswax/soy wax and 49% toxic paraffin. Use 100% beeswax candles, which have the added advantage of producing negative ions.
8. Plug in a salt lamp. These can be a great candle substitute and also produce negative ions, which are known to increase serotonin in the brain.
9. Don’t sweep! Instead, use a high-quality HEPA-sealed vacuum. Sweeping sends plumes of toxic dust into the air. Of course, if you don’t have any toxic furniture in your bedroom, this is less of an issue!
10. Keep any electronic appliances like clocks, cell phones, WiFi routers, computers, readers, etc. as far from the bed as possible. Electronic devices emit electromagnetic radiation which some feel can be detrimental to our health. Some of these devices also emit a spectrum of light that can be disruptive to sleep. Shutting off the WiFi at night is a habit we’ve all adopted.

Sleep soundly…and sanely!

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The post Killing Me Softly – How to Create a Safe, Non-toxic Bedroom appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

Written by Maia, President

UPDATED: October 2017

When I was on The Dr. Oz Show last month, my co-guest was a toxicologist from Yale. Although we were discussing phthalates in macaroni and cheese , when I asked him what he was MOST worried about in terms of toxins in the home, he said household dust, largely thanks for furniture whose toxic contents constantly shed and accumulate there.

Since sofas are often among the largest pieces of furniture we have in our homes, and ones on which we spend a lot of time, this seems like an important item to get right.

I wrote this post for those of you ready to invest in a truly safe sofa (or upholstered chair). We’ve done the research for you, and I will cover all the (scary) details in this post. Or, if you want a simpler answer–just skip down to the Good Stuff tab, where we’ve identified the manufacturers who make non-toxic upholstered furniture.

(Two of these companies, Medley Furniture and The Organic Mattress, have generously extended discounts to my readers. You’ll see more details on this below!)

My Top Pick for Best Sofa

I recently got a Medley sofa, and I’m obsessed! This is the brand I recommend most, and because I’m an affiliate, my readers get 5% off with code GOODSTUFF5.

Shop Medley with code GOODSTUFF5

You’ve probably read–on this website and elsewhere–that your sofa (and the rest of your furniture) is bad for your health, in large part because of the flame retardant chemicals in which all upholstered items are doused. So here’s the deal with that:

The Trouble with Flame Retardants

Your sofa, particularly if it’s more than a few years old, almost certainly contains one of the following flame retardant chemicals:

• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are found in mattresses, electronics, and cars, in addition to the foam of sofas. PBDEs are associated with hormone disruption, hyperactivity, and neurodevelopmental delays, including lowered IQ . The European Union has banned the use of PBDEs in electronic devices. Studies show that children in the United States have higher levels of PBDEs than adults do. Oh, and here’s the kicker: they don’t even work very well at stopping fires.
• Firemaster 550 is made with bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate (TBPH). Yes, you saw that word in there: phthalate. TBPH is nearly idential to DEHP, the phthalate banned in children’s products due to evidence of carcinogenicity and developmental toxicity.
• Chlorinated tris is the chemical that was removed from children’s pajamas in the 1970s because it was shown to cause cancer.

But There is Good News on Flame Retardants!

This is huge: the flammability standards enacted in 2014 can be met WITHOUT the use of the toxic chemicals I just described! To be clear–the new law does not BAN the use of the chemicals; it just renders them unnecessary.

My son enjoys his first flame-retardant free sofa, which we bought in 2013.

How to Tell if a Sofa Contains Flame Retardants

The bad news is that this puts us in limbo land–we don’t know for sure which companies are still using treated foam and which have switched over to safer materials. One clue: Look for the TB117-2013 label on sofas and pillows, which suggests that the item meets the standards without fire retardants.

When possible, you should go straight to a furniture’s manufacturer to find out what chemicals they are using, as even knowledgeable-sounding retailers rarely know, as you’ll see in my examples of “The Sneaky Stuff,” below.

For now, I still advise my clients to choose a sofa that they know is untreated with flame retardants, and that typically means either a custom piece of furniture (I work with interior designers to design these, but they are admittedly quite pricey) or a brand that we here at Gimme the Good Stuff have vetted. For these recommended brands, see The Good Stuff, below.

How to Reduce Your Exposure to Flame Retardants
This guide is intended to help you select the safest sofa (or upholstered chairs–all of the Good Stuff below also makes flame-retardant free armchairs). However, if you’re not yet ready to plunk down thousands, here are some other steps to limit your exposure.

1. Keep foam enclosed. Be sure to mend any rips in your sofa or chairs that might allow chemically-treated foam to be exposed, and don’t remove cushion casings to launder.
   
2. Upgrade your mattresses.  If replacing your own mattress is out of the question,consider upgrading just the mattresses for your children. Many of my clients think their crib mattresses are okay if they are old because they have “already off-gassed.” In fact, as the foam degrades, more PBDEs  and other chemicals may be released. Get help choosing a truly non-toxic mattress with our Safe Mattress Guide.
3. Ditch your broom. Flame retardants accumulate in household dust, and sweeping puts plumes into the air. Instead, use a vacuum or wet mop to banish dirt and toxins. Invest in a HEPA-sealed vacuum that really traps toxins.
   
4. Invest in a robust air filter. We like (and own) Austin Air filters, which employ HEPA, activated carbon, and zeolite, a mineral with superior ability to trap toxic gases and odors such as formaldehyde, ammonias, and carbon monoxide.
5. Eat more plants. Unfortunately, even though these chemicals are being phased out, they will continue to persist in our environment for years. The number one food source of PBDEs is poultry fat. The lowest levels of a variety of toxins–including flame retardants–are found in plant-based foods, so if you substitute beans for chicken a couple of times a week, you’ll reduce your exposure.

What Other Toxins Are in Sofas?

Flame retardants are of greatest concern when selecting a sofa, but there are other toxins to consider as well. Anything that is wrinkle or stain-resistant should be avoided (see the box below on Scotch Guard). The glues and finishes on wooden legs can contain formaldehyde. Even without a chemical bath, polyurethane foam is a petroleum-by product that releases VOCs. This said, if you can get a sofa that doesn’t contain flame retardants, the biggest concern is off the table.

A Note on Scotchguard

Many of my clients–particularly those with young children–ask about Scotchguard. Here’s the deal: Scotchguard used to be SUPER toxic because it contained a noxious chemical called PFOS–which is not only terrible for the environment but also linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and immune system dysfunction. Scotchguard agreed to phase out PFOS and has replaced it with PFBS. Overall, PFBS seems safer, as it has a shorter half-life and accumulates in our bodies at a slower pace.

I remain skeptical as safety studies are still lacking. At this point, there really is no natural alternative to Scotchguard. You can get a good spot stain remover to deal with spills as they happen. You can cover your furniture with slipcovers. You could try this natural stuff called NikWax that’s really made to waterproof clothing but some people use on furniture.

The Good Stuff

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The Okay Stuff

The Bad Stuff

The Sneaky Stuff

Want a less expensive sofa? One alternative is a futon. Here’s the one I like.

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The post Safe Sofa Guide appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

Read our Safe Sofa Guide for a list of our favorite toxin-free sofas.

Even if you live in an urban location, the air inside your home is likely more polluted than the air on the city streets outside. If you’re a reader of this blog, you probably know that indoor air contamination comes from places like the paint on your walls, carpeting on your floors, and flame retardant treatments in the foam cushions of your upholstered furniture.

It’s true that these are all important sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are airborne chemicals implicated in a range of ill health effects. And while ideally we would all replace our sofas, tear out any carpeting in our homes, and repaint all our walls with milk paints, but this kind of overhaul isn’t realistic for most of us.

The good news is that there are three steps you can take right now—none of them overly costly or complicated–that will greatly improve the safety of your home.

Clean up your cleaning supplies (and choose the right vacuum cleaner).

A major source of indoor air pollution is, ironically, the stuff we use to keep our homes feeling fresh and clean. From glass cleaners to laundry detergent, most cleaning supplies contain ingredients that are caustic to our respiratory tracts and disrupting to our endocrine systems.

Mama Suds All-Purpose Cleaner is the Good Stuff.

It’s hard to know which “natural” cleaning products are truly non-toxic and which are just Sneaky Stuff, and unfortunately you often have to look product-by-product even within one brand. Mama Suds, Eco-Me, and Better Life, and Sonett are four brands that I trust across the board.

Flame retardants and other toxins build up in dust, so the more you vacuum, the more toxins you’ll clear from your home. But choosing the right vacuum is important: you’ll want a HEPA-sealed model, which ensures that dust and toxins stay sealed inside the filter. Furthermore, many vacuum cleaners are actually treated with flame retardant chemicals themselves, so look for one that’s RoHS-certified. Miele is one brand that fits the bill.

And by the way, sweeping isn’t such a great way to rid your home of toxins—instead, it sends dust into the air where it can be inhaled. Vacuuming or wet mopping are more effective ways of cleaning dirt and toxins.

Nontoxic Housekeeping from ecomaids of New York

If you live in New York and use a cleaning service, I can’t say enough things about ecomaids. Not only are they the most professional and thorough house cleaners I have ever experienced, but they bring all of their own 100% nontoxic cleaning products (I checked all the labels, believe me!). Even if your budget doesn’t allow for regular cleanings, you might consider treating yourself to ecomaids deep cleaning services once a season.

Purify your air.

The Austin Bedroom Machine is the most effective way to clear your air of VOCs.

There are a variety of ways to clear your air of any emissions coming from your existing furniture, paints, flooring, and so forth. Depending on how extensively you want to clean the air, your options range from very affordable to fairly expensive.

Here are some ideas:

• Open the windows more to let in cleaner air.
• Put out some charcoal air purifiers, which help with everything from odors to VOCs.
• Fill your home with houseplants, which absorb airborne toxins while also producing clean oxygen.
• Cover your floors with 100% wool rugs (wool naturally absorbs VOCs).
• When it’s time to paint your walls, look into ECOS Pure paints and primers, which absorb a variety of VOCs, including formaldehyde.
• If your budget allows, go for a top-of-the-line electronic air filter, which will remove everything from dust and pollens to VOCs. (I recently invested in the Austin Air Bedroom Machine myself, and have noticed an immediate difference in my own home.)

Related Post: How to Choose the Best Air Purifiers and Air Filters

Filter your drinking water.

Even in places like New York City, where our water is known to be “really safe,” chlorine and controversial fluoride are added. Pitcher-style or refrigerator filters help a little, but mostly clean up the appearance and taste of water, rather than doing much to make it healthier. A more robust carbon-block water filtration system will deal with chlorine, chloramines, heavy metals, hydrogen sulfide, VOCs, pharmaceutical products, and a range of other chemicals you haven’t heard of, but definitely don’t want to be drinking. We use this three-stage filter in our home

Extra credit: Be smart when replacing furnishings.

Clean Sleep bed frames are solid wood with toxin-free finishes.

When you are shopping for new furniture, be sure to seek out low-toxin or toxin-free pieces.

Most importantly, be sure to choose a mattress and sofa that are not treated with flame retardant chemicals.

As for desks, tables, beds, and bookcases: most “wooden” pieces are actually made of something called “composite wood,” which is bits of wood glued together to mimic a solid piece. Unfortunately, processed wood contains noxious glues that emit VOCs, include formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.

Composite wood may be called pressed wood, compressed wood, plywood, particle board, or medium density fiberboard (MDF). Look for furniture that’s 100% solid wood (but be prepared to pay more for it!). Our line of Clean Sleep bed frames are constructed of solid wood and finished with only linseed oil and beeswax.

What else do you worry about when it comes to toxins in your home? Ask your questions below!

Stay sane,

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The post 3 Easy Ways to Have a Less Toxic Home appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

Written by Maia, President

In high school, I had a memory foam pillow that I loved so much I took it with me when I had a sleepover at a friend’s house. Now, of course, I know that memory foam is some of the most toxic stuff in our homes and definitely not something you want to press your face against all night.

What About Pillows Made of Down/Down Alternatives?

I happen to love down pillows, and from a toxicity perspective these are fine, but when you learn about the way that some down feathers are pulled from live birds, it makes this a less appealing option. If you’re buying a down pillow, you’ll always want to find out where/how the down is sourced.
Down alternative (such as Primaloft) are made of polyester, which is a type of plastic, so also not the Good Stuff (although it’s unclear if polyester really poses a significant off-gassing risk).

What you Do WANT in a Pillow

The post How to Choose a Nontoxic Pillow (and What’s Wrong with the Pillow You Have Now) appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

Written by Maia, Founder & President

We’ve written before about the toxins household furniture releases into our homes (When Furniture Attacks), but mostly have focused on upholstered furniture (check our Safe Sofa Guide for Good Stuff brands).

Toxins in Wooden Furniture

Finding nontoxic wooden furniture can actually be just as challenging as finding a nontoxic sofa, even though you don’t have to worry about flame retardants. Choosing only solid wood pieces is a great start (lots of “wooden” furniture is really made of particle board or plywood which is glued together with formaldehyde-releasing adhesives), but the finishes can be another big problem.

One area of confusion for lots of folks is around linseed oil. Is this truly a nontoxic wood finish, or just Sneaky Stuff?

Here’s the deal with linseed:

Based on our research, we feel that pure, 100% linseed oil poses little, if any, toxic threat to human health, even though it does emit an odor as it dries. Material Data Safety Sheets (MSDS) on linseed oil tell us that it is non-toxic, and various other sources confirm this.

Beware of “boiled linseed oil.”

The confusion around linseed oil arrives when with “boiled linseed oil,” which is what’s found in most stores/home-centers is confused with 100% linseed oil.

Basically, there are three types of linseed oil, two of which are non-toxic.

1) Raw linseed oil is, in fact, flax seed oil. It takes a long time to dry but is entirely non-toxic.

2) The polymerized version is true “boiled” linseed oil, sometimes called “stand oil”. Stand oil is generated by heating linseed oil near 300 °C for a few days in the complete absence of air. Under these conditions, a is highly viscous product results, which provides exceptionally uniform coatings that “dry” to more elastic coatings than linseed oil itself. It also dries much more quickly (although still more slowly than toxic, commonly-used polyurethanes.) This true boiled linseed oil is also non-toxic.

3) The “boiled linseed oil” you can buy in most stores is actually mostly raw linseed oil, but with plasticizers, hardeners, and heavy metals added to make it act like true boiled oil, without the time and effort it takes to actually boil it; in other words, it’s cheap. Folks who are concerned about the toxicity of linseed oil are likely thinking of this type.

We’ve identified two sources for good linseed oil: Heritage Natural Finishes and Earthpaint.

Stay sane,

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The post Is Linseed Oil Toxic? appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

Written by Maia, President

Happy New Year! Did you resolve to purge toxins from your home in 2016? If so, you will find our e-book, Detox Your Home in 4 Weeks, an easy guide. I hope it brings you improved indoor air quality, health, and peace of mind.

You’ve probably noticed that at Gimme the Good Stuff we talk a lot about the importance of sleeping on a non-toxic mattress. I’m also aware that all of the mattresses I recommend you purchase are at least a couple thousand dollars, and sometimes much more. Many of you have asked about getting a futon instead of a mattress, as futons tend to be less expensive.

I made this video to explain the difference between a natural, non-toxic mattress and a futon. I’ll also show you what these both look like, including a cross-section of the inside of some White Lotus models.

What You’ll Learn In This Video

When choosing a mattress or a futon you’ll want to avoid:

• Polyurethane foam (Opt for 100% pure latex instead.)
• Any mattress that’s treated with flame retardants (Wool acts as a natural flame barrier.)

The key difference between a natural futon and a natural mattress are:

• The futon won’t have handles on the side, so they are harder to move around.
• A futon will be slightly thinner than a mattress (usually around 5 inches think rather than 8 or 9 inches).
• Futons should cost around 15% less than a mattress.

What you may be surprised to learn is that both organic mattresses and organic futons are made from the same materials (typically wool, cotton, and latex), and you can put a mattress on a futon frame and a futon on a bed.

I had a blast making this video, and am grateful to White Lotus for letting us shoot it in their super cool DUMBO store. You’ll notice my mom babysitting Wolfie in the background! I don’t totally love watching myself on camera, but we will be rolling out some more videos in the coming month, so I will have to get used to it. Let us know what you think!

Stay sane,

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The post How to Choose a Non-toxic Mattress or Futon (and What’s the Difference) appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

By John, Certified Holistic Health Coach

We are asked about mattresses a lot! Our Safe Mattress Guide needs to be perpetually updated because new mattress manufacturers are continuously showing up on the scene.

This is good news because this means that the idea of sleeping on a toxin-free mattress is finally catching on!

The bad news is that there is quite a bit of green-washing going on, and it can be very difficult to tell the imposters from the Good Stuff. Of course, that’s where our Safe Mattress Guide comes in.

If you want to do some of your own research, and are looking for some general guidelines on how to evaluate a mattress for toxicity, the list below should help.

It is also important to remember that developing fetuses and children are the ones who are most affected by chemical exposure–so if you are pregnant or looking for a crib mattress, you should be extra vigilant.

Top Five Concerns When Buying a Mattress

1. Flame Retardants

Of course, nobody wants his mattress to catch on fire, but the real reason that there are federal guidelines requiring mattresses  to be fire resistant has to do with a tale too long to get into here. Suffice it to say that it involves the tobacco industry and other mighty entities…Google it! Or watch HBO’s great documentary, Toxic Hot Seat.

This snippet from an article in the Washington Post describes the trouble with flame-retardants in furniture:

“Studies in laboratory animals and humans have linked the most scrutinized flame retardants, called polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, to thyroid disruption, memory and learning problems, delayed mental and physical development, lower IQ, advanced puberty and reduced fertility. Other flame-retardants have been linked to cancer. At the same time, recent studies suggest that the chemicals may not effectively reduce the flammability of treated products.”

Simply put, PBDEs are bad, Bad Stuff and we should all strive to get rid of as much of it as possible in our homes (and anywhere else for that matter.) If you’re just itching to bum yourself out, go ahead and read the rest of the article.

Believe it or not, some sneaky manufacturers use chemical flame-retardants in beds marketed as “natural” and other meaningless, unregulated,  and deceptive terms!

2. VOCs

VOCs stands for “Volatile Organic Compounds.” Organic! What could be wrong with organic compounds, right?

Plenty.

This group of interesting chemistry can be found in all sorts of products throughout our homes, like paint and glue and carpet and plywood, and much more. Basically, VOCs are chemicals that vaporize at room temperature, meaning they slowly off-gas, often for years, into our indoor spaces. This means that unless we take measures to keep VOCs out of our homes, we are getting a small background amount of them with every breath.

Long-term, chronic exposure to high levels of VOCs is linked with increased risk of cancer, liver damage, kidney damage and central nervous system damage. Not fun stuff!

Okay…so we all have VOCs floating around our homes, but at least you don’t sleep every night with your face directly in an open can of paint, right? Not so fast. If you sleep on a typical “memory foam,” mattress you are likely directly inhaling seven to eight thousand lung-fulls of the stuff every night. This is quite different than getting small amounts of background exposure.

Check out the following from the website Sleep Junkie:

Here are chemicals that can be or have been found in memory foam and potential issues. Note that each manufacturer uses their own “recipe,” so these do not apply to all lines.

• Methylene dianiline / MDA– suspected carcinogen, eye and skin irritant, liver and thyroid damage with ingestion. Household products produce very low levels, greatest risk is during manufacturing.
• Vinilideine chloride– eye and respiratory irritation, possible carcinogen, organ damage. Primary hazard is during manufacturing.
• Methyl benzene– inhalation can affect nervous system.
• Dimethylformamide – organ damage possible, and possible carcinogen, though primary risk is during manufacturing.
• Acetone – toxic when inhaled in large amounts, but limited effects with low exposure.
• Methylene chloride– a solvent, mucous membrane irritant and potential carcinogen. Use has declined in recent years due to EU restrictions and pollution regulations.
• Formaldehyde– typically not added to foams, but may result as a byproduct of chemical reactions or adhesives.

3. Undisclosed Materials/Chemistry

Just as with cleaning products and the fragrances in makeup, baby creams, and so on, any proprietary methods, blends, materials, or treatments in a mattress legally need not be disclosed.

There are mattress manufacturers who claim to have nontoxic products but who, in fact, will not fully disclose what is actually in the materials they use. Many conventional mattresses offer only vague descriptions of their materials, with throw-away claims like “meets safety standards.

Beware of companies that use this type opaque language.

4. Spring Back!

There is increasingly clear evidence that electro-magnetic fields (EMFs) of various kinds might compromise our well-being. Experts believe that the steel coils in beds can amplify ambient EMFs. This means that you might want to consider a mattress made without steel springs. More research needs to be conducted, but as long as you are upgrading your mattress, you might want to shun springs. There are many great alternatives.

5. False Tradeoffs

Finally, watch out for the claim that the benefits of a good night’s sleep outweigh any potential dangers that might arise from breathing toxins for one-third of your life. This type of marketing claim has at least two serious flaws:

1. The implication is that you cannot have both a safe night’s sleep and a restful night’s sleep…that you must choose between the two. This is what is technically known in the industry as…baloney! Most nontoxic mattresses are extremely well-made and offer a very comfortable night’s rest.
2. During sleep is when our bodies do most of the cleanup and repair work we need. If we must spend our entire sleep-time fending off a blitz of toxins, the case could be made that you might never get a superior sleep because your body must work so much harder to be perpetually ridding itself of the chemistry taken in with every breath. Yes, a good night’s sleep is very good for you, but inhaling a cloud of known toxins all night, every night, can be very damaging, especially for children.

In the final analysis, there are several manufacturers who make great nontoxic mattresses (this is my number 1 pick). Unfortunately, we had to cherry pick certain mattresses from certain manufacturers—in other words, some companies make one thing that’s Good Stuff, but other products in their lineup may not meet our strict criteria. On this website, we recommend products that we’ve cherry-picked from a lineup of sometimes less-than-Good Stuff.

Check out the Safe Mattress Guide to learn more.  A mattress is a serious investment, and it’s worth getting it right the first time!

Stay sane,

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The post What to Consider When Considering a Mattress: Our Top Five Concerns for Buying a New Mattress appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

Written by Maia, President

Thanks for your patience, you guys! We’ve finally wrapped up our research process, and I am happy to recommend four furniture companies that manufacture The Good Stuff!

Maybe you didn’t know that most upholstered furniture is teeming with noxious chemicals, but as always, I am here like a ray of sunshine–ready list some diseases that your favorite sofa can cause. What fun!

In all seriousness, there is actually some very good news about the worst chemicals in sofas. I’m talking, of course, about flame retardants, which new legislation has rendered unnecessary. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen the last of these bad boys just yet–but I am hopeful that soon enough you won’t need me to tell you which sofas are safe–because they all will be.

In the meantime, check out the Safe Sofa Guide for our picks for Good, Bad, and Sneaky furniture, plus tips on other ways to reduce your exposure to flame retardants–even if you aren’t ready to buy a new couch.

Stay sane,

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The post Our Safe Sofa Guide Is Here at Last! appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

By John Goss, Certified Holistic Health Coach

By now, you’ve seen the headlines warning that sitting is harmful to your health. I have no doubt that the couch-potato/cubicle lifestyle has numerous ill effects. But in reality your sofa has a far more sinister and dangerous nature, and it is not alone in its desire to do you harm. Yes, dear reader, your sofa has allies. It is just one of a group of household items that plots against you and your family!

My couch offers me a comfortable berth from which I can elevate “sloth” to an art form, but that is actually just the beginning of the damage this inanimate object causes. As it turns out sofas, beds and other furnishings are akin to the Venus Flytrap. Like the infamous carnivorous flower, our furniture offers us something attractive, something we want, but like the unwary fly, once we go there, we are subjected to a chemical dowsing that is unhealthy at best and even deadly! Unlike insects trapped in a fatal chemical bath, we are able to stand up and move away, but the invisible chemical mist our sofas dispense follows us throughout our home. The chemicals in question? Legally-mandated flame retardants.

Think that you can escape by retreating to the bedroom? Forget it…your mattress is in league with your couch, as are your curtains, and your carpet, and your electrical cords…and much more. Each of these items continuously sheds a variety of chemicals into the air and thus into the lungs of every breathing thing in your home.

Flame-retardants are, by law, applied to nearly every potentially flammable furnishing in your home.  They include polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE’s), which have now been linked to cancer, reproductive problems and lower IQs in children.

Well, a little chemical exposure is better than burning up…right?

Maybe, except those chemical additives won’t actually prevent your furniture from burning. This, from an article in Scientific American…

Deception and intrigue led to a 1970s regulation that prompted the injection of chemicals into home furniture, stemming from a distortion of scientific findings that suggested flame-retardants would be more effective at reducing sofa fires than they really are. In reality, retardants provide no meaningful protection, a finding uncovered in a 2012 investigative series by The Chicago Tribune and highlighted in a recent documentary Toxic Hot Seat.

Felix, 4, enjoys his new couch, free of flame retardant chemicals!

But there is good news!

The “Nanny State” is finally on the case!  As of 2014, California has changed its laws concerning the use of flame-retardants in household items. This makes it possible to perhaps someday purchase furnishings that are free of PBDE’s (California is the state that mandated the use of such chemicals to begin with).

Unfortunately, analysts don’t foresee the problems with PBDE exposure going away any time soon. That’s because PBDE’s are so widely distributed that it will take decades before all those old furnishings to be replaced.

There are, however, important steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from excessive PBDE exposure.

1. Don’t sweep. Vacuum daily, or use a wet mop.. Sweeping sends invisible plumes of accumulated PBDE’s back up into the air.
2. Don’t bring more flame retardants in. While not everyone has the budget to replace all home furnishings at once, when it’s time to get something new, go for one of the few companies that make flame-retardant free upholstered items. We help clients do just that through our Healthy Home consults. If you have children, replace their mattresses first. Check out our Safe Mattress Guide to be sure you avoid the Sneaky Stuff.
3. Eat more plants. PBDEs accumulate in fats–highest levels are found in poultry (even organic), and they are also present in cheese and beef. Eating less meat and dairy will cut your exposure.

The modern world presents us with a variety of health challenges that are of our own making. Luckily, if we stay aware and take action there is a lot we can do to stay healthy, happy, and mildly sane.

Stay sane,

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The post When Furniture Attacks: 3 Ways to Limit Exposure to Flame Retardant Chemicals appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

We looked into dozens of mattresses that claimed to be natural, and we annoyed manufacturers by asking questions like, “are the oils used to make your latex foam cold-pressed or chemically extracted?” We added more than a dozen new terms to our glossary (a little light reading on volatile organic compounds, anyone?), and we provide lots of links where you can learn more about why having a truly natural mattress is so important.

As always, we did all this work so that you don’t have to. For the bottom line, zip on down to The Good Stuff…and then get ready to plop down $500 for a crib mattress or $3,000 for a king-sized one.

Stay sane and sleep soundly,

Mattress Shopping Guide

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The post Mattress Safety Review & Shopping Guide Is Here at Last! appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

While I was too busy meeting vendors to enjoy any of the presentations the festival offered, the show itself was fun and interesting, even if there was a considerable bit of “greenwashing” going on. My sweet dad (dubbed “Meep” by Felix) volunteered to be on toddler duty so that Nana and I could work the event unencumbered. Despite the prevalence of Sneaky Stuff, we did connect with the following artisans/producers of Good Stuff:

• Karmalades household cleaners and skincare (find them on Etsy)
• Eco-Me cleaning products
• Essence of Vali aromatherapy
• Map to the Imagination skin and hair products

Several other vendors appeared to be offering really wonderful safe stuff, but I am doing some more due diligence before I recommend them!

While Nana and I were flapping our gums with new like-minded friends, Meep was hanging out with Felix. Here’s what he had to say about the experience:

As for Felix and me, the show left a bit to be desired. The “food court” consisted of two or three vendors, none of whom offered anything organic, and one of whom sold us a so-called sugar-free smoothie that tasted sweeter than Pixy Stix. Luckily, there were several companies representing healthy food products with lots of samples.

Felix is a huge fan of SeaSnax, a line of packaged foods made from sea vegetables (seaweed), sea salt, and olive oil. They are quite tasty and healthy, so I’ll give them a big shout-out for feeding us!

If you ever want to have a really great time, spend a day at a trade show with a two-year-old! The trick is to stay unattached to any adult-type goals. Once I figured that out, we had a fun time. We went to the Kids Zone, which seemed pretty lame to me. I can assume that Felix felt similarly because after talking about it all morning and finally attending, Felix seemed to not realize that he had been at all. As we were leaving the Kids Zone, Felix asked, “Nana…when are we going to go to the Kids Zone?” Impressive.

Wrestling my umbrella back to the car through the squalling canyons of west-side Manhattan, I was glad we made the effort to attend the show. The greenwashing was somewhat severe but there were many vendors who had high-quality products/services.

Stay sane,

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