Guideposts In Choosing Eco-friendly Rugs
Considering replacing your floor covering? Then it's high time to look beyond aesthetics
and opt for materials that are good not just for your body but to Mother earth as well. There are now eco-friendly rugs that are particularly made using natural fibers. No more panic attacks whenever your child goes to sleep on the bedroom carpet you forgot to vacuum. You can finally put all your tensions at rest with a range of highly stylish environment friendly rugs and carpets in town.
Recent studies conducted by EPA have shown that the level of pollutants found in most homes is actually two to five times higher than those found outdoors? Truth is, you can easily find these pollutants at a glance on carpets and rugs in the average American homes. Volatile organic compounds as well as other chemicals that are known as carcinogens such as benzene and formaldehyde found in synthetic floor coverings may be easily found floating in your home and in the air you breathe. For many homemakers and residential owners, this is certainly a cause of alarm, especially in view to the fact that it would usually take several years to these harmful substances to dissipate. In addition to that, these flooring materials are also treated with highly toxic chemicals formulated to repel moisture and soil.
You may consider the following tips in shopping for eco-friendly rugs:
1. Seek for natural fibers. Over 90% of all the carpets and most machine-made rugs are made of petroleum-based synthetic fiber, which can off-gas a lot of VOCs. In contrast, natural fiber rugs are made from renewable resources, are biodegradable, many (like wool) have natural stain resistance, and they emit low amounts of VOCs. Try to choose from the following fibers: untreated or minimally-treated wool, organic cotton, jute, sea grass, sisal, and coir.
2. Seek for non-toxic backing and underlay pads. It's important that rug backings and underlay pads are also made of untreated natural materials to prevent off-gassing. Look for pads made from untreated wool or camel's hair felt that are sewn, not glued, to a jute backing. Or, look for a natural latex backing, which is preferable to foam rubber, synthetic latex, or plastic.
3. Ask about the chemical treatments. Even if the rug was made with a natural fiber, many times those fibers can still be treated with stain, insect, or flame repellents, all of which can emit VOCs. For example, sheep rose with conventional farming practices are often dipped in pesticide baths to control parasites such as lice, ticks, and mites, which creates a lot of health risks for the sheep and the workers. Wool fiber is also traditionally processed with solvents and detergents. Organic cotton, on the other hand, is grown and processed without dioxin-producing bleach, defoliants, pesticides, or artificial fertilizers. So look for rugs that are labeled as organic, untreated, minimally-treated, or non-toxic.
4. Examine the certifications. Trying to find out all these details as an individual consumer can be tedious, if not impossible sometimes. That's when it's good to buy a rug which environmental and health claims have been verified by an independent organization. The best certifications guarantee that the rugs in question are made from renewable resources or recycled materials and that the company has taken steps to reduce pollutants and waste from the manufacturing process.
Copyright (c) 2012 Joe Maldonado
by: Joe Maldonado
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