There are very few lead hazards in most new home goods so we’ve turned our focus here on products that are eco-friendly and non-toxic.
Bedding
We prioritize bedding made from natural fibers and prefer GOTS certified organic cotton which limits how the cotton is grown, dyed, and processed. We avoid polyester, wrinkle resistance treatments that may emit formaldehyde, and conventional waterproof mattress protectors which may contain PFAS.
Mattresses
We recommend choosing mattresses made from natural materials, especially certified organic contents, which have not been treated with flame retardants including antimony trioxide. We spend so much of our lives in bed so it makes sense to prioritize non-toxic options. We use Naturepedic and My Green Mattress in our home.
Pure Green Organic Latex Mattress – Medium Firmness – Queen
Sheets
Amazon Aware 100% Organic Cotton 300 Thread Count Sheet Set – White, Queen
Mattress Protectors
Coverlets and Blankets
Coyuchi – Sequoia Washable Organic Blanket – Full/Queen – Blue
Mattress Pads
Pure Green Natural Latex Mattress Topper – Firm – 2 Inch – Queen Size (GOLS Certified Organic)
Holy Lamb Organics Wool Mattress Toppers (Queen Deep Sleep Topper)
Pillows
Naturepedic Organic 2-in-1 Latex Pillow – Washable – Adjustable Fill (Standard)
Window Treatments
Our primary concern for curtains and window treatments is to avoid PVC, flame retardants (less likely), and PFAS (more likely).
Earthshade is one of the best companies selling non-toxic window coverings currently on the market. They sell Roman shades, roller shades, and mini blinds.
IKEA has a large variety of curtains without intentionally added PFAS.
Furniture
We avoid solid brass hardware which can contain lead, inset stained glass panels, leather, vinyl, reclaimed wood, galvanized panels, painted metal, or PVC sheets which are sometimes glued over pressed wood as a veneer. We avoid polyurethane foam that has been treated with flame retardants and upholstery fabric that has been treated with PFAS.
Organic latex is going to be the least toxic option for padded furniture but it is out of the budget of most households. However, keep in mind that a small percentage of the population has an allergy to latex, so this material may not work for everyone.
We prefer solid wood or wood products made with VOC-free finishes or at least finishes that outgas quickly. Certifications such as Greenguard Gold are a plus. Air quality is an important factor when choosing brand new furniture.
IKEA is going to have the best variety of furniture with low impacts on air quality and no intentionally added PFAS. Some of their products are particle board while others are solid wood.
Most of the furniture options at Amazon with non-toxic qualities are designed for children.
We liked this low-VOC, solid wood option for kid’s beds:
Max & Lily Bunk Bed, Twin-Over-Twin Wood Bed Frame For Kids, Natural
For adults we recommend Grain Wood furniture which has several no-VOC and low-VOC finishes over their solid pine, sustainably harvested products. We have spoken to the company and found them to be very responsive and knowledgeable about non-toxic concerns. The hardware we tested from them in our recent dresser purchase is non-detect for lead.
Grain Wood Furniture Greenport Solid Wood Platform Bed, Queen Size, Brushed White
Grain Wood Furniture Shaker 5-drawer Espresso Finish Solid Wood Chest
