Quick Tip: Reduce Health Risks By Reusing

Our Mission: We ignite the movement that empowers parents to protect children from harmful chemicals. Donate »

Blog

Healthy Child

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Reuse, reclaim, repurpose, recreate, rethink. Why? Because in most cases, secondhand items have typically off-gassed their harmful VOCs (that "new" smell). In addition, buying used reduces pollution (no need for new natural resources or additional manufacturing processes, no packaging, etc). Consider buying the things you need from second hand stores, designer consignment shops, Craigslist, and Ebay. You can even host your own "swap your swag" night with your friends, or look for items on FreeCycle or similar swapping services.

Here are some tips for reducing your risk by reusing:

1. Give yourself some time to find what you need. Keep a list of things on hand so when you're at a thrift store or perusing Craigslist you know exactly what you need. You may not find it right away, but generally you'll come across what you're looking for if you have a little patience. In the meantime, you might be surprised at what unexpected treasures you find.

2. Give something old a new look with organic textiles or no-VOC paints and stains.

3. For children's items, look into the latest safety standards and recalls at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

4. Make sure what you've found is safe. Old furniture or antiques could be contaminated with lead. You can purchase an easy swab test at a hardware store - simply wipe the object and the swab will change color if there's lead present. You'll also want to be sure that any textiles or furnishings are mold-free. Generally a good whiff will let you know. Inspect everything carefully.

5. Clean your "new" treasures using mild (but still effective) disinfectants and other safer solutions.

Share your second-hand savvy in the comments below. What are your tips? Find anything amazing lately?