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Before you get started decking out your future bambino's nursery, strongly consider tearing up and discarding any wall-to-wall carpeting. (Pregnant women should steer clear of the area in the interim.) Carpet fibers can trap a boatload of mold, dust mites, and other allergens that may overtax your baby's developing immune system and trigger asthma attacks. Give the carpet manufacturer a call before you junk it, however, as some companies offer carpet take-back programs.
Instead, choose easy-to-clean hardwood floors made from sustainably managed forests, and then finish them with a nontoxic or all-natural sealant, such as SoySeal's Wood Sealer and AFM Safecoat's DuroStain.
For some added decorative punch, throw down rugs made from 100 percent natural, untreated fibers, such as wool, cotton, hemp, and jute. Their synthetic, non-biodegradable counterparts can harbor up to 120 different chemicals, including such carcinogens as formaldehyde, toluene, xylene and benzene, according to Linda Mason Hunter, author of Creating a Safe and Healthy Home. Treatments also add polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), perfluorochemicals (PFCs), perfluorooctanoic acids (PFOAs), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to the environment.
Tip: If you're a renter or ripping up the carpeting simply isn't an option, use an eco-friendly carpet-sealing product, such as AFM SafeChoice Carpet Seal, to reduce offgassing fumes.
Difficulty level: Easy to moderate
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