What to Look For

Ideally, treating wood flooring, furniture or trim with a finish will both protect it and enhance its natural beauty—without exposing you to harm. But finishes typically contain solvents, such as petroleum distillates, that keep the solution liquid until applied, and a binder, such as polyurethane, that holds the ingredients together and hardens into a film when dried. Here are a few criteria to use when shopping:

Types: Clear coatings and sealants help wood surfaces rebuff water, scratches and daily wear and tear. Stains penetrate and tint woods.

Plant oils and natural finishes: Linseed, shellac, beeswax and carnauba wax.

Water-based synthetics: Although these finishes still contain petrochemicals, they are formulated to reduce air-polluting emissions.

Volatile organic compound (VOC) content: Listed on labels in grams per liter (g/L); always seek the lowest amount available.

Shopping Tips

• Avoid neurotoxins, such as petroleum distillates, or heavy metals like lead acetate.

• Check labels for "danger," "caution" and other health warnings.

• Buy only as much as you need.

Usage Tips

• Follow safe-use directions on labels.

• If possible, work in an outdoor space. If applying finishes indoors, open all doors and windows, and use ceiling and box fans to circulate fresh air into the room. Do not inhabit the room for two or more days afterward, until the finish has dried and fumes have dissipated.

• Do not use any solvent-containing product around children or if you are pregnant.

• Allow newly finished items to cure for several days and only bring them into the house only after the finish has lost its odor.

• To reduce risk of fires, soak used oily rags in water, seal them in a plastic bag and discard in an outdoor trash can.

• Dispose of leftover finish properly: Donate it to neighbors or local community groups. Otherwise, dispose of it according to your sanitation department's household hazardous waste regulations.