Floor Finishes

If you've gone to the trouble of installing green flooring, don't ruin the job with toxic finishes and sealers that reduce indoor air quality. Many products, especially those derived from fossil fuels, offgas volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including the known human carcinogens formaldehyde and benzene, along with endocrine disrupters, skin and eye irritants, asthma agitators and other carcinogenic compounds. Although VOC concentrations diminish after application, they can continue to offgas for weeks or can be absorbed into other surfaces such as upholstery or drapes and released at a later time when the fabric is disturbed.

Look for low- or no-VOC alternatives, stains made from plant-based pigments and formaldehyde-free sealers, and avoid products containing ammonia, a respiratory irritant, and zinc, which may seep into groundwater during processing, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Beeswax and tree-resin polishes are buffable and resistant. For wood surfaces, natural finishes made from linseed oil or tree-sap resin produce a dry, bright finish. For polish and upkeep, try hard-wax and natural-oil polishes such as those made from citrus or nut oils.

No- and Low-VOC finishes, sealers and polishes

AFM Safecoat Acrylacq ($83/gal.) or AFM Naturals Oil Wax Finish ($77/gal.; www.afmsafecoat.com, 619-239-0321)

Tried & True's Varnish Oil and Original Wood Finish ($60-$75/gal.; www.triedandtruewoodfinish.com)

OS Hardwax Oil ($94/2.5 liter; www.ecoproducts.com)

BioShield Natural Resin Floor Finish ($66/2.5 liter; www.bioshieldpaint.com, 800-621-2591)

SoySolv Soy Seal, water-based, non-flammable sealer, for concrete or exposed wood surfaces (soysolv.com)

Enviro Solutions High Traffic Floor Finish #96 ($25/gal.; www.enviro-solution.com, 877-674-4373)

Carpeting and Area Rugs

Earth Weave Bio-Floor Natural Home carpeting ($34-$45/sq.yd.; www.earthweave.com, 706-278-8200)

Easy-to-clean, natural-material area rugs are available from Natural Home ($122 and up; www.naturalhomeproducts.com, 707-824-0914) or from Yayla Tribal Rugs ($5-$35/sq.ft.; www.yayla.com, 617-576-3249).

Resources

For more low-VOC choices, see the Wood Finishes Product Report.