Curtains, drapes, sofa fabrics and armchairs … If the furnishing fabrics finish the decoration of a room, they raise several sanitary questions:
They are nests for dust and dust mites, especially if the room has high humidity and high temperature.
Upholstery fabrics have a high potential for absorbing chemical pollutants in the room. But they do not keep them: these substances are then released (term used to say “released”) in the room, maintaining the vicious circle of indoor pollution.
In order to limit the risk of fire, some fabrics are fireproofed using polybrominates, chemicals considered to beendocrine disruptors. Ditto for anti-stain treatments with perfluorinated elements.
“When buying, ask the seller about the treatments the fabric has undergone,” advises Dr. Chevallier. And to limit the risk of mites, choose accessories with removable covers in order to wash the fabric parts regularly in the machine, ideally at 60 ° C.
Rugs, carpets: are there any differences in health depending on the material?
With their more or less long hairs, rugs and carpets trap dust, mites, molds and other allergens (animal hairs, pollen). If you or someone in your family is allergic, then it is best to avoid carpet. In addition to the allergic risk, textile floor coverings also pose the problem of VOC emissions. Like upholstery fabrics, they will act like blotter and absorb chemical pollutants in the room … and then release them. Due to their composition, they themselves emit VOCs. Carpets and rugs consist of two parts: the surface layer made of natural fibers (cotton, wool, vegetable fibers) or synthetic (polyester, polyamide, acrylic, polypropylene) and the back (or backing). However, this part is generally made up of a polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, styrene-butadiene foam, that is to say as many VOC-generating materials, just like the glues used to fix this backing on the floor. The fibers, for their part, have received flame retardant and stain resistant treatments with toxic substances. In the end, therefore, the problem is not limited only to dust mites.
Maintain rugs and carpets
Vacuum at least twice a week with a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter changed regularly.
Ventilate after vacuuming.
Treat the carpet at least twice a year with an eco-labeled anti-mite product or with baking soda (sprinkle the carpet, wait 2 hours then vacuum).
How to limit the risk?
To limit VOC emissions, Dr. Laurent Chevallier recommends carpets with a felt backing to hang on adhesive Velcro. We can also rely on labels.
The GUT label (Gemeinschaft Umweltfreundlicher Teppichboden, or Association of ecological carpets), is a German label exclusively reserved for carpets. It limits the use of certain substances dangerous to health (phthalates, biocides, formaldehydes, flame retardants, etc.), heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, etc.) and guarantees a total VOC emission of less than 300 μg / m3.
The Emicode label, also German, is affixed to the adhesives for which it guarantees low VOC emissions. Choose an adhesive bearing the mention GEV EMICODE EC1 (= “very low emissions”).