How to Stay Healthy By Avoiding Toxins in the Air (with an emphasis on Home Furnishings) – Part 3

Last updated: May 2026

This is part three in a four-part series on how to stay healthy by avoiding toxins. Read parts one and two on avoiding toxins in food and avoiding toxins in water. The main takeaways from parts one and two: eat organic whenever possible, and use a quality water filter to avoid waterborne toxins. Eliminating chemicals indoors is trickier, but just as important — and that's what we're tackling today.

Why Indoor Air Quality Matters More Than You Think

In many cases, indoor air pollution is actually worse than outdoor pollution. Indoor pollution comes from home building materials as well as the furnishings inside. Small chemical particles evaporate into the air from synthetic building materials like particle board (used in house construction), paint, carpet, vinyls, and furniture. These chemical particles are called VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).

To read more in depth on the science behind VOCs, see our article on low and zero VOC furniture.

The Health Risks of VOCs at Home

VOCs are present in the air, which means they enter your body with every breath. This can have a number of negative effects on health. For example, formaldehyde, the most widely known VOC, is a carcinogen and is linked to cancer. Other VOCs often found in home furnishings include benzene (which affects the hematological, immune, and nervous systems) and toluene (which affects the immune and nervous systems).

Furniture and carpet manufacturers are not required to report the variety of VOCs emitted from their products, which means there's no way for consumers to truly know what's being released into their air. MSDS sheets (Material Safety Data Sheets) on paint and varnishes are typically available, but for most home furnishings, you're left in the dark. Either way, breathing these compounds is not ideal for optimal health.

The Solution: Two-Part Approach to Cleaner Indoor Air

Indoor air quality can be improved two main ways: by using an air purification system, and by eliminating the source of indoor VOCs at the same time. Browse our air purifiers by Austin Air for one of the most effective options on the market. In addition, opening windows regularly to promote fresh airflow and growing house plants are simple, low-cost ways to support cleaner indoor air.

Since some sources of VOCs are easier to replace than others, a mixed approach is usually best. Furniture, carpet, and paint are much easier to change than the engineered wood used to construct an entire house. An air purifier handles particles coming from materials you can't replace. But when it comes to the furniture and mattresses you sit, lounge, and sleep on every day, it's worth replacing those with healthier versions. VOCs from furniture are inhaled at close range before an air purifier can capture them.

Finding Products with Low or No VOCs

Natural Bed Frames

Most of the furniture on the market is made out of particle board or medium-density fiberboard (MDF). Both are engineered woods made from wood chips, shavings, or sawdust, which means hazardous adhesives and solvents must be used to hold the wood matter together. These solvents release VOCs into the air for years after manufacturing. When shopping for a bed frame or other furniture, solid wood should always be your first choice.

Another important component of any "wood" furniture is the paint or varnish used as a finish. Paint and varnish can also release VOCs into the air until the finish is fully cured. Look for a product with a low VOC finish, or one that uses natural oils or wax to protect the wood. By choosing a sustainable, healthy natural wood bed frame, you significantly reduce the amount of toxins entering your air and lungs.

Organic Mattresses

One of the most chemically loaded items in any bedroom is often the mattress. Most people spend approximately a third of their lifetime in bed, which makes sleeping on a clean, organic mattress especially important. All conventional mattresses contain synthetic materials made from petroleum (such as polyurethane foam or visco memory foam). These foams release VOCs into the air that are not only carcinogenic but can also trigger allergies and even respiratory illness. We've heard many first-hand reports from customers who previously slept on memory foam mattresses getting morning headaches and waking up with seasonal allergy symptoms, and how those symptoms vanished after switching to an organic mattress.

Sofas and Upholstered Furniture

Upholstered furniture like sofas contain not just engineered wood but also synthetic foams for padding, similar to conventional mattresses. They also frequently have fabric treated with chemicals (often advertised as "stain resistant"). An organic sofa is a healthier option for all these reasons.

Natural Carpet and Flooring

Carpet is one of the most chemically loaded items you can have in the home. New carpets can contain several known carcinogens, including formaldehyde, ethylbenzene, acetone, toluene, and styrene. They also frequently contain per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs or PFAS), which don't break down in the environment or the human body.

PFAS are known as "forever chemicals" because they continue to accumulate until they reach toxic levels. Many PFAS have been linked to a growing list of health concerns. The carpet industry has used PFAS for years to coat carpet yarn for stain, soil, and water resistance, but these chemicals break down off carpet fibers over time and end up in household dust, which is then breathed in and absorbed.

Natural wool carpet is a much healthier alternative. Wool naturally repels dirt and water without chemical treatment, and is also naturally flame resistant. Where natural wool carpet isn't an option, solid hardwood flooring is the next-best choice for a healthy floor. If you do choose hardwood, look for a water-based low-VOC floor finish, and let it fully cure before spending extended time near it.

Low VOC Paint

Most mainstream paint manufacturers now offer low-VOC formulations, and some even offer no-VOC versions. The catch: the "low" or "no" VOC claim usually only applies to the base color (white). When tint is added at the store, VOCs are reintroduced. To go all the way natural, choose a milk paint, which uses natural ingredients and zero synthetic chemicals.

Air Fresheners and Fragranced Cleaning Products

Fragranced products used in the home are full of detrimental chemicals known as endocrine disruptors, and are associated with headaches, asthma, and breathing difficulties. Instead, opt for natural essential oils to add fragrance to your home. With a quality air purifier running, you may find you don't need air fresheners at all — purified air smells naturally clean.

Cleaning products can also be loaded with VOCs, as reported by lung.org. They suggest using safer cleaning products that can be found at most natural food stores. You can also check the EPA's Safer Choice program for a list of certified safer cleaning products. Simpler yet, you can clean most surfaces with a basic mixture of warm water, soap, vinegar, and/or baking soda — effective for disinfecting and scrubbing, with zero chemical exposure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a VOC, and why is it dangerous?

A VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) is a chemical that evaporates at room temperature, releasing potentially harmful particles into the air you breathe. Common indoor VOCs include formaldehyde, benzene, and toluene — all of which have been linked to serious health concerns including cancer, respiratory issues, and nervous system damage.

How do I know if my furniture is off-gassing VOCs?

New furniture made from particle board, MDF, or with synthetic finishes often has a distinct chemical smell when first unwrapped. That smell is VOCs off-gassing into your home. Even after the smell fades, off-gassing can continue at lower levels for years. Solid wood furniture with natural oil or low-VOC finishes is the safest bet.

Are air purifiers actually effective against VOCs?

Quality air purifiers with activated carbon filters (like Austin Air) are effective at capturing VOCs, gases, and chemical odors, in addition to standard HEPA-filterable particles. Cheaper purifiers with HEPA filters alone may only capture particulate matter, not the gaseous VOCs themselves.

Is memory foam toxic?

Conventional memory foam is made from petroleum-based polyurethane and contains residual chemicals from manufacturing. It off-gasses VOCs and may contain chemical flame retardants. Many people experience headaches, sinus irritation, and allergy-like symptoms from memory foam. Organic latex mattresses are the healthier alternative.

How long do VOCs off-gas from new furniture?

Off-gassing is most intense in the first few weeks after manufacturing or unwrapping, but can continue at lower levels for months or even years, depending on the materials and finishes used. This is why solid wood with natural finishes is the gold standard — it skips the long-term off-gassing entirely.

Bringing It All Together

Through a multi-faceted approach — reducing toxins at the source, using an air purifier to capture what you can't eliminate, opening windows for fresh air, and adding houseplants — you can be confident you're breathing clean, healthy air in your home. Small swaps add up: a solid wood bed frame, an organic mattress, natural wool carpet, low-VOC paint, and a switch from chemical cleaners to natural alternatives can transform your indoor environment over time.

Read on to our final article in this four-part series on how to stay healthy by avoiding toxins in body products.