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Know-How · Nursery
Which wood finishes are safe to use on children’s furniture?
by Piper Kujac, 02/19/07Piper Kujac is a building designer and LEED Accredited Professional.
Question: Which wood-finish products are safe to use on furniture and toys that children could chew on?
–Karen Bird, Denver, CO
Answer: There are many healthy options for finishing wooden toys or furniture. A food-safe natural wood oil such as those used on cutting boards would do the trick for toys. AFM Naturals is an eco-friendly product created for the chemically sensitive. AFM also makes a wide range of safe, nontoxic paints and sealants, including linseed and hemp seed oils. Pacific Rim Woodworking makes nontoxic tung oil and pure beeswax wood-finishing products for its eco-friendly wood furniture, including cribs. You can also contact a green retailer, such as Eco Design Resources, that carries these products and can offer advice on their use.
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