For anyone who wants to attempt to do their own upholstery, I took a correspondence course through Foley-Belsaw back in the early 1980’s. Oct, 2019 update: Since we are no longer handling sales of materials, here are two sources for GOLS organic latex foam: DIY Natural Bedding and Foam Order. The importance of using green cleaning products In a typical working environment, inhabitants of the workspace are continually exposed to the remaining residue from the traditional cleaning products … eco friendly upholstery is suitable for all types of surfaces with its excellent adhesive power. What suggestions for glues do you have? submit. It’s highly stain resistant and makes a very good fabric for furniture that will have lots of … Our proprietary process combined with our non-toxic, green-certified solution means that we'll leave your home not only … You didn’t mention whether you’ve done upholstery in the past – if not, I would recommend starting with something smaller than a sofa. Can you recycle silicone kitchen products? We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Other natural materials used in modern re-upholstery. Carla. To satisfy the raw material requirement, the textile must either incorporate recycled materials or degradable fibers. Yes, Please! If you do webinars or virtual classes, I would love to be involved! CLICK HERE TO … Enter your email address and name below to be the first to know. Most non-organic fibers contain chemicals and remnants of the pesticides that were used to grow the plants from … I have done some more research and am not sure yet that I want to use them. I also want to make a natural king size bed. Natural Latex Rubber, processed without any harmful chemicals or petroleum products, is tapped from Para Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) trees, today grown mainly in southeast Asia. I’m always excited to talk with other instructors about using these materials. Best of luck with your progress! eco friendly upholstery gives a completely new and astounding appearance to the facets. One of the world’s most popular fabric protection products argues that these preparations help repel and release stains, which translates to reducing the … Contact your local recycling depot to find out of they accept silicone products and check out this article on the sustainability of silicone … In the very early days of upholstery, there were no synthetics or foams. Made from recycled PET plastic water bottles they look and feel similar to a top quality polyester cushion pad, they have a better strength rating and will last for much longer. It can mean any number of things including a mix of natural and synthetic latex. Would love a referral to a “natural upholsterer” in the Ft. Lauderdale, FL area, or to someone who will custom make a sofa using organic and/or non-toxic matetials. Carla​. We are getting fabrics from Oekotextiles for chair cushions and shades, and next week, we are getting a sofa from Ekla that was made with Oekotextiles fabric. There are some great online upholstery courses available now. Welcome To UpholsterySupplyOnline.comWhere Upholstery Shops Shop661-322-5029 Suited for a number of uses across interiors, including headboards, lighting, and upholstery, Xorel is Carnegie's first sustainable, high-performance textile and is sourced from the sugarcane plant instead of fossil fuels. PS. Thanks so very much for sharing with all of us. The other is Lifely, Debra Lynn Dadd’s new site. Thanks for all your help…I really appreciate it! Only one option comes to mind that I recently encountered: DIY Natural Bedding sells a laminated jersey fabric that is laminated using a GOTS certified glue. ultra friendly polyurethane textiles. We offer an eco-friendly conserve fabric option which is available on most upholstery products. Our technicians are highly qualified, trained, and experienced in wood furniture restoration and refinishing. I would love to talk with your upholsterer or any upholsterer interested in ‘natural’ upholstery – to add them to my resource list. Organic wool is increasingly more popular because it certifies the eco-friendly conditions in which it was both raised and processed. Latex foam goes through a thorough washing process that removes those proteins. No idea what to do about it. And whether eco friendly upholstery is waterproof, anti-static, or flame retardant. He was exceedingly patient and helpful to me while I tried to figure out what to do about reupholstering. .With what I already know working in design, I’ve always wanted to direct clients to safer, healthier furniture and home environments…especially for the babies and children. I might be willing to rent a van and drive it out there myself if this person comes recommended. I cannot travel any distance, visit anybody, as all seats seem to be filled with foam cushions, no matter where I go. I have an upholster willing to make cushions for us using natural latex and GOTS certified fabric that we purchased. If you’d like to learn how to make a boxed and corded upholstery cushion using natural/organic & flame retardant-free materials, check out my ‘Bodacious Box Cushions’ eCourse. Biokleen Bac-Out Enzyme Stain Remover - 32 Ounce - Natural Foam Spray, Destroys Stains & Odors Safely, for Pet Stains, Laundry, Diapers, Wine, Carpets, Eco-Friendly, Non-Toxic, Plant-Based. By using standard leather tests on our eco-friendly faux leathers, Brentano is able to tailor a fabric’s life length to specific applications such as outdoor, upholstery, and Thank you, Replacing it with a natural, organic mattress. Their posts have a lot of scientific research and citations, which I appreciate: http://oecotextiles.wordpress.com/2010/01/20/foam-for-upholstery-cushions/. If you want to add some soothing scents, simply mix in your favorite essential oils before sprinkling it on the carpet. Comparatively, polyurethane is much more environmentally friendly. I also recommend Shelly Leer’s courses in Indianapolis – some business related. They include a variety of chemicals which may have short and long-term negative health effects. I am not able to sit on my furniture, any longer. Organic cotton batting is used as a foundation padding layer in upholstery. Carla, I found you on Pinterest, I was so excited to find all this info available. I would start there, and use the information on ‘Resources for hiring an upholstery professional’ to help you communicate what you need. Brentano recognizes the following global third-party verifications from the textile industry as accreditation for the above criteria for green fabrics: Inspire and be inspired! The only place I have found so far that sells it retail is in San Francisco. We have a Resource page coming soon, so (everybody!) Future testing will include the hand category. The company I have been using for this is not giving us the information my client needs. Andrea, I so wish I did live near you in Montana, because I’d have you reupholster a slew of sofas that contain fire-retardant foams–or take classes from you to learn to do it myself! Look for chlorine-free wool from ethically treated animals to reduce your impact on the earth and the animal. As a severe natural Latex allergy patient it scares the crap out of me to now worry that I have to worry about cushions in friends homes. The GREENUP project aims at the production and marked implementation of eco–friendly upholstery products of leather and textile materials for immediate application in seating: applications. Like nearly all of the products on Viesso, Gus prides themselves in ensuring no fire retardants are used anywhere. I wish there were more resources for healthy, non-toxic glue! It was inexpensive, self paced, easy and fun. That’s great news. Ironically, my dad’s office used to be right down the street from here. Hi Carla , This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Thanks Nancy, for the great tip on the Viking machine. Every part of the source flax plant is entirely utilized to produce different products. There are 10,922 eco friendly upholstery suppliers, mainly located in Asia. If you buy a fresh coconut, you’ll find some of these fibers on the outside of the hard inner shell. Â. No part of the process - from dying and spinning the yarn to weaving and finishing the fabric - can involve harmful chemicals. I have a large couch that has been in my family for 3 generations, but I don’t want to get it reupholstered unless it can be done with non-toxic, natural materials. Hi Vanessa, Are you seeking to use healthier, more sustainable materials inside your furniture? 3. the cover of the cushion protects the skin against any direct contact. If so, the wool will stick naturally to the foam – you don’t need to glue it to the foam, but you do need to wrap it to hold the wool in place as you stuff it into the cushion cover. We have been recognized with awards such as New York Magazine’s “Best Eco-friendly Cleaning Service” award. I am excited about your workshops and hope to join one some day. I am wondering if you know how to get around using a chemical based glue to knit back upholstery fabric, or if you know of a fabric finishing company in Texas or anywhere that is more natural. However, we don’t know what kind of glue can be used. The comment section of the post is extremely useful too. Organic cotton twill or a tight-weave muslin is used as a ticking layer between the wool batting and the outer fabric to prevent wool fibers from migrating through the cover fabric and ‘pilling’ on the surface. When I spoke with Mike, who was very nice and helpful, he told me he has thus far only made sofas with a latex that is a combo of natural and synthetic. Our PVC-free vinyl fabric by the yard is easy to work with, safe for your home, business, or even hospital setting. I’ve been thinking about why I didn’t include feathers/down as an option, and realized that many of the people I have worked with have not wanted to use down because it’s an animal product and they were either concerned about the treatment of the birds or they were allergic to down. I have a big mouth and since undergoing brain surgery, I’ve been telling everyone about how dangerous all chemicals are in our environment. Aside from the materials mentioned above, any discussion of natural upholstery would not be complete without including traditional materials.Â. 2. the proteins in the natural latex responsible for the possible allergic reaction are destroyed by the high temperatures during vulcanization in production. This is a huge problem for me. I’m struggling to find this material to use in my projects. The ‘certified’ latex has no chemicals other than those necessary for the vulcanization, foaming & curing process that are a part of both organic and non-organic latex foam production.. I’ve looked high and low for many of the organic materials you have listed here. It is used to ‘soften the edges’ in the top layer of upholstery. Carpet cleaning equipment & supplies. Carla. I have to reupholster all my furniture anyway, since it was exposed to mold in a house I moved into after divorce. I’m sorry I don’t have a list of natural upholsterers posted on the website yet, and what I have collected is far from complete (I don’t have any current listings in the SF area). Thank you for sharing your experience. They recommend using foam that is certified by Global Organic Latex Standards (GOLS). I suspect the way I will go is to try to find a supplier that carries GOLS 100% organic certified latex, and have them ship it to whatever upholsterer I use, be it Blawnox or somewhere in Philadelphia, where I live. This is the main reason we offer the latex foam – as an alternative for those individuals. Ready to ‘Go Natural’ with your furniture? Latex is commonly sold in 3 different firmnesses (some sources have 5 or 6). For more information on eco friendly Silicone products, check out this article. Sorry to take up so much comment space, but I wondered what your considered opinion is of using feathers and/or down in upholstery. I totally agree that we need to build opportunities for easier access to ‘honest’ resources. Can you recommend an upholsterer in the San Francisco / Oakland Bay Area who is using natural materials? These features help linen score high on the ecological chart to become a favorite eco-friendly fabric. These are handy resources you can take to your local upholstery shop to help them learn more about using natural upholstery materials in your project. Step One: The water bottles are recycled at a local recycling facility. Thank you so much for this information. Now we just need someone who is willing/able to make it who does not have cats. . All because of chemicals. For over 50 years our mission has been to protect the health & wellness of people, pets, & the planet with sustainable & affordable cleaning products. Brentano adheres to a strict green criteria when developing many of our fabrics, with a focus on sustainable products and environmentally friendly processes. [email protected], our website : http://only-organic-fabric-shop.com. In addition to 6 different anti-slip coatings , our leather care products consists of 5 distinct leather coatings, with each leather care product serving a specific purpose at the various stages of the leather refinishing process . I’ve been told to place a white sheet, or towel on seating. No problem Andrea. If you download the free ‘Buying Guide to Natural Upholstery Materials’ on this page, you’ll be signed up to receive updates on upcoming classes as well as valuable tips, guides, design ideas and stories to help you get started with the right upholstery materials for your project. Thank you! I will post a notice here when it’s available. So, long story short, I wonder if you can find GOLS foam and get it sent to an upholsterer in DC. You’ll find some of these materials used in antique furniture, as well as in fine modern pieces using traditional re-upholstery techniques: Enter your name & email in the form below and we’ll send you our FREE ‘Buying Guide to Natural Upholstery Materials’ to help you get started. I am also in the DC area – attention upholsterers interested in using natural materials: apparently you are in high demand here! Any leads in near/DC??? I tried it once and was totally overwhelmed by the number of replies I got. Let me know if you run into any questions during your class. The bids come from a range of movers from guys with a van, to small movers who haul antiques across the country, to actual moving companies. Coconut fiber – the rough fibers of the coconut husk forms a ‘crunchy’ layer in traditional applications. Husband of 35 years left me because he wouldn’t give up his personal use of chemicals and so I was wondering if you know of anyone I could apprentice with on the east coast who could help me get started. These methods of Safe cleaning are essential for Baby safe cleaning because all of the … Panaz are an upholstery supplier and the industry first to introduce a contract quality, 100% recycled polyester basecloth for print. The majority of our polyurethane faux leathers use a polymer resin that is degradable.At Brentano, we choose our manufacturers carefully, seeking out mills that are conscientious of the green movement and have clear environmental goals. Silk is a chemical-laden process involving heavy metals, with both companies or visit our to... Furniture in Seattle solids or liquids this article, but it does work Deborah is very very! To leave industry due to chemicals to learn Upholstery’ Pinterest board 10,922 eco friendly ( Environmentally friendly processes it!, let me know if there ’ s anything i can pass it on the subject Bay who! The key to improving our health and contribute to saving our planet natural but this kill! S courses in Indianapolis – some business related also videos and instructions there to!. Landfills, and encouraging green consciousness among employees a sofa in Pittsburgh are us... Most ridiculous allergy, that i have an ETA for the great tip the. 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