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Green Ways To Give New Life To Recycled Furniture
Posted on March 9, 2009 by Joyce Benson
Tag(s): Green Furnishings, Kitchens And Baths, Recycling
The following is a guest post by Caroline Smith of www.GetBarStools.com, where you can find a selection of bar stools made from recycled or sustainably-sourced materials.
Since I moved to my new house I’ve been concentrating on redecorating one room at a time, as my budget allows. Furnishing a room from scratch can be expensive, but it’s remarkable how much furniture I’ve managed to recycle - enabling me to save money and stick to my green principles.
One of my favorite sources of secondhand furniture is the Freecycle website, which has local groups all over the world. I’ve acquired several unique items from here, which were otherwise unwanted and could have ended up in landfill. Recently I was even given an old dining table by a fellow “freecycler”, and I have amassed a set of dining chairs from various sources.
Trying to get my recycled furniture to look good wasn’t quite so easy, as I wanted to avoid using toxic chemicals to strip and finish the wood. However, I did some research and found that it’s entirely possible and fairly straightforward to refurbish wooden furniture using eco-friendly products. Here are my top tips:
Stripping The Old Finish
· Most conventional paint strippers contain the chemical methylene chloride, which in my opinion is best avoided due to the environmental and health risks associated with it.
· There are eco-friendly strippers available commercially, but as yet they aren’t commonly found in most hardware stores, so the internet seems the best place to buy one.
· My homemade alternative is made by mixing up a thick paste of washing soda crystals and water. If you spread the paste over the surfaces to be stripped it should loosen the finish so it can be scraped off easily. However, it does take several hours to get to this stage, so you may want to consider leaving it overnight.
· Once the finish has been removed, a good way to remove any dust and make sure the surfaces are completely clean is to wipe the wood with a mixture of 2 parts white vinegar to 1 part water.
· My kitchen bar stools didn’t need to be stripped at all as I found I could remove the old finish using sandpaper (and a lot ofelbow grease). However, lead was common in wood paints years ago, so if you’re in any doubt, it’s advisable to buy a lead testing kit from a hardware store to check. If the paint does have lead in, avoid sanding it altogether, as this would release the particles into the air where they could be breathed in.
Eco Paints & Stains
· Avoid chemical-based conventional products that release VOCs (volatile organic compounds) into the air, as these compromise indoor air quality and are harmful to your health.
· A safer, greener option is to use eco-friendly paints or stains, which are water-based and made from natural ingredients such as plant oils.
· To bring out the natural grain of the wood, an alternative to using a stain is to simply use beeswax or linseed oil, as I did recently when refinishing wood bar stools.
Recycle Anything That’s Leftover
· If you only need a small amount of paint or stain, buy only as much as you’ll need.
· Or, why not ask friends or family if they have any half-used tins in the garage?
· Consider using your local Freecycle group to give away any products you have leftover.
Non-toxic, Natural Cleaning Products, Part II
by Joyce Benson
Last week, I began a series of posts about homemade, natural cleaning products. The first post divulged the many varied uses for vinegar. Here, I’ll be touting the cleaning power of baking soda. Its mild abrasive action and natural deodorizing properties make it a must-have alternative to commercial scouring powders.
- Remove odors from plastic food storage containers and garbage cans: Add warm water and baking soda to container and soak overnight. Leave an opened box of baking soda in the fridge and freezer to absorb odors as well.
- Remove spots on laminate and other man-made countertops, sinks, and enamel stovetops: Scrub with a sprinkle of baking soda and a damp sponge.
- Loosen burned or crusted-on foods from pots and pans: Soak or boil a solution of 2 tbsp baking soda per quart of water in each pan. Let stand until particles are loosened, then wash as usual. Use a mild or moderate abrasive if necessary.
- Remove marks on walls and painted surfaces: Many ink spots, pencil, crayon or marker spots can be cleaned from painted surfaces using baking soda applied to a damp sponge. Rub gently, then wipe and rinse.
- To freshen laundry and help remove grease stains from clothing: Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the washing machine along with the detergent.
- To polish silver: Line a pan with aluminum foil and fill with water; add a teaspoon each of baking soda and salt. Bring to a boil and immerse silver. Polish with a soft cloth.
- To polish brass or bronze: Polish with a soft cloth dipped in a lemon and baking-soda solution.
- To clean stainless steel, chrome, fiberglass, ceramic, porcelain or enamel fixtures: Dissolve 2 tbsp baking soda in 1 qt of water. Spray onto fixture and polish with a soft cloth.
- To remove small oil and grease spills on the garage floor: Add baking soda and scrub with wet brush.
- Oven Cleaner: Minimize use of the self-cleaning oven option since it consumes a lot of energy. Instead, a little elbow grease is all it takes: Moisten oven surfaces with sponge and water. Use 3/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup salt and 1/4 cup water to make a thick paste, and spread throughout oven interior. (avoid bare metal and any openings) Let sit overnight. Remove with spatula and wipe clean. Rub gently with fine steel wool for tough spots.
- Carpet Freshener: Combine 3/4 cup baking soda, 2 tbsp corn starch, and 1/4 cup perfumed talcum powder. Sprinkle on dry carpet, let stand 5 to 15 minutes, then vacuum.
These last three were included in my previous post about cleaning with vinegar, but they bear repeating since each one uses baking soda as well:
- Tub and tile cleaner: To remove film buildup on bathtubs, apply vinegar full-strength to a sponge and wipe with vinegar first. Next, use baking soda as you would scouring powder. Rub with a damp sponge and rinse thoroughly with clean water.
- Toilet bowl cleaner: Mix 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, pour into basin and let it set for a few minutes. Scrub with brush and rinse. This combination both cleans and deodorizes. Use a pumice stone to remove any remaining hard water rings.
- Drain opener for slow-moving drains: Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain. Add 1/2 cup white vinegar and cover the drain, if possible. Let set for a few minutes, then pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain to flush it. DO NOT USE THIS METHOD AFTER ANY COMMERCIAL DRAIN OPENER HAS BEEN USED OR IS STILL PRESENT IN THE STANDING WATER.
Perf Go Green TT13 13-Gallon Dispenser Tall Kitchen Bag With Handles, 12-Count Boxes (Pack of 4) (48 Total Bags)
Other products by Perf Go Green
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