I am a bit of a geek when it comes to anything around the house. I like to strip existing finishes off my furniture, or buy crappy Ikea pieces and refinish them so they look expensive. That is my true talent. With that said, I decided a while back that wood stains and polyurethanes might be the things I can’t give up for the sake of being eco-friendly. True, I’d hoped there would be a better way, but there just wasn’t.
After a bit of research, I found that many Minwax products are low-VOC, so I don’t need to give up my habit. They even use sustainable materials in the product base and recycled steel in their cans. I recently started using the water-based stains, thinking that they would be the eco-friendly option, but that was not the case.
PROS
- -many low-VOC products, click here and scroll down for the complete list
- -can use for LEED credits
- -available in most chain stores like Lowes, Home Depot, Anawalt, Do-It Center, ACE Hardware, and more. Check with your local retailer.
- -lowered vapors on all products
- -sustainable materials used in the product base(soya/linseed oils, particularly)
- -use recycled/recyclable materials in many product containers
- -offers a water-based version – easier clean-up, doesn’t require thinner or other harsh chemicals to clean
- -reduces waste and uses energy-efficient lighting in manufacturing facilities
- -streamlines distribution to reduce fuel consumption
CONS
- -the labels are easy to confuse with the non eco-friendly versions. Be careful to look for the BOLD lettering on the label that says VOC Compliant with a number. It’s usually directly below the name of the product. On the urethane products, it seems to be very small.
- -not yet the full product line
It now seems we can’t all get a high off the wood stain anymore. I guess it’s back to the permanent markers!
Tags: minwax, polyurethane, wood stain
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