n Debra's List you will find more than 1000 links to products that benefit your health and the environment. After more than 25 years as a consumer advocate for health and the environment and looking for products to use in my own personal life, I know where to buy a few things and how to choose toxic-free and green products. 
"There are many sources of information out there about detoxing your home. Debra's List is an excellent place to start."
-- Alejandro Junger, MD from the New York Times bestseller Clean
(and it was the only resource he recommended for nontoxic products)
Please visit the individual subcategory pages...Scroll down to see the submenu under this category in left hand column.
Wood Finish
Vermont Natural Coatings
This is currently the wood finish I use. High performance water-based wood finishes made using whey, a by-product of local cheese making. Whey "has a high BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) that can increase the burden on waste treatment facilities and can pollute rivers, lakes, and even the ocean...By reformulating whey into a durable, natural wood finish, a potential waste product is taken out of the waste stream and put to a useful purpose." The VOC level is about 180g/L (grams per liter), which is lower than California's 250g/L--the toughest indoor air quality standard in the United States. I smelled a sample and it is remarkably low in odor (though it does still contain small amount of toxic chemicals, according to their MSDS). Once cured, it is very "food-safe", not toxic if child or pet chews on it. Cans are made with post consumer materials which can be recycled when discarded.
VermontVISIT WEBSITE
Sinan Company
Importers of Auro brand wood finishes, made in Germany from 100% natural ingredients. These paints and finishes are uniquely beautiful as they are made with plant oils and resins and colored with earth pigments.
VISIT WEBSITE
SoySafe
All natural, biodegradable wood sealer and waterproofer made from renewable American-grown soy. For all wood decks, docks, playground equipment, benches, tables or outdoor furniture. Contains no VOC's.
VISIT WEBSITE
Zinsser Bull's Eye Shellac
This wood finish is composed of a natural resin secreted by the tiny lac insect. After laying its eggs on certain trees in India and Thailand, and ingesting the sap of those trees, the lac secretes the digested tree sap to cover it's swarm of eggs. Upon contact with air, the secretion forms into a hard shell, thus the name. It's literally the shell of the lac insect. After the young insects are born, the remaining shell is harvested to make shellac. It is soaked in water and dried in the sun. It is then dissolved into ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and methyl isobutyl ketone. Once it is applied and the volatile solvents evaporate, what is left is the natural shell, just as it is produced by the insect. Shellac gives a natural protective coating to wood, can block odors (can be used to seal formaldehyde odors from particleboard), and can be tinted. Shellac is UV resistant and will not yellow or darken with age. Dry shellac is so safe, it is certified by the Food and Drug Administration as a protective glaze for candy and pharmaceuticals. Read their detailed brochure "The Story of Shellac" which details the history and manufacturing process. NOTE: While dry shellac is completely natural and nontoxic when dry, in the can it has toxic solvents. Be sure to apply in a well-ventilated area and take appropriate precautions.
IllinoisVISIT WEBSITE
AFM Water-Based Wood Finishes
Water-based wood stains and finishes, free from ethylene glycol. Many people wih chemical sensitivities have used these finishes with success for years.
VISIT WEBSITE
Minwax Water-Based Wood Finishes
Minwax makes both toxic and nontoxic water-based products, so check labels carefully for their water-based finishes. Sold at hardware and home improvement stores.
VISIT WEBSITE
Varathane Diamond-Finish Water-Based Polyurethane
This was my favorite wood finish for years. It's a hard water-based urethane used by professionals. I first heard about it from my cabinetmaker. Comes in several finishes. If you don't find it on the shelf, it can be ordered by any hardware store.
VISIT WEBSITE
