All Natural Way to Make a Fabric Fire Retardant

In April of 2009, the "Kennebec Journal" published an article about chemical flame retardants being banned in Maine because traces of these hazardous chemicals were showing up in the region's shellfish. This announcement was made just a few months after the state of Washington banned chemical flame retardants. These are just a few examples of the growing concern about the dangers of flame retardants. Luckily, there are some natural ways to increase flame control while decreasing your family's exposure to risky compounds.

Borax Makes It Better

Borax is a natural product that many people use for laundry and cleaning. But few people know that it doubles as a flame retardant. Just put warm water in a spray bottle, add a small amount of Borax, and you can start fireproofing your curtains. You can even soak your child's clothes in a mixture of warm water and Borax, then air-dry them. Although you will have to do this after each washing, this process is considered to be exponentially safer than buying chemically-treated clothing.

Snug As a Bug

In a report in "AAP News" in March of 2007, pediatricians called for children's sleepwear to be either treated with a flame retardant or be tight around the body. This means that if you purchase a snug-fitting onesie, there is no need for chemical treatments. The simple act of clinging to the body means a decreased risk of the fabric catching fire. Skin-tight pajamas just got a whole lot cooler.

References

• "Kennebec Journal;" Flame retardant, banned in Maine, found in shellfish; John Richardson; April 2009
• "Organic Housekeeping;" Ellen Sandbeck; 2006
• ThriftyFun: Homemade Flame Retardant

Resources

• Natural Oregon: Flame Retardant Banned In Washington
• "AAP News;" Safe and sound: Help young children get a good night's rest; Trisha Korioth; March 2007