I found out it’s made from recycled plastic bottles. I’m just breathing in plastic fibers all day now, that can’t be safe. And my husband says it’s too expensive to replace. I’m losing it, I sleep in there
Here is a suggestion when finances are a little better , look for sales around upcoming holidays and replace it at that time . In the meantime hang in there . Personally I feel you have some legitimate concerns unrelated to OCD . You prefer safe healthy items in your residence that you come in regular contact with . There is substantial information available that supports your concerns as very valid .
@777Q Do you think if i get a cotton couch cover that will help?
@itsmehi17 Good thinking, if it was me I would look for a cotton couch cover that is washable and I would start using it at my earliest opportunity. Personally I think that would help with your situation to a certain degree, enough to make a positive impact to do it .
@777Q Do you think that’ll reduce my risk of microplastic exposure??
@itsmehi17 Like I have mentioned I am no expert on anything. But I feel that it would be of help I would personally get the cotton cover until I could acquire a more environmentally friendly option to have with a different couch .
@777Q Thank you, I’m just so scared
@itsmehi17 And my rug is also polyester and I want that gone too
Here is further take on all this , it is about making better choices it is not 100% all or nothing with most things .To the extent possible I try to make improved gradual changes with most things in life . I figure I don’t smoke or vape at all and the best that I can I avoid second hand smoke. This I feel is huge as far as having a better chance to be healthier.
@777Q I know but I just googled and even my mattress is bad for me. I feel terrified
@777Q Just googled my couch is oeko tex
@itsmehi17 That is good . If it was me I would still shop around for a reasonable cotton couch cover anyway .
@777Q I found one!! But I’m still so nervous. What about my rug and mattress?
@itsmehi17 Do you think I should throw more out
This is just my personal observations over many years . I do the best I can within reason . I don’t want to go too far , where would it all end . So I try to imagine someone squared away like a doctor, what would his or her preference be at home with their family. Leaving financial aspects out of it . So me personally with my mattress I make sure I am not directly on the mattress ever , I use a sealed mattress cover over the mattress first and then a decent quality fitted sheet over that . For the rugs I try use ventilation with open windows at times and normally I am not laying directly on the carpet, so I am further away of some of the minimal toxic elements of the carpet with my nose and mouth a good distance away from the floor normally, unless I am playing with the cat on the floor, LOL ! Trying to let you laugh a bit. Try not to worry and just do the best you can . I will say this when the microwave is running I try to be 6 feet or more from it as a precaution.
@777Q I’m never on it directly and I use all cotton bedding. My mattress is also certifipur thankfully. We also have wood flooring throughout
@itsmehi17 I also bought an air purifier to use as we can’t really open our windows
@777Q I also think the cotton cover is very thick and should help with fiber shedding
@itsmehi17 But is it still dangerous?
@777Q I’m sorry for bothering you
@itsmehi17 Not at all it is helpful to exchange ideas 💡 😊.Ask anything that you like if I have some ideas as to a good answer I will answer , some things are hard to answer though , there are so many variables with different people . Here is something that comes to mind , growing up the old timers some of them would mention a person that smoked 4 packs a day and drank living to 90 and yet someone else dies at 40 that basically lived a clean life passed on for other reasons .
@777Q Yeah I know it’s so tough to know! But I just want to stop being afraid. What do you think about the microplastics if covered in cotton and with an air purifier? My husband does not want to give up the couch, we spent a lot on it
I understand your concerns . Try to check the couch for different certifications, for example there is one that starts with OEKO they can appear on a tag for recycled materials that are considered generally safe , there are others also , take a closer look at the tags if there are any on it .
@777Q They aren’t OEKO certified which is freaking me out
You mentioned it had the label on the couch oeko tex and you have the cotton cover , so if it was me in a average day my time would be split up only spending so many hours on the couch , so the average person is only spending so many hours on it unless they are bed written from a significant illness . Me personally with that situation I wouldn’t be too concerned. Also the air purifier situation can be a little hit or miss personally I feel , I myself would not use it because of the couch situation specifically that’s just me though .
@777Q Will the air purifier make it worse?
Just an educated guess I don’t really know. But I don’t think it would make it better or worse particularly, just no influence one way or the other. I could be wrong. Sometimes with certain things I try to make better and resolve occasionally I actually make things worse instead, everything is about balance. For example there are many straightforward things people miss that the average person doesn’t even think about, just one example I have many though , not sleeping with a smartphone that is on within 6 feet of your head and body . I know many people that could care less about that , they are literally curled up with their phone sleeping, LOL ! To each their own .
@777Q Oh no I’m afraid of smartphones too☹️
There’s always going to be uncertainty in life. We have to learn to be comfortable and embrace this uncertainty. How many couches have killed people? There’s a slim chance but it’s very very unlikely. You could get hit by a car the second you step out of the house but you can’t let that stop you from going outside! Sit with it!!
@PF20 But it’s just sitting in my home chipping off chemicals and causing harm
@itsmehi17 What harm has it caused to you?
@itsmehi17 If worse comes to worse you can use Facebook and Facebook marketplace to post it and get the most for it you want, and go all organic. Trust me I’ve made the switch to lots of organic things for my long term health. But realistically, everyone already has microplastics and such in their bodies from birth. It’s the reality we live in, but you are not going to die
@itsmehi17 So sit with the uncertainty, and make a plan to eventually upgrade. You are not going to die, nobody is hurt. You are OK. If people live homeless almost their entire lives they are at much higher risk then we will ever be , give yourself grace
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