In your efforts to make your home a green home, you’ll run across a lot of information. One simple step towards green living can be decorating your home with organic fabrics.
For decades, organic fabric meant wrapping your home in burlap or something equally as unpleasant. Luckily organic today is as luxurious as you want it to be. From the softest bamboo to the crispest linens, organic textiles have come a long way.
So, just what are organic fabrics?
Any fabric that is made from naturally grown plants. Organic fabrics are not genetically-engineered in any way. They do not get sprayed with chemical pesticides, which makes them safer for the farmer and the consumer. They also do not grow with the help of synthetic fertilizers. Any dyes used in the fabric are also all natural and non-toxic.
In making conscious decision about the fabric you use to decorate your home, you’ll often get higher-quality fabric and make less of a carbon footprint in the process. Here are some of the choices you’ll find in a search for organic fabric:
Organic Cotton
Cotton is the most commonly available form of organic fabric. It’s also widely available in its inorganic form and is the one of the most pesticide-sprayed crop in the world. So, make absolutely sure you’re buying organic before you purchase. Organic cotton is not only better for the environment, it’s also a higher-quality fabric. Inorganic cotton goes through a lot of chemical treatment, which weakens the fibers significantly. Organic cotton is chemical-free and will last much, much longer. Meaning that the amazingly soft sheets you purchased for the guest room, will stay amazing for years to come.
Hemp
While hemp has gotten a bad rap for being related to marijuana, it has only trace, unusable amounts of THC. This natural textile is beneficial to the environment. It produces a lot of oxygen for its size and grows very quickly. It actually helps remove toxins from the soil it grows in, and it can grow almost anywhere without help from chemicals. If you’re creating an organic home design, then using hemp for curtains is a good idea. Hemp-based cloth reflects the sun’s UV rays much better than most other fabrics.
Bamboo
Developed only in the last decade, bamboo fabric continues to grow in popularity. Bamboo grows very quickly, so like hemp, it is a sustainable fabric. It’s also extremely soft, has anti-bacterial properties, is one of the most water-absorbent textiles available and is less likely to cause allergic reactions than many other natural fibers. Overall, bamboo fabric may turn out to be the most versatile of all the organic fabrics. However, it’s important to note that not all bamboo is organic, some companies use chemicals to bleach the natural-colored fibers. Don’t get caught by the green washers, always check to make sure that the fabric you’re buying isn’t just sustainable, it’s organic too.
Whether you’re considering reupholstering your furniture, putting in new drapes, or finding a better blanket for your bed, the benefits of using organic fabric can’t be over-estimated. It’s a simple step towards green living that will improve your impact on the environment, improve the quality of your home, and may also improve your health.
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