Making a House a Cleaner, Greener Home

That was true. Within two days the air felt clearer. He went on to say, "One other factor that weighs on the emissions/cure cycle is the dry time allowed between coats, the thickness of those coats and the conditions under which the product is being applied. In situations where re-coats are too quickly done, heavy coat application and poor ventilation or high humidity are present, then the whole process will be retarded."

I like the fact that the AFM product can be thinned with water. We used less than we thought, which means I have some leftover for the hardwood floors lurking under the torn linoleum in my kitchen. The floors need another coat of gloss but are so much prettier than they were a week ago.

And now for my final lesson of the week: Know thyself. Could I have used wax and wood oils and perhaps achieved a similar effect? Maybe. Was I prepared to buff my floors every year? Not a chance. (But I will clean my floors in the most eco-friendly way possible.) I looked for products that would be significantly healthier for my loved ones and me—and would allow me to have a life. (I would love to be the person who bakes bread, knits scarves, chops wood and carries water but I think we've established that isn't exactly part of my DNA…yet.)

Every step of this process is emotional and personal. And every step gets me closer to a cleaner, greener home. Follow my journey here and on Twitter.

All my best,
Simran