Ways to breathe cleaner air at home
air purifiers, natural fiber duvets, mattresses, and paraffin-free candles
I’ve been so heartbroken for LA. I was just there in October eating tacos and watching scary movies with friends. The devastation is unfathomable; the photos in the news look nothing like the LA in my mind.
When disaster strikes, well-meaning folks often want to grab their used shoes to ship across the country. I know because over years of working in the humanitarian industry, that’s the number one inquiry I get from friends trying to get rid of shit.
But in times of crisis, cash is everything. Cash provides the dignity of eating foods that bring us comfort and wearing shoes that fit our feet. The power of choice means a lot when we’re vulnerable.
Physical goods require manpower and storage facilities. I’ve seen pallets of donated hand sanitizers firm up into glue from sitting out in the sun. Obviously, if there’s a specific call for old shoes in a certain size, go ahead and send! But in general, don’t donate anything you would feel embarrassed to hand a friend while looking them in the eye? I’m reading about used underwear and old high heels being shipped to LA… what the heck?!
Despite knowing all this, I was tempted to text Doordash gift cards to friends who’ve been temporarily displaced. Yet the last thing they need is to be copying-pasting tiny codes, or downloading Doordash if they use UberEats. In the end, I decided to Venmo. For coffee, gas, N95 masks… one ordered a giant sandwich. Another had returned to LA after a week away and was about to go grocery shopping.
All this to say, donate! Instead of trying to ship your old shoes. Even $5 can make a difference. And for every new paid subscription in January, Silky Crunch will donate $5 to World Central Kitchen.
Today’s letter is all about simple upgrades to reduce the nasties in the air at home.
Many new readers joined Silky Crunch after this letter about microplastics, and folks had a lot to say! Commenters asked what to do about inhaling microplastics, as car tires make up a quarter of microplastics pollution. There were nihilistic responses declaring attempts to reduce microplastics exposure “impossible,” “privileged,” or “reading like mental illness.”
True, we’ll all eat and breathe microplastics anyway, exposure will never be zero. But! Isn’t that why we should make some swaps when we can? If I must die from the vicissitudes of modern life, I’d rather it be from active delights— like breakfast root beer floats for my hangovers— not macrodosing microplastics from my pillowcase every night.
Here’s a systematic review of micro/nanoplastics in indoor and outdoor air, published in 2024. The part that surprised me: indoor exposure to microplastics is double or more than outdoors (Figure 7), whereas I had perceived the outside world as more polluted due to exhaust fumes, construction, pesticides, and dust. Aside from microplastics, other indoor pollutants that affect air quality include fuel-burning appliances, household cleaning products, off-gassing from chemicals in furniture, etc.
So let’s clear the air! Although some of the ideas (e.g. air purifier, natural fiber bedding) require an upfront investment, many (e.g. wool dryer balls, air-drying synthetic clothing, natural perfumes) cost even less than the alternative.
Filter your air 🌬️
An air purifier filters smoke, smells, viruses, mold, and pet dander too. It’s a worthwhile investment in your health. Most modern air purifiers have a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter, which is adequate for capturing some microplastics.
In my bedroom I have an air purifier / fan from Dyson (Costco circa 2018), but during the pandemic we did a lot of research to find an additional air purifier for the kitchen.
We chose the LEVOIT Air Purifier ($99) (1095 sq. feet) for its compact size and rave reviews. It’s a game changer in ways big and small: filtering out cooking smoke from our kitchen, keeping the air fresh even when a lot of humans are breathing in the same tiny space. The replacement filters are $55 for a two-pack, and need to be replaced about once a year.
The Blueair Tabletop Air Purifier ($319) (356 sq. ft) is the design-y, multifunctional furniture piece that’s apparently very quiet. In a studio, it could even be a bedside table.
If I lived in a bigger space, this smart LG Puricare 360 Air Purifier ($248) (2,059 sq. feet) would be my choice. A similar model to the ones that my family in Korea uses. Wider and heavier though, so not ideal if you plan to move it from room to room. The replacement filter is $99.
The American company Nuwave’s Forever Smart Air Purifier ($399) (2,002 sq. feet) doesn’t rely on filter replacements!! If you’re open to washing and drying seven filters, it’s a sustainable choice that will save you $ in the long run.
You may not need an air filter if you live in a big country house with fresh country air, though it might be handy with wildfire season. For those parents who have everything except deep sleep, an air purifier for the bedroom could be a great gift.
We also keep a laboratory graded CO2 monitor ($168, normally $250) in the bedroom, which is worth it for us (teeny, pre-war building in the city) to be mindful of air quality. It freaks me out to see how high the levels get after cooking, or when a couple of friends are over for game night, but a good reminder to turn on the air purifier on and crack open a window.
Nest in natural fiber bed sheets 🌱
What are natural fibers? Cotton, linen, and hemp are examples of plant-based natural fibers. Silk, leather, and wool (including cashmere, alpaca, yak, etc) are examples of animal-derived natural fibers.
Plastic-free is good enough for me, but if you’re crunchier, you may opt for non-polluting systems, thereby excluding semi-synthetic fibers like rayon, viscose, or lyocell, which undergo an intensive chemical process. They’re often advertised as bamboo, eucalyptus, wood pulp, etc.
On a budget but wanna swap asap? These 100% Egyptian cotton sheets ($80+) and this 100% cotton duvet cover ($55+) are the best bangs for the buck under $100.
In the winter I coze up in cotton flannel sheets, and in the summer linen sheets are cooling, moisture-wicking and grounding. Check the content of your bedsheets because if it says “cotton-blend,” there might be plastic in there. If I were a millionaire, I’d love to try silk sheets, perhaps even in a ridiculous shade like this fun purple or Anora red. Beware of “silky satin,” it’s 100% polyester.
Though I can’t afford silk sheets, I adore my silk pillowcase ($89). I’ve never shopped at Quince, but the eucalyptus and terra cotta colors are tempting ($40).
Silk makes everyone’s hair look nicer and there’s no lint! When you have dark hair like I do, fibers from white cotton sheets can kinda look like dandruff lol.
That might be why plastic has taken over our homes. We don’t see the tiny fibers like we do from wooden cutting boards or flannel sheets, so it feels “cleaner.” But studies show plastic particles shed too, and remain suspended in air that we breathe.
Ok, it takes a little effort but it’s not hard to find 100% natural fibers for your sheets, wherever you shop. What’s more difficult is…
Know your pillows, blankets, and mattress 🛏️
I’m dismayed to learn my pillows, bedding, and mattress are all stuffed with polyester or polyurethane 😟
When it’s time to replace, consider swapping to natural stuffing like cotton, down, or latex over polyurethane, polyester, or acrylic. If you’re vegan, kapok is a fluffy natural fiber that is a down alternative!
Pillows
I like my Gulkavle down pillow ($59) from IKEA for sleeping, but have an eye on this latex and kapok pillow ($109) to replace my plastic-foam pillow. You know, the pillow that props up your head when doomscrolling in bed. Lusting after a $$$ pillow free from flame retardants is a sure sign I’m approaching my 40s.
I’m also intrigued by traditional pillows… like what did we have before plastic memory foam? My grandpa used to have a wooden pillow that looked like this.
There are other granola headrests, like this millet pillow ($60) I read about on Viv Chen’s .
Or this hemp orthopedic pillow ($70) with buckwheat hull, chamomile, and erkun?! Magical.
Sachi Organics has a small buckwheat hull pillow ($31) that could be cute for kids.
Duvet Inserts
I’ve had mine for at least 6 years. I remember reading something like, “hypoallergenic eco-friendly down alternative,” which sounded so nice! A nice euphemism for plastic, $60 at Target.
The best affordable natural fiber option I found is the IKEA FJÄLLBRÄCKA duvet ($99+). 75% down, 25% duck feathers inside cotton. (The FJÄLLARNIKA is $20 cheaper, but at 90% duck feathers, I fear it’ll be annoying with all the feathers poking out.)
This warm, alpaca fiber duvet ($339+) has a reviewer saying they breathe easier and snore less now, compared to their former polyester duvet. Could that be true?!
This lightweight recycled silk and cotton duvet ($399+) would be dreamy for warmer weather.
I wanted to find a plant-based option that didn’t rely on microfiber poly filling, but all the big brands (Parachute, Crate & Barrel, IKEA, Target, etc) only have vegan options if it’s plastic.
The best I found are these crunchy options: hemp-linen-cotton insert ($169) and hemp-filled cotton duvet ($150+).
Coyuchi’s undyed cotton comforter ($298+) is vegan and plastic-free.
Mattresses
When we replace our mattress in a few years (they say to replace every 12 years?! Although, is anyone actually doing that, or is it a capitalist scam?) I’d like to upgrade to one that doesn’t have any plastic in it.
My current polyurethane Tuft & Needle mattress starts at $645 for the twin size, and Casper’s The One mattress is $749. Compared to these plastic mattresses, this organic natural fiber Avocado mattress starts at $777. More expensive, but negligible if you divide cost per year.
Based on personal convos, it’s when friends have kids they start thinking about all this stuff, like the off-gassing of chemicals like formaldehyde from mattresses. The Green Mattress for kids is $599 for a twin and made of organic latex, wool, and cotton, with no flame retardants. Made in Illinois.
This Avocado Mattress is the one I want! It starts at $1,249 (for the twin) and has allll the certifications. Made with organic latex, wool, and cotton; no polyester, other plastics, or flame retardants blended into the fabrics. They also have children’s size and vegan options.
Another vegan option: Naturapedic has a PETA-approved, wool-free bed. It’s free of flame retardants and fossil-fuel derived plastic, but it does contain sugar cane PLA, a semi-synthetic. It starts at $2,199 for the twin.
For now, I’m looking at this waterproof mattress protector, which uses a cornstarch film and double layers of cotton for $200. Birch has a queen-sized mattress protector for $111, but it contains polyurethane.
Swap your detergent 🫧
Nowadays, the market is awash with “clean” laundry detergents. There are many low-synthetic detergents out there, like Molly’s Suds, but today I’ll share three that are plastic-free in packaging and have fragrance-free options. Some may contain synthetically-derived ingredients like magnesium stearate, which I consider to be safe.
Detergent Picks:
I’ve heard rave reviews from friends about Blueland ($20 for 60 tablets). The laundry tablets come in a storable tin, then the refill tablets are sent in a brown paper bag.
Edit (Jan. 21, 2025): The following sheets contain PVA (sigh, so sneaky), so I am no longer recommending them.
Earth Breeze Sheets ($20 for 60 loads) is another plastic-free alternative. They fund ocean cleanups and come in sheets! If you’re not trying to subscribe, it’s also available on Amazon for $14 right now.
True Earth Eco-strips ($20 for 64 loads) is my friend Eliel’s choice. They prefer it over Earth Sheets because the scents last longer.
I’m waiting on readers’ comments to try one because y’all are dialed in! As you can tell, I’m still tip-toeing into crunchy swaps. Please share if there’s a detergent you recommend or want to de-influence us from!
I ruck my laundry to the laundromat by foot, so I’m excited about no longer carrying my Costco-sized plastic kettlebell of liquid detergent and switching to plastic-free packaging.
Avoid Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)
Bougie granola moms love Dropps ($25) but despite all the greenwashing, it’s encased in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a water-soluble plastic. Unfortunately, anything that comes in a silky little pod has PVA, which “under the right circumstances” can safely biodegrade and is often marketed as a “sustainable” solution.
I was addicted to the convenience of squishy candy-like pods for years, for everything from dishwasher pods to laundry pods, even traveling with them in a plastic tupperware. You might think avoiding PVA is extreme, but even Forbes has published that it’s highly unlikely that PVAs biodegrade, as multiple studies show they leach microplastics.
The yuck for PVAs is conclusive. If you want to read more, read “6. Implications” of this article. I felt this excerpt was worth sharing:
“The ability for plastic particles to adsorb dangerous contaminants at high concentrations has been documented, but this research is currently lacking as it pertains to PVA. Initial studies revealed that PVA can alter gas exchanges, such as carbon dioxide exchange, affecting aquatic ecosystems [20]. It is also capable of leaching into the groundwater, and it has even been documented to mobilize heavy metals from sediments to water resources [59,60,61]. Hydrophilic compounds, such as biocides, insecticides, herbicides, flame retardants, corrosion inhibitors, personal care products, and pharmaceuticals are present in wastewater and stormwater [62]. Some of these are proven carcinogens [63] with great aqueous phase stability. As the sorption of organic and inorganic pollutants is not limited to hydrophobic compounds but can also occur with hydrophilic compounds, PVA could act as a vector for transport up the food chain, similarly to more conventional plastics. During such phenomena, the contaminant concentrates, increasing its level of toxicity [61].”
Finally, a reader mentioned the guppyfriend ($40), which apparently prevents the microplastics in synthetic clothing from leaching onto your other clothes or into our ecosystem. I haven’t taken the leap yet… do you have one?
Air dry synthetic clothing 🪁
Air dry your synthetic clothes (sports bras, workout shorts) so they shed less microplastics into the air and onto your other clothing and towels. Check the label to see if there’s acrylic, polyamide, polyester, spandex, to see if an article of clothing is made of synthetic fibers.
I use this wooden drying rack ($40) which folds up neatly. MUJI currently has an advanced version ($50) on sale.
For the dryer, try reusable wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets (coated with synthetic chemicals). If you’re relying on the dryer sheets for deodorizing, I’ve been amazed when using baking soda or vinegar into the washing load. You’ll find it removes stubborn smells instead of covering them up with fragrance.
I have the cheapo wool dryer balls from Trader Joe’s, but my friend
texted pics of the cuties they have from Friendsheep, opening up a whole new world of cute dryer balls and even cuter animal toys.Back in the day, I would put a few drops of lavender oil onto the wool balls, but then I read lavender oil is not great for men (although studies appear inconclusive). For now, since we mix laundry, I use rosemary oil on the dryer balls, which I also use in my homemade flaxseed gel and cleaning sauce (recipe next week!)
Swap to natural candles 🕯️
Candles, oh I loooove candles. Most candles are made with paraffin, a petroleum by-product that’s toxic for marine life and bad for indoor air quality. We can opt for candles made of natural waxes like soy, beeswax, coconut, palm, or vegetable stearin.
There’s been a shift out there for fancy candles, but less so for unscented needs. Here’s what I found:
Cute birthday candles made in NY state, $6 for 20.
These white, elegant 6-inch birthday candles ($21 for 50) are my new go-to. For chocolate cake I’m gonna need the buttery beeswax yellow. (Check out the review with 80 candles on grandma’s cake!!)
These palm wax tea lights are 100 for $15. I’ve been buying tea lights from IKEA because they’re advertised as vegetable stearin, but delving deeper confirmed they are a stearin-paraffin blend.
UK-poured pillar candles (starting at $7) made of 100% soy wax.
US-poured soy wax pillar candles (starting at $18)
These beeswax tapers recommended by Erica Veurink on come in the prettiest colors or plain white.
I lived in Denmark for a few years in my twenties. When the sun sets at 2pm in the winter, lighting candles is a quotidian dinnertime ritual. I got in the habit of lighting candles often, pretty much anytime I cook dinner or have friends over.
To add to the flame, my weakness is the smell of burning things. Summon me with a fireplace, palo santo, sage, browning butter… but I’ve resolved to tone down my intoxication. The smoke from candles is linked to cardiovascular and respiratory events, and lung cancer runs in one side of my family.
Since I’m all about abundance and less restriction, let’s frame it as “what do I want more of?”
If you’ve been burning scented candles to “treat” yourself, how about making the real thing happen? Go to a jazz club, bake the cookies, pour the grapefruit juice into the champagne! My favorite scent is Binu Binu’s Korean Kiln Sauna, so I plan to sauna more.
Lol I don’t know what your guilty pleasure candle scents are, but if it’s ridiculous, I hope you’ll share.
Simmer cinnamon, cloves, fruit peels in water to make the air smell pleasing!
And if you have paraffin candles you don’t want to throw out, crack open some windows when you light up. Or, burn them outdoors in the backyard this summer to keep the mosquitoes away.
Silky Crunch might make some cents if you purchase through certain links above.
This letter was all about what we can do in our homes, but air purifiers and beeswax candles won’t prevent polluted air if our homes are burning down.
Systemic and structural change could make an impactful difference on our air quality and collective health. For example, the reduction of plastics allowed in textiles like the PFAS ban in CA state and penalties for polluting fossil fuel companies like the Climate Change Superfund Act just passed in NY are steps in the right direction. Efficient, accessible public transport so that less tires are on the road would be great too.
Some readers said my letters are too long 😅 so breathing better at home is split in two. Today we focused on cleaner air in the bedroom.
Part II will be in your inbox next week, and we’ll chat about the rest of the home— curtains, rugs, perfumes, and an easy recipe for cleaning solution.
Related:
I’m deeply loyal to Nellie’s laundry soda - only a few ingredients & super affordable if you buy in bulk. Also indoor plants are worth a mention re: cleaning the air inside!!
Wool deserves a mention in comforter and pillow options! I have often wished I had the extra budget to splurge on various wool bedding options. There are a few companies doing that now, most of them with ‘wool’ in the name. Coveting the Shepherd’s Dream duvet, and the Swan’s Island duvet. Home of Wool makes most kinds of bedding, esp uber-customizable mattresses, including for kids, but $$$.