Can You Sleep In House After Polyurethane? (Explained)

So you recently put polyurethane on all of your wooden cupboards. Now, you’re wondering whether you can sleep in the house with the presence of this chemical. The toxic properties of polyurethane might even make you question the safety of using it.

So, can you sleep in house after polyurethane? 

No, you cannot sleep in the house after applying polyurethane. Polyurethane is a harsh chemical that gives off toxic fumes. These toxic fumes can cause respiratory distress and other detrimental health hazards. Even your pet isn’t safe from these toxic fumes.

Still not sure about whether you can sleep in the house or not? Well, our in-depth guide is here to help you with that. 

Let’s dive right in!

What is Polyurethane?

Polyurethane finish is a liquid resin that is applied to wood floors and other wood surfaces. It is a synthetic floor finish that is created from crude oil. Both water-based and oil-based polyurethane floor finishes are available.

These are common in places where furniture is made. Professionals also use these to apply the finish their customers desire on their woodwork.

However, as useful as they are they tend to be quite toxic. These are harsh chemicals that you need to be wary about. 

Can You Sleep in the House After Polyurethane?

Now coming down to the main question, you cannot immediately sleep in your house after applying polyurethane. Polyurethane will be releasing extremely harmful toxins for over 24 hours.

Breathing in the toxins released may cause severe health problems. Not just breathing, any kind of exposure to these toxic fumes is hazardous.

Additionally, sock-only traffic should be maintained for the first 48 hours. And even after the toxic gases have gone, sleeping in the house might be difficult because of the bad odour dispersed by polyurethane.

So it is recommended to not enter the house, let alone sleep in it, for two days.

Water-based polyurethane is less toxic than oil-based polyurethane. So if the water-based polyurethane is applied in one room, you can sleep in other rooms.

But, as Oil-based polyurethanes are more toxic and disperse more odour, you should avoid entering the house if they are used.

So we can say that you cannot sleep in the house after using polyurethane.

Health Hazards of Sleeping in the House After Putting Polyurethane

Fumes dispersed by polyurethane are extremely harmful. Here are all the possible health hazards of sleeping in the house after applying polyurethane: 

Harmful to Pets

Polyurethane fumes are harmful to pets. It affects their overall health. Prolonged exposure can even result in death. 

So, it is best to avoid polyurethane fumes especially when you have pets. 

Causes Respiratory Distress

People suffering from respiratory disease must avoid fumes. The fume contains petrochemical resin made of isocyanates-respiratory toxins.

The most common case due to the inhalation of polyurethane fumes is asthma. People with already weak respiratory systems are especially prone to asthma attacks due to the fumes.

Irritation And Nausea

The chemicals present in polyurethane are extremely irritating. A small amount of exposure to these fumes may trigger eye, nasal, throat, and skin irritation. 

Sometimes you may even feel burning sensations in your eyes and throat. It also causes your eyes to turn red and teary. Under these circumstances, your vision may get obstructed. 

On top of that, blisters might form on your skin. Skin becomes red as well. Overall it causes irritation to most of your organs. 

Miscellaneous Difficulties

These fumes just don’t cause problems in your respiratory tract and eyes. It also plays a major role in affecting other parts of your body. 

Prolonged exposure to these fumes causes more severe problems such as nausea and vomiting. Your stomach might twist and turn in agony due to the effects of toxic polyurethane fumes.

On top of all that it triggers headaches, dizziness, and even difficulty in breathing. These can cause your health to deteriorate rapidly. 

Avoiding Health Hazards

The best way to avoid health hazards is to avoid going into the house after applying polyurethane. But if it is absolutely necessary to enter the house, then you must limit the exposure to the fumes.

Here are some tips that you can follow to avoid health hazards:

• Wearing socks while walking on the floor is a must. These will protect your feet from getting in direct contact with polyurethane. 
• Wearing masks will also help but it is not as effective. To an extent, a mask will protect you from inhaling toxic fumes. As a result, you can avoid respiratory distress. 
• Opening up the windows and turning on the fans to increase ventilation would also help. This way most of the toxic fumes will leave your house. Open-air circulation is perfect for letting out toxic fumes. 
• Protective eyewear is also recommended as the fumes can cause eye irritation. These eyewear limit the exposure of toxic polyurethane fume to your eye. 

Even after precautions, if you face any health issues due to polyurethane, consult a medical professional as soon as possible.

3 Better Alternatives to Polyurethane

The flammable and toxic nature of polyurethane may persuade some to look for better alternatives. Fortunately, there are plenty. We’re noting down our three favourites below.

Tung Oil

Tung oil finish is an affordable alternative. Tung oil is completely natural so it is also toxin-free. But the finish of tung oil might not be as wonderful as polyurethane.

Linseed Oil

Linseed Oil is a natural option that also gives a natural finish. It works well by itself. But linseed oil might not be as useful for certain things as polyurethane. 

The protective characteristics of polyurethane are far superior to that of linseed oil.

Lacquer

Lacquer offers a brilliant glossy and smooth finish. Applying Lacquer is also very easy. 

Lacquer is like water. It is absorbed by the wood and forms a stronger bond. But the layer of Lacquer is thin. 

Meanwhile, polyurethane has a thicker finish. The longevity of Lacquer is not as good as Polyurethane.

FAQs

Conclusion

To answer the question, can you sleep in your house after polyurethane? Clearly, you cannot.

Forget sleeping, even entering the house can be hazardous. The fumes released by polyurethane are toxic, to say the least. So make sure you have a place to sleep before you apply polyurethane in your house. 

Until next time!