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Everywhere you look there are ideas of how to repurpose wooden pallets into adorable home decor. With their high availability and weathered wood, it seems like wooden pallets are perfect for crafting. Some may even prefer used plastic pallets But are they really safe to use around the house?
It turns out, the answer is not simple. Here are some things to consider while making that decision.
- How clean is the pallet?
One thing all sources agree on is never to use dirty pallets with visible stains or spills. Check it out with your nose too. If it smells bad, don’t use it. Pallets are used to ship all kinds of things, and if your pallet carried toxic chemicals, some could have spilled on it during shipping. Your first line of defense is your senses. Choose pallets that look and smell clean.
- How was it treated?
There are several ways pallets can be treated. Some are simply heat treated. They do this to kill any insects in the wood as well as to dry out the wood and keep it from warping. Some of the markings that indicate this are:
- HT, for heat treated;
- KD, for kiln dried;
- DH, for dielectric heating;
- or a combination like KD-HT.
All of these are considered safe for use in and around your home, or even to grow food in.
The mark you want to watch out for is MB. This stands for methyl bromide. It means the pallet was fumigated with the chemical to kill bugs. Methyl bromide has been banned in many countries and has been linked to health problems in humans. It has also been linked to ozone layer depletion. Pallets with an MB should never be used in your home, to grow food, or even as firewood.
Other common markings tell where the pallet was manufactured or inspected. If a pallet came from Europe, you may see EPAL or EUR. EPAL pallets are considered safe and have been treated according to international standards, without chemicals. EUR, on the other hand, is a classification from an old railway management system and pallets with this marking are not considered safe for home use.
Many pallets have no markings. Most pallets without markings are ‘national pallets.’ This just means they are only used domestically, within the country. If it doesn’t have markings, we have no idea how it has been treated. Some people say you should avoid any pallets you can’t verify how they’ve been treated.
Like many issues these days, there are two sides to the discussion. While some people believe we need to be very careful about which pallets we use and never use pallets treated with chemicals, other people disagree. The other side believes any chemical treatment dissipates within a few days to a few weeks and isn’t an issue unless it is brand new and has just been treated.
- Does it have mold or bacteria?
Another possible area of concern with wooden pallets is mold and bacteria. Even if the pallets have been heated or chemically treated, they are still susceptible to mold if they haven’t been kept dry. Pallets with mold can cause mold spores to spread within buildings. It is important for your health to choose pallets that have been kept dry and for you to keep them dry too.
Additionally, you should always wear protective gear when working with pallets. Slivers from pallets with bacteria can lead to infections.
- Is it legal?
Keep in mind that pallets marked with a company logo are the property of that company. Many times they are also painted red or blue. These usually belong to companies that rent the pallets out. It is illegal to take, dismantle or sell these pallets.
- Where did it come from?
You can tell a lot about a pallet’s history just from where you got it. Look for companies that order motorcycles or science equipment or machinery. You can even go directly to the manufacturer. These clean pallets are ideal for home decor and growing food.
When you can answer these questions comfortably, you can feel good about the pallets you use in and around your home.