EXPERT Professional Wood Care Stain & Seal

With the weather getting warmer, those exterior home projects that you’ve been putting off for months due to the cold are getting harder to ignore. The time has come to restain the fence. But which stain should you choose?

If you have pets or are concerned about the environmental impact of the products you purchase, EXPERT Professional Wood Care’s wood stains may seem like the obvious choice.

In the Instagram post below, which was recently sent in by a reader, the company claims that its wood stains, in addition to offering “unparalleled protection against weather,” are “safe for pets and the environment.” To drive home the point, the company features a photo of a puppy gnawing on a fence supposedly treated with one of its wood stains and tags the post #EcoFriendlyStains.

The company repeats the “eco-friendly” claim for its wood stains on its website in a quote from a “fence expert.”

It doesn’t end there.

On another page, next to an image of a leaf, EXPERT touts its products as “a real smart, safe choice” due in part to “an ultra-low VOC formula.” (VOCs are volatile organic compounds, which are compounds that are emitted as gases by a range of products and some of which have been linked to both short- and long-term adverse health effects.)

However, according to product safety data sheets, the company’s wood stains are made with petroleum-based solvents that may be harmful to both pets and the environment.

PetMD warns pet owners that petroleum products including solvents are linked to a number of harmful side effects in dogs and cats, including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and respiratory arrest. As for the environmental impact, traditional petroleum-based solvents contribute to air pollution and soil contamination.

EXPERT did not respond to TINA.org’s request for comment.

The bottom line

Greenwashing sells. That’s why consumers should take the time to scrutinize environmental claims before making a purchase. Ask questions and if a company doesn’t have answers, proceed with caution. The same goes for claims that products are safe for the furry ones.

Find more of our coverage on greenwashing.