Today I learned more about insulation that I ever wanted to know. That’s because we determined that the traditional fiberglass insulation that our contractor had installed earlier this week–but hadn’t yet enclosed in drywall–had to come out.

This had nothing to do with the contractor or the quality of their work. This had everything to do with the noxious smell of fiberglass insulation, which has made my house almost unlivable. To most people it’s a mildly offensive odor that supposedly goes away over time. But I’m one of those people who is sensitive to smells, and there was no way I could live with the odor, or risk closing up the walls and not having the smell dissipate.

Turns out that nearly all insulation gives off an odor. The cause? The formaldehyde manufacturers use to bind the fiberglass together. Frankly, it creeps me out to think that there is formaldehyde gasses in my house right now. Isn’t that the stuff they use to embalm people after they die?

Anyway, I spent the better part of today looking for less-toxic options. Here’s what I found out:

* You can get formaldehyde-free fiberglass insulation.
A company called Johns Manville has created JM Formaldehyde-Free Insulation. Actually, nearly all of the company’s insulation products don’t use added formaldehyde, and it’s the brand I’m recommending my contractor get as a replacement. I’ve spoken with other people who are sensitive to smells like I am, and they’ve used this product to great (and odor-free) results. I found it available at my local Lowe’s store only.

* Fiberglass is actually made of recycled glass.
This was a new one on me. It doesn’t make it any easier or less itchy to work with, but it is recycled at least.

* You can get non-fiberglass insulation but you’ll pay a premium for it.
I knew that you could get insulation made from cotton or recycled denim. What I didn’t know was how much more expensive it was. Today, I spent a couple of hours looking into Bonded Logic UltraTouch denim insulation, which seemed perfect for our needs. However, it costs 3X as much as the formaldehyde-free insulation. And if my purpose in getting “non-toxic” insulation, if you will, was to avoid odors, then I’ve got to go with the one that doesn’t smell and doesn’t cost the most.

Anything else you think I need to know about insulation?