DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Just use regular white or yellow woodworking glue such as Elmer's.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

First, I wouldn't use the gas heater.

There is a discussion of space heaters and brands listed at Q&A: Is plastic heater OK?.

A baked-on enamel or "powder coated" finish shouldn't outgas, because it has already been heated.

This blog is a good place to get info from others with MCS.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

OK. Here's the deal on Scanpan.

First, there seem to be several types of cookware made by this company. The one I think you are asking about--the one with the ceramic-titanium finish--is their Classic New Tek.

At www.scanpancookware.com/pages/scanpan-background-pv-c0-6.html it says the following:

"Both ceramic and titanium are incredibly hard materials. After having pressure-cast the raw pan body, the ceramic-titanium compound is super-heated to 36,000º F (thirty six thousand degrees!) at which point it liquefies. The ceramic-titanium enters a "plasma state". That liquid plasma is then fired into the pan surface at twice the speed of sound. Lots of heat and impact. The ceramic-titanium literally anchors itself in the aluminum surface and becomes one with the pan." So far, so good.

"When looking at SCANPAN CLASSIC NEW TEK under a microscope, we see something like a lunar landscape. A myriad of mini-craters, all similar in size and shape. These craters were created when firing the ceramic-titanium compound into the cooking surface, and are then filled with our specially formulated NEW TEK non-stick compound. The compound is in the craters, not on them. The ceramic-titanium protects it from being scraped away. Even if you use a metal spatula." This is the part I am concerned about. They say their nonstick coating is PFOA-free, but that's all we know about it.

The selling feature of the Scanpan is that you can't scrape away the nonstick finish, but the nonstick finish is still there.

I'm skeptical about this. Not enough information for me to recommend it. But I also don't have enough information to say it's not safe.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I don't know of a natural fiber shower curtain that wouldn't have mildew problems.

And having not shopped for nylon or polyester curtains, don't know about the finishes you mention.

Readers, any suggestions? In this case, seems like a nylon curtain would be the better choice, as nylon is one of the least toxic plastics.

Ordinarily I would recommend putting in glass doors, but this reader can't do that in a rented apartment.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I have no objection to dryers with enamel or powdercoated drums from a health viewpoint. They do not outgas.

Readers, what are your recommendations?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

You need to find out if the linseed oil is RAW linseed oil or BOILED linseed oil.

Linseed oil is oil squeezed from the flax seed.

Raw Linseed Oil is 100% pure flax oil, packaged with no additional additives or preservatives. Linseed oil sold for wood application is not edible. It dries very slowly, taking weeks to fully cure. It helps wood retain its natural moisture content, which reduces cracking, checking, shrinking, and aids water repellency.

Boiled Linseed Oil contains chemical solvents to speed film drying and hardness.
It is not actually boiled, the term just indicates chemicals have been added.

Do ask the dealer. Boiled Linseed Oil would cure faster and shouldn't have an odor after several weeks. If it's raw linseed oil, it's likely you are smelling the linseed oil itself, which isn't toxic.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

My personal experience has been that virtually all new refrigerators reek of plastic therefore my recommendation has been to buy used appliances.

However, a few years ago, I very much wanted one of the then-new "trio" refrigerators with the freezer on the bottom and two doors on the top. The floor model didn't smell too badly, so I ordered one to be delivered, thinking I would air it out if necessary. Maybe I just lucked out, but I never had a problem with it from day one. Didn't smell at all. It's a Kenmore. Now don't anyone buy a Kenmore fridge based on my experience. This may have just been a fluke.

Readers, any suggestions?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Readers?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Enamel on stainless steel is fine. I just don't usually recommend it because enamel chips easily.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I don't know for sure what type of plastic tubing is used in refrigerators, but most plastic tubing is polyethylene, one of the safer plastics. Yes, any water sitting in any plastic tubing will get plastic into the water, so tossing out that first cup is a good idea.

You can also replace the tubing with a braided stainless steel line. but that would then leach metals.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Vinyl-coated shelving could still be releasing phthalates after a year. I would remove them.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Oil-filled radiator heaters are safe, once the paint has cured. For the first couple of years there is often a paint smell, but once that is gone, they are completely fine.

If you've been using an oil-filled radiator for years and are now having a problem with it, that doesn't make sense to me. I don't know what could be the problem. I have an oil-filled radiator myself.

I also have a couple of ceramic heaters, which are small metal boxes with a ceramic heating element inside and a fan. You can buy them at most hardware stores during the fall and winter. They cost around $50.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

In my book Home Safe Home, I recommend removing tarnish from silver by magnetizing it away.

You just use aluminum and salt in any form--like a crumpled piece of aluminum foil and table salt--and put it in a pot of water. Add the silver and let it sit. The tarnish will come right off. I demonstrated this on TV once, years ago.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Their explanation is more than a little confusing.

There is only one company that I know of that actually makes a plant-based memory foam: Essentia. When I couldn't get anyone on the phone at Costco.com, I wrote to them and asked if they were making mattresses for Costco.

They responded with this link to their research into "eco-foam." It totally agrees with what I've found to be true: most eco-foams, as I've written here before, contain only a small percentage of plant-based material, the rest is the same toxic polyurethane as in regular mattresses. Read more about this at:
www.myessentia.com/research/soy-memory-foam.

They don't sell a topper, but you could ask...they might be able to make you one.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Polystyrene is not nontoxic.

How about a big pillow for the floor? When I was a kid, my parents bought three big pillows and stacked them up on the floor. It was my favorite place to sit.

Get pillows with natural fiber casings, filled with a natural fiber stuffing.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

The alternative is a wood slat frame. It's not a "box" like a box spring, but rather slats of flexible wood placed across a wood frame. It offers support and much-needed air circulation, while also having some "give". It makes sleeping on a natural fiber mattress more comfortable than placing it on a hard surface like a floor. You can buy wood slat frames from most places that sell natural fiber mattresses, such as those listed at Debra's List: Textiles: Beds & Bedding.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

For food storage, the number one safest material is glass, glass, glass.

It is always good to minimize your exposure to plastic as much as possible, if for no other reason than it is made from nonrenewable petroleum or natural gas and most plastics do not biodegrade. There may be some leaching of plastics into the food or beverage, more leaching occurs when the food or beverage is heated (this includes water bottles sitting in the sun or in a hot car). Depending on the type of plastic, there is more or less leaching and it's more or less toxic.

Stainless steel can leach metals into food or water. More or less depending on various factors that I'm still researching. Exposure to metals may be more or less toxic than exposure to plastic.

What this all boils down to is that glass is the safest choice for food storage.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Type "barrier cloth dust mites" into your favorite search engine and you'll get at least a half a dozen links to sites that sell 100% cotton barrier cloth mattress covers.

The cotton threads are so tightly woven that the mites cannot get between the threads.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Many years ago I read that metal blocks electromagnetic fields, setting up what is called a "Faraday cage." It interferes both with EMFs coming in to an area, and fields within an area moving out.

While this may be advantageous to protect one from manmade electromagnetic fields, it would also block the electromagnetic fields of Nature, to which our bodies attune.

When constructing a Faraday cage to block EMFs, a sheet of solid metal or metal mesh is used. In an innerspring mattress, there are coils of metal, not a solid sheet or mesh.

However, here's the thing. When the EMF hits the metal, the charge gets rearranged. So it is entirely possible that the flow of natural EMFs is being changed in some way by the metal coils.

I'm sure someone will jump in and comment on this more thoroughly...

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I'm not sure what you mean "it didn't work." What type of cooktop do you have? If it is not recommended by the manufacturer, you might call them to ask them why not, then write back and let us know.

I use Visions on my gas cooktop and have had no problem with it for more than twenty years

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I don't have any experience with fiberglass exterior doors. Readers?

My exterior door is steel and completely nontoxic.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

All organic mattresses are nontoxic without formaldehyde, flame retardants, or pesticides. I've been to A Happy Planet in San Francisco and any mattress you choose there will be fine.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Readers, anyone have experience with this?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I don't have a full lifecycle analysis of enameled tinware, but here's what I can tell you.

Tinware is made of sheet steel coated with tin. Enameled tinware has a layer of enamel. It is extremely durable and can be reused for many years, which is an environmental benefit. The environmental downside is that metal and enamel manufacturing is pretty toxic, even though the end result is quite inert.

Compared to plastic, I believe it is a better choice because it is less toxic and more durable.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Readers?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Rid-X should be fine for you to use. For those of you who don't know this product, it's an enzyme product used as an aid for septic tanks.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Readers? Any experience with this?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I'm not sure I understand your question. Natural latex sheet to make a slipcover?

There are now organic cotton slipcovers. One website that sells them is www.getslipcovers.com. I don't think they are waterproof, but they are removable.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Readers?

I just want to comment here that all of these soaps mentioned are not particularly toxic, the question here is that the reader needs to find a soap that he individually does not react to.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Standard synthetic beds become less and less toxic with time. It's impossible for me to evaluate your bed without seeing it, you need to evaluate it for yourself.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

The study was called The Garbage Project. The best description I could find today is at Treehugger: The Garbage Project. Originally, when I cited it in a book I wrote in the mid-1990's, I think I read about it in National Geographic magazine.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Readers? Any ideas?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

You don't say if it is a gas or electric oven.

If you have a gas oven, it's possible that combustion by-products from the gas could be present that would get into the food. Gas is supposed to burn "clean" but if the gas jets are clogged or faulty in some way, this could occur.

Readers, any other ideas?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Personally, I wouldn't add MORE emf's to my home with a security system, but I don't have the actual data to answer your questions at my fingertips.

Readers? Anyone have actual numbers?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I don't know if warping causes stainless steel to release more metals than it already does. If you replace it, please don't buy another set of stainless steel.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Particleboard is made from wood chips and sawdust, held together with a urea-formaldehyde resin. It offgasses formaldehyde from the resin. Over time, the amount of formaldehyde emitting from the particleboard becomes less and less as it outgasses.

There are at least a half dozen types of plywood used for different purposes, bonded with urea-formaldehyde resin (the one you want to avoid) or the less toxic phenol-formaldehyde resin the OK one because they have to be waterproof.

Furniture and cabinets are made with what is called \"furniture grade\" or \"cabinets grade\" plywood, which simply means there are no knot holes or imperfections in the outer layer of the wood on both sides. It does NOT refer to the type of resin used. I found that when it comes to furniture grade plywood, it can be made with either urea-formaldehyde resin or phenol-formaldehyde resin. The only way to know is to contact the manufacturer.

I purchased a sheet of \"furniture grade\" plywood at Lowe\'s and it had no odor at all.

I would suggest that you check to see what resin was used to make the plywood if possible.

In general, plywood is considered to have less outgassing than particleboard.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Something similar to plastic, but all natural....I don't have an exact answer off the top of my head, but I would go in the direction of finishes used on wood, which usually include some kind of oil and sometimes beeswax. It would, of course, also need to be edible.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I have no problem with aluminum mini-blinds. I've used them myself in the past.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I suspect you used the wrong product. Trisodium phosphate (TSP) has no odor--it is a salt.

Many years ago there was only one TSP, now I've noticed there are other products called TSP with other ingredients.

I suggest lots of rinsing.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I wouldn't have purchased this furniture in the first place. "Greener" doesn't mean not toxic, especially if you have MCS.

You might try using heat to make the material outgas faster. How long ago did you purchase this? Can you return it?

Readers, have you had any success reducing outgassing from these materials?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Oh good question! I suppose the metal in the pan could be recycled. I'd try asking your local recycling center, or call the manufacturer and see what they say.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

If you are detoxing your body for lead, I wouldn't bathe in a tub that tested positive for lead. Bathtub glazes can contain up to 88% lead.

I don't know of any sealant. A bathtub liner may work, but is very toxic to install.

Readers? Any suggestions?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I don't see why not, however, call the manufacturer of your stove top. They would know best.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I have never actually used this product for this purpose. Try calling the company if you didn't get an email response.

Readers, any experience doing this? What did you do and how did it work?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Well, I have to say, this is a "blind spot." I never thought about it because I've never encountered a house plant that I thought had a toxic odor. I just bought a regular house plant at Home Depot a few days ago and put it in my bedroom, and no problems at all.

However, of course, if chemicals are used to grow houseplants, it would be better all around to have them be organically grown.

I couldn't find any information on how houseplants are commercially grown (does anybody know?), but here is an article about how to grow houseplants at home without pesticdes: http://www.pesticide.org/pubs/alts/hp/houseplants.html.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Call whoever collects your other recyclable materials and ask them if they accept it or what you should do with it. All local recycling centers are different.

Also, many pack-and-ship places will accept styrofoam peanuts or packaging. Call around and ask.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

First, let me say, that each and every one of us already has styrene in our bodies. It is ubiquitous in the environment. Even polar bears have styrene in their bodies.

Occupational Safety & Health Administration: Styrene Hazard Recognition gives a list of references about the toxicity of styrene and mentions that it causes symptoms ranging from irritation of the skin, eyes, and the upper respiratory tract to central nervous system symptoms such as depression, headache, fatigue, and weakness.

In my book Home Safe Home, I cited the National Adipose Tissue Survey of the National Public Health Service, a department of the Environmental Protection Agency, which showed how frequently chemicals are retained by our bodies and how common exposures are. Styrene topped the list, with 100% of the people tested having this chemical in their fat. If a chemical is in your fat, it means the body has stored it there to keep it out of your system.

But are your little broken styrene shipping peanuts a health hazard? Probably not. Not enough material and not enough length of exposure. A greater hazard would be hot coffee or soup or food in a styrene takeout container.

If you don't want to receive these styrene peanuts (they aren't biodegradable, though you can recycle them at many shipping stores), ask before you order if they are used in the packaging. That way you don't need to return the item. If you do choose to not purchase because of the styrene peanuts, let them know they lost your business because of this.

There are shipping peanuts made from renewable corn that just melt when you put them in water. It's called "biodegradable loose fill" (search on this term in your favorite search engine for more info and sources). You could recommend they use this instead.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Readers?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

It would take pages for me to write everything to know about wood finishes, so I am going to respond to your comments and give you some tips.

First, if you want to use wax and reapply every three months, go for it.

It's my opinion that you need to have some kind of protection on a wood floor. Without a finish, dirt gets dug in, and you can't wash the wood because it is very porous. Any wood floor you have would need to have some kind of finish.

Now there are options for finishes that range from polyurethane to natural oils.

There are low-VOC polyurethane products that will evaporate out fairly quickly, within a few hours, and once they are dry, they will not outgas over time. At the moment I'm sitting at an oak desk my husband sanded and finished with Flecto Diamond Finish, which you can get at Home Depot or Lowe's. Completely inert. I sit here all day every day with no odor at all. If I put my water glass on it and condensation gets on the finish, I wipe it right up.

I have another desk in this room that I finished with an all-natural plant-based finish. It looks beautiful, but it had a strong natural odor of the oils and resins and took about a year to dry. And it still spots if I get water on it.

There are a number of water-based wood finishes you could consider. And many people like old-fashioned shellac, which contains alcohol, but once that evaporates, it's all natural (made from beetles).

There's a new one from Vermont Natural Coatings made with whey leftover from cheesemaking. It's low-VOC. They say there is very little odor. They are sending me a sample, so I'll be able to tell you more when I get it. I like the idea of using a recycled renewable resource.

If you go with the polyurethane, choose one that is water-based at least, and low-VOC if you can. Don't let him put a solvent-based anything on your floor. And it will take more than a few hours to dry, but not months or even weeks. Heat will speed it up.

Don't know about the slipperyness. I have hardwood floors with some very old finish and they aren't slippery. I've laid prefinished wood floor and it wasn't slippery.

Readers, your experience and comments?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I don't know anything about this. Contact the manufacturer.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Brown paper is not bleached and are therefore safe to use.

I don't know if parchment paper will block the aluminum from an aluminum pan. Logic suggests that the aluminum would need to contact the food for the metal to be absorbed, and the parchment paper would do that, but I'm not 100% sure. Readers, any data on this?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Readers?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I think you could substitute any liquid soap for Murphy's.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

This is one of those examples where it's good to recycle, but we have to ask about the safety of the material being recycled.

To me, I wouldn't sleep on or recommend a pillow filled with spun virgin plastic, therefore I wouldn't recommend a pillow filled with recycled plastic. It's still plastic.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I agree with you. It bothers me too.

I do buy things in plastic packaging all the time, though I wish I had an alternative. I do put them in the recycling. This is better than sending them to the landfill, but not the best for the environment, which would be to have them biodegrade and return their elements to the ecosystem.

You will probably not find any of the products you mention sold in glass, for two reasons. One is safety. Glass breaks easily. And the other is that plastic is lighter, so it costs less to ship (and does save on the pollution that contributes to global warming). But this is shortsighted thinking, because it doesn't look at all the effects throughout the lifecycle of the product (see my book Really Green for more on this).

Many green companies do consider their packaging as well as their products, so it would be more likely that you would find good packages containing the products sold on Debra's List.

It's also important to keep in mind that any product is a combination of both product and package and it is possible to have a green product in a not-so-good package and a not-so-good product in a green package. For example, non-organic, highly sugared cereals are now sold in recycled paperboard boxes.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Before the days of PVC, everyone lined their shelves with just plain paper, and held it down with thumbtacks. I think they still sell paper shelf paper.

When I moved to San Francisco last month to stay here temporarily for three months, I moved into a barely furnished apartment that has a chest of drawers. I wanted a clean surface on which to put my clothes, and I had just purchased some items from Ikea that were wrapped in big sheets of white paper. So I just lined my drawers with that white paper and it worked fine.

Some years back, I lined some drawers with pretty handmade paper that comes in big sheets at art supply stores. It was nice to see something pretty when I opened the drawer.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Mmmmm. Good question. My understanding is that formaldehyde is used in paper products to improve wet strength. That would probably still be the case in recycled paper products.

I suggest you call the manufacturer of several brands of recycled paper towels and ask them and report back.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

The "keep case"--which is made of a soft, usually dark gray, black or white plastic--is made of polypropylene with a transparent polyethylene outer jacket to hold a printed paper label.

The standard rigid clear plastic "jewel case" is made of polystyrene.

Neither of these outgas horribly, but if you have a lot of cases and you are chemically sensitive, it might be enough to cause symptoms for you.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

It looks fine to me. It's just 100% hemp oil.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

It's fine to wash and reused potato chip and snack bags. The type of plastic used to make them is polyethylene, which does not contain bisphenol-A.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

To the best of my knowledge, the thin strips of wood used to make baskets are not toxic, and neither is seagrass. Might they be treated with something? Yes. Are they? We have no way of knowing because nobody has the information.

If they were treated with a toxic wood preservative, it is likely you would smell it.

I myself have at least a dozen baskets in my house and have lived with baskets for many many years. I tend to stick with the natural color baskets, or those that look like they have natural vegetable dyes, as painted baskets DO often have toxic fumes.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

All you need to do is frame them under glass and that should be sufficient to block the fumes.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

The problem with bleached products is that the chlorine bleaching process interacts with the paper to form dioxin, which is one of the most toxic substances in the world. This has been known for many years, which is why we now have unbleached paper products, and paper products bleached with substances other than chlorine (you might see the notation on a product that it was bleached with a chlorine-free process).

So the answer is that you want to stay away from bleached paper products primarily for health reasons, as it does leach into food, although it isn't good to put dioxin in the environment either.

Any brand of unbleached parchment paper is fine.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

There are two kinds of "biodegradable plastic" bags.

One is made from polyolefin or polyethylene (a petrochemical plastic made from nonrenewable crude oil), which has been modified with an additive that accelerates the breakdown of the plastic into fragments of "organic carbon" that can be processed by microorganisms in an ecosystem. The problem with plastic is not that it doesn't break down, but that it can take 1000 years to do so. The additive causes the modified plastic to degrade in predictable and controllable timeframes. Landfill trials for showed that one brand lost more than 95% of its molecular weight in less than 10 months.

The other type of plastic is a bioplastic made from renewable resources such as corn, potatoes or wheat. These generally degrade at least 90% within 180 days or less when composting conditions (including heat, moisture, and aeration) are present. Such bioplastics include Polycaprolactone (PCL), Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and Polylactic acid (PLA).

There are pros and cons to each.

The petrochemical plastic with additive is cheaper to produce and look, act and perform just like their non-degradable counterparts. But they are made using fossil fuels (which contribute to global warming through the release of carbon dioxide).

Bioplastics have poor strength--when used to store vegetables or filled with wet leaves and set out for trash pickup, they can begin to biodegrade and fall apart. So these are great for bringing produce home, but not for storage. They also may become defective from conditions during shipping and sitting on the shelf.

These bags are available at natural food store and online. Simply search for "biodegradable garbage bags."

In my house, we don't use plastic garbage bags. When we shop, we choose paper bags over plastic and use these as our garbage bags in the kitchen. We recycle everything we can and only put any remaining dry trash in these bags. When we work in the garden, we compost the garden waste or put it straight in the garbage can.

I just want to mention, when I was researching this I came across a link that said "Natural Clear Trash Bags." Well, they turned out to be just regular plastic--nothing natural about them.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I have no experience with this, as I have never lived in an icy climate.

Readers?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Well, you could hire me. I do that kind of inspection and can travel anywhere to do it. My specialty is toxics, so you'll get a good toxics inspection, but there are other factors, too.

You could also hire a Bau-Biologist, who is trained to check for molds and moisture conditions, emfs, radiation, and more. You can read about a Bau-Biology inspection I had at my house at AT HOME WITH DEBRA: My Bau-Biologie Home Inspection. Visit the International Institute for Bau-Biologie and Ecology to find a Bau-Biologist near you.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Maybe someone else can answer this better than I. I actually never thought about what was inside a water heater. Hmmmm.

About polybutylene, there is a lot of information on the web about this plastic and failure of polybutylene pipes. Just type "polybutylene" into your favorite search engine.

Anyone know more about what is standard for the lining of water heaters?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Readers?

I would look into food-based natural colorants. The juice from black walnut husks will stain your hands, so I imagine it would stain wood too.

Quick search...here's a website with an easy wood dye made from black walnut shells:
http://www.easyfunschool.com/article1608.html.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Plastic on the interior of appliances IS a problem. It does outgas over time--how long that takes depends on the appliance and the manufacturer.

I used to only purchase used appliances. Not only are they outgassed, but there is the added environmental benefit of getting more life out of an appliance that still has life left in it.

In the past ten years, I've purchased two new refrigerators because I couldn't find what I wanted used. I've noticed that different brands smell more or less and that the specific units that were delivered to my home actually didn't smell much at all, and whatever odor there was dissipated in a few months. I don't remember the brand of the one I purchased ten years ago, but the refrigerator I currently have is a Kenmore Trio.

It would be so great if someone could do some research on the plastics used in appliances and if there is a difference between brands. I just haven't had the time... (but I'll be happy to post it here if anyone wants to do it).

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

It could still be the chemicals used when they were made. If you have a cabinet or drawer that is closed, the material within doesn't outgas at the same rate as material on the outside.

If it were me, the first thing I would do is remove everything, open all the doors and drawers, and "bake" the room. Bring in some space heaters and let everything heat up for a couple of days to release the chemicals. Be sure to close the door or put up sheets of foil-backed paper taped together and tapes around the edges to the walls to prevent fumes from going into the rest of the house.

Another thing to do is apply AFM Safe Seal, which blocks fumes from wood products.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Readers?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Don't know about removing the All. Readers?

For the laundry, I recommend Maggie's Soap Nuts! Gets clothes very clean, very soft, and no irritating residue. Completely natural and biodegradable.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I suspect that they are similar to Tide Simple Pleasures, that is, a petrochemical detergent with some natural fragrances, to appeal to the market segment of consumers who want to be more natural, but don't want to give up the tried-and-true brands they are more familiar with.

This is not a "natural" product.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

This is a perfect use for
AFM Carpet Seal. I once worked in a rented office where I couldn't take up the carpet, so I applied this. It's clear and you can't tell it's even on the carpet. It really made the difference between being able to work in this office and not being able to be in it at all. So it's worth a try.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Most aluminum cookware manufactured today is anodized. When a cookware label says it is made from anodized aluminum, it means that the aluminum was dipped into a hot acid bath that seals the aluminum by changing it's molecular structure. Once anodized, the aluminum will not leach into food, and so would not contribute to aluminum exposure. Anodized cookware is safe.

There are several posts with more discussion about anaodized aluminum. Click on the large purple "Search" button near the top of the right hand column of any page of my website and enter "anodized" for links to the other posts.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Like many other products, my best recommendation for this is to purchase a used model that has already outgassed.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

First, I suggest that you remove ANY offending chemicals from your home, don't just tuck them away.

The best recommendation I can give you is to remove the carpet. To simply remove it doesn't require any major renovations.

I don't have any first-hand experience with carpet mishaps since I haven't had a carpet in over 25 years.

Readers, your advice?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

The website says "URAD is mainly composed of Carnauba (natural wax to protect and shine), Lanoline (sheep skin oil to moisturize and also to protect), and mineral salts (to clean)." They don't give an MSDS sheet, so I don't know what, if anything, else it may contain, but they do say it is 100% natural and biodegradable.

Give them a call and see if it contains anything else and let us know.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I don't know of a less-toxic or natural paint that comes in a spray can, however, you can purchase paint sprayers at any home improvement or hardware store and spray any type of paint you want.

Readers, any other suggestions?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

At the website for
Kaboom Shower, Tub and Tile Cleaner, there is a little link that says "View Safety Information." When you click through it says:

• May case severe eye irritation.
• May cause skin irritation.
• May cause stomach distress, nausea or vomiting.

In case of:

• Contact with eyes - Flush with large amount of water for at least 15 minutes. See eye doctor promptly.
• Skin contact - Wash thoroughly with soap and water.
• Ingestion - Give two glasses of water to drink. Consult a physician
• Inhalation - Remove to fresh air. Consult a physician.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Take a look at Debra's List: Interior Decorating: Flooring: Carpet for a start. The natural carpets listed there should be free of these finishes. Also check the link there for The Carpet and Rug Institute Green Label Carpets. These are low-emitting synthetic carpets that would at least be safe-er.

Readers, any suggestions?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Readers, what are your recommendations?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Regular sewing machine oil is just standard petrochemical oil. I think jojoba would be fine and won't ruin your machine.

Readers, what do you use?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

See all my cookware links for everything I have written about cookware. Scroll down to the head AT HOME WITH DEBRA and see the "My New Cookware" article for what I use. "Cookware & Bakeware" under ABOUT gives an overview of all the different types of cookware and my opinion about them.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I found some rechargable batteries called E-Cells which are literally miniature versions of the same hydrogen fuel cells that power today's hybrid cars. They are scientifically engineered to work harder than traditional rechargeables. Each battery runs 10 times longer than alkalines and can be charged in excess of 1000 times. This will save you thousands of dollars. You can use these like alkaline batteries in any device.

I have to admit I bought a battery recharger a few years ago along with some rechargable NiCads. It was a good idea, but didn't actually get used. The problem was we never set up a "battery station" where we could "drop off" batteries to be recharged and pick up the recharged batteries for use. Because we didn't have that process set up somewhere, when we needed to recharge, we couldn't find the recharger, there were no recharged batteries to use, etc. So it's important to have everything set up for easy use to make this work.

Readers, what are your experiences with rechargable batteries?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Readers?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I wrote about Mrs. Meyer's products at Q&A: Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Cleaning Products.

I've been seeing them in a lot of "natural" places too, perhaps because of their aromatherapy image. But they are not 100% natural. Read the blog post linked above.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

On page 327 of my book Home Safe Home I wrote:

A new kind of synthetic mattress has been introduced—the “memory foam” mattress, originally developed by NASA in the 1970s to relieve pressure on astronauts caused by “G-forces” during take-off. These are made from polyurethane foam. I contacted one manufacturer and they sent me the results of a study they did on emissions from their mattress, which found only propionaldehyde (moderate toxicity and irritant) and dipropylene glycol (low toxicity). Still, these emissions are more than I want to be exposed to for the one-third of my life I spend in bed.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I've had experience with this, as two of my three desks were salvaged, repaired and refinished (see At Home With Debra: How I Make Recycled Furniture). For suggestions on some nontoxic finishes, see Q&A: Less Toxic Wood Finish You Can Buy at a Local Store and Debra's List: Interior Decorating: Wood Finish.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Particleboard is made from wood chips and sawdust, held together with a urea-formaldehyde resin. It offgasses formaldehyde from the resin. Over time, the amount of formaldehyde emitting from the particleboard becomes less and less as it outgasses.

Breaking apart particleboard would release some resin that is on the interior of the board that may have not outgassed as much as the exterior of the board, causing some additional release of formaldehyde. In addition, there would be wood dust particles from the wood chips and sawdust.

The amount of dust created by this would probably be an irritant at the time. If you are running a central heating system, this dust has probably already be captured by your furnace filter.

I'm not sure how else you would dispose of this if not in a landfill. I wouldn't burn it. I would probably just put the large pieces out for the garbage man to take away.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

The formula to clear clogged drains is baking soda and vinegar. When you mix the two, it fizzes and foams up, thereby pushing the clog through the pipe. If you want to try this, pour some baking soda down the drain, followed by an equal amount of vinegar.

My experience has been that this doesn't work on heavily clogged sinks and certainly doesn't work with a sink full of standing water, but it's a good maintenance thing to do periodically to clear the pipes before they build up to a clog.

Here's some info about the toxicity of borax: http://dld123.com/q&a/index.php?cid=1752 (scroll down the page to find it).

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

From the descriptions I could find, it appears to be anodized aluminum with a nonstick finish. While anodized aluminum is fine with me, I stay away from nonstick finishes.

For more on cookware, type "cookware" into my on-site search engine (click on the bg purple SEARCH button in the right hand column of every page).

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Yes. Please see Q&A: Lead on Power Cords.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Well, traditionally, that would be a futon. Our (infrequent) guests sleep on our sofa or put our sofa pillows on the floor.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Readers? Any ideas?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Your post was very timely, as I was just about to add a comment to My New Cookware regarding my Ruffoni pots.

Before I purchased this cookware, I read an article which said there were two types of copper pots--a heavier pot for cooking and a lighter weight pot that is mainly used for serving.

Williams-Sonoma does have a full set of Mauviel copper cookware, but not Ruffoni. Mauviel is very heavy, which is why I didn't buy that one. The Ruffoni is much easier to handle.

Prior to puchasing the Ruffoni, I asked the salesperson about the tin lining. They said it would last about five years and then need to be retinned.

Well...that was not the case. I've had my two Ruffoni tin-lined pots five months and already the tin was wearing through to where we could see the copper. Just last week we took the pots back to Williams-Sonoma and they exchanged both pots for new ones.

We learned a few things about these pots. You need to cook only over medium heat, You need to remove the food immediately, so you can't store food in it in the refrigerator. Once you are done cooking, you actually need to wash the pot immediately because even one piece of vegetable will begin to wear away the tin.

I'm not as enthusiastic about these particular pots as I was when I first got them. I think the stainless steel lining is more practical, but then you have the problems with stainless steel. So this brings me back to my soapstone pots, which I love more and more every day!

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Reader! Any ideas!

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I've already answered this at Q&A: Method Cleaning Products?

Remember to use the big purple SEARCH button and search for your question before posting.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I'm not familiar with this one. Readers?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I don't know of one. Readers?

I'd recommend using a high-speed blender to puree hot foods rather than a food processor. I've heard that chefs actually prefer a blender for puree. Or get an "immersion blender" that you can use right in the pot.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I've lived out in the woods and decided myself to just live with the spiders. For the most part they are considered to be beneficial insects because they feed on other insects, thereby themselves being natural pest controls. So I just let them wander the walls of my house and do thier natural thing.

At first, I didn't want "creepy-crawlies" in my house, but then I realized they are part of the ecosystem. They never bothered me or bit me and I just came to view them as part of life that I was sharing my home with and appreciated them for helping control other insects.

Spiders prefer, actually, to live outdoors, but come inside homes in early fall when cooler temperatures force them to seek shelter.

You can discourage spiders from coming in your house with good housekeeping, both inside and out. Keep stored items in boxes and bags shelves and clean up and dispose of clutter and trash. Repair screens and maintain the weather-stripping around doors and windows, so it is more difficult to get in the house. Once spiders are inside, spiders and their webs can be eliminated by using a broom or vacuum cleaner.

In certain areas of the country there are specific types of spiders that are poisonous. Contact your local science or natural history museum to learn about poisonous spiders in your area and learn to recognize them so you can avoid them. These DO bite humans.

Readers? Any suggestions on what worked for you?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

The best cookware for someone with mild sensitivities...Probably Pyrex and Visions are most inert, but if your sensitivities are mild, you can probably use any cookware.
For an overview of cookware, see ABOUT: Cookware & Bakeware and My New Cookware, and type "cookware" into my website search engine. There are a lot of Q&As on this subject.

Now, to answer your questions about stainless steel and carbon steel.

Carbon steel is used to make woks and I've also seen carbon steel skillets in restaurant supply stories. It is kind of greyish black. Made simply of iron with 0.1 to 1.2 percent carbon and even less manganese, carbon steel can be recycled and often contains about 25 percent recycled content whether it is so labeled or not.

Most pots and pans, cooking utensils, and flatware are made from stainless steel, which has a special ability to resist corrosion. The most extensively used type of stainless steel for household items is made from 71.95 percent iron, 18 percent chromium, 8 percent nickel, and 0.05 percent carbon. Stainless steel products can not be recycled and do not contain recycled material.

Stainless steel is generally considered the best choice for cooking because it is sanitary, nonporous, and the metals are highly stable. But stainless steel leaches nickel and chromium into food, which may be harmful to health, and environmentally, the mining and manufacture of steel is a highly technological, energy-intensive and polluting process. So it's not one of my favorites, considering there are more healthful and environmentally-advantageous options available.

If you do choose stainless steel, as far as I know, all the brands are the same. I don't know of one brand that is safer than others.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

A hemp shower curtain will dry faster, however, it will still mold.

I've used cotton shower curtains in the past, and they seemed to mold to the point of having the mold eat holes in the curtain, rendering it unusable in 3-4 months. I finally just installed glass shower doors, which cost less than $100 at Home Depot and Lowe's. And they are pretty easy to install if you are handy around the house.

If you don't want to install glass doors, go with the hemp and pretreat it as described in Q&A: Controlling Mold on Shower Curtains.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

LampRecycle.org says all fluorescent and most high intensity discharge lamps (these include mercury vapor, metal halide (also HQI), high-pressure sodium, low-pressure sodium and xenon short-arc lamps). We don't use high intensity discharge lamps at home, as they are designed to provide high levels of light over large areas, especially when energy efficiency and/or light intensity is desired (such as gymnasiums, large public areas, warehouses, roadways, parking lots, etc).

So fluorescent lamps are the only lamps we need to be concerned about as homeowners, in terms of mercury.

Here's a link to everything you need to know about choosing and disposing of fluorescent lamps: The Lowdown on Mercury in Fluorescent Lamps.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

You're right to not use bakeware with no-stick finishes. You can still find aluminum/steel bakeware without nonstick finishes. Professional bakeware does not have no-stick finish, and can be purchased at better cookware stores such as Williams-Sonoma and Sur La Table. These stores also sell bakeware WITH no-stick finishes, so read product descriptions carefully. Kitchen Fantasy has shiny stainless steel bakeware without no-stick finish.

Pyrex bakeware can be used for many items. It is completely nontoxic and made from abundant natural minerals. They have cake pans, pie pans and various casseole dishes, but no muffin tins or baking sheets.

Cast iron bakeware is also a good choice. They do have specialty baking pans, such as muffin pans, biscuit pans, and cornstick pans.

More about bakeware at:
* ABOUT: Cookware & Bakeware
* AT HOME WITH DEBRA: My New Cookware
* Q&A: Is Silicone Cookware Safe?
* Q&A: Offgassing from Silicon Bakeware
* Silicone baking mats vs parchment paper
* Is Tin Bakeware Safe?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

Their website says that the Space Bags are made of "layers of nylon." I don't know if they also contain other materials. But let's assume they are 100% nylon.

This is one of those situations where you need to make a trade-off. There are no renewable/biodegradable/natural materials that can be used to store clothing in a damp basement. They would all mold and disintegrate (that's what nature has designed them to do.

If you really need to store your clothing in the basement, Space Bags are an excellent way to do so. Though nylon is made from petrochemicals and a nonbiodegradable plastic, nylon is not very toxic and the Space Bags can be reused and reused for decades.

As much as it would be great for health and the environment to eliminate plastics entirely, it's not practical to do so and still have our modern world. To eliminate plastics entirely would take an entire re-orientation of how we live.

I minimize the use of plastics whenever I can. Before I decide to use a plasitic, I ask myself, "Is there something else I can use?" and "Is there a greater good that comes from my using this plastic?" Obviously, I can do more good to help health and the environment by using a plastic computer to communicate than if I had just saved the impact of my one computer.

These are decisions we all need to make individually, depending on our need and circumstances.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

When we had a woodburning stove in California, we always just sprinkled the ashes around in our organic garden to replenish the soil.

Readers, your suggestions?

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

You don't have to wash jars before you recycle them. You should empty the jars and scrape any excess from the sides, but they don't have to be completely clean. The recycling process will kill germs and eliminate small amounts of food debris left on recoverable materials.

If you are unsure what can be recycled, call your local recycling program and ask. They probably have some kind of instructions to give you as it is different in every community. We have the recycling instructions brochure at city hall, the natural food store...I see it almost every where I go here in Clearwater, Florida, so find yours.

If you are still not sure and it's something you discard often (like a yogurt container), it's better to take the time to find out and be sure, rather than simply toss something that could be recycled just because you don't know.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

The antimicrobial agent used in Silestone is Microban. They don't say on their website exactly what the antibacterial agent is, but they comment that it "has a long history of safe use" and that it is "built-in during the manufacturing process and will not wash off or wear away," which leads me to believe it may be silver, a traditional microbial agent.

In response to the question, "Has anyone ever gotten sick from using products with Microban antimicrobial protection?" they answer:

Extensive testing and a long use history have shown Microban® product protection to be safe. While it is impossible to say that no one will ever experience an allergic reaction to anything, it is highly unlikely a negative experience would be observed. Microban additives are used in very low levels measured in parts per million.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

We had this space heater question before at Space Heater Recommendations (remember to use the SEARCH button at the top of the right hand column to search this blog). So you can read my answer there about outgassing and the DeLonghi radiator. If you have a space heater you are happy with, please write in and tell us about it, as it's getting to be that time of year where heat is needed.

Regarding energy efficiency, electricity-powered space heaters are not considered very efficient in terms of heating a whole room or home, in comparison to other methods of heating, however, if all you want to do is warm your feet or just one room, using space heaters can save money over heating the whole house if all you want to heat is a spot.

I couldn't find a compiled list of the energy efficiency of brands of space heaters (though if someone knows of one, click on POST YOUR COMMENT below and I'll approve it) but Missouri Department of Natural Resources: Residential Energy Efficiency has some suggestions on comparing space heaters for energy costs.

Meta-Efficient has a page about the most efficient ways to heat your home with a few space heaters (including a wall heater that looks a bit like a burning fireplace...

Econo-heat Electric Panel Heater is very efficient (2-3 cents an hour to run) and costs less than $100. They say it has a bit of an odor when you first turn it on, but it dissipates within 24 hours. I have no experience with this product, but it looks interesting and is comparatively inexpensive to run.

I can't pass up this opportunity to remind everyone that you can save a lot on your heating bills by warming your body instead of the air around you. It takes a lot more energy to warm the air in a room than it does to warm your body. Many body warmers need no energy at all!

• Wear warm woolen clothing, particularly a hat, since a large percentage of body heat is lost through the top of your head.
• Eat and drink warming foods and beverages such as herbal tea, warm grains, soups, stews, fruit compotes.
• Snuggle under a blanket or comforter with someone you feel cozy with and share body heat.
• Sit in a sunny window.
• Exercise.
• Stay indoors.
• Take a hot bath.

Debra :-)

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I'm interested in what others have to say...here's what I think.

A tissue is biodegradable. Put it in water and it will fall apart. I think it has a greater chance of doing this in the sewer/septic system than in a landfill, because landfills enclose trash, rather than exposing trash to the micro-organisms in the soil that would break down anything biodegradable.

If you'd like to know how each of these systems you are asking about work, see:
* How Sewer and Septic Systems Work
* How Landfills Work

I can't let this opportunity pass to mention natural water treatment systems, which purify water through constructed wetlands rather than industrial compounds. See:
* Ocean Arks International

Debra :-)