Art | Resources
Dentures for MCS
Question from Cindy
Does anyone with mcs have dentures? Has anone gotton them and sucessfully wearing them.Im concerned aout the outgassing and any toxic material in them..Im told there are different materials used and different “grades” of dentures.. such as the best or top of the line and going down…also the materials sues to keep them in.. some people dont have to use anything others do.. I am facing having to get dentures and I would appreicate any help or sugestions or your storys ….. I dont know what they are made of.. Im still checking into all this.. but it seems I may have no choice..
I sincerely thankyou for any help.
Debra’s Answer
I have no experience with dentures.
Readers, any suggestions?
How Can I Block Scotchguard?
Question from Help please
Hi. We are staying with family for a few months while in transition to purchase a home. My sister just purchased a kitchen set and used scotchguard to protect the chairs. They were sprayed outside but then brought into the house. We moved in a week later. She is never going to replace the set and doesn’t agree with my thinking however is there anything I can put on these chairs to remove the scotchguard or eliminate it as much as possible. We basically live in the kitchen. And the kids are always sitting here. Thanks so much!!
Debra’s Answer
Since you just need a temporary fix, aluminum foil will block any fumes that are outgassing. If that won’t hold up, you can get something called “foil-backed building paper” at any home improvement store and tape it over the chair cushions. That would be easy to remove when you leave.
The Benefits and Comforts of Sleeping on a Wool Bed
My guest is Sarah Sunshine Smith, owner of Shepherd’s Dream. Since she was only 2 years old when her mother, Eliana Jantz started the company, Sarah has been surrounded by natural bedding nearly her whole life. Naturally, she became a part of the company at a young age and has played a key role in Shepherd’s Dream operations for more than 15 years. Sarah took ownership of Shepherd’s Dream over 6 years ago and has been nurturing it’s growth and well being ever since. Sarah is honored to have the opportunity to provide the purest, natural bedding imaginable to people worldwide. It is of great importance to her that each product is made with local, organic materials whenever possible, that the sheep who offer their wool fleeces live happy lives on green pastures and that each product is made with patience and love. Sarah is committed to providing a quality product line that contributes to a sustainable, green planet that will provide a beautiful home for our future generations. We’ll be talking about how wool beds are made, from the sheep in the field to the handstitching. I sleep on a Shepherd’s Dream wool bed, and have known Eliana almost as long as I’ve been writing about toxic free products, so I’ll share my experience too. www.debralynndadd.com/debras-list/shepherds-dream
The MP3 of this interview has been lost, but will be placed here if we can find a copy.
Negative Ions for HVAC System
Question from Dorothy
Hi Debra, We are building a new house and our ventilation contractor recommends a product that is installed in home furnaces from Global Plasma Solutions. There website is www.gpshvac.com
The specific product (GPS 2400) is listed below. Have you ever heard of this product? They say it does not create ozone problems and helps kill off various things like MRSA and ecoli.
” The GPS-2400 is a carbon-fiber needlepoint, bi-polar ionization generator rated 2,400 CFM or up to 6 tons nominal capacity. The GPS-2400 is designed for air handler mounting. The GPS-2400 housing is made from formed ABS plastic and includes ion output indication and an integral mounting tab for easy installation to the air handler wall or fan shroud.”
Debra’s Answer
It looks to me like it’s a negative ion generator designed to be mounted in your HVAC system. I don’t see a problem with it.
Why is your contractor recommending it? Is it needed?
Aquarian Bath
All-natural handmade bath and body products that come in plastic-free packaging. Soaps, herbal products, tooth powder, deodorant salve, mosquito repellant and more, made with clays, herbs, and essential oils. You can even purchase their premium ingredients and make your own.
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Listen to my interview with Aquarian Bath President Cory Trusty. |
ECOLunchbox
A collection of nontoxic and waste-free items to use for packing food to take on the go…to school, work, travel, picnics, and anyplace else. They carry everything in one place to create a back-to-basics carry-your-lunch solution using traditional materials. Food containers, resuable sacks and napkins, utensils, and bags.
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Listen to my interview with ECOLunchbox Founder Sandra Ann Harris. |
Life Without Plastic
This extensive website was put together by a couple who wanted to help people reduce their plastic consumption. They quickly realized that to accomplish this, they needed to be able to point them toward non-plastic alternatives that could replace the plastic items currently used in day-to-day life. Today their website sells plastic-free items that are scrupulously reviewed by them for quality, health, environment, and worker conditions, showing “the beauty and simplicity of a life without plastic.” Child and baby products, food storage, tableware, water storage, bags, toys, home and body care, kitchen, glassware, school and office supplies, travel and takeout, pet care, water, gifts.
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Which Broiler Pan is Best?
Question from Emma
I like to cook chicken on my broiler pan a lot. I have been using the pan that came with my Kitchenaid oven, which I am thinking is probably aluminum. I have been shopping for a new one and seen stainless steel or porcelain coated steel but not sure what would be better. Can Debra or readers a recommend a good broiler pan?
Thanks.
Debra’s Answer
Of the two you mentioned, the one with the porcelain coating is better. Porcelain coatings are like putting a layer of glass over the metal, so in effect it is like cooking in a glass pan.
Especially avoid broiler pans with plastic nonstick finishes.
Odor Eliminator for Incontinence
Question from Mary
The woman in the apartment below me uses some sort of air freshener/disinfectant that smells like a gas station bathroom. It smells like somsething that would be hard on the liver. Rather than a spray, I think it must be some sort of electrical device that constantly emits this odor. She has little use of her legs, so I suspect she has a problem with incontinence. Many days this odor comes in here through an open window, or up through the floor if the window is closed. She is also deaf, so I have to discuss this with her mother who has been very defensive in the past. I’d like to know what this product they use is if anyone has any best guesses, and I am wondering whether anyone can think of a substitute that would be less toxic. Even natural products like essential oils would be a problem for me. I don’t know whether an air filter would solve their problem. I am wondering what others with incontinence problems use. Thanks.
Debra’s Answer
I suggest that you contact Daliya at www.nontoxic.com, 800-968-9355. She would love to talk with you. She has several products that are not scented that may work. Write back and tell us what she says.
Exposure to New Carpet While Pregnant
Question from Tanja
Hi Debra, What a great blog you have!
My husband and I are moving into a new apartment next week. They are replacing the old carpet and putting in new wall-to-wall carpet everywhere. Probably of a lower quality too because the landlord wants to save money (we offered to pay more in rent if he puts in hardwood instead but that didn’t work).
I try to live as green as possible, eat mostly organic, am replacing old furniture, etc. and I was worried from the beginning but everything else about the place is great so I couldn’t justify passing it up.
Now a couple days ago I found out I’m pregnant with our first child. Needless to say, I’m freaking out about the carpet right now. I already know I want to move when the lease is up in a year before the baby stars crawling but what about the pregnancy? I’m planning to vacuum a lot and get an air purifier but I feel like I just want to break the lease. I can’t think straight right now. What should I do? My husband understands my concerns only to some extent. Thank you!
Debra’s Answer
The best advice I can give you would be to break the lease.
New carpet has a long list of hundreds of toxic chemicals, and your baby is most vulnerable to toxic effects while in the womb. I don’t want to scare you, but exposures to toxics while in the womb can result in developmental effects later on in life. If there is one point in life to be careful, it’s now.
