Art | Resources
French Press for Making Tea
Question from Hanna
Hi Debra, Thanks for a great site!!! I’m looking for an all glass/stainless steel french press for brewing loose leaf tea. OR something better for this purpose. Just no plastic or leaching materials. French presses are so easy for people to use for this purpose. I looked into the chemex coffee maker, but the herb wouldn’t be submerged in the water because they are intended for filters. Any ideas?
Debra’s Answer
A French Press is exactly what I use for making loose leaf tea and I think it’s the best possible way to brew tea.
I bought my French Press decades ago before they started having plastic ones–I have the original. It’s this one: Bodum Chambord Coffee Press.
I’ve had it for years and I love it. You just put the tea in and let it steep, then push the plunger and pour. No need for a clumsy strainer
Can I Remove Scent From Breast Pump?
Question from Catherine
Hello, I let my niece borrow my breastpump and upon getting it back noticed a strong floral perfume scent. I called her and she laughed…I guesss it was stored in her front room where she has candles and oils present all the time. I had to throw all of the plastic componants away tubing etc…they wouldn’t wash out. Now I am wondering if the motor is okay or if I should buy a new pump altogether. I don’t think the scent can contaminate with new parts, but want to be sure
Debra’s Answer
Personally, I would just buy a new pump.
Danger from Combining Cleaners?
Question from J in Va
I have done away with harmful cleaning products in our home. My concern is any accidental contact with bleach or ammonia residue from cleansers that may have been used previously. For example, I am becoming a big fan of vinegar. Is it safe to clean bathrooms that may have previously been cleaned with a cleaner containing bleach? Is a good rinse with water sufficient before trying a different product? And what about laundry? Can I use vinegar in my laundry immediately following someone else who may have used bleach? Trying to avoid any mishaps! I also have discovered Scotch Brite disinfecting wipes with cleanwell. Do I need to take any special precautions with using those? If only labels would be clear! Thanks so much for all you do to keep us on the right track!
Debra’s Answer
There are some cleaners you do need to take care to not combine, particularly ammonia and bleach, which can produce deadly fumes.
Don’t combine bleach with vinegar either, as it releases toxic chlorine gas from the bleach. But I doubt there would be enough bleach, if any, on a surface previously-cleaned-with-bleach to cause any problem. If you have any doubt, rinse the surface first with plain water. Also any bleach residue in the washer should not be a problem.
You don’t need to take any special precautions with Scotch Brite disinfecting wipes with cleanwell. “Cleanwell” is simply thyme oil. This product is made with sodium lauryl sulfate and thyme oil. It’s the thyme oil that is the disinfectant. You could just mix thyme oil with anything you want as a carrier.
Laminate Placemats
Question from E.K
I came across a placemat that is made of durable sheets that have been laminated. I did a search on laminates but I couldn’t find anything pertaining to this type of lamination or if it has any relation to laminate flooring. I was hoping you would be able to help with this situation. I’m looking for non-toxic placemats that are not cotton. (Have a toddler and would like something that I could wipe down) I have come across silicone placemats and children’s rubber placemats but that’s about it. Are there any other option that you know of? Does the laminate off gas or unsafe to eat off of? Thanks so much for all you do!
Debra’s Answer
The word “laminate” simply means that multiple layers have been fused together to improve performance. A laminate is usually made permanent with heat, pressure, welding, or adhesives.
A laminate floor is made from layers of wood and adhesives.
A laminate placemat is usually some type of artwork sandwiched between two pieces of plastic. If you’ve ever taken a driver’s license or luggage tags to a copy store to be laminated, it’s the same process. You put the driver’s license between two sheets of plastic and run it through a machine that applies heat and pressure, and when it comes out, it’s protected with a thin film of hard, clear plastic.
The standard plastic for lamination is polyethylene perephthalate (PET), the same plastic used to make soda bottles.
Antimony is used as a catalyst in the production of PET. After manufacturing, a detectable amount of antimony can be found on the surface of the product. This residue can be removed with washing. Antimony also remains in the material itself and can, thus, migrate out into food and drinks. Would this be a danger on placemats? Probably the more you wipe it, the less antimony there would be.
Personally, I don’t have any laminated placemats in my house. I use cotton placemats that I can throw in the washer and sanitize with hot water.
HVAC Air Ducts
Question from Linda
I have central heating with duct work that is not sealed tight so it is not energy efficient and it has asbestos. I need to decide between leaving the existing duct work with the asbestos or removing and replacing it.
The company I am working with is recommending air ducts that are Greenguard certified for Indoor Air Quality and for children and schools. These ducts have a fiberglass core. I am confused by this certification that is rating it as safe and yet it has a fiberglass core. I do not know enough about this subject to be able to evaluate whether this is a good option.
Here is a link to the Greenguard Environmental Institute, www.greenguard.org. Here is a link to the air duct company ,http://www.jplflex.com/products/default.asp. The product I am considering is the “silver jacket.” If you click on it, you can get more detailed info, click again and you can see the “data sheet.”
Do you recommend this product or another product? Removing the central heat is not an option. Thanks!
Debra’s Answer
I don’t have any experience with this product but it looks to me that the fiberglass in between two layers of stainless steel. So it should meet that Greenguard standard. I don’t see a problem with this product.
Readers, any suggestions for air ducts?
Phenol-Formaldehyde “Bakelite”
Question from kristen
Are you familiar with Phenol-formaldehyde used in cookware products? Specifically a metal tea kettle, where the lid and handle are made of this material. I know formaldehyde is toxic, but in this application do you think it is releasing anything or could leach out in any way? Thank you for your time.
Debra’s Answer
Yes I am familiar with this. It’s been called “the first real plastic”. It is formed from an elimination reaction of phenol with formaldehyde. During the manufacturing process, the phenol and formaldehyde react to make a new material that is not toxic. It has been used to make many consumer products and is still used today. It’s not releasing anything and not leaching. You can use it without concern.
Green Planet Paints
A gorgeous palette of colors made from natural mineral and clay pigments, in a plant-based (soy), zero-VOC paint. “Green Planet Paints was conceived in 1993, when Meredith Aronson, materials scientist and expert in clays and historic pigments, moved to Patagonia, Arizona. Surrounded by the blazing ochres of canyon walls, the electric greens of waterfall mosses, the shifting silvers of high-desert grasses and the multicolored hues of migrating birds, she was inspired to create a paint that not only reflected the beauty around her, but respected it. Combining her expertise in materials science with her knowledge of ancient pigment technologies, she began formulating a new kind of paint founded on three principles: beauty, performance, and sustainability. With the birth of her son in 2000, Meredith realized that her paint not only had to be beautiful, sustainable and durable, it had to be safe as well–with no exceptions. She began to experiment with simple, natural recipes for milk paints and clay paints, guided by her friends Bill and Athena Steen, renowned innovators in natural construction. Over time, she reformulated these simple paints to improve their performance and manufacturability. She incorporated her knowledge of Mayan Blue pigment technology to create stunning blues, and soon had a rich palette of colors inspired by the natural landscape around her.”
Sweet Harvest Farms
Luxurious soaps, handmade using “the tried and true cold process method of making soap – entirely from scratch with certified organic oils that your skin actually craves….Our soap is made in small batches, from scratch, with each bar being individually cut and hand-wrapped to insure quality control. Natural colorants are used in our wonderful soaps to bring out the beauty of each bar and organic and natural herbs are added to some of the recipes. Shea Butter, Olive Oil, Jojoba Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Palm Oil (sustainable) and Coconut oil are just a few of the rich oils used to create this luxurious line of soap. Rosemary extract is used in every batch because it is a natural preservative and can extend the color and scent of the soap for up to two years.” Also unscented laundry soap and body lotion, scribes, and salts.
Nontoxic Finish for Unfinished Wood Bed Frames That Protects Against Termites
Question from Cindy
I bought two unfinished pine beds at IKEA for my granddaughters that I would like to paint or varnish, but I’m not sure how to go about doing this in the most nontoxic way. I’m not only concerned with toxins, but also termites getting into the wood. Would the wood need to be treated with Timbor or something similar before painting? Or would a nontoxic wood finish be sufficient? And if I decide to paint a color, would the wood finish need to be applied first, or is the color alone sufficient? I would appreciate your best recommendations. I’ve already purchased wool mattresses from Shepherd’s Dream, & want to make sure both of my granddaughters have a good nontoxic bed. Thank you so much for all you do.
Debra’s Answer
You don’t need to treat the wood first. According to Dr. Don’s Termite Pages , “If they don’t know it is wood, they may not find it. Keep all exterior wood well coated with paint or varnish, especially the larger bits and at the joins and ends. Drywood termites begin their attack with just two termites. First the female selects a likely place to live and then pairs up with a male before they start tunnelling. So if you can make the wood unattractive, the termites won’t even try. A bit of preservative can go a long way. If it doesn’t taste good, the termites won’t hang around.”
If you decide to paint a color, generally the color is applied first and then the wood finish goes on top, or a colored finish is used.
Is Your Antiperspirant Preventing Your Body From Detoxing?
We’ve all seen the antiperspirant commercials on television that try to convince us that we need to use an antiperspirant or deodorant so as to not be sweaty or smelly. And they work. Today, annual worldwide sales of these products are more than $18 billion.
But the antiperspirants we use today have only been around for about 100 years. Prior to that time, human bodies did what comes naturally: sweat.
Sweat plays an important role in detoxing your body.
Your body sweats as a natural means of purification. In addition to the critical function of regulating the temperatrue of your body to 98.6 degrees F, sweat rids your body of poisons and metabolic wastes and helps keep your skin clean, supple, and healthy. Because it eliminates wastes, skin is sometimes called the “third kidney.”
Because sweat is a way for your body to excrete wastes, it is a way for your body to eliminate toxic chemicals.
In a natural environment, our bodies would be sweating on a daily basis, particularly during the warmer months. And our bodies would be more active than they are today, as they would be walking and working at the tasks of daily life, rather than sitting, riding, and buying products. Your body would sweat a lot more, for example, churning butter by hand than buying it in a nicely wrapped little package or whipping it up in your food processor.
Advertising has convinced us that our bodies shouldn’t smell or sweat, and so we use antiperspirants and deodorants. Aside from the issue of their toxic ingredients, antiperspirants stop our bodies from sweating, which blocks this mode of natural detoxification.
How to Help Your Body Sweat
The best way to support your skin as a detox organ for your entire body is to allow it to sweat, as that cleanses your skin from the inside out. In fact, sweat is the way your body cleanses your skin, without soap or cleanser or any other industrial consumer product.
The first step is to reduce the factors that inhibit the healthy flow of sweat
- stop using antiperspirants
- minimize time spent in air-conditioned indoor environments
- stop wearing synthetic fiber clothing
- stop sitting around
Then do things that increase the production of sweat:
- exercise
- sit in a sauna or steam bath (an inexpensive way to do this is sit in the bathroom with the door closed and run a hot shower to create steam)
- soak in a warm bath
And remember to drink plenty of clean, purified water to replace the fluids in your body lost to sweat.
Now you may be wondering what to do instead if you don’t use an antiperspirant. The answer is: NOTHING. I gave up antiperspirants and deodorants long ago. For many years I used baking soda instead. But for the past few years I’ve used nothing. A healthy body that is washed daily does not smell bad. If you have bad body odor, it’s probably a sign you need to improve your health, not wear a deodorant.
How to Detox From Past Use of Antiperspirants
Antiperspirants work by using aluminum to prevent sweat glands from their normal operation.
Aluminum was first recognized as a human neurotoxin—a substance that causes damage to nerves or nerve tissue—in 1886, before being used as an antiperspirant.
While there is a relatively small amount of aluminum in any single application of antiperspirant, it is a metal that accumulates in your body over time. Daily applicationcan lead to a chronic exposure to aluminum over time.
Because aluminum is a metal, the easiest way to begin to release it from your body is with Pure Body Liquid Zeolite. Tiny bits of highly absorbent zeolite (a natural mineral) act like little magnets to attract heavy metals, radiation, and some organic chemicals from your bloodstream, removing them from your body within 4-6 hours. Over a period of months, taking PureBody on a daily basis can remove aluminum and other metals that have accumulated in your body.
So let your body sweat, knowing that it is a natural process that is helping your body to good health.
