Question from Adrian

Hi, I was wondering if tampons are one of those things that should be organic. I usually do buy them, however my daughter was recently given a huge box of regular ones from a bulk store and don’t know if we should use them. Thank You, Adrian

Debra’s Answer

Definitely tampons should be organic and unbleached, if paper. Ordinary bleached tampons made from paper usually contain residues of dioxin from the paper bleaching process (chlorine bleach combines with wood lignins in the paper to form dioxin, one of the most toxic chemicals on earth). Dioxin can be released from the tampons and be absorbed through the skin, which is particularly vulnerable in that delicate area.

I would toss those tampons.

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Question from cymering

Dear Debra, I know that you don’t use stainless steel, but maybe you can help me with this. I had the same pots and pans for years and I never had eny problems. Recently they started showing rainbow or some dark stains. I bought new pots, and they get stained too. I have recently change to organic rice and pasta, but the some stains appear with other food too, that I have not change. On the Web, some say that I can clean using lemon, but will this not affect the metal? Are the pots still safe to use? Thank you.

Debra’s Answer

Well, first, you are right I don’t recommend stainless steel because it can leach heavy metals if you scratch it, as when you use metal utensils.

Readers, any thoughts on this?

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Question from HEG

This is not a question, but rather an answer to anyone who may be searching for a glass sippy cup for toddlers (as I have been for two years). I just learned that the company Lifefactory makes glass sippy cups/toddler bottles with silicone sleeves to protect them. They also make similar water bottles for adults.

Another option is the Bornfree brand, but for this you have to be a bit more creative. Bornfree makes glass baby bottles and plastic toddler sippy cups and recently added silicone sleeves for their glass bottles. The parts are interchangeable so you can take the glass baby bottle with silicone sleeve and simply put the top/spout from the otherwise plastic toddler sippy cup on the glass bottle (and just get rid of the bottom part of the plastic sippy cup).

Hope this information may be helpful for other moms of toddlers out there!

Debra’s Answer

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Question from Hope Fox

Hi there,

I need to finish two concrete slabs (upstairs and downstairs – yes we have a concrete floor upstairs!) in our close-to-being-finished new healthy home. I would appreciate some feedback on two products, AcriSoy sealant and any sealant designed to go on top of diamond-polished floors.

Downstairs (kitchen, living room, bathroom) Slab: After reading great things about the durability and healthyness of diamond polished floors (supposedly no maintanence for decades!) we went ahead with it as a DIY project – professionally diamond polished concrete services are super expensive. After a bit of a learning curve, the floor is polished, and looks lovely. The densified, polished surface is naturally somewhat water-repellant, but can still stain if the source of the stain is not cleaned up right away. Living with two young, messy boys, this is bound to happen. I am trying to decide whether to use an additional sealant, and if so, which one. It would need to be designed to seal on top of diamond-polished floors, since there will be minimal penetration posssible with this floor treatment. This is the sealant from the company that we got our concrete densifier from. What do you think of the safety of this product from an MCS perspective, based on its MSDS? Our move in date is aprox 2 months from now.

http://www.xtremeharddensifier.com/uploads/Shield.pdf

The upstairs slab (bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry room) need to be finished differently. Somehow the waterproof additive Xypex was added to this pour in addition to the pour for the walls, where it was supposed to be, so we could not diamond polish it. The waterproofing does not protect it from stains, necessarily. We were thinking of sealing it with Acrisoy…. any thoughts, experience?

Debra’s Answer

The AcriSoy looks good to me on paper. Has anyone tried it?

The other one I wouldn’t use. It says it is not hazardous under normal conditions, but contains Dipropylene Glycol Normal Butyl Ether which is pretty toxic when you are applying it. It’s probably OK once it dries, but the coating is acrylic plastic and I’d prefer another material for you.

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Question from Kmdegroot

We need to replace the carpet on our stairs. The rest of the house has wood floors, but I prefer padding on the stairs for safety. Wool isn’t in the budget. Are there safer synthetics? Where does one buy them and what questions do I need to ask? Thanks so much!

Debra’s Answer

The Carpet & Rug Institute Green Label Carpets.

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Question from KOS

Hi Debra, Just purchased a Kenmore HE top loading washer. Instructions say to clean it monthly with bleach (it has a clean cycle to do this). I’m obviously not going to use bleach. Any suggestions on what to use instead? Just ordered your new book – eager to read it! Best, Kelly

Debra’s Answer

I don’t have a top loading washer so I don’t have any experience with this. Readers, what are you cleaning yours with besides bleach?

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Question from m1021

I’ve always liked milkglass, and saw some on Etsy from the 1950’s (I think, given the stamp and what google says about the date stamp).

From all what I can learn through google, there was arscenic in milk glass back in the 1800’s, and then they stopped that and used lead for awhile instead to acheive the same milky look, up to the early 1900’s.

But the info seems to stop there. So the milkglass I’m drooling over from the 1950’s….anyone know if that’s safe? It’s stamped “Fire King,” and I do know that Fire King/Anchor Hocking glass is currently safe nowadays. But does that give me any assurances for old stuff?

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from reelfood

Hi Debra, Thanks for your site!

I recently purchased a Nord piano that has a Fatar keybed made in Tunisia and they are using some kind of chemical on it that I am reacting to. I chose this piano because it was made without plywood (unlike most other major brands) so was very surprised and disappointed that there was an issue with it. My choices now are to get a Roland keyboard that has the plywood or get a used Nord that has gassed off for 6-8 mos or more.

My biggest question is will the used Nord, even though it may not smell as bad still be insidiously effecting me ? I would have to have it shipped across the country to even tell if I can tolerate it. I have played a Roland and even though it has the plywood, I did not notice a reaction to it. I did not buy it because even though I couldn’t smell it, I figured it must be gassing off formaldehyde. Perhaps someone knows of a digital piano/keyboard that has no plywood? Thanks for any thoughts you or your readers have.

Debra’s Answer

Readers, and suggestions?

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A friend of mine sent me an email with no source that commented on Diane Sawyer’s special report “Made in America,” which aired last fall. It’s an interesting piece of investigative work.

They removed ALL items from a typical, middle class family’s home that were not made in the USA. There was hardly anything left besides the kitchen sink; literally. During the special they showed truckloads of items – USA made – being brought in to replace everything and talked about how to find these items and the difference in price etc.

It was interesting that Diane said if every American spent just $64 more than normal on USA made items this year, it would create something like 200,000 new jobs!

The email I received was asking that we all look on the bottom of every product for “Made in China” or “PRC” and choose products made in the USA instead.

There’s an interesting map on the “Made in America” website that lists companies making products in each state. There are not many listed in comparison to how many there are. Many of my Debra’s List websites make products in America and I’ve noted them with an icon.

For more products Made in the USA, check out these websites. The products are not necessarily nontoxic, but there is a great reduction in shipping pollution and buying American supports our own economy at home,

Made in USA certified

American Made

Made-in-US.com

AmericansWorking.com