Question from heavensabvus1

I have 100% cotton rag area rugs in my home. I love that they are cotton and love that they are completely washable. My 8′ x 10′ rug fits in the industrial washer at the laundromat and I air dry it.

Washable area rugs are exceedingly hard to find in these large sizes. I’ve ordered from a couple of places, only to return them because they reek of whatever they were sprayed with when they entered the country.

It’s time to replace a rug and I’ve found someone who makes beautiful rugs and they’re reasonably priced. They are made out of recycled clothing and are completely washable, which is great, but that also means that that clothing is not just 100% cotton, but also blends of other fibers.

Since the clothing is old to the point of now being sliced up for weaving fiber, can I hope that any finishes that might have been on a polyester blouse would have been washed away long ago?

I plan to wash them as soon as I receive them, of course, but am hoping that since the materials are so well used, they are non-toxic by now. Is it possible?

Debra’s Answer

Fabric finishes become less toxic as time goes by. These are probably fine.

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Tomorrow is Summer Solstice. It’s the longest day of the year, though it may not be the hottest.

In celebration, here’s a good summary of things you can do to keep cool while saving energy. Most types of energy production put toxic chemicals into the air (which we then breathe), so whenever we can save energy, that helps the world be more toxic-free. And you’ll save money on energy bills.

Mother Nature Network: Tips for Cooling Off this Summer

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Question from newhome

We just bought a home from a women who owned it for 40 years.We are pulling up the wall to wall carpet which is 18-20 years old. Under the carpet is hardwood with a beautiful polyurethane finish.I have chemical sensitivities and would never choose a floor with a polyurethane finish and am wondering if it will be ok since it is so old.

Debra’s Answer

Polyurethane itself is not particularly toxic, it’s the solvents that are used to make it liquid so it can be applied that are the problem. Water-based polyurethane wood finish, for example, is much less toxic than solvent-based. Once the solvents are evaporated the polyurethane coating that remains is not toxic.

I would say that a finish that is more than twenty years old would be fine.

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Question from onlythegreen2

Hi, Debra, we are looking to purchase a used vehicle and wondered if 10-year-old leatherette (vinyl) seats would still be offgassing or a health hazard of any kind? Thank you…

Debra’s Answer

After ten years, I think they would have offgassed.

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Question from patspincushion

I purchased a fake Ficus tree at a garage sale that is saturated with cigarette smoke smell. I sprayed it with Shaklee’s Basic H and water, then hozed it off well. It sat outdoors 2 days, but still smells like smoke. I can’t tolerate smoke smell. Anyone know of a home made solution (or otherwise) that would be safe on the leaves and actually works ?

Pat

Debra’s Answer

I don’t have any experience with this. Readers?

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Question from Susan-az

My brother has a log home in AZ in an area surrounded by the massive Wallow wildfire, which is still burning. The area is still under evacuation orders. Do you have any helpful information as far as cleaning his home after the smoke damage? Also, are there dangerous chemicals to be concerned about with regard to the products which the firefighters have to use? My brother and his wife both have health issues. Thanks so much, Debra, for all your helpful advice over the years!

Debra’s Answer

There are basically four types of chemicals used in fighting wildland fires: fire retardants, foams, elastomers, and fire suppressant gels. None of them are particularly toxic to humans or the environment. The MSDS sheets for these chemicals can be found at USDA Forest Service: Wildland Fire Chemical Systems.

As for cleaning the house of smoke, with a wildfire such as this, you will probably need to hire a professional smoke remediation service.

Here are some links to websites with tips about removing smoke:

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Question from Tammy Garren

My mother-in-laws maid uses pinesol full strength on cabinets, floors, etc. The other day I caught her cleaning out coffee pots and washing dishes with the same dish rag she was wiping countertops. This rag had full strength pinesol on it. She did rinse them but I was wondering especially since she used it to clean out coffee pot, is this safe? I told my motherinlaw about it and she said it shouldn’t hurt anything since it is a disinfectant but I read on label that it could be toxic to humans, pets etc. Now I am not drinking coffee made in the coffee pot anymore. Am I just being paronoid?

Debra’s Answer

First of all, the only hazardous ingredient listed on the Pine Sol MSDS is alkyl alcohol ethoxylates. These belong to a group of chemicals called “aromatic hydrocarbons” which are petrochemicals with strong, pungent, odors. The only health hazard listed on the MSDS is that it is an irritant. Pine Sol also contains strong scents that are not listed as hazardous ingredients, but artificial fragrances in and of themselves can contain many hazardous substances.

As to whether or not there is a danger drinking coffee from a pot wiped with Pine Sol, it is extremely unlikely that after rinsing the pot and allowing it to dry that there would be any residue of Pine Sol left. Pine Sol is extremely volatile and does not take very long to evaporate.

However, out of caution, I wouldn’t recommend it for this use.

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