Art | Resources
Neil Kelly Cabinets
Beautiful solid wood cabinets made with certified sustainably-harvested woods, formaldehyde-free wheatboard case material, and low VOC finishes. Designs are based on traditional clean, simple lines, using only the materials needed and none to excess. Many options for eco-friendly materials and safe finishes.
N.E.E.D.S.
N.E.E.D.S. (Nutritional Ecological Environmental Delivery System) provides products, information, and education in the areas of Chemical Sensitivity, Environmental Illness, Fibromyalgia, Celiac Disease, and Candida. Their products include Environmental Equipment –air & water purification, portable saunas, oral hygiene, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and electromagnetic field (EMF) products–dietary supplements and Gluten-Free Foods, Personal Care products, mattresses and pillows, paints and sealers, cleaning products, Pet Care items, and more. They also have a wellness team and product consultants available free of charge to answer questions related to reducing exposure to toxins in the environment. Discounted prices.
Naturally Yours
A full line of cleaning products suitable for homes, businesses and government buildings (they are an approved vendor for eco-minded cities Berkeley and Seattle, two states, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Interior, and several National Parks). Economically priced and super-concentrated, these cleaning products are nontoxic, biodegradable, non-ecotoxic, fragrance-free, and cruelty-free. Most of the products contain natural, double-distilled, insecticide-residue-free citrus solvents, citric acid, and proprietary natural citrate blends. “We take every opportunity to preserve the environment”. Most of their rinds, citric acids and other citrates are imported from South America to help create jobs, thereby reducing the slashing and burning of the Amazon Rain Forests. All bottles, containers, packaging and literature are produced from materials that are completely recyclable. Product labels and literature are made from post-consumer waste paper and inks are soy-based, nontoxic and biodegradable.
Natura
“The Natural Sleep Solution”. A 3-part European system ergonomically designed for comfort and to relieve back pain (a study by the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College found that the Natura Sleep Solution reduces chronic back pain by 40%). An untreated solid maple wood slat frame is covered with a latex foam mattress then topped with a wool mattress pad. The wood slat frame and foam mattress come in two individual sections–each can be customized to support the sleeper’s spine. Choose their “Organic IV” model made with 100% natural latex foam, untreated sustained-yield woods, organic cotton, and organic wool–other models contain some synthetic materials. This link goes to the manufacturer’s website. They do not sell direct, but they have a store finder, and Natura beds are sold on many websites.
National Testing Laboratories
Household water tests for basic and specialized contaminants. You collect water samples, ship them overnight to the lab, and they send you the results.
Need exterior painting project guidelines
Question from Angelique
The exterior of our house badly needs painting. We live in Arizona. This is the “open window” time of year. Summer is the “everything offgasses fast in the heat and keep your windows closed” time of year. I was thinking that summer would be a good time to paint because everything would dry very fast and the sun would really bake everything, but then I wonder what kinds of problems I might have with paint fumes getting inside the house and getting trapped there. Also, I’ll be going away for a week in June. I don’t know if it’s better for the painting to happen when I’m gone, or if I should be here to supervise. (They don’t just have to use my products, but also they have to use brand-new equipment for our jobs.) I haven’t started researching paints yet. Any ideas would be welcome!
Debra’s Answer
Must be time to start painting, because I got this question from two people this week!
I’ve had mixed experiences painting the exterior of my house. Logic tells us that because the paint is outdoors, it would smell less than when painting indoors. But that is NOT true.
I once painted the exterior of my house with a natural paint that had strong natural odors and I had to leave my house for three days.
So in response to your question, my suggestion would be to
As for paints, readers, what exterior paints have you used and liked?
Floor Model refrigerator Safe for Storing Breast Milk?
Question from chorvath24
We have a 1 month old, and I wanted to purchase a new fridge and found a great deal on a floor model. Would this be safe to have in the house and use knowing what we know about plastics and off gases? I think this would be a better option because it was out of its packaging and opened and closed often as it is a floor model. We would be storing breast milk in there and we would like to know if its safe.
Thanks
Debra’s Answer
Floor models will be more outgassed than refrigerators right out of the box, however, I can’t tell you if it is “safe” because different manufacturers use different materials and they all take different amounts of time to outgas.
I think if you are storing your breast milk in glass, it would be unlikely plastic emissions from the interior of the refrigerator would get into the milk if the bottle were well sealed.
Diapering
Question from citigirl
Hi Debra, I’m researching cloth diapering and am overwhelmed. Clearly the best option is cotton diapers with a wool cover, but wool is expensive, needs extra care, isn’t good for long car rides, and is not so friendly for babysitters, daycare, etc. The all-in-ones or pockets are more like disposables but all have PUL.
I read your old post mentioning that diaper covers could be made from polyethylene. I can’t find any that are, though.
If it’s between “green” disposables like Nature Babycare vs. cloth with PUL covers, which is safer for my baby? For the purposes of this discussion I’m not concerned with the environmental impact, only the health impact.
Also, you mentioned in your Gdiapers post that they are made from a safer PUL. How do I know what other diapers might use that safer PUL? (I’ve tried Gdiapers and don’t like them.) Thanks!
Debra’s Answer
I couldn’t find a post of mine where I said diaper covers could be made from polyethylene.
Regarding the safer polyurethane, you would just need to ask if the PUL was MDI food grade polyurethane–that’s the safer one.
If your choice is between Nature Babycare and PUL covers, based on the Nature Babycare description, I would go with Nature Babycare. I don’t see anything toxic about the materials they are using, and their plastics are biodegradable.
Safe Exterior Paint
Question from JAR
I have severe MCS. We need to have the exterior of our house repainted. The original paint on the house is standard Benjamin Moore oil-based with biocides. We live in Southeast Texas, where it’s very humid. Can you help us find a paint that will be safe and that will work on top of the original paint?
If we have to order paint, how can we see and make a decision about color?
Thanks, JAR
Debra’s Answer
Readers, what exterior paints have you used and like for people with severe MCS?
As for colors, you can get color swatches, but I would also get a small sample of the paint to test before you commit to many gallons to paint the entire house.
The Natural Sleep Store
Mattresses made from natural latex covered encased in organic cotton and organic wool. Choice of firmness, thickness, cover (quilted or unquilted), and sizes from crib to king. Also wood slat foundations. Natural and organic bedding includes simple undyed organic cotton sheets, pillows, comforters and blankets, mattress pads, bed skirts, duvet covers, and shams.
