Question from jiwaskow

Need help with this one! I react to treated wood and even to redwood, so we’re at a loss for what to use at the bottom of our stud walls between the wood studs and the concrete.

Code requires treated sill plates or redwood. I can get around that with a letter, but wonder if I should use regular wood over a piece of vapor barrier that would wrap up the sides of the stud (so it would go up 1 1/2 inches on each side of every piece of wood). These vapor barrier pieces would be between the wood and the concrete.

Or what about a steel track system? Would that conduct enough moisture from the curing concrete to run up the untreated wood and create a problem?

Any help appreciated – this is a tough one right now! They are waiting for an answer for me…

Debra’s Answer

Readers? Any experience with this?

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Question from June Nolen

Every time I go into a store, any store, my hair picks up fragrances from the store and it’s patrons. I’ve tried to remove it with fragrance free shampoo, vinegar and baking soda. Even after washing for 8 to 10 times the fragrance is still there. Any suggestions out there besides shaving my head or wearing a wig? The hair I have left is taking a real beating!

Debra’s Answer

Try EnviroKlenz Hand Soap and Deodorizer.

It’s a liquid Castile soap that utilizes the EnviroKlenz patented earth mineral technology to neutralize the odors at the source without the use of masking agents of fragrances.

Question from kmilbrett

Hello,

I know that the Cuisinart Green Gourmet line contains nonstick, nontoxic skillets. Are the KitchenAid and Calphalon anodized aluminum nonstick pans also nontoxic?

Thank you.

🙂

Debra’s Answer

Anodized aluminum pans are safe. Anodized means that the aluminum was dipped into a hot acid bath that seals the aluminum by changing it’s molecular structure. Once anodized, the aluminum will not leach into the food.

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Question from Mrs. Chris

Five years ago,we had a new tile floor installed and used a water-based sealant on the grout. We were told to clean it with trisodium phosphate (which apparently is safe) and reseal it every year or two. It is a huge job (600+ square feet) which we have not done (and entails applying sealant with a little paint brush on hands and knees).

So now we are looking into having the floor professionally cleaned. The company, whose rep came today, would also reseal the grout and uses DuPont “Stonetech Pro.” The information online tells me it is nothing we’d personally want to install, but I wonder if it would be non-toxic once it off-gasses.

The only reason we’d consider such a product is to provide an effective seal on the grout. The grout has always seemed a bit porous, even after using the water-based product and has become discolored over the years.

Suggestions?

Debra’s Answer

Any grout sealer will become inert over time, how long that might take and how the fumes might permeate your home and body in the meanwhile is not something I would want to experience. You could close up the room and use heat to speed the process if you want to go that route.

If you are having the work professionally done, it’s been my experience that you need to use the products the company provides, or they cannot guarantee the results. Ask them if they can use a less toxic grout sealer.

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Question from singing tomato

Hi Debra 🙂

we are moving to a new house in about 2 weeks. The previous tenants will leave in about 2 weeks. We saw the house and it needs painting, we decided to use a no VOC paint but I need something without chemicals. Do you have any recommendations?

We have a 12 month old baby, when should we move in the house after the painting work is done? Are 2 weeks ok?

In your opinion is it better to not paint the house and leave it as it is because of the time frame?

I am worried because the house was quite dirty, but it has an older carpet 🙂 Thank you very much 🙂

Debra’s Answer

No VOC paint without chemicals.

Let’s straighten out the terminology first

No VOC paint is pain that is made from petrochemicals but does not contain Volatile Organic Chemicals.

There are paints made from natural materials that also do not have VOCs, but are not called “no VOC.”

The safest flat wall paint that I know of is Safe Paint by the Old-Fashioned Milk Paint Company. It is especially formulated for walls and is safe for children. If you use this paint, you could move in within a few days.

If you use a standard no VOC paint, you could speed the drying time by closing up the house and turning up the heat. A few days should do it, then air it out before you move in.

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Question from svw

Hi Debra, Was wondering if anyone has used Mystical by Nirvana Safe Haven to lift out fumes from vinyl and fabric in cars? Is it better than zeolite for fumes? Thanks svw

Debra’s Answer

Readers? Anyone have experience with this?

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Question from tthomson

What is your thinking on gas cooktops, vs. electric?

Debra’s Answer

I have a gas stove myself because I prefer the heat control I can achieve with a gas flame.

There are disadvantages to each.

Gas can give off toxic fumes from the gas itself if there is a leak, and also can produce toxic combustion by-products. The fix is to have your stove checked for leaks, and control combustion by-products by having your stove adjusted correctly so the flame is burning well, and also use a hood vent or other ventilation to remove combustion by-products before they spread throughout your home.

Electric can produce electromagnetic fields.

Short of adopting a raw food diet, you’ll need to choose the lesser of evils.

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Question from tthomson

We are renovating our house in upstate new york. My husband is an electrician and planned to use PVC pipe. Is this safe? We cannot seem to find an appropriate substitution for a residence.

Debra’s Answer

PVC pipe is a hard vinyl plastic. Hard plastics outgas less than soft plastics and since it would be in a wall, you would get very little outgassing, if any.

It’s not a good idea to use PVC pipe for incoming water, as it can leach into water with which it has contact.

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From Environmental Working Group:

Halloween is spooky enough without having to worry about the toxins in your decorations and costumes. That’s why we’ve created a simple tip sheet to help you have a greener, safer holiday this year.

Take a look at Tips to Green Your Halloween.