Question from Sadie

I use my dishwasher about once a week with natural products to clean, but not a rinse aid. The Ecover dishsoap tablets I recently bought recommend using one. I was wondering if I can use vinegar or if it would damage it. Any suggestions? I see Ecover makes one.

Debra’s Answer

I don’t have any personal experience with this, as I don’t have a dishwasher (actually, I do..his name is Larry).

Readers?

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Question from YH

How do you know if a textile is permanent press or rayon? They seem similar to me. Does rayon emit formaldehyde?

Debra’s Answer

Permanent press is a finish and rayon is a fabric.

Rayon is made from natural cellulose and chemicals. It usually doesn’t have a formaldehyde finish. It is noted on the fabric content tag sewn into the garment.

That a fabric has a permanent press finish is usually stated on the label of cotton fabrics. However, all polyester/cotton blend fabrics have this finish and it is not on the label.

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Question from YH

Does steam cleaning makes the carpet outgas even more? I think hot temperature makes plastic outgas, right?

Debra’s Answer

Hot temperature does make plastic outgas more, however, steam cleaning is the best way to clean a carpet. It would only outgas more while you are cleaning it, and it would be a negligible amount.

Again, best to not have carpets.

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Question from Rita

Hi Debra,

My husband and I live in New York City and find ourselves ordering takeout all the time. The piping hot food often arrives in plastic containers. Should we be concerned about the plastic leaching into the food?

Many thanks,

Rita

Debra’s Answer

YES. It depends on the type of container. Styrofoam is the worst.

Heat in general makes plastic outgas. Hot food really makes it leach.

If you are putting leftovers in plastic containers, you should always wait until the food cools.

See if you can find out what types of plastics are used in the take-out containers you most frequently get. Then at least you will know what you are eating and can look for better alternatives.

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Question from Ruth Ruddock

Recently the Landlady in my building said she was having the hall carpets professionally cleaned…I requested that they not use fragrance if possible. She said that they were going to use a dry method and she explained my issue to the man who will provide the cleaning. I am hoping for the best, since I am having so many flare-ups of MCS symptoms lately as it is. Does anyone have ideas for safer cleaning products for carpets? I have used baking soda sprinkled and then vacuum it up, in the past, but it took a ton of baking soda to do the whole carpet!

Thanks!

Ruth/Wisc.

Debra’s Answer

It works very well to simply steam clean the carpet using a “rug doctor” type machine without the rug shampoo.

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Question from Marcia

Here is an excellent article on what cars are more toxic than others – regarding the various materials they used in different cars that are rated: it’s Toxic Cars: Is your car making you sick?.

Marcia California USA

Debra’s Answer

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Question from Melissa

I have successfully used Oxyclean laundry spray for years with no reaction. Today I used a new bottle and the fragrance was so overpowering that I had to rewash the entire load. I called the company and the customer service rep told me that she was unaware of a change in the formula. I am positive it’s different. Has anyone else encountered this situation? Apparently Oxyclean makes a baby version that’s fragrance free and colorless, but it’s hard to find. Does anyone know of a similar product in a spray?

Debra’s Answer

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Question from nelly

Hello,

Does anyone have any first hand experience w/ the Gaia Hotel in Napa, or any of the “eco friendly” hotels in the San Francisco Bay area?

www.gaianapavalleyhotel.com

Thanks

Debra’s Answer

I’ve stayed at the Hotel Triton in San Francisco, which says it is green, but the best one I’ve found in San Francisco is the Orchard Garden Hotel. I had a long talk with the manager and have stayed there several times. I took pages and pages of notes of all the sustainable things they did there.

If you stay at the Orchard Garden, make sure to get a room on the street side. They are beautiful and bright with big windows. The back side rooms are dark and smaller.

A couple of years ago when I went to a conference, I went around and checked out all the “green” hotels on their list. Some were not at all green. The Orchard Garden is really the best. Organic food in the restaurant too.

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Question from P

I must admit. I’ve been looking like a bit scruffy lately, but I refuse to use toxic makeups and threw mine all away this year when I learned the dangers. I have been frustrated b/c even the natural makeups have stuff that I can’t pronounce. I’m just wary of everything at this point!

Online I found a few sites with DYI makeup, and figured out that beet juice is a colorant used in some industrial makeups. In a tiny jar I mixed beet juice with cornstarch until it reached a firm consistency. Let it dry overnight. It now is just as packed and caked down as regular blush in my little jar. I can sweep my brush over it, and it looks very natural on. It dyes my cheeks for a good while.

The big bottle of beet juice cost 3.50, and the cornstarch cost 1.50, for a grand total of $5. And this is enough to make it for everyone I know, and still have leftovers. Stocking stuffers, here I come! I am super excited, and wanted to share with you, Debra and any other of us girls reading!

Debra’s Answer

Thank you! Feel free to post more DIY makeups as you discover them.

I’ve found that you can just rub a cut beet on your lips for a nice red…

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Question from YH

Most houses around where I live have carpet. It is really hard to find houses that have hardwood floor. I am looking for a 4-month sublet, and was wondering if it is worth it to remove carpet for 4 months and then put it back. Can I do it all by myself? How much time does it take to pull out the carpet, and then put it back? If it is cement underneath, will it get very cold in the winter? I live in Michigan. Will the carpet be damaged while I do that? I want to preserve it so that I can install it back.

My current lease in a house that has carpet even in the bathroom and kitchen end in 2 months. Do you think it is worth it to put carpet seal just to use the carpet for 2 more months? It says on the website that I have to use carpet shampoo before using the carpet seal, and I thought that it is a lot of work, so I didn’t buy the carpet seal. Also, there are lots of things on the floor in my room. I didn’t want to move anything to put the carpet seal on. Or can I just put the seal on areas where I am not putting anything on?

If I move to a house that has hardwood floor, would it be safer to put a layer of natural linoleum on top to make sure that it is less toxic? If you recommend so, I will do that.

Debra’s Answer

I wouldn’t remove a carpet from a sublet or short term lease and expect to reinstall it. I did remove carpet from a rental once, but it was an old carpet, I had a 2 year lease and I promised to pay for the reinstallation. When we moved out, however, the landlord didn’t charge me anything because he decided to install a new carpet.

I advise you to use the AFM Carpet Seal on any of these carpets. But you need to move everything out of the room and apply it to the whole carpet.

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