Art | Resources
Alternative To Plastic Garbage Bags
Question from JG
What would you recommend for a green garbage bag? Could you try to demystify the different materials used in the biodegradable ones?
Judi – Vermont
Debra’s Answer
There are two kinds of “biodegradable plastic” bags.
One is made from polyolefin or polyethylene (a petrochemical plastic made from nonrenewable crude oil), which has been modified with an additive that accelerates the breakdown of the plastic into fragments of “organic carbon” that can be processed by microorganisms in an ecosystem. The problem with plastic is not that it doesn’t break down, but that it can take 1000 years to do so. The additive causes the modified plastic to degrade in predictable and controllable timeframes. Landfill trials for showed that one brand lost more than 95% of its molecular weight in less than 10 months.
The other type of plastic is a bioplastic made from renewable resources such as corn, potatoes or wheat. These generally degrade at least 90% within 180 days or less when composting conditions (including heat, moisture, and aeration) are present. Such bioplastics include Polycaprolactone (PCL), Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and Polylactic acid (PLA).
There are pros and cons to each.
The petrochemical plastic with additive is cheaper to produce and look, act and perform just like their non-degradable counterparts. But they are made using fossil fuels (which contribute to global warming through the release of carbon dioxide).
Bioplastics have poor strength–when used to store vegetables or filled with wet leaves and set out for trash pickup, they can begin to biodegrade and fall apart. So these are great for bringing produce home, but not for storage. They also may become defective from conditions during shipping and sitting on the shelf.
Exterminator Recommendation
Question from Laura
Hello-
I’ve recently begun to have some bugs in my kitchen. Instead of using a Terminax type company, I wonder if there are any green friendly services to exterminate these bugs.
Much thanks in advance!
-Laura
Debra’s Answer
I’m not aware of any national chains. But I do know that some areas have independent pest control companies that use less toxic methods. We even have one here in Clearwater, Florida.
Ask around at your local natural food store, local nurseries, or in a local guide to green businesses.
Also, just look at the ads in the Yellow Pages. I have seen alternative pest control services advertised there.
Is Persil laundry detergent green?
Question from MJ
We’ve been looking all over the web all evening trying to find any kind of review of Persil laundry detergents and their ingredients without luck. We’re looking for the best detergent to use with a new Miele front-loading washer, while also minimizing impacts on our own health and on the environment.
To their credit, the manufacturers of Persil list their ingredients on the package. Looking for an MSDS sheet for the detergents has been difficult, and researching the listed ingredients leads to some bewildering yet interesting chemical notations. Here is what is listed on the package:
If anyone can comment on the natural and non-toxic attributes of Persil laundry detergents, we would be very much obliged.
Debra’s Answer
The problem is that there is little information on the sources of these ingredients, being renewable from plants or nonrenewable fossil fuels. Also no information on biodegradability. Zeolite is a natural mineral, enzymes are natural, fragrance looks to be artificial.
Check Debra’s List: Cleaning: Laundry for recommended brands.
Clean House, Clean Planet
Question from Chiq
I have been looking very carefully into alternative household cleaning products and wanted to know if anyone has any feedback on the book Clean House, Clean Planet by Karen Logan. For example, do the ideas/products work effectively, is it really cost effective, etc. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
thanks,
Chiq
Debra’s Answer
I personally don’t have a copy of this book and haven’t read it. Readers?
Removing Perc from previously dry cleaned clothes
Question from cold canary in the coal
My “new” used coat came to me with a strong toxic chemical smell. It smells like a very sweet fragrance, but has a much more intense component to it than any other scented item I’ve had to deal with. The coat is a fake suede/sherpa made from polyester, I believe. The label says it’s dry clean only, so I suspect part of what I’m smelling is perc.
I had immediate symptoms from the exposure to the coat, which was similar to my reactions to toluene, which is common in fragrances, but there was a different quality to it. It seems to volatilize off the fabric with more noticeable particles, and felt stickier, like dryer sheets (but much stronger even). It impacted my brain similarly as well, but wasn’t as heavy as toluene, which makes me feel like there’s a heavy cold blanket pressing down on my brain. This made me feel more dizzy, lighter, but with the same weakness in my knees. I had shortness of breath for quite a while longer after a relatively much shorter exposure than with toluene, accompanied with nausea. The most dramatic difference was that the smell travelled through two layers of plastic trash bags, over a period of a few days, which the smell from clothes with toluene based fragrances doesn’t.
It might seem crazy even to suggest that this coat should not be immediately taken to a hazardous waste site, but I’m poor and cold, and because I’m chemically injured and severely sensitized, have tremendous difficulty finding clothes that don’t make me ill, so everything I wear has to be decontaminated first. I usually have to wash second hand clothes at least a dozen or two times in massive amounts of baking soda and borax and vinegar. New clothes also have to be washed repeatedly. And I simply can’t afford to buy organic clothes, which sometimes require just as much decontamination.
Sooooo, I wonder if there’s anything that works to get this horrible toxic substance out of the thick fabric of my coat? I’ve already taken it to a CO2 cleaner and they seem to have reduced it slightly. I’ve thought of hanging it out on the roof for a while, throw it in a dryer on cold air for a few hours, and dump it in more layers of plastic with a few pounds of baking soda and borax and leave it in there for a few weeks, shaking it occasionally. I’m not sure how safe it is to soak the coat in water, and am concerned about prolonged exposure, but have thought of hosing it down for a long period of time with a garden hose, then let it dry in place. Am I delusional in thinking that I will ever be able to wear this coat, or is there any chance I can get the perc out?
Debra’s Answer
I would suggest taking the coat to the hazardous waste site, however, I understand your predicament.
My understanding about perc is that it is a volatile organic chemical which will dissipate within a few days if left out to air. So I’m not sure whatever you are smelling is perc.
Readers, any suggestions?
Spilled Window Cleaner On Beige Rug
Question from elizabeth shipley
I spilled a little of a Windex kind of window cleaner on a beige rug about the size of a dime. I tried a mixture of 1 part white vinegar to 10 parts water. It’s still there. Any suggestions?
Thanks
elizabeth shipley
Debra’s Answer
I don’t know the answer to this, but manufacturers of products know how to remove their products from various surfaces and materials. You can always contact them.
Pacifiers
Question from Kristen
Hello Debra and readers,
I have been shopping for a safe pacifier for months. According to my research, there are non that are safe. Many of the pacifier shilds are made of polycarbonate/plastic #7 or a combination of #7 and #5. Some silicon nipples even contain arsenic. Any suggestions?
Debra’s Answer
Moms, what do you suggest?
Most energy efficient stereo?
Question from Mary
Hi Debra Lynn, and thanks for having this site.
I’m living in rural cabin, completely off grid w/ solar power — great in summer, iffy in winter. This winter I’ve had very little music or radio in my life, as I don’t have the power to run my old stereo, even when plugged into a power bar so I can shut it off when not using. Then the radio quit. So I got a used stereo that used low power (Magnovox) at Goodwill, but it only lasted a couple months before the CD player quit.
Well, I’m ready to do my part for the flailing economy. I plan to go out and buy a spanking new stereo (keeping old but good speakers, of course). I’m looking for the MOST energy efficient stereo available, that’s decent quality and will last a good long time. Can you please recommend one or two? I’m having no luck so far, the little boys running electronic stores look at me like I just landed from Mars.
And any tips for disposing of two crippled old stereos, electronic waste at this point?
thanks,
Mary
Debra’s Answer
Energy Star has addressed this question at Energy Star: Home Audio.
Stainless Steel Canteens
Question from Stephanie
Recently I have noticed a flood of Stainless Steel Canteens on the market as potential replacements for plastic water bottles.
My question is whether Stainless Steel Canteens are safe to use with water filtered via reverse osmosis.
I know that the reverse osmosis process creates very pure water, which can cause copper to leak out of copper pipes, which is why they use plastic tubing with the installation vs. the standard copper pipe.
Does reverse osmosis water interact with stainless steel to cause any leaching into the drinking water?
I would love to use the stainless steel canteen product, I just need to know it is safe before I do so.
Debra’s Answer
I don’t know the answer to this, but let’s see if someone else does. Good question.
Cleaning old wood furniture
Question from Tory
I just bought a second hand head board for my bed. It reeks of perfumes, which is the main trigger for my MCS. What do you recommend for cleaning such things? This is made of wood. In the past, I have left things outsided for many months to “outgas.” But, I don’t want to hurt the wood.
Tory in CO
Debra’s Answer
I’d still go with airing it out in the sun, or applying heat in some way.
Readers, your suggestions?
