Question from Pamela

I removed wallpaper in a home we just purchased. Underneath the paper is black mold. How do I treat this safely?

Debra’s Answer

Mold is not an easy problem to solve, since there are different types of mold which are more or less toxic. I suggest taking a look at Q&A: Crawlspace and Mold for some suggestions.

Also, read about the decisions I made in cleaning up mold in my home at At Home With Debra: Bau-Biologie: Humidity, Moisture, and Mold and At Home With Debra: Bau-Biologie: Mold Inspection and Remediation.

At the very least, I would have two professional mold remdiation inspectors come out and tell you what kind of mold it is and if it poses a danger to remove it yourself. Mold has to be handled carefully and correctly.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also has a good website about mold: A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home that gives mold basics, guidelines for cleanup, how to reduce humidty and prevent condensation, testing for mold, and other helpful information concerning mold.

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Question from R.M.

Something I’ve wondered about and which I’m hoping you can shed some light on:

It’s my understanding that aerosol spray cans were targetted several years ago as a key culprit in the ozone layer depletion. And yet, they are still very much in use. Am I incorrect in my understanding of their impact on the environment? Was the technology changed? Or was nothing done despite their environmental impact?

I avoid aerosol cans as much as possible (almost 100% of the time) but would like to know more about this.

Debra’s Answer

The EPA banned the use of CFC propellants in 1978. An exception was made for some asthma inhalers, but even they will be CFC-free by December 31, 2008.

Here are a couple of links to explore for more answers to your question.

Aerosols and the Environment has more information on CFCs and recycling aerosol cans.

How Aerosol Cans Work shows how aerosol cans are made.

Even though today’s aerosol cans for the most part do not contain CFCs, the liquid gas that acts as a propellant is still a petrochemical, and mixes with the substance being propelled. Many propellant gasses are also flammable, posing yet another danger.

Even if you use an “environmentally-friendly” propellent, aerosols produce a very fine mist, which makes whatever you are propelling more easily absorbed by eyes and lungs.

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Question from Susan

Well, I’ve decided to go ahead and purchase the Swiffer wetjet…for reasons that are too long to list, but they include 2 teens and one elem, 2 dogs, 1 cat, cabinetmaker husband and wife with fulltime job outside house and PT inside house (I make the kids clean the bathrooms and do their own laundry–except for the youngest). Does anyone have an alternative to the solution? I’ve thought about reusing the bottle after cleansing and just put in Debra’s basic cleaning solution.

Any other suggestions?

Debra’s Answer

This may sound old-fashioned, but I’m a little puzzled about why one would buy a Swiffer. Does it clean better? faster? I’m satisfied with my vacuum and broom and mop.

I’m imagining that you could refill the dispenser with any cleaner you choose.

Readers, any suggestions? (or health or environmental comments pro or con on Swiffer?)

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Question from Deb H.

I am slowly trying to eliminate plastics in my house. I noticed from your blog on “how I do laundry”, you use wooden clothes hangers. I was wondering where you get them, do you look for untreated wood, are they stained, polyureathaned or raw, and about how much do they cost. I know replacing my plastic hangers will cost but I don’t want to bring anything else toxic into the house.

Thank you for all your helpful info.

Debra’s Answer

I’ve purchased wooden clothes hangers at a variety of stores like IKEA, Bed Bath & Beyond, Linens ‘n Things, Target, etc. They are not hard to find. They are not sustainably harvested and do have a nontoxic finish on them. I’ve never purchased any that had an odor.

You can easily buy them online if you don’t find them in your local stores.

Question from Denise

is it ok to cook on anodized aluminum. i have a whole set a calphalon, but i am concerned about using them with my chemically sensitive daughter. thanks

Debra’s Answer

Most aluminum cookware manufactured today is anodized. When a cookware label says it is made from anodized aluminum, it 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 food, and so would not contribute to aluminum exposure. Anodized cookware is safe.

There are several posts with more discussion about anaodized aluminum. Click on the large purple “Search” button near the top of the right hand column of any page of my website and enter “anodized” for links to the other posts.

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Question from Evelyn K

I got some unfinished pine shelves and used Minwax finish from the hardware store to finish them. I didn’t realize there are less toxic options… and for some reason I didn’t think about off-gassing before I did it. My living room looks great, but I have been running a fan in there with the windows open for a week and I can still distinctly smell the odor of the finish. The living room connects to the kitchen and the hallway without doors, so closing it up and heating it may be difficult- possible if I hang a curtain over the hall entry I suppose. What are my options for removing this smell?

Debra’s Answer

You don’t say if it is oil-based or water-based finish. Oil-based will take longer to cure.

I suggest putting them out in the sun. The heat will help them dry and cure faster.

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Question from Linda

i’ve had this problem for years – computers break when i use them. apple has replaced 2 laptops and 1 ipod for me because they couldn’t repair my brand new machines, my imac’s continually squirrely, and windows applications and programs often freeze or otherwise freak out when i am using them. someone else can step in right after me and have no problems at all. the worst part – i love the technology and all it entails.

this truly is not a complaint that’s masking an inablilty to learn & problem-solve.

i first was suspicious of this problem when in a ‘technology in education’ masters degree program during which we all worked simultaneously on our own laptops & i was the only one who often couldn’t maintain my data, link properly to the server, use certain aspects in a program, etc. these issues happened with my computer, its replacement, and those i borrowed.

anyway, i started having hurt feelings(!)and a bit of paranoia. have hesitated loading my replacement ipod for fear of messing it up….

is my personal electricity causing this? how do i adjust it?

i’ve tried visualizing a buffer surrounding me when sitting at the computer. no luck. someone recommended wearing purple ribbons on my wrists.

Debra’s Answer

I have heard of this with other people and have experienced it myself.

One day things went wrong with all my electronics, so I just gave up and went shopping. I walked into a Radio Shack store and all their electronics started going haywire too!

Our bodies certainly have their own electromagnetic fields which can affect the electrical and magnetic fields around us just as the electrical and magnetic fields around us can affect our bodies. Fortuneately for me, this doesn’t happen with me very often!

Not sure what to recommend to you. Readers?

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Question from marilee

Does anybody have a recommendation on which brand of natural latex mattresses is better? They are both all natural latex but there is definitely a price difference.

Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from Wenwei

hello Debra,

I will move into a brand new house very soon. Can you advise what to do?

I remember that I saw a page in your website that you suggest to heat the house for 24 hours for three to five times. Somehow I couldn’t find it anymore.

Can you advise what is link if I remeber right?

Thanks.

Wenwei

Debra’s Answer

Ah. The post you are looking for is Q&A: Anything I should do before I move into my brand new home?

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Question from JC

Does anyone have a recipe for a good wood cleaner/polisher or is there a commercial product available?

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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