Question from vlavianos

Several weeks ago I started using Secret stick antiperspirant/deodorant in their unfragranced formula. I noticed that it was leaving a residue on my armpits. I stopped using it and any other deodorant, have been showering daily with unscented goat’s milk soap, but after more than 2 weeks the residue remains. Yesterday I tried white vinegar on a wash cloth, but no luck. Any suggestions?

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from Annette Tweedel

Hi,

I have MCS and I cannot tolerate air fresheners or candles at all. I also just recently found out on the internet that air freshener plug-ins like glade cause fires. I have looked on the packages in the stores and they don’t give ingredients. I had to google to get my information about how dangerous they are and to get the ingredients. They deaden your sense of smell. My neighbor has a reedifuser(I don’t think I spelled it correctly) and it affected me. So I went on the internet to do research on it and found out it has alcohol in it. And that is not safe or healthy. I am not trying to put down anyone, I am just trying to give some information. I cannot seem to go anywhere, almost, without someone having some sort or air freshener, whether it is a plug-in, one that sits on a shelf or a wall mount. The information that I got off the internet about air fresheners is that they cause sinus problems, infertility, miscarriages, cancer and other health problems. I am sorry, but I would not recommend anyone using an air freshener unless you know for sure that there are no chemicals in it.

Well, I think that’s all I have to say. I hope I did not offend anyone. But it does make me mad when someone wants to use an air freshener. If you have a smell in your house or business, found out what the problem is, get rid of it and then clean up the place, then open the windows and let Gods fresh air in.

One last note, Debra, I love your website. It is full of fantastic information. Thank you so much.

Debra’s Answer

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Question from Jennifer

I am moving my son from his crib into a twin sized bed and am looking for a compromise between the chemical-laden conventional mattresses and the pricey organic ones. Any suggestions? I really can only spend around $200. I would also consider a topper for a conventional mattress if you think that would be a good compromise. Thank you so much for any ideas!!

Debra’s Answer

I suggest White Lotus Home. This link goes to the Babies & Kids page on Debra’s List, which says they have crib mattresses, but they also have mattresses suitable for kids.

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Question from Laure

Have you had any experience with Hoh’s light-weight, truly round-bottomed cast iron wok that is supposed to sit ok on most gas stoves even without a ring? Or with the flavors of foods in woks make of different materials?

I’m wondering if this wok would be a good addition to my kitchen, because I miss my stir fries (I made almost everything in a steel wok on a ring on a gas stove in college) but have been less than satisfied with the flat bottomed steel ones I’ve used since then on non-gas stoves. Now I have a gas stove but a ring won’t sit on the square slots properly.

If I want to get back to round-bottomed wok cooking, my choices are:

Try her cast iron wok on my gas stove, OR
Get a propane stove that accepts a round-bottomed wok (she sells one) and use it with the round-bottomed wok of my choice, whether carbon steel or cast iron.

Hoh’s website says that food in cast iron tastes better, and that round bottomed woks that are nice and wide make it easier to control temps on different foods within the same pot and that less oil is needed in a round bottomed wok.

Input? Opinions?

Debra’s Answer

I personally have no experience with this particular wok. I have no objection in general to using cast iron.

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Question from Wild4Nature

I am installing a bamboo floor over my hydronic (heated) floors. The flooring company uses FloorMuffler padding which contains polyethylene and polypropylene resins and carbonylamine of azo. Will these give off toxic fumes when heated (to approx. 72 degrees) by my underfloor heating system.

Debra’s Answer

Both polyethylene and polypropylene have relatively low toxicity as far as plastics go, however, heat will always increase the offgassing of soft plastics.

I don’t anticipate this would be a big problem. If it were me, however, I wouldn’t put anything that could outgas on a heated floor. I would only put ceramic or porcelain tile or stone on a heated floor. When these materials are heated, there is no outgassing, and they hold the heat. That’s just my level of precaution.

I’ve never had heated floors myself, but it seems to me to put a wood floor over them kind of defeats the purpose, as wouldn’t the wood not hold the heat well?

All that said, if the temperature is only 72 degrees, that’s basically room temperature, and I don’t see that the outgassing would be any greater than having these materials in any room.

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www.re-nest.com/re-nest/news/canada-has-banned-bpa-morning-news-125777

Will America be next?