Question from Celestine

I am going toward a metal-free bed–now in the research phase.

The Shepherd’s Dream bed looks interesting! But I like comfort! I do have a featherbed, and that would help.

I looked on Overstock.com and found a 2-inch mattress topper that was alleged to be all natural latex, from Sri Lanka.

Judging from earlier comments on this blog, I know it would be hard to make a whole mattress with 100% natural latex–but maybe if it is only 2 inches it really IS all natural latex.

The company is E.C.O. Has anyone had experience with this or a similar product? Or with that company?

Does anyone have a Shepherd’s Dream bed that has been added to to make it more comfortable? I know they have the option of latex-covered slats, and I know that ISN”T all natural latex–but may not be a problem. (I’d rather not have chemical outgassing, not because I’d have an immediate reaction but because I want a green bed that comforts and heals!) I would be apt to get the latex slats, even if I had to let them breathe as Debra did.

Debra’s Answer

Here’s the thing about latex. Be VERY careful. It could be all natural latex and have toxic chemicals used to make it into foam. There needs to be more research done on this. A lot of people are allergic to the latex itself as well.

I have no experience with this particular company. Readers?

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Question from Christine Stewart

We are building a new house. I am agonizing over the bathtub selection. My husband and I would really like a cast iron tub, but they are quite expensive. We have been looking into getting an old one and having it refinished, but I’m not sure if the chemicals used to refinish them would leach into the bath water. The best option for refinishing would be to have it refired with new porcelein, but I haven’t found a company near us (Dallas, Texas).

If we can’t buy a new cast iron tub, would a fiberglass tub be less toxic than a refinished cast iron tub? Do acrylic tubs leach?

Yikes! After all this stress, I need a bath. Of course, not one filled with chemicals . . .

Debra’s Answer

Oh…I don’t like any of your alternatives to the cast iron.

Re refinishing the tub, check out the complaints at Q&A: Bathtub Resurfacing (it also has info on some less toxic products to use).

Fiberglass would be better than acrylic.

I really want a tub in my house. My husband has promised to build one for me. We’re going to build a frame and tile it.

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Question from Donna L

Are kids’ toys or room decor (signs, lamps, etc.) made out of aluminum safe?

Debra’s Answer

Solid aluminum does not offgas into the air, so it’s OK to look at. You just don’t want to cook food in aluminum or spray it in a mist under your arms (as in aluminum chlorohydrate antiperspirant).

Question from JimK

I enjoy reading books from India, but they often have a distinctive moldy smell. Most of them are stored in warehouses, and due to the Indian climate there is a lot of mold everywhere there. Can you think of a good way to get rid of mold on the books? There are often over a thousand pages in a volume, and so it’s not practical to go page by page.

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know a way to remove mold from books other than opening them page by page and putting them in the sun. Very slow method,

Readers, any ideas?

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Question from Katwoman1934@gmail.com

Can you tell me the most non toxic way to seal bare floors? I’m doing the floors of a playroom and I’m considering painting them with Mythic paint or just sealing and finishing them but all the sealers seem toxic. Can you tell me how it could be done non toxic.

Also – can you tell me how to search on your site. I couldn’t figure out how to do it.

Debra’s Answer

My favorite wood finish at the moment is Vermont Natural Coatings,

How to search on my site…there is a big purple SEARCH button near the top of the right hand column on every page. It is only good for the site you are on, so if you click on the button on Green LIving Q&A, it will search only Green Living Q&A. If you click on it on Debra’s List, it will only search Debra’s List. I’m working on having it search across the sites, but haven’t solved that yet.

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Question from Leesa

Hello All,

I need a non-toxic and effective way to clean suede!!! What do you recommend?

Thank you for your assistance!

Leesa Wheeler

Debra’s Answer

Readers? I don’t have any suede to clean, so what’s your experience with this?

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Question from niella

Do you know if it’s alright to use food grade grapeseed oil as a moisturizer or does it have to be cosmetic grade? Thank you.

Debra’s Answer

As far as I know, it’s OK to use oil sold for cooking on your skin. I use food-grade almond oil on my skin and know people who use coconut oil.

The most important thing, though, is that the oil is organic. Chemicals pass right through the skin into the bloodstream much faster than when they are ingested. When you eat an oil or a food, the pesticides in it have to go through the stomach and into the small intestine and past the food before they can be absorbed into the bloodstream. So it’s more important that anything you put on your skin be organic than it is to eat organic food.

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Question from Reenie

Does anyone have success in getting mice out of a car engine using a non toxic method?

I’ve read about strobe lights, high frequency sound, peppermint/spearmint oil, cedar chips, and wonder if others have tried these methods in getting mice out from under a car engine. My friend put some moth balls under her hood and in the trunk and now the interior of the car smells like moth balls. Thanks for any suggestions!

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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A friend of mine sent me this blog post that says adhesives are now being made from soy: Tofu ingredient used to create formaldehyde-free plywood glue.

At the end it says “Soy-based adhesives currently make up less than five percent of the wood adhesive market.” For me, that statement says the adhesive market is 5% full of soy adhesives, not 95% empty of them.

Columbia Forest Products has been leading the way in making wood products with their formaldehyde-free soy-based Pure Bond adhesive since 2005. I saw them at Home Depot the other day.

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