Question from Dana

Hi all,

I’m wondering if any of you have tried the Nikken magnetic products for air and water purification (as well as general health). I’m wondering (A) if the “magnetics” theory holds any water at all, and (B) if it does, are the products so far superior to traditional air and water systems that they’re worth the hefty price?

Thanks for any feedback you have!

Dana

Debra’s Answer

I haven’t studied all their products in-depth (and their online catalog is very difficult to read), but specifically, magnets alone do not remove air or water pollutants.

My father was very interested in magnets for health and used to carry a couple magnets around in his pocket, but I think the question of magnets for health is entirely separate from Nikken products.

Readers, any comments on either Nikken products or magnets?

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Question from Judith

Is it safe to cook in chipped Visions Cookware? A few of my pots became chipped from vigorous cleaning on the inside when I cleaned off burned food. As much as I like this cookware, it does require vigilant survelliance.

Debra’s Answer

Visions is the same material through and through, so chipped Visions would be the same as unchipped Visions.

I should mention, though, that many people have reported safety issues with Visions shattering during use, though I have been using this cookware with no problems for more than twenty years.

My personal opinion on this is that risks and benefits need to be considered. Most people drive cars, for example, and walk across streets, even though people are killed in car accidents regularly.

I consider that the likelihood of my old Visions cookware shattering is less than the health danger of using cookware made from more toxic materials.

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Question from val

We had some water damage in our laundry room and today, the walls were repaired and painted. Unfortunately, they painted with Cloverdale Premium Eggshell – not VOC free. It does say on the can “VOC’s – less than 150 grams/litre”. I have 2 questions: 1. I don’t know if that is a worrying concentration. 2. Is there a way of correcting this, for example, if I paint over it with low VOC paint, will the VOC paint underneath continue to off gas. The painted area is roughly 10ftX10ft. Thanks.

Debra’s Answer

California’s standard for VOCs–the toughest indoor air quality standard in the United States–is 250 g/L, so your 150 g/L could be considered “low VOC.”

Are you having problems with odors? I’m not sure you need to do anything. VOCs are very volatile and outgas quickly. If anything, I would heat the room to speed outgassing rather than putting another paint over it.

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Question from Cheryl

Hi all,

I have a tough time battling weeds here in sunny, moist Florida and mulch with tons of compost, but the weeds still poke through eventually. I was wondering if a product sold by Gardeners’ Supply Co. would be helpful. It is Coco Fiber Edging which is recycled coconut fibers bonded with natural latex rubber. Is this non toxic? Thanks for any info or advice.

Debra’s Answer

I’ve not used this product, but it seems fine to me.

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Question from fwm

I have discovered that I am sensative to Formaldehyde and probably other indoor irritants. This was verified when I bought a dining table and found that it was manufactured in Viet Nam and was made with MDF. It is currently in the son’s studio with the chairs I bought degassing. (He doesn’t live at home anymore so it’s storage now.)

My husband works for an Industrial HVAC company and has ordered a Genesis Air Photocatalysis unit from his parts department. It was recommended by his in-house new equipment salesman.

Does anyone have experience with this unit for Formaldehyde removal? It’s $ 1,000.00 so I hope it works.

Thank you.

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from Julie Burns

I am interested in purchasing a tagine for Moroccan cooking, and am wondering if anyone has purchased any brands they recommend and have tested them for lead?

Thanks!

Julie

Debra’s Answer

Ah…I love tangines. I have one I purchased many years ago in Germany that was handmade, so I don’t know any brands to recommend.

Readers?

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Question from Texas Cook

I have tried to rid my kitchen of as much stainless steel as possible. I am learning patience when it comes to boiling my water with a Visionware glass pot and I have just now learned the secret to great non-sticking eggs in the cast iron skillet. My next big hurdle is the fact that I have always wanted a KitchenAid mixer. We now have the money to splurge on one and I find myself not wanting the metal mixing bowl. Is there such a thing as a KitchenAid with a different type of bowl? Is it okay to mix in this bowl as long as you do not leave the food in it after mixing? What about the metal wisk and dough hooks?

Thank you, Debra, for your Q and A blog. I continue to learn so much from it!

Debra’s Answer

Well, aren’t you lucky. KitchenAid 90th Anniversary Limited-Edition 5-Quart Stand Mixer comes with a glass bowl with a handle.

For those of us who want to replace our stainless steel bowls, the glass bowl will be available as a replacement bowl in 2010. I’ll be getting one for my KitchenAid.

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Question from Susan Spann

My dog needs a good multivitamin high in iron and fiber. But the one the vet sells is too expensive whilst the one we purchased at another chain store makes me sneeze. I have multiple allergies-food, environmental, contact and chemical! Are there animal vitamins without yeast, wheat, dairy or whatever is causing my sneezing fits in them? Thank you!

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from Clare

This may be too late to be of help to the person who asked this question back in 2007, but it might help others who are still wondering about Bon Ami. I too have noticed, in the past 3 – 4 years, an odor coming from Bon Ami; it seemed to be a chemical/perfumy smell (I am chemically sensitive, so this was quite disturbing), so I checked the ingredients and went on the website to see if anything had changed – but there was no indication of any change in contents.

I did finally discover the source of the smell. It’s from perfume chemicals(specifically, from the detergent aisle where it’s usually located) in whatever store the Bon Ami is sold in; the very active molecules of the chemical perfumes are absorbed quite readily through the paper seal on top of the canister and then into the powder; it may even get through the cardboard that the canister is made of, but the absorption through the top is more than enough to contaminate the product. I’ve found this problem in nearly every grocery store that I’ve shopped in, even health food stores (from scented candles & soaps). The fragrance chemicals are absorbed and/or coat everything that’s in the same space, including produce (so much for buying organic!)

My solution is to purchase as much as I can from online or order in bulk; I’ve recently found Bon Ami for $1.17 each, or $13.99 for 12, from Ace Hardware, although it remains to be seen (or rather, smelled!) whether or not it is odor-free.

Hope this helps someone!

Debra’s Answer

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Question from Denise Cueba

I’m looking to buy a bed for my 70 lb. German Shepherd. I was hoping to find something organic but my main concern is that it does not have anything toxic in it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Debra’s Answer

I would choose a pet bed with an organic cotton cover and natural fiber fill.

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