Question from Kelly

Debra,

A friend asked me last night about what to use to remove the mineral deposit build up around her kitchen faucets that are surrounded by granite. I see by other postings here that vinegar is not an option. Do you or your readers have any suggestions for a non-toxic way to remove this build up? I’m at a loss as soaking in vinegar has been my faithful way to do this on my porcelain sinks/tubs.

Thanks for the help.

Debra’s Answer

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Question from Linda

Help — a new hair stylist “forgot” my just-stated request for ‘no styling products’ and slathered my hair with a perfume-containing lotion. Thirteen hours and seven washes later I am still ill from the odor and moreso from the taste left in my mouth. Anyone have ideas on how to get this tenacious fragrance out of my hair — without hurting my hair or scalp any more than seven shampoos (with fragrance-free products of course).

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Question from Mary

In order to block out city and neighbor’s lights, I have hung cotton canvas drapes and a valance in the bedroom, and then attached two layers of fabric with safety pins. This arrangement is very heavy and bulky, so they don’t open very wide in the daytime, and then when it’s time to shake the dust out, I have to unpin and repin the layers to the draperies.

I’d like to find something easier to work with. If I have to pin something to the fabric, I’d like it to be only one layer. I am wondering about using barrier cloth. Would one layer block out light?

I have seen ads for drapes with an acrylic foam backing. I’m wondering how bad they smell and if I would need to wash them first. Is there anything else out there besides acrylic?

I live in an apartment, and I don’t particularly want to get involved with blinds. I would consider using a second set of curtains or drapes on a second rod, rather than two layers that are attached.

Debra’s Answer

I found some black cotton curtains at Target a couple of years ago. I think they still sell them. We get the morning sun in our bedroom, so use them in the morning if we want to sleep in. It doesn’t make the room pitch black, but does block a lot of the light.

I like your two sets of curtains idea. That’s what they do in hotels. You could use two sets of cotton or linen curtains.

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Question from shelley

Hi,

I had my basement painted with DRY-LOC waterproofing paint and I need to know how long to wait before bringing my parrots back into the house.

I am also having my ducts cleaned after removing molded paneling and floors down there before I run the furnace again.

Any experience and/or wisdom from avian experts out there? I want to be sure that I don’t hurt my flock.

Thanks,

Shelley

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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!

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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!

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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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Question from Laura

I am a MCS sufferer and for reasons beyond my control I live in a small town with alot of woodsmoke fumes, exhaust from the street we live on, and also formeldehyde fumes from the house itself. I want to find a good air purifier to get me through this until we can move.

I am looking at the Series 400 E.L.Foust

I think from what I’ve heard it has helped many.

I also saw some mention Aller Air . They have a dizzying array of models at hight costs. I would like to know if anyone with MCS has found Aller Air to be better than others or worse and if it compares with the Foust?

I also saw the Aireox purifiers but they are more for rooms and autos and I need a more extensive air purifier. I would like one of these for the car someday. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Debra’s Answer

Personally, I used the EL Foust 400 many years ago and it worked for me. Had one for my car too that plugged into the cigarette lighter.

Readers, what is your experience?

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Question from CA

Hi Debra and all, I know you have only been recommending the whole leaf stevia, but I saw Sweet Leaf brand which seemed the most natural of the commercial brands. The type I saw only contained stevia (or stevia extract) and inulin fiber. What do you think of this in terms of health safety? Is it close enough to a whole food? Thanks for your help.

Debra’s Answer

If it’s a white powder (I’ve never seen it), it’s just as refined as white cane sugar, not a whole food.

Whole leaf stevia is easy to brew, like making tea. You can’t use it cup-for-cup as a replacement for white sugar, but you can add it for sweetness to things like smoothies and salad dressings, or soak fruit in it, and especially make iced herbal tea. I have it growing in my garden and I just pull leaves of mint and stevia and make tea for a very refreshing beverage.

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Question from Lucy Hemmendinger

I am having my attic insulated through a state program that will save me a lot of money. The contractors use blown in insulation, I believe made from recycled paper that may have ink on it. My concern is that when further work is done in the attic such as installing a ridge vent or removing mold, that the cellulose will be disturbed and tracked into the living space. It seems that any time a person went into the attic that they would track or spill some of the cellulose.

I am not sure if this is healthy insulation to have in the attic. it will be sitting on top of the existing traditional fiberglass insulation. I am also not sure how risky it would be if a bit of the dust tracked or trickled into the living space.

Does any one have experience with blown in insulation?

What are the risks, if any?

Lucy

Debra’s Answer

I know there are some readers out there who know more about insulation than I do. So I’ll leave this answer to them.

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