Question from KLP

We are looking for dye-free medicines for both adults and children. We would also prefer that they have no artificial sweetners or chemical preservatives. All we have been able to find so far are: dye-free Tylenol, dye-free Motrin and dye-free Benedryl. Do you know of any others or, better yet, a company that specializes in dye-free OTC medicines? Thank you so much for all of your valuable advice. I read your newsletters religiously.

Kelly

Debra’s Answer

Well, personally I wouldn’t take these drugs with or without dyes. But if you are going to take them, it’s better that they be dye-free. I have no idea where to get these dye-free drugs.

There are what special pharmacies that make up prescriptions without dyes, etc. I remember once a doctor gave me such a prescription and sent me to a local pharmacy that did that. But I don’t remember what they are called. They are probably online somewhere.

My best recommendation to you is to find some natural remedies, such as herbs or homeopathics, to handle the symptoms you need to relieve with these drugs. Or, better yet, find out and handle their root cause and build health in your body.

Add Comment

Question from MKH

Even though my baby is breast fed, her spit up smells if not immediately cleaned up, which sometimes isn’t obvious to us until much later. How do we get the smell out of things that can’t be thrown into the wash, like the floor of her pack & play or inside her bassinet, using natural infgredients? The only product I’m willing to try so far is baking soda–I’m worried that vingear might not dry or make the fabric smell like vinegar forever, and I’m new to green cleaning as it is. Any advice appreciated!

Debra’s Answer

I have no personal experience with this, so I’m going to let my readers respond.

Moms, what should she use?

Add Comment

Question from Ruth

I have read that enamel covered iron is the healthiest cookware. What about old fashioned cast iron? I was told as a child that iron skillets added iron to the food and that was a good thing. Is there anything harmful about cooking in iron skillets?

Debra’s Answer

I know of no reason not to use cast iron skillets. I think they are a good choice, made of a natural, simple material.

Add Comment

Question from Shirley Richey

Dear Debra,

Thank you so much for the recipes. They are wonderful!

I have a friend that’s been giving me apples this entire summer. I pick them right off her trees! They have been producing all summer & she has so many that I’ve been getting bags & bags of them. With a lot of them I’ve just peeled, sliced, put in a pie tin & freeze so I can make apple pie in the fall & winter but my freezer doesn’t have any more room& I’d like to can some of your raw applesauce.

Is it possible without cooking them? I didn’t think so. Any other ideas as to what I could do with apples to store it? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Shirley in Cool, CA (Really! That’s the name of our town).

Debra’s Answer

Unfortunately, you can’t can raw applesauce as the cooking process for canning cooks it.

If you have lots of apples, I suggest drying them in the sun. Then you can store them without refrigeration and use them all winter.

Add Comment

Question from Terri

Your recipe for the crumb coffee cake sounds wonderful! I just thought some may want to try the addition of 1 c. of berries, layered before the crumbs or just mixed in the batter. I think blueberries or marionberries would be especially good.

Debra’s Answer

That sounds great to me!

Add Comment

Question from Sami

We want to buy kitchen cabinets and are confuuuuused. We saw Kraftmaid cabinets.

The cheaper one we liked the most actually was Praline color but we were told it was not solid wood but plywood.

The more expensive is Solid Wood. I actually prefered the cheaper plywood.

Then one can get Lacquered solid wood cabinets.

Which type would you recommend?

Is it true that it is easier to maintain the lacquered wood than the solid wood?

hi, I have been trying to have my cabinets made of al wood but am finding it too expensive – there are some boards that say they are very low in formaldehyde emmissions level EO substrate (if you know what that means) that it is tested to US EPA’s ETV test method for measuring emissions of VOCs and aldehydes and complies to the total VOC limit specified by Green star of <0.5 mg/m3 within 7 days of unpacking. What do you think or can you suggest a board to use for the insides of the kitchen cabinets.

thanks

Jacinta

Debra’s Answer

This IS a confusing subject. I know, because I’ve just been looking for kitchen cabinets too.

There seem to be three kinds of cabinets.

The cheapest ones are made of particleboard. These you want to avoid as they outgass considerable amounts of formaldehyde. Be sure to ask what the cabinets are made from, don’t just look. Often they are veneered to look like wood.

Then there are cabinets made from plywood. These are less toxic and may be acceptable.

I just found some cabinets here locally that were being advertised as “solid wood”. In fact, they were plywood with solid wood doors.

There ARE actual solid wood cabinets. They are very expensive. See search results on Debra’s List for “cabinets”,

Add Comment

Question from G

I am a new rose gardener. I want to use the best natural fertilizers to make my new rose friends happy. Any suggestions?

I’d also like to know how to get the fertilizer into the ground. A neighbor suggested making holes near the roses with a stake, then putting the fertilizer into the holes, so it would get to the roots. Any recommendations on this? I want to make sure not to damage the roots.

Best,

G

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

Add Comment

Question from JC

I made the mistake of thinking there would be a safe sealer for granite countertops and now I have to find one! Do you know what I can use because my understanding (now, after it’s too late) is that granite has to be sealed yearly and I cannot find a safe sealer.

Please help!

Jan/NM

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

Add Comment

Question from Mary

Debra, I realized that I also need to ask about sheetrock. Is there anything I should be aware of in that area?

thanks again ! 🙂

Debra’s Answer

There’s nothing in sheetrock you need to be concerned about. We just use standard sheetrock from any home improvement store.

There is a small amount of chemicals in the mud used on the tape to seal the seams. I know there are some less toxic brands available, but we have never used them because the amount of chemical is so small. Still, some people who are very sensitive prefer the other. If you want to go with the standard mud for convenience, you can minimize exposure to whatever chemicals that may be present with ventilation and by using heat to dry it quickly.

Add Comment

Question from Mary

Hi Debra,

We are adding a wall downstairs in our storage area. We wanted to used the encapsulated insulation but cannot find it for sale in our area , isn’t that kinda crrazy ???

Now my question: Is it necessary to use the encapsulated insulation in a wall …since the insulation will be enclosed in the wall anyway ?

Thanks for your info….I love your website & have passed it on to our local H.E.A.L. group.

Debra’s Answer

Well, I don’t know, but there are some green builders on this blog, so I’m sure we’ll get an answer!

Readers?

Add Comment