Question from Fran

Does anyone know if cities have started using non-toxic or biodegradable paint when power companies mark underground utilities? Our yard and mulch heap got marked, so I removed every scrap of mulch, every clump of painted dirt, every red, yellow or orange blade of grass! (It took over three days! Thankfully there was no rain at all!) I even dug out vegetables that had been painted! I filled more than 3 garbage bags of dirt and mulch due to having to get under the paint, which would have later caused me reactions every time I gardened and also ate the vegetables!!!!! What an invasion. Are there ways to prevent this, and are there cities NOT doing this to their customers? (Mine is a little behind the times…)

Debra’s Answer

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Question from mimi

I live on a narrow lane where distribution power lines are very close to homes. One side of my house is located only 5 feet from such power lines (that run parallel to the back of the house); & a corner of my carport is just 5 ft from a transformer mounted on a power pole. All members of my family are at least 22 years old. Our sleeping areas are on the opposite side of the home from the power lines. The carport is attached to the residence. If we physically separated the car port from the residence, & removed all electric wiring from the now-freestanding carport, would that reduce ELF exposure inside the house?

Debra’s Answer

Info about safe distances from power lines is at Q&A: Safe Distance From Electrical Transformer. Since you’re only 5 feet away–I think that’s too close–I suggest hiring an EMF professional to work this out with you.

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Question from R Zamastil

Our household seems to go through a staggering amount of batteries. These can only be recycled at our county’s household hazardous waste day. Can you tell me about the newer rechargable batteries? It used to be that you couldn’t use them in everything and they didn’t hold a charge for long. We tried them in our kids’ baby swings/bouncers, but that was ten yrs ago. I’ve now started seeing batteries similar to those in cell phones. Any suggestions/reviews would be appreciated. Thanks.

Debra’s Answer

I found some rechargable batteries called E-Cells which are literally miniature versions of the same hydrogen fuel cells that power today’s hybrid cars. They are scientifically engineered to work harder than traditional rechargeables. Each battery runs 10 times longer than alkalines and can be charged in excess of 1000 times. This will save you thousands of dollars. You can use these like alkaline batteries in any device.

I have to admit I bought a battery recharger a few years ago along with some rechargable NiCads. It was a good idea, but didn’t actually get used. The problem was we never set up a “battery station” where we could “drop off” batteries to be recharged and pick up the recharged batteries for use. Because we didn’t have that process set up somewhere, when we needed to recharge, we couldn’t find the recharger, there were no recharged batteries to use, etc. So it’s important to have everything set up for easy use to make this work.

Readers, what are your experiences with rechargable batteries?

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Question from Barbara

Is Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda the same as Arm and Hammmer Baking Soda just in a bigger box ?

Debra’s Answer

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate and washing soda is sodium carbonate. They are very similar, but different.

Sodium carbonate (also known as washing soda or soda ash) has the chemical formula Na2CO3. It most commonly occurs as a crystalline substance, which can be extracted from the ashes of many plants. It is synthetically produced in large quantities from table salt in a process known as the Solvay process.

Sodium bicarbonate has the formula NaHCO3. It is commonly called sodium hydrogencarbonate, sodium bicarb, baking soda, bread soda, cooking soda, bicarb soda, saleratus or bicarbonate of soda. It is a component of the mineral natron and is found dissolved in many mineral springs. The natural mineral form is known as nahcolite.

Read more at Q&A: Baking Soda vs Washing Soda for Laundry.

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Question from Julie Vietor

HI,

My clothes all smell of pesticide from being stored in my condo that reeks of pesticide (recently bought it, cannot live in it, have recently had it baked out by professional bake-out contractors, still not good enough, I keep working away at it).

I know soaking clothes in vinegar may help. Am currently trying a 48 hour soak. Has anyone had experience with this? How much white vinegar should I use?

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Question from Katie Gwinn

I am looking for resources to advertise my new Bed and Breakfast, which I call “A Victorian Retreat”. Because I don’t service coffee, alcohol or other toxic drinks, nor allow smoking, I must create a niche for my products and services.

I serve organic and natural foods, gourmet full breakfast, herbal and fruit teas, hand squeezed juices, and organic soy, rice and cow’s milks. I use only cotton sheets and towels, use natural cleaning products (primarily vinegar and soda), offer natural/organic homemade body care products (hot tonic bath, face clay, tooth powder, foot spa) and create a hypo-allergenic environment as well as a beautiful, peaceful and restful one.

I grow an organic garden in the back yard, including veges and fruits which I serve in my Bed & Breakfast. I am converting half of my environmentally uncool lawn to orchard, berry patch and vege garden and the rest to bird and butterfly garden, with only a small patch of grass for outdoor weddings and receptions. I just purchased an electric lawnmower for mowing what’s left of the lawn.

I teach workshops at my B&B on sustainable living, organic gardening and personal effectiveness. I am located in Monterey, Virginia, and if anyone can help me with advertising and networking ideas, please let me know.

It’s an uphill climb in a lodging industry that emphasizes coffee and alcohol and cheap foods and a population that is addicted to these very toxic substances. I’m committed to good health and want to serve my guests only the best but need to learn ways to get the word out to those who will really appreciate my efforts.Thanks for any tips you can give me.

Katie Gwinn, www.trimble-house.com

Debra’s Answer

Well, we can start a directory right here. I’m going to go stay at another green bed and breakfast in Asheville North Carolina in a couple of weeks, so will let you know about that.

I found a website organicplacestostay.com but it wasn’t working well when I visited it today. They have a book, and you can also submit a listing.

Interestingly, when I searched on “organic bed and breakfast” all kinds of things came up. One place (an organic farm) advertised their synthetic Tempur-Pedic beds as being safe for the chemically sensitive (they’re not!). So if we can come up with a good list here, that would be great.

Readers, any ideas for places to get the word out? These places need our support so they can thrive as a business.

And any B&B’s you’ve stayed in you’d like to recommend?

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Question from Laura Sharp

We recently built a new house and have killed ourselves trying to make it healthy for our 2 young daughters with all kinds of health issues. We did as much as we knew to do, including solid wood cabinets, healthy paint, hardwood and ceramic tile floors, etc. We also bought completely solid wood furniture. However, I somehow missed the health concerns about upholstered furniture. Since our upholstered furniture has been delivered, our 3-year old has been stuffy with a runny nose, and her excema has flared up. I’m afraid it’s the furniture. The cushions are 85% urethane foam and 15% resin treated polyester. How unhealthy is it, and what do I do now???

Debra’s Answer

It’s probably the furniture. There’s a simple answer to your question at www.foamorder.com/health.html which outlines the dangers of PBDEs found in all synthetic foam products (such as yours).

I don’t know how many pieces you have that need to be replaced, but you’ll need to either remove and replace the foam with natural latex foam or old-fashioned box springs (I have box springs in my sofa), or stuff it with wool batting. You may also need to reupholster.

It might be easier to sell what you have and start over with some nontoxic furniture from one of the websites on Debra’s List: Interior Decorating: Furniture.

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Question from Laurie

Your web site and some others mention that IKEA uses pdbe free foam furniture but doesn\’t say if they use some other fire retardent. Do you know?

I recently bought a chair from Crate & Barell advertising they use soy foam rather than polyurethane and would appreciate any insight you have on whether it\’s less toxic, i.e., reduced fire retardents.

Thanks!

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Question from Sheri

Debra,

Thank you for your latest recipe for Coconut Water . For the last few months I have been making a smoothie for my daughter with young coconut water & meat (she has numerous food allergies and dysphagia which requires thick consistency drinks so she does not aspirate). I had not considered drinking just the water for myself and the idea of the lime with the coconut sounds yummy. I can’t wait to try it. I read your smoothie recipe and thought I would share mine in case anyone wanted something without any dairy.

Green smoothie:

Water & meat from 1 young coconut
1 cup green leafy vegetable (spinach, kale, etc.)
2 cups frozen or fresh fruit (any combination you would like – my favorite is pear raspberry, my daughter’s favorite is all mango)

Cut up fruit & veggie a bit and them place everything in a blender and blend until smooth. If my fruit is a bit tart I will sometimes add just a bit of agave or honey to taste, but usually it is very good just like it is. A great way to get your green veggies without even knowing they are there.

Thanks again Debra for your newsletter and website – they are fantastic. I also want to tell you how excited I am about the new direction for sweet savvy recipes – I am right there with you, now that I have broken the refined sugar habit, I want to take it a step healthier for me and my family.

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Question from Susan W

Any suggestions on what to apply on grass to prevent our dog’s urine killing the grass? I have yellow spots on my front yard (and he has to start using the back yard!) and I’d like to get them cleared up.

Thanks,

Susan

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