Question from MS
Hi Debra,
I’ve always been a somewhat green-oriented person: I recycle, I use reusable shopping bags, I eat organic as much as possible, and use mostly organic beauty products. You could say that until now my green has been a shade of soft sage. Maybe seafoam.
However, now that we are having a baby, I’ve starting reading articles about the effects of hormones, pesticides, other chemicals, indoor pollution, etc. on children, and I want to be more of a shade of bright, kelly green! However, I have budgets to consider and I’m new at this, so I have questions that maybe you and your seasoned readers can help me with:
1. I’m committed to buying non-toxic furniture, mattress and bedding for the baby, but I’m wondering what to do with the articles people have already gotten us. This would include mostly blankets and clothes. What is the concern with nonorganic clothing and bedding (sheets and blankets)? More importantly, is there anything I can wash them in that will detoxify them, or are there certain articles I should weed out (like keep 100% cotton things, but get rid of articles that have polyester?)?
2. Is there anything I can do to OUR mattress to make it less toxic? Unfortunately I bought it last summer, so I’m sure it hasn’t gassed out yet. Can I wrap it in something? The baby will initially be spending a lot of time in our room, so this is important to me, and I think it is the biggest source of unnatural products in the room.
3. What about area rugs? Our home has wooden floors (from the 60s), but we have area rugs. Can I clean them with anything to make them less toxic? Also, does anyone know where I can buy a clean, toxic free area rug for the baby’s room?
Debra’s Answer
1. While organic cotton is better for health and the environment because no pesticides are used, lab tests in Germany have shown that once non-organic cotton has gone through the process of being turned into cotton FABRIC, it no longer has any pesticide residues. So if you have items made from non-organic fabric that are not permanent press (which has a formaldehyde resin finish), these would be fine. Eliminate the polyester and any other synthetic fabric.
2. About the mattress, you could wrap it in polyurethane plastic, which would not outgass itself, but I don’t know how much of the fumes (if any) might still go through the plastic. My view is that there really isn’t anything you can do to a synthetic mattress to make it safe.
3. I’ve found it’s pretty easy to find natural fiber area rugs. There are some on Debra’s List, and in addition in the past I have purchased them at places such as Cost Plus, Pier One, Sears, Macy’s, Home Depot…
Congratulations on your baby and for creating a nontoxic home for him or her.
