Question from scott We live at an apartment complex with a playground. The other day I noticed the apartment maintenance department filled the playground area with shredded up tires to make it less dangerous when kids fall. Is this safe? Debra's Answer The EPA has a...

I want to make a comment about Aveda, which was sparked by reading an ingredient list on a bar of Aveda soap and also by a post I received today in which the reader wrote, "I think of Aveda as safe, natural and cruelty-free..." I have mixed feelings about Aveda, and...

Question from Becky I bought some liquid laundry detergent and it really works. It is by a company called "Restore Products" in Minnesota. It seems like the ingredients are safe and natural, but I'd like some other opinions. I didn't find this company on Debra's List,...

Question from Debbie Sleigh Dear Debra, Is there any evidence (scientific tests), that commercially grown cotton that has been washed in hot soapy water several times, outgasses toxic volatiles or has any toxic substances that are absorbed by human skin? I have a lot...

Question from Katie Hi, I'm wondering if anybody knows of an effective natural treatment for dandruff. I'm not talking about dry scalp- I'm talking about a severe scaly flaky fungal scalp problem. My husband has this problem and was using Nizoral shampoo for a long...

Greenwashing is the act of misleading purchasers regarding the environmental benefits of a product or service or the environmental practices of a company. It was a problem in the early 1990s [button...

Question from GingerLou Just f.y.i.: barley, spelt (which is a form of wheat), oats and rye all have gluten. It has also been suggested that those sensitive or allergic to gluten not eat quinoa, amaranth or teff. There supposedly is an amino acid very similar to one...

Question from Judith Hi, Debra, Absolutely love your website!! It is the most informative on the greatest variety of subjects I have ever seen. I have a new problem. My mom just moved in with us and she purchased a new foam mattress (completely made up of foam, no...

Question from AmyJo My mother-in-law gave me an old bottle of Scotch Gard Fabric Protector to use on my son's new area rug. I have researched and found out that this is a very dangerous product that can be fatal and is very bad for the envoronment. I need to dispose...

Question from joyce I need new appliances and am wondering about the plastic outgasing problems with dishwashers and refrigerators. In the store, they smell terrible when opened. Would a stainless interior in a dishwasher make the added expense worthwhile? And how...