Question from Reenie I do green cleaning and also give workshops on it. I got a call today from a former colleague. She has spilled Clinique perfume onto her bedroom carpet and the odor is so powerful that she can't be in the room. She's asking for a solution. She's...

Question from Sunnyside I'm sensitive to many chemicals, soaps, etc. Does anybody have any suggestions on how to remove odors, formaldehyde, etc. from new clothing. Any petro-chemical based detergent is definitely off limits for me. Your ideas will be greatly...

Question from Taylor We are contemplating purhcasing a 7 yr old home but an inspector, using air samples, found a high mold count (7000) for Cladisporium. The crawlspace has block walls and a concrete floor and is dry and clean. A thorough visual inspection found a...

I am often asked how long it takes for various materials to outgass. Here is an interesting paper on emissions from flooring. On pages 3 and 4 there is a chart which shows emission measurements over a 28-day period, so you can see how they fall off. Unfortunately, the...

Question from Debra Lynn Dadd Last week on Good Morning America there was a segment on sugar. This statement was made. "Consumers are now also being offered agave, a sweetener promoted as natural but which is all fructose, she said. Agave is processed and has...

After sending out my most recent evaluation of agave in my Sweet Savvy newsletter on September 14, I received some of comments. Click on COMMENTS below to read them.

Question from Betty L Hello Debra, I just recently discovered your website and love it. I would like to know if you know anything about a new cookware called copper fusion by Chantal, Made in Germany. They claim to have a stick resistant surface without any type of...

Question from Mary Hi Debra, What do you recommend for non-toxic removal of the old vinyl flooring? Also, what is non-toxic for installing the natural, sheet , linolium? thanks !! Mary Debra's Answer I've removed old vinyl flooring simply by scraping it off. You can...

Question from llyana I have MCS and I'm putting in 2 new pre-finished wood floors in my home. I was told by a green building service to have the contractor use a polyethelene vapor barrier instead of an asphalt/felt/paper vapor barrier for less off-gassing. Now it...

Question from Robin My ALL Free & Clear hypoallergenic laundry detergent that comes in a 300ml dispenser carton has leaked onto the top of my metal washing machine. It has eaten away at the metal on top and left a bubbled ridge. It also leaked on my ceramic tiled...