Question from P. S. How can I clean stainless steel without toxic chemcials? Debra's Answer No need for a commercial cleaner. You can just use that old good-for-everything standby baking soda, mixed with water to make a paste. [button...

Question from P. T. I know that ordinary table salt is nothing but sodium chloride. My problem is trying to settle on a company to buy Himalayan salt from. Every one of the companies that I have looked at claim that they are the "one and only". And, on one site, they...

Question from P.S We're installing a butcher block counter top in our kitchen. Do you know of a product we can apply to protect and condition the wood? We thought of mineral oil, but you recommend against that in your book Home Safe Home. What do you suggest? Debra's...

Question from S. J. [This entry was transferred from the Q&A that was created before this blog existed. There are two questions and one answer.] The company that services my a/c unit told me that our ducts weren't sealed properly and it caused dust and mold in...

Question from S. L. Greetings! And thank you so much for your valuable service. Any tips for a non-toxic, odor free or at least low odor lubricant for household uses such as oiling door hinges and windows? Food oils go rancid and we would like to avoid...

Question from S. M. I read your tip about avoiding water stored in plastic containers. We've been using a Brita pitcher as an inexpensive solution for the water we drink at home. The problem is that the Brita pitchers are plastic. Is there an alternative that is...

Question from S. M. We are curious - what pillows do you sleep on? Debra's Answer Organic wool pillows from Shepherd's Dream. I have slept on cotton and feather/down pillows, but when I tried wool, I fell in love with them. :- We have the standard size bed pillows and...

Question from S. P. I own a small janitorial company. My mother and my wife both experience symptoms of chemical sensitivity and over the past year I have been converting to all green products. I enjoyed your book on the non-toxic home and office. I liked the fact...

Question from S. T. Why do you recommend silicone baking mats? Isn't cooking parchment safer? Debra's Answer Cooking parchment also called parchment paper, kitchen parchment, greaseproof paper and cooking paper is a sheet of paper impregnated with silicone, which...

Question from T. A. We need black-out curtains for our baby's room, but I can't find all natural material. All have some polyester, or vinyl, in them. Debra's Answer Readers ~ I tried to find all-cotton black-out curtains or even black-out fabric, to no avail. All...