Question from janicedb

Hi Debra- After 16 years with my Honda I finally traded it in for an almost new used Volvo. So far so good -I’m not getting sick from the new car off-gasing chemicals like I did for quite a long time after getting the new Honda. Do you or anyone know of a natural car wax? There are carnauba waxes out there but it looks like they also contain petroleum distillates. Thanks so much for all you do.

Debra’s Answer

Readers? Natural car wax?

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Question from sjsongbird

I need new insulation for my furnace. Is there a special kind of insulation to use or would the normal kind (fiberglass) work? I am extremely senstive to plastics, scents, etc. and the wrong choice may not allow me to sleep for months. Thank you

Debra’s Answer

Get formaldehyde-free fiberglass insulation. It’s sold at Home Depot and Lowe’s.

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Question from Craig D.

Hi, Debra! I love the informative information that you give out to help us. I found a site that has 100% organic wool hats, lamb, beef, sweaters, hats, mittens, blankets, yarn, rugs, and fleeces and is certified USDA organic. Also inexpensive.

http://www.lambandwool.com/

Hope this can help someone that is looking for winter gear.

Debra’s Answer

Looks great! Thank you.

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Question from movinup

Help! I have a rather costly business bag I received as a gift. I left a bottle of bodyspray in it overnight by accident and the whole thing emptied into the bag. It is so strong i get a headache just going near the bag and don’t even know how to begin to clear out the smell. The bag is leather and not something i can rub liquids or pastes over…..any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

Debra’s Answer

Well, there are various things you could try.

Heat often removes odors, baking soda will absorb some.

I would probably start by putting baking soda all over it and if that doesn’t work, put it out in the sun.

My experience is that some things cannot be salvanged. This may be one of them.

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Question from nan46nan

hi debra,

please enlighten us on the validity of “organic dry cleaning”. i have gone to several different storefronts for my dry cleaning and they have written signs saying “organic dry cleaning” and have verbally confirmed to me that fact also. how do i know if it’s really organic or are they all (i have seen at least 20 so far) breaking the law by lying? and to what extent, technically, is this dry cleaning “organic”?

Debra’s Answer

Well, first of all there is no such thing as “organic” dry cleaning. It’s a misuse of the word.

When used with regard to food and fibers, “organic” has a very specific definition, and very specific rules must be followed to legally use that term.

No such definitions exist for dry cleaning.

I think some people are using the term in general to mean their dry cleaning does not use toxic chemicals. And there are some dry cleaning methods, such as using a food-grade level of carbon dioxide, which are nontoxic. But don’t at all assume that because a sign says “organic dry cleaning” that they are using nontoxic methods.

Here is a post I wrote before outlining the different dry cleaning methods and their toxicity: Q&A: Help Me Find A Green Dry Cleaner

Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/going-green/latest/812#ixzz1gIpHeJDM

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Question from nurse52

I am considering buying Xtrema cookware, which you recommend & use. However, I am concerned because their website states that the cookware can not be nested, but each piece stored separately. I do not have room for this. What has your experience been? Would the cookware be harmed by stacking or nesting? Also, one is not to use any metal utensils on the cookware–this concerns me. I would appreciate your comments.

Thank you

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know about not nesting. I have a set of three pots that were originally sold as a set and one of the features was that you could nest them for storage and that’s what I do.

What is your concern about not using metal utensils? I don’t ever use metal utensils in pots and pans, only wooden. I don’t want to scratch the surface with the metal.

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Question from Cheryl3

It seems all yogurt containers have aluminum foil as their inner or outer lid. How safe do you think this is? Somehow I hadn’t thought about it before. The aluminum isn’t usually touching the yogurt, however, there’s always some on the lid so it obviously touches it sometimes also, if it’s on its side or upside down. There’s also the condensation that might drip from it onto the yogurt in the refrigerator. But, I love yogurt and it’s generally a healthy food. What are your thoughts? Thanks.

Debra’s Answer

I don’t eat much yogurt, but when I do buy it, the brand I buy doesn’t have aluminum foil: Brown Cow. It has plastic across the top. I always buy plain yogurt and add my own flavorings.

In today’s world, it’s simply impossible to avoid every toxic exposure. That’s why in my new book Toxic Free, I recommend both avoiding the worst toxic exposures and helping your body have the ability to effectively detox to handle the rest of your exposures.

But I think in the larger scheme of things, this exposure is very minor.

If you want to minimize toxic exposures associated with yogurt, you can always make your own yogurt at home. That is actually the best way, because you can control the quality of the milk used and the containers used to make it. Homemade yogurt also contains more probiotics than packaged yogurt.

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Question from starflower

Hello Debra! I love your blog! We recently purchased an S-brand mattress (with a memory foam pillow top) from a local store that doesn’t offer any organic alternatives. It stunk, and I started researching, and found all the terrible info on traditional beds (wish I had started this research before we purchased!) Nevertheless, we cannot afford to replace this bed with an organic one at this point, and so I am trying to find ways to reduce our exposure to the VOCs. We co-sleep with our 1 year old, so I’m really concerned about this now.

Do you think putting a 3″ natural latex/wool topper would provide a bit of a buffer for us from the VOCs? I realize they’re still emanating from the mattress, but at least our noses/skin would not be right on top of it.

At least we got a good price on this heap of VOCs. I won’t feel bad replacing it in a few years!

Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

An organic topper will NOT provide much protection from the chemicals outgassing from the mattress.

One thing you can do is wrap your mattress with foil insulation (one brand is Reflectix–sold at home improvement stores). It is a layer of foil fused to two layers of polyethylene plastic. The polyethylene is nontoxic and the aluminum foil witll block the fumes. Wrap the mattress and tape to close with aluminum foil tape, which is sold where you buy the Reflectix.

THEN put the topper on and you’ll be pretty safe.

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Question from Cheryl3

Hi Debra and all,

Are Visions Lids also non toxic? I haven’t yet heard back from their CS. Also, it says Visions cookware is “made of a non-porous glass-ceramic material which won’t absorb food odors or flavors or react with acid-based foods.” I think they used to be all glass,(although enamel is usually non toxic I guess) I assume they’re still completely non toxic since they’re on your list? Can these be used on electric glass/ceramic stovetops? Thanks again.

Debra’s Answer

Visions lids are made from the same material as the pots.

They are not 100% glass, they are glass combined with a small amount of ceramic to give the glass the performance features. But it is all bound up in the glass and does not leach.

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