Question from joyinjesus

Please help!

I have multiple chemical sensitivites and allergies and very sensitive skin. I have found things to wash my clothes in as I don’t usually get my clothes dirty, but I am looking for something to wash my husbands clothes with. He is a great man, but almost every shirt has food, coffee, grease spatters, or something else on it. The natural products I use are not getting these stains out.

Does anyone know of a good chemical and fragrance free laundry detergent that will get these stains out without multiple washings and scrubbings?

I appreciate any help I can get!

Debbie in NM

Debra’s Answer

Readers, any experience with this?

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Question from petercsantoro@yahoo.com

I just bought the Bamix immersion blender for quickly chopping, pureeing, mixing, etc. without having to take apart my blender and clean it every time. It seems like a great tool and has received all great reviews. But before I use it, I was hoping to get your opinion.

The drive shaft is stainless steel, and the detachable parts that do the chopping, pureeing, etc., seem to be chromium plated. Will this leech chemicals into the food I am preparing? If so, then it’s not worth it, and I will stick with the manual labor of chopping myself and cleaning the blender.

It was expensive, but seemed like such a handy tool, especially for pureeing baby food. I am still thinking about the Vitamix blender, which I believe you have, but am hesitant on spending the money. Is it easy to clean? I know it’s plastic but BPA free, so less worrisome.

I appreciate your opinion! Thanks again, Debra!

Debra’s Answer

I doubt there will be any leaching, as leaching from metals into food requires considerable contact time. This is not something I am concerned about.

I have a Cuisinart immersion blender and I love it. I use my Vitamix for making smoothies and crushed ice, but my immersion blender is perfect for pureeing vegetable soups.

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Question from Stjarn

To no avail, I’ve been searching for days on end for some place in the Houston, TX area that is safe to stay for someone with MCS. Staying in conventional hotels has been an absolute nightmare. I’m aware of two large chains’ allergy rooms and they are indeed good for people with traditional allergies, but they seem to use MORE chemicals for killing conventional allergens. Not a help here. Houston is seeming more and more like a place where people/businesses just don’t have an awareness of chemical issues. Even small B and B’s have not responded favorably. If anyone has particular information, it would be great to hear it before we go to Houston next weekend. Thank you very much.

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from Sue Mironer

I have two Japanese Tansu chests (one for clothing, and one for odds and ends) in my apartment. I’m considering purchasing a third chest but when I inquired about fumigation I was told the tansu are fumigated in Japan before being shipped to the U.S. with a chemical called DDVP. When the tansu arrive here, they’re washed down with TSP. I wiped the two I own down with vinegar and water before using them. I’ve never noticed a smell or reaction but I’m wondering if this is safe. Your comments please.

Debra’s Answer

DDVP is the acronym for 2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate, also called Dichlorvos. It is a highly volatile organophosphate, widely used as a insecticide to control household pests, and also used in greenhouses, on outdoor fruit and vegetable crops. and in the milling of grain. It is also used in pet collars and “no-pest strips” as pesticide-impregnated plastic. In this form it has recently been labeled for use against bed bugs.

DDVP is absorbed through all routes of exposure. Symptoms from exposure are weakness, headache, tightness in chest, blurred vision, salivation, sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.

www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/Actives/dichlorv.htm

I’m not sure that TSP would do anything to remove this pesticide. I suggest calling a manufacturer and find out how to remove residues of this pesticide from furniture.

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This week I received a press release regarding one mattress company’s misuse of the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification.

In the release, GOTS noted that the company named was making false claims of GOTS certification prior to actually gaining certification.

Just wanted to pass this along. While most companies are ethical, circumstances such as this make it prudent for consumers to verify that products that claim certification are actually certified by the certifying organization.

You can do this by contacting the certifying organization or checking the certifying organization website, or by asking the manufacturer for a copy of the certification.

My opinion is that all websites selling certified products should include a copy of the certification on the website.

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Disavows Greenbuds’ Use of GOTS Label for Baby Mattress and Bedding Products

Washington, DC(October 12, 2011) – The International Working Group on Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) today announced it has issued a decision banning New York City, NY-based children’s bed and bedding manufacturer Greenbuds LLC from becoming certified to GOTS for two years.

The GOTS International Working Group (GOTS IWG) first became aware in June 2010 that the company was making claims of GOTS certification prior to actually gaining certification. The IWG and Swiss-based third party independent inspector IMO (Institute for Marketecology) both told Greenbuds to cease making any claims of certification until final approval and to remove all references to GOTS certification. While Greenbuds did remove some references to meeting GOTS from its online postings, it has continued to reference GOTS certifications in other settings such as on marketing materials and advertisements and at trade shows in 2011.

“Greenbuds has not shown the trustworthiness and reliability which GOTS must expect from its licensees in order to protect its reputed standard’s integrity,” said Herbert Ladwig, Coordinator of the International Working Group on Global Textile Standard.

As a result of making false claims, the GOTS IWG has instructed IMO to discontinue the certification procedure (already temporarily halted) and not issue a GOTS certificate to Greenbuds CEO Miriam Mandel or any company she heads up. In addition, the organization has instructed all 14 GOTS-accredited certifiers worldwide to not commence any certification procedure with Ms. Mandel or any company headed by her for the next two years.

Key GOTS provisions include a ban on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), highly hazardous chemicals such as azo dyes and formaldehyde, and child labor, while requiring living wages and strict waste water treatment practices. At least 95 percent of the fibers must be certified organic for label grade ‘organic’ and 70 percent for label grade ‘made with organic.’ GOTS IWG was established in 2002 with its standard announced in 2006.

Information about the Global Organic Textile Standard, including a trailer for the film The Global Organic Textile Standard – Ecology and Social Responsibility,can be found at www.global-standard.org.

The GOTS IWG is made up of the Organic Trade Association (US), Japan Organic Cotton Association, International Association Natural Textile Industry (Germany), and the Soil Association (UK). In late 2010, the IWG appointed regional representatives worldwide to drive an increase in the awareness of and certification to GOTS.