Submitted questions will be posted with my response by the following Tuesday or before.
Submitted comments will be moderated and approved within 24 hours.
Getting fragrance out of leather seats
Question from LA
Our college daughter who lives with us bought a used car, and realized afterward (when it heated up and especially when the seats are heated) that it has been treated with a fragrance. It does not seem to come out of the heating and cooling system, however, the surfaces smell like this fragrance when heated. Especially the leather seats. Then the fragrance sticks to the clothing wherever the clothing is in contact with the seats. Is there a way to get this fragrance out of the leather seats? Our daughter is not wanting to cover up her nice leather seats, so we’re hoping to find a way to remove the fragrance. The fragrance doesn’t bother her as much as it bothers me, as I am chemically sensitive and she is not. The fragrance sticks to her clothes, and then to the furniture in the house. Any suggestions? Thank you!!!!
Lisa’s Answer
If you can tolerate vinegar, you can wipe the leather with a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water. Test it on a small area first to make sure it doesn’t damage the leather. If you live in a warm climate, try leaving the windows open for several days. Readers, other suggestions?
Glass Cooking Jars
Question from Karen
Lisa’s Answer
Glass can have contaminants but it is typically inert and a safe choice. Clear glass with no paint or coloring is the safest type of glass but I can’t guarantee that any specific item will have no contaminants whatsoever. I think question is what is your safest choice? I can’t think of anything safer than clear glass. You can read more about glass here.
Mattress Cover
Question from Summer
Lisa’s Answer
This mattress protector is made from a GOTS certified organic cover, which is great. The fill is organic cotton but it is not certified. It is treated with an anti-microbial that is permitted by OEKO-TEX for their Standard 100 certification. OEKO-TEX does permit a number of different fire retardants and anti-microbial that they have determined are non-toxic. I would need to know more about what anti-microbial is used. But, I believe there are safer alternatives.
The reason I so strongly recommend Naturepedic is because their entire facility is GOTS certified and GOTS has the most stringent standard. Their mattress cover is 100% GOTS certified cotton. It is a waterproof pad so it does have a polyurethane barrier. The polyurethane is GOTS certified which ensures that no harmful additives are added. In its pure form, polyurethane is non-toxic. This is a great option if you need a dust-mite barrier.
This mattress pad is 100% GOTS cotton and does not have a waterproof barrier.
Bedframe Stains
Question from Stefany
Hello Lisa, do you recommend any of the finishes in this furniture website? Or is it better to get it unfinished and keep it unfinished (worried due to potential mold or termite). Or would it be better to finish it myself with Vermont natural coatings? (Even though I’ve never done it). Or is there another company you recommend more? I’m downgrading to a basement and would like to invest in a wood bed frame with the money I make from selling. I want to make sure I choose the right bed frame and non toxic finish. https://organicandhealthy.com/product/rolling-prairie/
Lisa’s Answer
I would need to have more information from the company about the different stain options. Teak oil can be natural or it can have added chemicals. The stain is referred to as “vegetable stain” but provides no further information. Linseed oil can be an allergen for some so I would test that first before using. The company looks to be committed to providing safe non-toxic products so I think its worth getting more information from them before taking on the project of staining it yourself. If you do decide to do it yourself Safecoat Duratone is a good choice.
Children’s Nap Mats at Preschool
Question from Mathew
Does pu leather pose the same risks as PU foam? Is PET (PE) foam generally safer than PU foam? I work at a preschool where all the mats are 100% Polyurethane foam. I want to find safe and viable alternatives. I’ve just started learning about the unsafe nature of these materials. And am looking to phase them out of my home and work surroundings as much as possible.
Lisa’s Answer
Pu leather is generally safer than PU foam. You can read more about it here. PE foam is generally safer than PU foam but either can have chemical additives so it’s hard to compare on product to another.
Avoiding foam in general is a good idea unless it is certified organic natural latex. I understand why preschools would want to have a cushioned mat for additional safety. The safest synthetic foam play mat I have found is Cream Haus.
It is free of some the most harmful chemicals such as PVC, EVA, TPA, BPA, Lead, Phthalate, Fire Retardants, Formamide, and Formaldehyde and it is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified which tells you that there is an additional standard that the mats need to meet.
Candles
Question from Madelyn
Hi Lisa! I have some questions about the toxicity of burning candles. My husband and I completely revamped our lifestyle a few years ago to a more healthy and non toxic life. We are very careful with what we buy and or bring into our home, especially with 2 young kids.
So we haven’t burned typical paraffin wax candles (I.e. yankee candle, etc) in a long time. We first went to soy candles then read those are also problematic, so we stopped. Then we tried beeswax tealight candles, but they were so expensive yet burned out extremely quickly and we were very disappointed so we stopped.
We have a harsh winter where we live and we’ve been trying to embrace the “hygge” (cozy in danish) lifestyle so we can learn to enjoy the winter season more. One of these recommendations is to burn candles which adds to the coziness of the home and makes you happier.
So back to the problem of what type of candles are non toxic? Are soy wax candles truly a bad alternative? Is beeswax the only safe option? If so, do you have recommendations of a brand or type that don’t burn out so quickly?
Lisa’s Answer
There is a whole list of candles on Debra’s List.
Dresser
Question from Sheryl
Have you found any affordable unfinished wood dressers that are not made with toxic materials?
Thanks!
Lisa’s Answer
You can check out Debra’s List for safe furniture brands. One of those listed is Unfinished Furniture Expo and they have reasonable prices. You can also opt to have them painted with Milk Paint.
Styrene Butadiene Latex Toxicity
Question from Viki
Having trouble finding information, I am able to understand, on the toxicity of latex mattresses made with blended [synthetic 60%/30% natural}latex.
Most of what is available on line is connected to businesses selling competing products and seems
biased.
Wondering if you could provide any insight or suggest a source for this information.
Lisa’s Answer
Styrene butadiene latex is a synthetic latex that is made with fairly toxic ingredients but once cured it is less toxic. A blended latex will have lower VOCs than a 100% synthetic latex but it will still have VOCs. I understand that natural organic latex is expensive but I think it is one of the biggest priorities if you are looking to lower your toxic exposure because you spend several hours every day breathing in it’s emission.
A mattress with 30% natural latex is not a natural mattress. I am also assuming the natural latex is not certified organic which means it is possible it could contain chemical additives.
Spandex
Question from Nikki
If an item that uses organic cotton is blended with 5% spandex is it considered fairly safe? I am trying to get natural products for my baby but some things are very hard for me to find without a small percent blend. I’m very limited it seems.
Also I am finding many organic cotton baby play Matt’s but all of them are filled with polyester filling!!!! Is this ok or do I need to continue the search?
I’m finding strict toxic free is overwhelming me as a mom preparing for a baby!
Between gots certified materials that still include spandex and Oeko-Tex certs that don’t use organic cotton ….
I am confused and just want to know what a realistic acceptable balance is!
Sincerely
Worried and overwhelmed mom 🙁
Lisa’s Answer
I understand how confusing it is! Your baby is already benefiting from the steps you have taken. Stress isn’t good for you or the baby. There is not a right or wrong answer about what is an acceptable balance. Focusing on the big things is important; like a nontoxic mattress and crib. 5% spandex in clothing is not something to worry about, particularly if it is certified.
An organic cotton mat with polyester filling that is Oeko-Tex certified is a good choice. I would choose this over the EVA mats that are popular. Have you checked Etsy? They do have some all organic cotton options. If you find one with polyester fill contact the vendor and see if they can make it with a cotton or wool fill.
I plan to do a deeper dive into playmats because I have gotten a lot of questions about it but I’m not sure I will have it before you need to buy one. Good luck!
Covering Lead Cords with Washi Tape
Question from Mary
I have seen several discussions on this site about the lead in cords. Would covering them in washi tape be a good idea to reduce lead exposure? Are there any concerns with washi tape?
Or what about painter’s tape?
Lisa’s Answer
I’d recommend a fabric cover. You can find hemp or other natural material covers on Etsy. I honestly had to look up washi tape because I had never heard of it. Any tape is going to introduce an adhesive. Washi is typically made from a natural fiber paper but the adhesive can vary by manufacturer. Overall, I don’t think this is a big exposure but if you are going to the trouble of covering your cords why cover them with something that could offgas?
