Question from LauraPR

Hi Debra and other readers,

Thank you for having this website. I have been looking for a good bookcase/toy storage solution for my kids room. Finally found somebody here who custom makes bookcases for schools and libraries, they are going to have one made for us from birch wood. I asked about the finish because humidity here where we live is always high and, as much as I love unfinished wood, mold can be a problem. They said they usually use polyurethane as a finish. Is that something that is safe to have in kids room?

Alternatively, I can ask them to just leave the wood unfinished and paint it with something myself, just not sure what I would use that is non-toxic and better than polyurethane?

They also said they are looking into using something that is water-based for a finish in the future but they haven’t really used it much yet.

Thank you for any input!

Debra’s Answer

Regular polyurethane IS toxic and I don’t recommend it.

I purchase unfinished wood furniture and finish it myself, or you could ask them to use a water-based product. My experience is, however, that professionals are reluctant to use finishes they have no experience with because they cannot guaranteed results.

I’ve been happy using Rust Oleum 6032 VOC Varathane Interior Polyurethane (which was recommended to me by the cabinetmaker who made my kitchen cabinets in California), which is a water-based polyurethane, and also wood finishes from Vermont Natural Coatings.

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Question from cindysimone

My daughter had rugs installed in the basement of her new home. I am so worried about my grandchildren (1 yr. and 3 yrs. old) playing down there. There is a strong odor. Is there anything that can be done ‘after the fact’? Do I need to find out the specs of the rug, first?

I am running my Austin Air Healthmate HEPA air purifier down there now.

Thank you so much!

Cindy

Debra’s Answer

You can apply AFM Carpet Seal. This is a clear odorless sealant that seals in the carpet odors.

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Question from mcy9@hotmail.com

I am having a reaction to the new hot water tank. Would appreciate any information to help me figure out why I am having a reaction.

Debra’s Answer

Readers, anyone had a similar reaction?

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Question from Donna L

I’m confused. I read a while back that washing clothes in vinegar removes flame retardants. Today, I read that vinegar actually helps to keep fire retardants in tact. Do you know if either is the case or if there is any way to wash flame retardants out of clothes? I have a four year old and even though I make sure his clothes, bed linens, etc. are 100% cotton, I’ve been washing all new purchases in vinegar…just in case. Thank you!

Debra’s Answer

I haven’t read either about flame retardants.

My understanding is that flame retardants cannot be removed from clothing. They are designed to make the fabric flame retardant for the life of the fabric, to conform with federal flammability laws.

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Question from katier

Hello,

We are getting ready to refinish the oak hardwood floors throughout our entire house and have found the comments on your website to be extremely helpful. Thank you.

In our research we have come across products by a company called EcoProcote, but I haven’t seen any discussion about these products on your site (unless I missed them) and haven’t been able to find too many reviews on the web. Any feedback that you’ve received on the true eco-friendliness of these products for hardwood floors and also on durability?

I have seen mixed reviews on AFM products as well as those by Vermont Natural Coatings — some people love and some not so much…

Also, in your readers’ experiences, is any hardwood floor refinisher able to use these green products? We are having trouble finding someone who is willing to use one of these products since they haven’t used them in the past.

Many thanks!

Debra’s Answer

I don’t have any experience with EcoProcote. Readers?

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Question from karen b

I am looking for a new apt because the waterproofing chemicals recently applied to my apt building are making me very sick. I have seen some nice apts but all have synthetic carpeting which will also make me sick. What is the best alternative I might use to replace the synthetic carpet at a new place? I have done a little research into linoleum and it seems to have an acrylic sealant (a no no) and also I have read that natural linoleum has strong fumes. Cork, I have read, contains binders in it such as formaldehyde and urea melamine. So I am looking for suggestion and ideas. Thank you.

Debra’s Answer

My preferred floorings are prefinished solid wood laid with yellow woodworker’s glue, ceramic tile, or stone.

Readers, what do you like?

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Question from Miemiemuis

I am trying to find safety information regarding the InfraChef oven. It uses a halogen light to cook with. It has a glass base that you put the food in and the light sits on top. Thanks for your input.

Debra’s Answer

I don’t see anything toxic about the glass part that the food comes in contact with. But it does have a plastic top. I don’t have any experience with this oven, so can’t advise if there might be some offgassing from the plastic.

Readers, any experience with this oven?

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Question from Alison

UPDATE 2/1/11

One of my readers contacted an attorney about filing a class action lawsuit, and they are interested. Here is a message from the attorney, inviting you to contact them with your problems with Natura paint:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hi Debra and readers,

I have MCS and am trying to find a safe interior paint that is also high quality and durable. Benjamin Moore’s new paint “Natura” has been recommended to me. Any experience with this?

The possible hazardous substances listed on the MSDS are: Titanium Dioxide, Kaolin, Amorphous Silica, Nepheline Syenite, and Diatonaceous Earth.

Debra’s Answer

UPDATE 5/14/10

Originally I wrote that none of the ingredients listed above were hazardous, however, I then began receiving comments (see below) that readers were having trouble with this paint.

Today I received an email from a reader saying:

Apparently that’s the solution.

I personally haven’t tried this Natura paint yet, but if you have used it and have a problem with it, contact your local store and have them contact the manufacturer for this fix.

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Question from -E-

I came across the EPA’s website Design For The Environment Label and was wondering what your thoughts were on the products they have listed? Thanks for your advice!

Debra’s Answer

The EPA’s Design for the Environment program allows manufacturers to put the DfE label on household and commercial products, such as cleaners and detergents, that meet stringent criteria for human and environmental health.

Their Alternatives Assessments Program helps industries choose safer chemicals by providing an in-depth comparison of potential human health and environmental impacts of the chemicals they currently use or plan to use. For situations in which safer chemicals have yet to be identified as viable substitutes, their Best Practices Program shows workers how to protect themselves and their communities’ health by using chemicals safely and minimizing exposures.

List of products approved to carry the DfE seal

One good thing about this program is that the manufacturers are required to submit the complete product formulation information. All ingredients are reviewed to ensure that the potential environmental and human health effects of prod ucts and ingredients are accurately and adequately identified. Applicants must report all ingredients intentionally added to the formulation, regardless of percentage. This is important because current law does not require disclosing to the public all ingredients of many hazardous products, such as cleaning products, which makes them difficult to evaluate. So seeing this seal, you know that all the ingredients have been considered.

I did spend some time looking for the standards they use when evaluating these ingredients. I went to DfE’s Standard and Criteria for Safer Chemical Ingredients expecting to find maybe a list of acceptable chemicals, and what I found were documents with a lot of references to other documents and requirements for toxicity tests.

Just from this quick look it appears to me that the difference between their approach and my personal approach is that I’m looking for products that clearly have tried-and-true safe ingredients, like soap, for example. It appears at first glance that what this program is looking for is products made with safer industrial chemicals.

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Question from joyinjesus

I have MCS, and my husband bought me a 100% cotton bathrobe, which I wanted. It is white (he said it was the only color in my size at the store he went to). My whites don’t tend to stay nice and white, so I was thinking I would dye it. Then I realized that dye might be toxic. Is there a non-toxic way to dye a white terry cloth cotton bathrobe? Thank you very much for your help.

Debra’s Answer

I have never dyed anything myself personally, but I did research dyes quite a bit some years ago.

I wouldn’t use regular dye, and even natural dyes have toxic elements in the fixatives.

Readers, any experience and advice with this?

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