Question from Deborah Barnett

Debra, Any advice on what to use on my new stove without scratching the top it is ceramic? Thanks Deborah in Tenn.

Debra’s Answer

Yes. I found the answer right here on this blog: Green cleaner for a ceramic cooktop.

There are more than 2000 questions and answers on this blog, the search box is in the upper right hand corner.

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Question from NMSlim

We have drilled a well on our property and now need to buy a water storage tank. The question is what kind of tank is the best. Our choice seems to be either a galvanized, or stainless steel. The price of stainless steel for a 1500 gallon tank is way to high. The galvanized is what seems to be the most affordable. This comes with or without an epoxy lining. Any thoughts on these for MCSs. I have learned so much from this site. Thank you

Debra’s Answer

I think I would go with the epoxy lining. Though epoxy is pretty toxic during application, once it is dry, I think it would have less liklihood of leaching than stainless steel or galvanized.

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Question from HEG

I have been using a cuisinart blender to cook my daughter’s food, most of which is hot when blended. I was under the impression that it was safe to use because of its glass jar. But it just occurred to me that there are many components that are plastic – the rubbery plastic part of the lid, the clear plastic part of the lid, the blade accessories and base. I am concerened that these parts may include BPA and PVC in particular. Do you or any of your readers know whether this may be a concern? Thank you.

Debra’s Answer

I’m not concerned. When I use a blender, I don’t blend the food for more than a minute, if that, and leaching needs contact time.

If your food is coming in contact with the plastic lid, you’re probably filling it too full.

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Question from HEG

Last week a plumber came to my house and applied the Polyseamseal all-purpose caulk to my kitchen sink as it had been leaking. The VOC content was <93 gr/L and the one hazardous ingredient was N-butyl acetate. A week later it still smells very stronger underneath my sink, and I am wondering if you have any suggestions to speed up the off-gassing and whether it could leach into any of the food in our kitchen? I am kicking myself for not demanding that he use the nontoxic sealant that i had previously purchased from chemlink for another job.

Debra’s Answer

Any volatile chemical in the air can be absorbed by food.

It probably still smelly strongly under your kitchen sink because it’s been all closed up for a week.

You can speed up the offgassing by using heat, but I’m a little hesitant to suggest you put a space heater in a cabinet and close it up when there is a chemical that may be flammable under the sink.

You need to ventilate the air out of that cabinet in some way that doesn’t have it go out into your kitchen.

Putting a fan in the cabinet would help the caulk cure faster, but heat would be best. Either way, you need to be able to get the fumes out of the cabinet without contaminating the kitchen.

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Question from joyinjesus

I have MCS and would like to travel. Which is better? An RV or a travel trailer? I am thinking that a trailer could be made safer than an RV. My husband would rather not have to pull a trailer. Which one could be made the safest with the least amount of work?

Also, what kind of outer material would be best? Aluminum, fiberglass, or porcelain? I would think that to be surrounded by aluminum might cause a problem with EMF’s. I don’t know anything about fiberglass as pertains to MCS.

Do you or your reader’s know if there is a brand that is the best (quality, and uses less toxic materials)?

Thank you for your help.

Debra’s Answer

I have no experience with this.

Readers?

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Question from Mayo

I found your ‘old’ blog with posts about safe wood preserving methods (Wood Conditioner for Cutting Boards and Bowls) and plan to try walnut oil. I’d like to add beeswax (neighbor is an organic beekeeper – yes!) however would like a guide on how much oil to how much beeswax. A rough estimate is fine. I live on an island accessible only by boat and finally found a place to send me walnut oil. I want to get it right the first time, so appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

Debra’s Answer

I’ve never made this.

Readers, any suggestions?

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Question from Angelique

Six months ago we had to remodel my home office. The new drywall was mudded with Murco M-100 and the walls were painted with Sherwin Williams Harmony. I’m not sure why, but I was not able to tolerate the room until now.

My husband is blaming the mud or the mud-paint combination. Murco M-100 is supposed to dry very fast, but he thinks it just didn’t cure. I have been in people’s houses that were painted with ordinary paints a few weeks afterwards and tolerated that better than this office.

We’re going to be doing more repairs to our home in the next few weeks, and I’m not sure what to tell the contractor to use. I am leaning toward telling him, “use any mud that you know dries quickly and completely.” I’m also not sure about the paint.

Debra’s Answer

Murco M-100 is fine and so is Sherwin Williams Harmony.

It sounds like the condition in the room are too dark or cold for these products to cure.

I would use the same products, but put a space heater in the room and close it up for a day to dry, after the mud, and then after the paint. Continue to heat, even if several days are needed, until you don’t smell anything and feel fine in the room. Air the room out after each heating before deciding if it’s done or not.

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Question from asmilansky

Hello,

I am confused as to what baking ware is safest and non toxic: cast iron, carbon steel, stainless steel (18/10, 18/8 or 18/0). I have been using mostly glass, but I am now shopping for a muffin pan and those are not available in glass.

Thank you.

Alex

Debra’s Answer

For a muffin pan, I suggest clay.

Here’s just one:

Search on “clay muffin pan.” Look for lead-free glaze or no glaze.

Cast iron would also be fine. Search on “cast iron muffin pan.”

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Question from audrey

Does anyone know of a non toxic or low odor spackle? If so, where can it be purchased? Thank you.

Debra’s Answer

There are two kinds of spackle: powdered and paste.

If the paste has too much of any odor, try the powdered, which you mix with water.

Either is made with gypsum powder (which is not toxic), and glue, which may or may not be toxic.

You could always get some gypsum powder and mix it with some nontoxic glue, such as Elmer’s woodworking glue. I’ve never tried this, but it is logical.

Over the years, we’ve used a lot of spackle as we’ve remodeled our houses. My husband usually buys the paste and we’ve never considered it to be toxic.

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The President’s Cancer Panel has issued a free 240-page report on Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: What We Can Do Now. I haven’t read it all myself yet, but it looks very comprehensive.

Chapters list exposures to carcinogens

• from industrial and manufacturing sources


• from agricultural sources


• related to modern lifestyles


• from medical sources


• from military sources


• from natural sources then tells what individuals can do to reduce their exposure.

“Environmental carcinogens are responsible for a far greater number of cancer than previously believed; thus eradicating these environmental threats should be a priority for President Obama, according to the report of a presidential advisory panel.” Read the rest of this article on the report at Cancer Panel Says Environment May Contribute to Cancer Risk.