Question from Kelly

Debra,

A friend asked me last night about what to use to remove the mineral deposit build up around her kitchen faucets that are surrounded by granite. I see by other postings here that vinegar is not an option. Do you or your readers have any suggestions for a non-toxic way to remove this build up? I’m at a loss as soaking in vinegar has been my faithful way to do this on my porcelain sinks/tubs.

Thanks for the help.

Debra’s Answer

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Question from Linda

Help — a new hair stylist “forgot” my just-stated request for ‘no styling products’ and slathered my hair with a perfume-containing lotion. Thirteen hours and seven washes later I am still ill from the odor and moreso from the taste left in my mouth. Anyone have ideas on how to get this tenacious fragrance out of my hair — without hurting my hair or scalp any more than seven shampoos (with fragrance-free products of course).

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Question from Susan Spann

My dog needs a good multivitamin high in iron and fiber. But the one the vet sells is too expensive whilst the one we purchased at another chain store makes me sneeze. I have multiple allergies-food, environmental, contact and chemical! Are there animal vitamins without yeast, wheat, dairy or whatever is causing my sneezing fits in them? Thank you!

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Question from Clare

This may be too late to be of help to the person who asked this question back in 2007, but it might help others who are still wondering about Bon Ami. I too have noticed, in the past 3 – 4 years, an odor coming from Bon Ami; it seemed to be a chemical/perfumy smell (I am chemically sensitive, so this was quite disturbing), so I checked the ingredients and went on the website to see if anything had changed – but there was no indication of any change in contents.

I did finally discover the source of the smell. It’s from perfume chemicals(specifically, from the detergent aisle where it’s usually located) in whatever store the Bon Ami is sold in; the very active molecules of the chemical perfumes are absorbed quite readily through the paper seal on top of the canister and then into the powder; it may even get through the cardboard that the canister is made of, but the absorption through the top is more than enough to contaminate the product. I’ve found this problem in nearly every grocery store that I’ve shopped in, even health food stores (from scented candles & soaps). The fragrance chemicals are absorbed and/or coat everything that’s in the same space, including produce (so much for buying organic!)

My solution is to purchase as much as I can from online or order in bulk; I’ve recently found Bon Ami for $1.17 each, or $13.99 for 12, from Ace Hardware, although it remains to be seen (or rather, smelled!) whether or not it is odor-free.

Hope this helps someone!

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Question from Mary

In order to block out city and neighbor’s lights, I have hung cotton canvas drapes and a valance in the bedroom, and then attached two layers of fabric with safety pins. This arrangement is very heavy and bulky, so they don’t open very wide in the daytime, and then when it’s time to shake the dust out, I have to unpin and repin the layers to the draperies.

I’d like to find something easier to work with. If I have to pin something to the fabric, I’d like it to be only one layer. I am wondering about using barrier cloth. Would one layer block out light?

I have seen ads for drapes with an acrylic foam backing. I’m wondering how bad they smell and if I would need to wash them first. Is there anything else out there besides acrylic?

I live in an apartment, and I don’t particularly want to get involved with blinds. I would consider using a second set of curtains or drapes on a second rod, rather than two layers that are attached.

Debra’s Answer

I found some black cotton curtains at Target a couple of years ago. I think they still sell them. We get the morning sun in our bedroom, so use them in the morning if we want to sleep in. It doesn’t make the room pitch black, but does block a lot of the light.

I like your two sets of curtains idea. That’s what they do in hotels. You could use two sets of cotton or linen curtains.

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Question from shelley

Hi,

I had my basement painted with DRY-LOC waterproofing paint and I need to know how long to wait before bringing my parrots back into the house.

I am also having my ducts cleaned after removing molded paneling and floors down there before I run the furnace again.

Any experience and/or wisdom from avian experts out there? I want to be sure that I don’t hurt my flock.

Thanks,

Shelley

Debra’s Answer

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Question from Denise Cueba

I’m looking to buy a bed for my 70 lb. German Shepherd. I was hoping to find something organic but my main concern is that it does not have anything toxic in it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Debra’s Answer

I would choose a pet bed with an organic cotton cover and natural fiber fill.

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Question from charlotte

I’ve been elected to make Thanksgiving dinner this year and was wondering if anyone has experience using the Reynolds oven bags and if they are safe to use. The box doesn’t state what they are made of, so it makes me wonder, especially with all the bad stuff we’ve learned about plastics lately? I think if it works like it says it does, it would save on the soap and water necessary for clean-up after a traditional roasting.

Debra’s Answer

I wasn’t able to find out what they are made of either.

I wouldn’t heat my food in an unknown plastic in the oven.

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Question from Gigi

We will be laying down Bellawood hardwood flooring with nails.

We will be laying down Exterior grade plywood over the top of an existing plywood subfloor. This is located over a crawlspace. The old tar paper has to come up. What we need to know what are our options regarding a moisture barrier? I read that the exterior grade plywood is considered a moisture repellant, according to wikipedia. Does this mean we can bypass placing tar paper between the plywood? Do I need a tar paper moisture barrier if I use exterior grade plywood underlayment? If we have to use tar paper, then what can we do to minimize the off-gassing?

Debra’s Answer

This question is a little more technical than I have experience with. I’ve laid a lot of hardwood floors, but never needed to use a moisture barrier.

I wouldn’t use tar paper. Can you use Tyvek? This is a plastic but it is very nontoxic.

Readers, what moisture barriers have you used under wood floors?

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Question from Lucy Hemmendinger

I am having my attic insulated through a state program that will save me a lot of money. The contractors use blown in insulation, I believe made from recycled paper that may have ink on it. My concern is that when further work is done in the attic such as installing a ridge vent or removing mold, that the cellulose will be disturbed and tracked into the living space. It seems that any time a person went into the attic that they would track or spill some of the cellulose.

I am not sure if this is healthy insulation to have in the attic. it will be sitting on top of the existing traditional fiberglass insulation. I am also not sure how risky it would be if a bit of the dust tracked or trickled into the living space.

Does any one have experience with blown in insulation?

What are the risks, if any?

Lucy

Debra’s Answer

I know there are some readers out there who know more about insulation than I do. So I’ll leave this answer to them.

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