Question from Lauren

Debra,

I recently bought my first set of organic cotton sheets, and found out what so many were saying about the odor was true. I too, could not tolerate the smell. I tried adding boiling water to my wash, baking soda, washing soda and milk, as some other suggested, to no avail. What finally worked for me was fresh lemon juice. I used 4 lemons, cut them in half, squeezed the juice out and poured it into my wash. For good measure, I decided to throw in the lemon halfs – what the heck! I lined dried them sheets and found that the odor was gone, and for me I was now able to tolerate them. I haven’t tried lemon juice for other odors, but I intend to.

Lauren

Debra’s Answer

Yay! Thanks for the solution to a problem I know many are having.

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Question from RBES

I have a few items that I need to take to the cleaners & I’d like to take it to an environmentally friendly one. There are several in my area that claim to be “enviromentally friendly”. How do I know if their claim is true or just “green washing”? Do they have to be certified or are there some key questions that I can ask? I’d appreciate any light you can shed on the subject. Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

I have just the website for you: Green Cleaners Council.

Their website states, “The Green Cleaners Council counts the many ways a professional dry cleaner can be ‘green’ by providing cleaners and consumers with defined environmental sustainability benchmarks to judge them by… We afford consumers a verifiable mechanism for judging how GREEN their cleaner is, while giving professional cleaners a vehicle to herald their genuine environmental accomplishments and strategies to help them achieve their green goals for the future.”

They certify dry cleaning establishments that meet their criteria and have a list of certified cleaners on their website.

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Question from Laura

Other than smacking them, I mean. My home, indoors, has a mosquito problem.

Does anybody know something safe that can be done to get rid of them?

Thanks very…(‘scuse me, scratching)…much.

Debra’s Answer

My friend Linda highly recommends Nature’s Defender Cedar Oil products. She gave me a sample this afternoon and I used it in my most mosquito-fllled environment: my chlorine-free swimming pool.

Just to give you an idea of what the mosquito population is like here in Florida…most everyone who has a pool also has in enclosed in a screened room to keep out the bugs. We don’t have any screen, and every time I go in the pool, I also have to battle the mosquitoes. We have several ways of dealing with them, such as citronella candles, but ours are all burned down at the moment.

So I sprayed the cedar oil on my hair (it’s a very fine, non-greasy mist) and I watched the mosquitoes fly right up to my body and stop without landing and biting. I sprayed my husband’s hair too, and he had no bites. I also had no bites from walking through the garden, which usually results in at least half a dozen bites. This stuff really works. (I should add that we walk in the pool, we don’t swim, so our heads and shoulders are above water at all times.)

I have to tell you that it does smell like cedar wood. But it’s not even as strong as most herbal repellents I’ve tried.

This company makes a whole variety of cedar repellants, for personal protection, pets, and farm animals. They have cedar oil sprays in various concentration for different uses, and red cedar granules that can be used indoors or out to repel repel fleas, mosquitos, roaches, scorpions, flies, no-see-ums–even venomous snakes–with no effect on beneficial insects such as butterflies and pollinating bees. Kills bedbugs, eliminates fire ant mounds, handles head lice…it’s pretty amazing stuff.

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Question from Laura

Is there a healthier version of “Ensure” for those whose digestive system won’t tolerate food at this time? Are there topical forms of nuttition? Thank you.

Debra’s Answer

I’m glad you are looking for an alternative.

Here are the typical ingredients (ingredients vary according to flavor:

Water (UD), Sugar (Sucrose), Sodium, Calcium Caseinates, Maltodextrin (Corn), High Oleic Safflower Oil, Soy Protein Isolate, Soy Oil, Canola Oil, Cocoa Powder (Processed with Alkali), Soy Lecithin, Natural & Artificial Flavor, Carrageenan.

To this are added the Vitamins & Minerals: Potassium Citrate, Calcium Phosphate Tribasic, Sodium Citrate, Magnesium Chloride, Magnesium Phosphate Dibasic, Salt (Sodium chloride), Choline Chloride, Ascorbic Acid, Ferric Phosphate, Alpha Tocopherol Acetate, Zinc Sulfate, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Cupric Sulfate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Thiamine Chloride Hydrochloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Chromium Chloride, Biotin, Sodium Molybdate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenate, Phylloquinone, Vitamin D3, Cyanocobalamin.

It’s basically a multivitamin and protein powder mixed with a lot of refined sugar, refined oil, soy, and artificial flavor.

A healthier option would be great to know about.

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Question from Rose Pignolet

Hi, Debra.

First of all thank you for your work on the web site. I love it!

I have a question about garden vegetables. I know now that garden hose contain lots of chemicals including lead. We just moved in to new home with garden which was watered by unsafe garden hose for years, now I have children who will eat this veggies and bought new lead toxin free drinking water safe garden hose, but I thought what if dirt is contaminated with toxin by years of watering. Is it still there? Is it going to be in the new veggies? If so, What can I do to minimize it? Please let me know if you know anything. (should I dig out dirt and put organic dirt in? Which will be very expensive…)

Thank you for your help

Sincerely,

Rose

Debra’s Answer

Anyone have any thoughts on this or know of any studies?

Question from Aimee

Proof is coming to light that bamboo fabric is NOT ‘green’…Four bamboo fabric processing companies

www.treehugger.com/files/2009/08/bamboo-ftc.php?dcitc=daily_nl

Debra’s Answer

Please follow this link to read the FTC’s viewpoint on bamboo fabric claims.

I’m hoping that this won’t be the end of bamboo fabrics, as bamboo is a renewable resource. I’d like to see this all get straightened out, have the manufacturing process improved, and have bamboo fabric be a viable green product.

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Question from Carol

I was wondering if your pans are still living up to your expectations after having used them for awhile. I was looking to buy one for cooking eggs but noticed a lot of negative reviews after people used them for a few months. Thanks. I really appreciate your efforts.

Carol

Debra’s Answer

I have two (different sizes) and I still love them. But remember, I only use them for cooking eggs, so I haven’t used them as much as other might.

What kind of negative comments are being made, and where? If I know your specific concerns, I can tell you my experience.

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Question from Kathy

Hi,

For 6 years I have been waiting for my sunroom to outgas or offgas enough that I can find it bearable to use without 9 windows open and a box fan running as an exhaust system through one of the windows. I often smell plastic smells and a chlorine type odor.

The MSDS sheets on everything make it sound wonderful, but that has not been my experience, as I have a burning throat, headaches, and trouble breathing if ever the windows are shut. Is it really legal in this country to sell a room like this? Must I really be out $15,000 and tear it down? There are expanded polystyrene walls which supposedly do not offgas, although I have my doubts.

I am less concerned with the formaldehyde containing wood products, as I have never been bothered longterm by them before, although maybe without adequate ventilation that could be an issue also. I have attempted to cover the vinyl wallcovering with Hard Seal and shellac, neither of which can stop the odor. I don’t know the voc’s which could be involved in vinyl wallcovering, and how toxic they might be. Finally they used a Vulkem 116 caulk which smells awful even after 6 years. I painted over it, but still the smell is emitted. Any ideas? I have a bruised head from banging my head against the wall for 6 years trying to fix this. Many thanks.

Kathy

Debra’s Answer

It sounds like your sunroom is made with some pretty toxic materials. I’m not surprised you are having difficulty with it. Eventually, it will outgas, but I can’t tell you how long that will take. If I were in your shoes, I’d probably tear it down.

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Question from SP

Hi! I have tried following masks to prevent chemical odors when I go out but in turn They irritated my nose and caused pain:

3m 8577 mask, I can breath mask(honey com mask carbon filter filter mask, 3m big silicon mask for protect from chemicals.

Are there any good mcs mask works well?

Debra’s Answer

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Question from chris

What are some good remedies can help alleviate Orthostatic Postural Tachycardia Syndrome even if temporarily so I can accomplish basic tasks? I can barely get out of bed to do anything anymore because I can’t stand up straight and I’m too dizzy to.

Does anyone have any tips? I have successfully used remedies for eliminating or controlling many severe symptoms but I’m at a loss here. I’m desperate as I often find myself without food because I can’t go grocery shopping. Last time I was very dizzy from several days lack of food.

Doctors have been notoriously unhelpful or harmful. What kind of doctor should an MCS patient see? Particularly for treating this particular syndrome, please. I’m at the end of my rope. Thanks.

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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