Question from Melissa

I am trying to reduce our usage of chemicals in and around the house. I have been making my own cleaners and laundry soap, but it bothers me that we still use chlorine in our above ground swimming pool. Does anyone have experience with salt water chlorinators?

Debra’s Answer

I don’t have first-hand experience with this, as we decided against using one. It’s still chlorine, but made from salt instead of pouring it in the pool from a bottle.

We have a chlorine-free pool that uses hydrogen peroxide to keep the water sparkling clear.

Readers, anyone have experience with salt-water chlorinators?

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Question from TR

A friend told me to avoid buying an exterior door made out of fiberglass because fiberglass gives off a permanent odor. Is this true?

Debra’s Answer

I don’t have any experience with fiberglass exterior doors. Readers?

My exterior door is steel and completely nontoxic.

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Question from Zi Pinsley

I’m exploring the use of Ozone as a fumigant to rid my home of clothes moths. They seem to be everywhere — hiding behind bookcases, armchairs, etc. Forget cedar, lavender, chemical pesticides. This is too overwhelming.

If I can find something which eliminates them, I’m considering running a UV bug zapper in each clothes closet. What do you think?

Thanks,

Zi

Debra’s Answer

I’m a little confused by your question. It sounds like you are wanting to use ozone to kill clothes moths, but then you ask about using a UV bug zapper. These are two different machines.

I’m not sure either would accomplish eliminating clothes moths.

The moths you see flying around are not the moths that eat your clothes. Two varieties of clothes moths cause damage. They are too small to notice and are not drawn to light like other varieties. It is the larvae of these moths that eat fabric, not the moths themselves.

Instructions for storing and maintaining clothing properly to prevent damage from moths are on pages 152 and 153 in my book Home Safe Home.

I personally have used UV bug zappers and they work quite well. Moths are attracted to them. It would probably work to rid your home of visible moths, but if you have moths eating your clothes, it probably will not solve that problem.

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Question from Mary

Hi Debra,

I have been buying cotton sheets, etc., from The Company Store catalog for 10-15 years. I believe I initally learned about the store from one of your books. My experience with shopping from the catalog has always been positive. Not so the website.

In May I placed an order online and at check out there was an offer for coupon for saving money on my next order. I next remember receiving a coupon from Complete Savings by email. About that time I also noticed that I began receiving between 25 and 50 spam emails a day, whereas I had been getting about 3.

Two days ago I received my credit card bill and there was a $12 charge from Complete Savings. My assistant contacted both firms by telephone. They said I had agreed to a monthly charge of $12 but they would cancel it and refund the $12. Their story of how this all happened did not check out with what I recall.

So I ordered an $8 towel online so I could see how this happened. Once you choose a coupon (rather than “no thank you”) you go to a long webpage at the Complete Savings.com website and it already has your credit card number. If you read the very small print, and this would print out to be a couple of pages, except that I couldn’t make it print out, you find you have agreed to a monthly charge for a membership.

I was probably in a hurry at the time of the first order, but I do not remember seeing anything like this page, so I wonder if first time orders are different.

Debra’s Answer

Readers, please note that this post is not about the quality of product or customer service of the website mentioned, but a widespread practice of adding another offer at the end of your order.

I approved it for posting because I have gone through this myself and want to alert you about it.

When you get to the end of your order and are offered these savings coupons or similar offers, resist temptation and just click through to complete your order. They are buying clubs that don’t sell green products. They will charge your credit card every month until you cancel.

I’m not talking about when a company gives you an offer to buy another of their own products as you are completing an order, but when you are given an offer that takes you outside the realm of the company. Just read it carefully.

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Question from Leslie Adams

HI Debra- I did pull the books out this morning and have them here – will list them out.

1. Twinkie, Deconstructed: My Journey to Discover How the Ingredients Found in Processed Foods Are Grown, Mined (Yes, Mined), and Manipulated into What America Eats, by Steve Ettlinger. This was MOST disturbing and the first I had read and learned about how our foods are manufactured, including vitamins. I have yellow sticking throughout this book – Ch 4 has the most – this was a very disturbing book to read…pg 31 I have marked as explaining role of China in vitamin industry. Am sure there are other references but am trying to get this done before the kids arrive! The ENTIRE book is worthy of your reading – yikes!

2.Genetically Engineered Food: A Self-Defense Guide for Consumers – by Ronnie Cummins and Ben Lilliston. It includes very important info on GMO (which is not required even as yet, to be labeled on foods – YIKES – and includes not only pertinent info on the industry itself, but what to buy and how to shop wisely. Again, many yellow stickies in this book!

3. The End of Food: How the Food Industry is Destroying Our Food Supply–And What We Can Do About It, by Thomas F. Pawlick – again, I have yellow stickies throughout – ch 5 I think is very important, and second part of book gives “Solutions”.

4. Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser. VERY interesting and enlightening – again, YIKES. Lots of yellow stickies in this one also.

I also have three books on food not read yet – but here they are, strongly recommended for me to read due to reactions to things like canola oil (rapeseed – genetically modified entirely now, for food industry – CANOLA OIL – it was GM to begin with because the rapeseed itself gave many people who used it bad cardiac irregularities – some acid in it – now GM to be a lower level and cause fewer problems. However, many remain sensitive to it – and one local bakery told me that he doesn’t know of ANY bakeries here who DON’T use it – because Canola oil allows all that is in it to remain well in suspension, not separating out – it is great for baking! Well, not great for me as it gives me premature ventricular contractions (PVC’s) when I eat anything with that in it!!)

Debra’s Answer

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Question from HG

Debra,

I was wondering if there is any way to test whether my carpet is still off-gassing. We have carpet in our apartment that is approximately 15 months old. After learning about the harmful effects of carpet off-gassing I decided to start looking at new apartments to rent. We live in Miami and have found that the majority of apartment units in our neighborhood are either fully carpeted or are partially carpeted, and the other primary flooring option seems to be marble (rather than hard wood which is what I wanted). Our only concern regarding marble is that we have a newborn baby and I am concerned about her slipping and hitting her head on the marble floor as she learns to crawl and walk. Therefore, I am trying to weigh the harm of carpet off-gassing against the harm of possible slips on marble. Do you know if there is any way we could find out if our carpet is still off-gassing or if it might be safe to remain in the apartment that we are currently in? Any insight would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know of a do-it-yourself test for carpet outgassing. It usually has an odor if it is outgassing, but the odor could diminish and it could still be outgassing.

Also, there is something called “olifactory fatigue” which means that your nose can stop smelling an odor, but it can still be present. So you can’t really rely on your nose in your own living space. Your nose would be more reliable if you were away from your home for a few days.

Readers, anyone know of an outgassing test for carpets?

There are indoor air quality specialist who can come in and measure with instruments, but this costs thousands of dollars.

I would say, offhand, that your carpet is still outgassing after 15 months. It takes years, depending on the carpet and the conditions.

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Question from Suzanne Ferris

Hi Debra,

So happy to have found you, love your website.

I purchased a sofa and love seat from Jennifer Convertibles. Right from the start the most horrible odor and worse, allegic reactions, itchy, coughing, etc. I finally got them to remove it after 2 weeks and thankfully have gotten my money back but it took a lot of effort.

Most of the odor is gone, (after 5 weeks out of my house) and the allergic problems are better but still there. I’ve had the windows and doors opened almost 12 hours each day, plus 3 fans. How can I totally get rid of the smell and allergic problems. I’m very concerned about what I have been exposed to.

Thanks for any and all help.

Suzanne Ferris

Debra’s Answer

You’re doing it.

The way to remove odors is to 1) ventilate and 2) use heat. Since you are ventilating and having success with that, continue. If you want to, close everything up and turn up your central heat as high as it will go (remove people, plants, and pets). That will help, too.

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Question from Lisa

I have two twin mattresses that have urine smells from a previous bed wetter. I still need to use these mattresses if possible. Do you know of anything I can use to remove the smell? I have tried a natural enzyme spray, along with sunshine, that has not worked.

Any advice anyone has would be much appreciated. I really don’t want to have to throw these mattresses away.

Thanks.

Debra’s Answer

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Question from Marcia

Hi Debra:

My neighbor who has had lung surgies and pulmonary issues for many years along with asthma recently got some new Ikea furniture for her bedroom. She also got a Chinese screen made out of painted white wood from another company. So that makes a big dresser, a round table by the bed and the Chinese screen all installed in her bedroom in one day. She immediatley got an asthma attack and has not been able to sleep in the bedroom for almost a week now. She did remove the chinese screen and put it in her garage, but the other furniture is too heavy for her to move herself, so it’s still in her bedroom. She wanted me to ask you if in your opinion you feel it will outgas in a fairly short time, or do you think she should get rid of it?

I told her that I would write you about it. My thoughts are that she needs to get it out of her house and garage immediately.

We would appreciate your suggestions Debra and of course from any of the readers. Right now she’s sleeping downstairs in her place on an old blow-up bed!

Thanks so much!

Debra’s Answer

I think she should get rid of it. In my experience, it takes quite a while for furniture to outgas.

I think she should get some help to remove the new furniture from her bedroom, air out the bedroom and move back in.

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Question from Susan

I am remodeling 2 bathrooms and I want to make sure I am doing it as least toxic as possible. I have a small child with special needs who does not have a strong immune system.

My contractor told me he typically uses Tec Full Flex (latex modified thin set mortar) for floors and Tec Double Duty (ceramic tile adhesive for walls & floors) for walls. What are the least toxic alternatives to these products?

Also, what other products should I purchase and have on hand to ensure a safe remodel?

There are sooo many products out there so any and all advice is GREATLY appreciated!

Susan

Debra’s Answer

The most complete answer I can give you is to direct you to my ebook Debra’s Guide to Creating a Green Bathroom. It shows exactly what I did in my own bathroom to make it nontoxic and eco-friendly, including a list of all the brand name products I used.

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