Question from Jan harris

I scrubbed my concrete floor with trisodium phosphate–as advised by an “expert.” Now I can’t get rid of the strong detergent like smell. Can you give me some advice on what will help?

THANKS

Debra’s Answer

I suspect you used the wrong product. Trisodium phosphate (TSP) has no odor–it is a salt.

Many years ago there was only one TSP, now I’ve noticed there are other products called TSP with other ingredients.

I suggest lots of rinsing.

Add Comment

Question from joseph

Hi Debra,

I am enjoying your newsletter. It is very informative.

Does anyone have tips and past experience on how to outgas the interior of a new car with cloth seats and carpet…quickest and most efficient way I have MCS.

thank you

Joseph

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

Add Comment

Question from WJW

Making new friends or hiring any home help – from a plumber to a cleaning person is always difficult. I have explain and educate about the scent in self-care and laundry products and often supply them with new products (expensive!) Many people are emotionally attached to their products and are not interested or even offended. Those who are willing to work with me rarely get it right even after many trys. The worst is that now with molecularly binding laundry products the scent cannot be washed out. (Well, 5-10 washingings and drying in the very hot summer sun only will do it on natural fibers for me.)

It is not hard for one to control what one uses – but others is a different story. Last summer I had some new doors installed and it was the contractor and his help that reeked not the builing materials! Now I need my kitchen done – oouch! Anyone have anything to share about how they deal with this? Full body coveralls?!?!

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

Add Comment

Question from PJ

Dear Debra,

Your article on Building for MCS mentioned “passive ventilation” in homes, in addition to open windows. Our home is designed without a duct system. Are there options for ventilation, that don’t depend on a duct system? Thank you for your help.

Debra’s Answer

That mention of passive ventilation was in a quote from Mary Cordaro (h3environmental.com), who is much more knowledgeable about ventilation options than I am. She is a consultant to people with MCS and is well trained in building science and ventilation systems.

I open my window

Add Comment

Question from Sara

Hello Debra,

I thank you for your helpful site.Would you or any of your readers know of sources for non metal eyeglass frames? I’ve had a hard time finding these. Metals are receptors for emfs and emrs. Tia.

Debra’s Answer

I think you are asking for frames that contain NO metal parts, right? Because you can get plastic frames almost anywhere.

Readers, any suggestions?

Add Comment

Question from rendi

We rent so I cannot make structural changes) and I’m a single mom that stays with her all day to help with her treatment and recovery. She has numerous medical conditions that I know are caused by environmental toxins; autism, EGID, and systemic endocrine disorder. I’ve switched all food to organic, installed Reverse Osmosis water in all rooms, switched all bedding and her bed to organic and natural latex, and removed ALL plastic from her bedroom and kitchen (except air purifier) and the rest of the house 75% plastic free too. However, I really need a bed frame and cannot even begin to afford an all natural one after the cost of the rest of the stuff. I was hoping to buy a market bed and paint it to seal any toxins. I am also trying to reduce the off-gassing of my commercial mattress, as I have to save up for an eco-friendly one of my own after buying my daughters.

Love your site. I’m on my way out to buy your book to carry around for easier reference when shopping. Do you make a pocket version of quick tips for shopping? If not, it would be a great resource for eco-friendly folks.

Debra’s Answer

“Sealants” and “paints” do not seal in toxins unless they are specifically designed to do so. They may seal in some vapors, but not all. AFM Enterprises makes a “vapor barrier” sealant that blocks fumes, but check with them to make sure it can be used on all these different materials.

Fabric, organic or otherwise, does not reduce offgassing exposure. Gasses go right between the threads. There is a special very-fnely-woven fabric called “barrier cloth” that blocks offgassing to some degree. You can purchase it at various sites on the internet.

The major household items I recommend replacing to reduce toxic exposure are all outlined in my book Home Safe Home.

Add Comment

Question from Cheryl

Hi all,

I am trying to purchase a metal daybed for our guest room and am desperately needing advice about the two twin mattress.

I want the least toxic option, but the prices are through the roof. This will be slept on currently as a guest bed (not too often and for short periods, also the guests we would be having are completely unconcerned about these issues and buy standard mattresses themselves.

However, I would like to use it daily to sit on while writing or doing crafts, reading etc., because it will double as my hobby room, so there will be contact but the mattress at this point will have bedding on it.

Do you think I can feel reasonably safe, for these purposes, with a Serta or Sealy that claims they do not use PBDEs, or flame retardants other than Kevlar, cotton barrier fabrics and boric acid? Should I be concerned with any toxins from this type of mattress merely being emitted into the air, just by it being a piece of furniture in our home?

My husband and I do not seem bothered by smells in products we purchase, however, our concern is more avoiding carcinogenics or neuro disruptors etc. over the long term exposure. Also, we do not have children, but would this pose an issue if we did, even if they weren’t sleeping on the mattress? I am desperately hoping you can help me with this large and important purchase. Thank you!

Debra’s Answer

Outgassing mattresses will outgass into the room they are in. Bedding does not reduce this. Yes, this would affect children in the room.

I can’t tell you the safety of a Serta or Sealy mattress unless you tell me the specific model you are considering. What you describe sounds fine, but the brand-name mattresses I’ve looked at often have other materials in them too.

If what you want to do is avoid carcinogens and neuro disruptors, then you need to choose a mattress made from all natural materials, or choose a model and find out ALL the materials used so they can be evaluated for these potential toxins.

Add Comment

Question from Katie

Hello out there,

I am just raring to get outside and take in the coming spring weather, after a 5-month-long intense Minnesota winter! All the snow melting sure makes for a muddy spring, though. Does anyone with MCS know of a source of natural rubber shoes?

Thank you!

Katie

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

Add Comment

Question from Bonnie Johnson

Dear Debra and readers

I moved to Michigan 5 years ago from California and started a remodel of an older home with my fiance. Having an auto immune disease and the meds required to control it must have set off a MCS reaction and I was very sick for a couple of years.

I moved out of that house and in with my mom who also has an older home. It was built in 1939. There are old carpets, dirty vents and much needed painting projects along with a small kitchen upgrade to complete. I have Hunter air purifiers all over that handle dust and pollen but not sure they could handle a remodel.

My question is where do I start to improve. I have my MCS somewhat under control but could be much better if I could get this old house fixed. There are covered hardwood floors throughout the home. I want to avoid ripping carpets and painting all at one time. Which would be better for my MCS? Do I go for the carpets first? My budget is small so I would welcome any ideas on where to get the biggest bang for my buck as I stumble through this project.

Thanks

Bonnie Johnson

Debra’s Answer

I think you are on the right track with removing the carpets first. Then do the painting. It will cost less to remove the carpets and will improve air quality.

Add Comment

Question from shelley

I appreciated your article on unrefined cane sugar, but I am still a little confused by the terminology. Are you saying that the brand names Rapadura, Sucanat and Alter Eco Ground Cane Sugar are the sugars that you recommend and are calling “unrefined cane sugar”?

Because you also say under “Evaporated Cane Juice”, when you describe the processing, that it produces a powder, not a crystal, and this is what you recommend as “unrefined cane sugar”.

What color is this powder?

Are you calling Sucanat a powder? I don’t think of Sucanat or the other brands you mentioned above as a powder because they are so grainy. You also said this “powder” is ground very fine and sold as organic powdered sugar.

In my natural foods store, evaporated cane juice is sold in bulk as a white (slightly greyish)powder, nothing like Sucanat. If Sucanat were ground to a fine powder it would still be brown, nothing like organic powdered sugar.

I am writing a cookbook and these definitions are very important to me also. I would appreciate the clarification.

Debra’s Answer

Rapadura and Sucanat are sugars I am calling “unrefined cane sugar.” I have no experience with Alter Eco Ground Cane Sugar so I can’t speak to that.

I used to call Rapadura and Sucanat “evaporated cane juice” but that term is now widely misused, so I chose “unrefined cane sugar.”

What I mean by “unrefined cane sugar” is a powder that is NOT crystallized, but simple the juice from the sugar cane with the water evaporated out. The powder is about the color of refined brown sugar.

I am calling Sucanat a powder. Yes, it is grainy, but in comparison to crystallized sugar, it is a powder. When ground very fine and sold as organic powdered sugar, it is an off white, it is not still brown. If you make icing out of organic powdered sugar and refined powdered sugar and put them side by side, you will see how brown it is.

Add Comment