Question from YH

Does steam cleaning makes the carpet outgas even more? I think hot temperature makes plastic outgas, right?

Debra’s Answer

Hot temperature does make plastic outgas more, however, steam cleaning is the best way to clean a carpet. It would only outgas more while you are cleaning it, and it would be a negligible amount.

Again, best to not have carpets.

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Question from Marie

Here’s a wierd one. Has anyone had the problem of new clothes getting holes in them with Dr. Bronner’s soap?? We were using it (only a capful per load) for months and every so often a hole or two, up to dime size, appeared in a shirt or pants. I have a large stack of items waiting for repair! Many are unusable (ex: a hole right in front of a solid dress shirt). It could be that many are from a discount store (poorer quality?, but includes defective/unsold name brands). No rough places in washer/dryer or on clothes. We’ve tried to think of every possibility. It’s my mom’s washer and all her items are fine (she uses different soap).

I’ve switched soaps, bought new clothes, and haven’t had a problem.

Though I occasionally use a mixture of half Dr. Bronner’s and half water for stain removal (it is the best – even on dried blood!) These treated items have not gotten holes.

Debra’s Answer

I haven’t heard of this before.

Readers?

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Question from ANNIQUE

I thought I’d recently seen something here re electric washers, but I’ve searched & can’t find anything now. Our safe washer died and can not be resurrected.

Any suggestions on a new one?

Debra’s Answer

Personally, I always buy used washers so the plastic has had a chance to outgas.

Readers?

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Question from Rita

Hi Debra,

My husband and I live in New York City and find ourselves ordering takeout all the time. The piping hot food often arrives in plastic containers. Should we be concerned about the plastic leaching into the food?

Many thanks,

Rita

Debra’s Answer

YES. It depends on the type of container. Styrofoam is the worst.

Heat in general makes plastic outgas. Hot food really makes it leach.

If you are putting leftovers in plastic containers, you should always wait until the food cools.

See if you can find out what types of plastics are used in the take-out containers you most frequently get. Then at least you will know what you are eating and can look for better alternatives.

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Question from Ruth Ruddock

Recently the Landlady in my building said she was having the hall carpets professionally cleaned…I requested that they not use fragrance if possible. She said that they were going to use a dry method and she explained my issue to the man who will provide the cleaning. I am hoping for the best, since I am having so many flare-ups of MCS symptoms lately as it is. Does anyone have ideas for safer cleaning products for carpets? I have used baking soda sprinkled and then vacuum it up, in the past, but it took a ton of baking soda to do the whole carpet!

Thanks!

Ruth/Wisc.

Debra’s Answer

It works very well to simply steam clean the carpet using a “rug doctor” type machine without the rug shampoo.

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Question from Melissa

I have successfully used Oxyclean laundry spray for years with no reaction. Today I used a new bottle and the fragrance was so overpowering that I had to rewash the entire load. I called the company and the customer service rep told me that she was unaware of a change in the formula. I am positive it’s different. Has anyone else encountered this situation? Apparently Oxyclean makes a baby version that’s fragrance free and colorless, but it’s hard to find. Does anyone know of a similar product in a spray?

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from nelly

Hello,

Does anyone have any first hand experience w/ the Gaia Hotel in Napa, or any of the “eco friendly” hotels in the San Francisco Bay area?

www.gaianapavalleyhotel.com

Thanks

Debra’s Answer

I’ve stayed at the Hotel Triton in San Francisco, which says it is green, but the best one I’ve found in San Francisco is the Orchard Garden Hotel. I had a long talk with the manager and have stayed there several times. I took pages and pages of notes of all the sustainable things they did there.

If you stay at the Orchard Garden, make sure to get a room on the street side. They are beautiful and bright with big windows. The back side rooms are dark and smaller.

A couple of years ago when I went to a conference, I went around and checked out all the “green” hotels on their list. Some were not at all green. The Orchard Garden is really the best. Organic food in the restaurant too.

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Question from P

I must admit. I’ve been looking like a bit scruffy lately, but I refuse to use toxic makeups and threw mine all away this year when I learned the dangers. I have been frustrated b/c even the natural makeups have stuff that I can’t pronounce. I’m just wary of everything at this point!

Online I found a few sites with DYI makeup, and figured out that beet juice is a colorant used in some industrial makeups. In a tiny jar I mixed beet juice with cornstarch until it reached a firm consistency. Let it dry overnight. It now is just as packed and caked down as regular blush in my little jar. I can sweep my brush over it, and it looks very natural on. It dyes my cheeks for a good while.

The big bottle of beet juice cost 3.50, and the cornstarch cost 1.50, for a grand total of $5. And this is enough to make it for everyone I know, and still have leftovers. Stocking stuffers, here I come! I am super excited, and wanted to share with you, Debra and any other of us girls reading!

Debra’s Answer

Thank you! Feel free to post more DIY makeups as you discover them.

I’ve found that you can just rub a cut beet on your lips for a nice red…

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Question from john

is there any safe non toxic solution to eliminate bad breath? what should i be aware of?

thanks

Debra’s Answer

Bad breath, like other unpleasant body symptoms, is an indicator of some kind of imbalance in the body that needs to be addressed. It could be a need to improve dental hygiene, a need to improve digestion, or other imbalances. It’s important to find the cause and correct the problem, not just use a mouthwash or mints to freshen breath. A healthy body has little odor.

Standard mouthwashes contain alcohol and may contain formaldehyde, artificial colors, ammonia, and hydrogen peroxide.

I’d start with making sure you have good oral hygiene, including flossing and brushing, and if that doesn’t take care of it, visit your dentist to see if you have any infections or any other problems in your mouth. If that doesn’t take care of it, visit a natural oriented health practitioner to help identify the problem and get a solution.

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Question from KA

It seems as it there are 2 major sources of chemicals surrounding non-organic cotton: the chemicals (pesticides) used in the fields and the chemicals used in processing. If & when you use non-organic cotton products- particularly clothing-can BOTH types of chemicals be removed by washing? Does this take several washings?

Debra’s Answer

It depends on what’s on the cotton.

Cotton FABRIC does not have pesticide residues even if pesticides have been used in growing. This has been lab tested in Germany. Cotton batting does have pesticide residues.

All cotton fabric has a cornstarch based finish called sizing. This will wash right out.

Permanent press cotton has a formaldehyde finish that emits formaldehyde. It is so difficult to remove that I recommend not using permanent press cotton.

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