Question from Dafna

I found out I have dry wood termite infestation in my attic. I shudder at the thought of having to fumigate, so I searched on this site but found no natural alternatives. Then I heard of orange oil, offered for example by this company www.planetorangetermite.com.

However, I am afraid it’s too good to be true. Is it effective? is it really just natural ingredients or is it the case that some horrible chemical are hiding in the 8% of the material they do not disclose in the description? the site just says XT-2000 is 92% pure d-limonene.

Thank you and your readers for any feedback/experience they can provide

Debra’s Answer

You need to ask them for their Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). That will list the hazardous ingredients required to be disclosed by law. They are required by law to give it to you.

My preferred and very effective termite treatment is Timbor, which you can read about at Q&A: How do I get rid of carpenter ants?

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Question from Rita

Debra,

Thank you so much for the tremendous service this blog provides. My husband’s doctor told him that he’s Vitamin D3 and Vitamin C deficient. I’m trying to find the best, non-toxic, organic vitamins available, but I’m totally overwhelmed by what’s out there. Are there any brands of vitamins that you recommend?

Many thanks,

Rita

Debra’s Answer

In general, I look for vitamins made from whole foods. Some brands I recommend are listed at Debra’s List: Food: Supplements.

I think it’s always best to get vitamins from natural sources, if it is at all possible to get enough. Most vitamins are made synthetically from petroleum, the chemical structure is the same as the vitamin in nature, but it isn’t made organically with all the co-factors.

Sunlight is the best source of vitamin D3, and fish and eggs.

Cranberries and citrus, which are in season now, are good sources of Vitamin C. You can just buy the raw cranberries now (in October-November-December) and whiz them up in a blender with water to make fresh cranberry juice. If you buy vitamin C tablets, be sure to get ones that say on the label that they are from a food source, such as oranges or acerola cherries. Otherwise, it’s synthetic.

Buy organic if you can and make sure the vitamins do not contain additives such as artificial colors and flavors.

See these other posts for more on vitamins:

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Question from CC

Trying to conserve water, I had a cakepan with a plastic lid on it, (believe me i dont like plastic, and i have thrown almost all my plastic items away, but this was just a cakepan to use on occassion).

I cant believe i did this but I stuck it in the oven to save from washing it because it has some cake left in it. Ok, so i went to make a pizza and preheated my oven. I didn’t smell anything but i started seeing flames, so me not being a cook, or knowing much about this stuff, i had my mom take it out of the oven for me, and she threw it outside, and opened the oven door and then we opened the doors and windows and left for about an hour, and i came back home when it was not smelly anymore.

So we decided to catch a warm day to clean it out. My mom took a spatula and scraped the plastic out. It looked like all of it was gone, so she said we need to burn the stove out, so we turned it on and left. So when i came back it smelled AGAIN, and we turned it up and left again. Ok, now this time when i came home it didnt smell so i thought great i can use my oven again, so i put it on the self cleaning one more time to make sure and it STILL smelled like plastic.

You cant even see hardly any plastic in there, just maybe a spot, not even enough that can be got up, just looks like a water spot, Did i inhale toxic fumes? Is there any hope for my oven? Is there any safe cleaner that will help?

Debra’s Answer

Melting plastic definitely gives off toxic fumes. Sounds like you did all the right things, to open doors and windows and get out of there.

I have no experience with this, having never put plastic in my oven. Readers, any suggestions?

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Question from mjr

I have noticed that the caulk in my shower has been deteriorating much faster than I think that it should, needing replacement in a matter of a very few months. It actually bubbles up and spreads out from the caulk line in places. My husband likes to use Tilex Fresh Shower daily cleaner, and I sus pect this is the culprit. I am trying to get away from harsh chemicals. Do you have any suggestions for a safer product that would not “eat” my caulk and would still make him happy in keeping a clean shower?

Debra’s Answer

This product is made from alkyl polyglycoside, isopropyl alcohol, and some other nonhazardous ingredients not listed on the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).

Alkyl polyglycoside is a new biodegradable mold-killer and surfactant, manufactured from fatty acids derived from corn or sugar beets. Though I could find no negative health effects for it, it is listed as a hazardous ingredient on the MSDS.

Isopropyl alcohol is just regular household alcohol that you would buy at the drug store.

I wouldn’t use this in a small, unventilated area like an enclosed shower.

There are some ideas for cleaning mold in showers at Q&A: How Do I Remove Mold from the Shower Floor Tile?.

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Question from Jody

We have hard water, (possibly lime?) build up in our shower head. Any ideas how to clean it out?

Debra’s Answer

Soak it in vinegar.

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Question from Cathy

Debra,

We are looking to put in porcelain tile in our dining room and kitchen. My husband is interested in a new product called Snapstone, which is porcelain tile attached to a grid of plastic and rubber underneath. The tiles snap together and you use a grout specifically made for this tile for flexibility. I am sure the grout probably has some chemicals. I have had MCS for many years, and therefore, I am extremely sensitive. In the past we have used tile with the cement board, old fashioned mortar and grout. Do you think that the plastic grid attached to the underside of the tile be a long term problem? I have tried to research this out, but have not been successful. Thank you for any help you can give me.

Debra’s Answer

I don’t think the plastic grid under the tiles will be a problem, but I am concerned about this flexible grout. Since, as you know, grout is NOT flexible, they would have to add some kind of rubber or soft plastic to make it so.

I was not able to find a manufacturer for this product or an Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), which makes me a little suspicious.

I wouldn’t use this product without first getting the MSDS from whoever you are thinking of purchasing this from. Post it here and I’ll take a look at it and give you my opinion.

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Question from Sandy

My husband and I decided to switch our office and guest room. The office (which is now the guest room) had one of those plastic things you put on the floor so your chair can roll easily. It has been in the room for several years and had no plastic smell. When we picked it up off the floor the odor was horrendous and won’t go away. It has been about 6 weeks and we have tried airing out the room, running a fan, putting baking soda down and have now cleaned the carpet with Mystical carpet stain remover. The plastic smell now seems worse, altho the carpet may still be damp. Is there a way to get the plastic smell out once and for all w/o adding any chemicals to the mix? I have MCS.

Debra’s Answer

None of the things you list do anything to remove an odor from carpet. Airing the room, for example, will remove the pollutants released from the carpet from the room, but will not stop them from being released from the carpet.

I suggest using a space heater to heat the room, especially if you think the carpet is still damp. This will help the odor outgas and dry the carpet.

If this does not eliminate the odor, you can contain it with AFM Carpet Seal. This is a nontoxic product that smells like nothing. I used it many years ago on a carpet in an office and it was very effective.

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Question from SVE

Older relatives have given us various decorative collector china plates, tea cups and saucers (some “chintz” patterns) through the years. I’ve been wondering if “lead” could be on the surfaces of some or most of these lovely pieces. If a person only touches these when they are dry, would the lead transfer to the fingers? Only very occasionally would they be washed. Does water release the lead from the surfaces onto the fingers? In short, can a person become exposed to lead from old china (that is never used for food or drink) by simply touching them?

Debra’s Answer

IF there is lead in the finish, yes, it could get into your body by simply touching them.

You can verify if there is lead by testing with LeadCheck swabs.

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Question from CJStewart

I have a recipe for Amish Friendship Bread that I have successfully reduced the sugar in, but it calls for a large box of instant vanilla pudding (which makes me question that it originated as an Amish recipe…). What would you suggest using instead of a large box of instant pudding. Even my 4-year-old son says “Mommy, we can’t buy that…it has artificial flavorings!

Debra’s Answer

Vanilla pudding mix is basically cornstarch, sugar, and artificial flavorings and coloring.

So to replace it in a recipe, you need cornstarch and sweetener and vanilla flavor.

A standard vanilla pudding recipe contains:

So thats 1 part cornstarch to 2 parts sugar. Find out how the amount of mix is in one package of dry vanilla pudding mix and mix that amount of cornstarch and sweetener with a 2:1 ratio. Then try to estimate the amount of vanilla to add.

This should work.

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Question from Mom

My son has pinworm and the eggs are hard to kill. Every site I’ve seen says to use bleach, but I’m sensitive to it, plus I don’t use toxic cleaners like these.

I’ve been using white vinegar. Will this kill the eggs while cleaning? Do I need to use it full strength?

I’ve also read that sunlight will kill the eggs, but no mention of how long items need to be in sunlight. Any idea?

And I’ve also read that heating the house to 95 degrees can kill the eggs, but also no mention of the amount of time necessary.

Any other ideas you have are appreciated.

Thank you.

Debra’s Answer

I have no experience with this. Readers?

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