Question from NANCY HAAST

I live in southwest florida and have green algae growing on my pool screen and roof every year. I do not want to use chlorine, and would appreciate any suggestion on a safe product to use to kill this algae.

Thanks so much for any suggestions.

Debra’s Answer

I have no experience with this. Readers?

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Question from AK

Any suggestions for a very chemically sensitive woman who is going through menopause and having a horrid time for almost six years now. Cannot take herbs, won’t take traditional HRT, tried bioidentical progesterone (doesn’t help), cannot take biodentical estradiol (gives me terrible yeast infections). Exercise daily, eat no preservatives, sugar etc – follow the candida diet for many years. Acupuncture helped for short time then stopped helping, naet which is good for other things is not helping. ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED _ HAVE JUST ABOUT EVERY SYMPTOM ONE CAN GET EXCEPT THE WEIGHT GAIN _ WHICH I NEED!!!

Debra’s Answer

It sounds like you’ve already done a lot of things. Readers, what have been successful actions for you with regard to this? Maybe we can give her some new ideas.

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Question from Melisa

I have just order soap nuts for the first time. I have been using Dr. Bronner’s soaps along with Washing Soda, Borax and Baking Soda and I thought the soap nuts would be more economical. I’m just wondering if I will need to add any of the things when I get them. What do you think, would these other things be needed? FYI I have a very hard working husband and teenage son so there is a little of everything on their clothes.

Debra’s Answer

I just use soap nuts and nothing else. My husband says that they don’t completely clean his really dirty clothes, like when he’s been working on his car, but for my clothing and bedding and towels, they are completely fine.

Readers, what is your experience?

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Question from L.H.

I have MCS, am allergic to carpet and dust (among other things), and my bedroom and sitting room have 25 yr old carpet in them. I can’t really afford to replace them with hardwood, and am too tired to find and move to a greener home (catch-22 =). Im considering just having the carpet removed and living with the bare wood underneath, but am concerned that that might not be any better, because of dust or toxins in the wood, chemicals disturbed during removal… any opinions as to which is worse: carpet or whatever is underneath (fiberboard of some kind I suspect)??

Debra’s Answer

I can answer this question from my own experience.

When I first learned I had MCS and needed to clean up my home environment, I lived in a condo with carpet over cement floors. I lived with my father, so I could only change my bedroom.

I realized the carpet had to go and I was very happy I removed it. I felt better right away, even though the floor below was paint-spattered cement.

Until I could afford to lay hardwood, I just covered the floor with an old sheet. It didn’t look very good, but I slept a lot better.

Of course, I don’t know the condition of your carpet or the condition of the floor below, but that was my experience.

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Question from Pat Hetzler

Hello Debra,

My plumber has told me that our 45 years old sink drains are full of grease. He suggests using a potent de-greaser. Can you tell me a safe and effective product to use?

Thanks

Pat

Debra’s Answer

The most natural drain cleaner I know of is Drainbo Natural Drain Cleaner, but I have never used it because I don’t pour grease down the drain. It suggests for clogged drains that you pour the cleaner in the drain at bedtime and let it sit overnight, so the bacterial action can work through the clog. That would be a lot safer than a product that contains ammonia or lye.

If your plumber has a degreaser he wants to use, it might be OK. I was looking at MSDS sheets for degreasers and couldn’t find one with toxic chemicals. That was a surprise. Just shows how some types of previously toxic products are getting less toxic. Ask him what product he wants to use and check the MSDS sheet.

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Question from Carla

I just decorated my children’s room with vinyl posters. They are removeable and have lots of variety. A popular one are the FatHeads of sports teams. Are these types of cling-ons safe? Do they release toxins into the air?

Debra’s Answer

Take them down. They release toxic plasticizers into the air.

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Question from CB

A friend of mine had a ceramic water dispenser outside in her garden for about 1 year. It is the kind shaped like a bowl with very high sides, & a small spigot near the bottom so you can place a water bottle on the top of it(upside down)and use it to dispense water. She never put the water on it, so it collected a lot of leaves, rain and dust. Today I took it to clean it. The worst of it came out easily but there is a stain in it, and I can’t tell what it is.

It seems hard, like lime. So far, I tried a mixture of vinegar (to disinfect), water and baking soda and scrubbed. It didn’t budge.

I’d really appreciate any suggestions!

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from Terri Williams

I am surprised that this site does not do more in the way of researching food supply, cosmetics and toiletries. Most of our food supply, cosmetics and toiletries are supplied by the Dow chemical company. Toothpaste, underarm deodorant, mouthwash, makeup, shampoos, body lotions and creams, and much much more, all have synthetic chemicals in them. Propylene glycol (made by the Dow Chemical Company) is a chemical that is in anti-freeze; but also in hair gels, underarm deodorants, makeup and in some butters. This chemical has huge side effects to the human body.

I have learned that what goes into your body and onto your skin should be edible. If a lotion is applied to your skin, your skin is “eating that lotion.” The daily use of chemicals entering your body has just increased. Toothpaste is hazardous to anyone putting it on their teeth, you are not eating it, but once on the teeth it is being consumed into the body and the chemicals in toothpaste are deadly. Underarm deodorant is hazardous because of the chemicals and that staying on the skin fronm morning to night 365 days a year times your age results in many side effects. Sunscreen lathering starts early in life and causes cancer and other diseases instantly.

One thing I have learned in one year since my husband had colon and liver cancer (2007)and survived are the words from his doctor: My husband smoked for 30 years, but he stated that his cancer did not come from cigarettes. He stated in private to me that he could lose his license for what he was about to tell me. Foods, prescription medicines and cosmetics and toiletries cause more harm to the body than a cigarette could ever do, because of the chemicals 365 days a year times our age. Our bodies (specifically our cells) have a hard time fighting off chemicals 365 days a year-bottom line.

No one in 2008 takes the time to do research on the chemicals in every single item that comes near their body or into their body-the FDA allows many companies to do what they want to do-no monitoring from them whatsoever. Sodium nitrite has many side effects including arthritis. It is allowed in processed meats and all deli meats but not allowed in organic meats. Everyone cannot afford organic. That is sad. Many ingredients are allowed without FDA approval including cosmetics and toiletries. Prescription drugs kills and yet the companies are allowed to continue selling the drug. Big Pharm runs this country, not the FDA.

Debra’s Answer

I don’t spend more time on this subject because my work is about finding the SAFE products.

I’ve already researched what’s toxic. A lot of that information is in my book Home Safe Home. And I occasionally do talk about toxic chemicals if I find something new.

But the purpose of this website is to focus on the positive–what we CAN do in light of living in a toxic world.

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Question from Susan P

Dear Debra,

I am allergic to fabrics, not all, just some. I have MCS. I have just been given a gift of many new clothes, some of which I can tolerate, and some not. Should I wash the ones that cause symptoms (like burning eyes and sore throat) in the hope that whatever I am allergic to will wash out? Do you know what exactly is on clothing that causes these kinds of reactions? I imagine that this is a complicated question, because there are so many possibilities regarding the manufacture of clothing. Can you help me with an answer or direct me to the location at this great website where this probably very-frequently-asked question has been discussed? Thanks so much.

Debra’s Answer

Actually, this isn’t a frequently-asked question. There was were a couple of questions about removing perfume from clothing (Q&A: Removing perfume from new clothing and Q&A: Removing Perfume From Used Clothing Purchases), but not finishes.

There are many different finishes that might be on fabric.

Most common is a simple “sizing” finish which will wash right out with ordinary laundering.

Then there is the permanent press finish, which emits formaldehyde fumes and cannot be removed (though the formaldehyde will lessen the more you wash it).

These are the most common finishes used on clothing.

I would put all the clothing through a wash or two, then use whichever pieces that are tolerable and give away the rest.

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Question from Reenie

I’m seeking a way to remove black spots of mold/mildew on a child’s white tee shirt. It was left damp in the laundry basket, and then washed. As I was folding the shirt, I noted black stains on the front of the shirt. Is there are way to treat these stains and rewash the shirt and get rid of the stains? It’s been soaked in vinegar and dishsoap and rewashed, but the stains are still there. Would it help to try other methods? Thanks for any suggestions or comemnts.

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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