Question from Karen

Hi Debra,

Are PVC air ducts dangerous? Will any toxins circulate throughout the house, especially in the winter when it is heated?

Thanks,

Karen

Debra’s Answer

I don’t have a definitive answer for this.

My logic tells me that the PVC will outgas and especially when exposed to warm air passing through. But I have no studies to back this up.

Readers, any knowledge about or experience with this?

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Question from Dianne

Hi Debra,

Thanks so much for running this valuable blog.

I bought a beautiful duvet cover set recently. It is 100% cotton and did not say “Easy care” or “permanent press”. So I assumed that it was safe. I read in your blog that usually 100% cotton sheets are fine, but I should never assume…

Later I found out that it was finished with formaldehyde.

I soaked it overnight in vinegar and borax and baking soda, and washed it in hot water three times and aired it out in the sun for a few hours. I’m very much heartbroken as the beautiful colors

have all washed out. But I would rather have it safe than beautiful.

Debra’s Answer

My understanding is that formaldehyde finished NEVER wash out. However, with each washing, the amount of free formaldehyde that remains gets less and less.

I personally will not have these sheets in my house, though I do, of course, sleep on them when I am traveling, as they are in every hotel. I actually have some sheets with me on this trip, but they are queen sized and the bed where I am staying at the moment is a king.

It’s up to you to decide if you are willing to have that exposure to formaldehyde. I wouldn’t allow the sheets on my baby’s bed.

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Question from Leslie Adams

I read with interest about heating up a newly painted home in order to have it outgass more quickly! However, here in Hawaii, we generally don’t have heaters in our homes – it is warm enough and humid enough that no one would ever turn them on unless living at high elevations during the “winter” season. So: what would you suggest for someone with MCS when trying to find products with which to build or refurbish a home with?

We have read about people researching products, installing what had been touted as “safe” and not offgassing bad chemicals into the air, painting with no-VOC paint (only to learn there are other chemicals IN those paints that do also offgass), etc, only to move in and then find they cannot tolerate living in the house! One is then relegated to a porch or a ?tent – but then, can one tolerate the fireproofing on that tent??! Very daunting. There is also the problem of contractors SAYING they have installed whatever, only to find out later that they haven’t (they charge the home owner for the mor expensive alternative, and then, install something else – and pocket the difference!) – and worse yet, they have subsequently moved on and are no longer in business, so there is no legal recourse. These scenarios have been in our local papers and on TV programs as “consumer beware” items. All of this has set us back from doing anything, as we are NOT contractors, know little about the building business, etc. and are not sure we would be able to protect ourselves for the outcome, which we would like to be positive, in this process.

Any help anyone can lend would be appreciated – is there any kind of “resource” one can look up locally, ie, in phone book (under environmental something-or-other? I can’t seem to find anything other than commercial type resources, or environmental testing at job sites, etc), who can act as a consultant for this type of thing, in order to insure proper and safe products are chose and then actually USED by the contractor? What type of certification does such a person have to have (ie, what certification would we be asking if they have?) I do have your new book as well, and have been busily printing off information from your site for our folder on safe home products! MANY thanks for your invaluable assistance with all this!

Debra’s Answer

First, even in Hawaii you can heat a home for a “bakeout.” If you don’t have central heat, you can use space heaters and do it room by room.

Yes, you do need to be alert to safety claims, but don’t be discouraged by what you see on TV. People with MCS are successfully building and remodeling houses all the time, as I have done myself and we see on this blog.

There are consultants who can help you. I am available for paid telephone consultations and can help you choose products. There are now many green home improvement stores around the country, and you could see if you have one in your area.

I suggest that you call me for a personal consultation and I can help you choose some products and sort out your confusion on this subject.

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Question from Reenie

Hi! I have a green cleaning business and besides cleaning I’ve been giving workshops and educating customers on green cleaning and more lately about healthy homes.

I’ve had to request of my customers that plastic shower curtains made with PVC be replaced with a shower curtain made of healthy fabric. I’ve got recent concerns over those ubiquitous plastic mats. I’m about to inform a customer about plastic and it’s impact on our health and the environment. Although she does all green cleaning, the tubs and showers in her house have this odd, “tacky” feel from the plastic’s interaction with hot water and ceramic tile has some sort of film on it. It doesn’t feel healthy for me to clean in these areas.

Are there any eco friendly bathtub and shower stall mats that aren’t made with plastic?

I’ll have to draw up specific green guidelines for customers that include “no plastic bathmats or shower curtains.” It seems out of my realm, as a green cleaner, dictating about curatins and mats, and yet as a housekeeper (who lives very green myself) I am exposing myself to phthalates in plastics not to mention other nasties in conventional shampoos that leave their residues in the tub and showers. I see that some customers have conventional antidandruff shampoo that probably has some nasties in it as well! I don’t like getting so picky but feel I must for my sake as well as the customers. It’s really not easy earning a green cleaning living at this stage of the evolution. I may lose some folks as my guidelines become more specific but hopefully will gain more and more green customers.

Any comments or suggestions (and sourcoes for green tub and shower mats) are very much appreciated!

Reenie

Debra’s Answer

At the moment I don’t have time to research this, but am posting so you can get thoughts from others.

Here are my initial thoughts.

1. I don’t use a shower mat in my shower, so eliminating it may be a possibility. I know they are there for safety reasons, but I haven’t used one in more than 20 years and neither my husband or I have slipped and fallen.

2. There may be mats made of natural rubber, but a search would need to be done to find them.

3. Yes, many of these mats are made from toxic vinyl.

4. Maybe we could all “think outside the box” for a better way to make a tub less slippery without using plastic.

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Question from Lyn

Hi Debra,

I was finished pumping gasoline this evening(5pm) and removing the hose from my car when a gush of gasoline got onto me and my clothes. I came home and removed my clothes and bathed first to get the gasoline off my body. A neighbor of mine who works on cars suggested I leave the clothes outside to air out before cleaning. Some of the clothes I usually hand wash in baking soda and vinegar. The pants and jacket I take to the cleaners only when necessary. The pants I don’t care about because I was going to get rid of them anyway. But the jacket (navy jean) and the scarf I really like. What would you suggest as far as cleaning? Soak in baking soda and vinegar or even add borox?

The dry cleaners I use is a “Green” cleaner, but when I do use them there is usually a scent remaining on my clothes that I need to steam out (hand steamer)and air out before I can wear. Most of my clothes are cotton and some have a little spandex.

Thank you in advance for your response.

Debra’s Answer

Personally, I would just dispose of the clothing. I know you like these pieces, but I know from experience–having lost some of my favorite clothing to pens left in pockets and lost shipping boxes–that life does go on and you may like the replacement clothing even better.

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Question from Deborah Barnett 2

My dentist wanted to remove my son’s wisdom teeth before they came in. I didn’t feel right about this, so I emailed a holistic dentist.

His response:

Debra, people needs more than conventional dentists to make good judgements about their childrens health.

Debra’s Answer

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Question from Ann

Dear Debra,

I have some areas in my house that still have carpet that are in need of some good cleaning.(light colored carpets)

I just bought a Hoover SteamVac but don’t want to use the commercial detergents in it.

I’ve considered using an enzyme cleaner such as Nature’s Miracle or possibly just vinegar and water. I’m not sure what would work. Have you any experience with this or possibly heard about anything that might work?

Thank you for all you do! It’s made a great difference in my family’s life.

Ann

Debra’s Answer

I haven’t had carpets for more than 20 years, so I have no personal experience with this. When I did have carpets, I just used the steam cleaner with no shampoo.

Readers, any experience with this?

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Question from Lisa

I have killed 2 brown recluse spiders in my home in the last couple of days. I’m so afraid there may be more and that one of my children will be bitten by a very poisonous spider. Do you know of any way to safely rid my home of these creatures? My husband put poison under the house where he thinks they may be nesting, but I’m scared of what may already be inside. I don’t like the idea of “bombing” the house — is there any other option?

Thank you!

Debra’s Answer

There are some tips about spiders at Q&A: Domestic Spider Treatments, but I understand your question is about eradicating a poisonous spider from your home to keep your children safe.

Readers, any suggestions?

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Elmer’s, the glue company, has introduced a line of “nonhazardous” home repair products, including wood glue, wood filler, flooring and other miscellaneous adhesives, caulk and glazing, spackling compounds, and tile grout.

Their website very conveniently links to the MSDS for each product. Many list no hazardous ingredients, others list limestone and quartz. These are hazardous only as dusts, which wouldn’t be a problem under normal use, but might be cause for protective gear if sanding something on which you had used the product. They are mostly made of an acrylic/latex blend, so they are not at all natural, but much less toxic than other products of this type.

I haven’t personally experienced all of these products, but I did sniff the stainable wood glue and the wood filler, both of which have MSDS with no hazardous ingredients listed. The stainable wood glue was fine, just smelled like white glue. The wood filler had a bit of an odor, but nothing like toxic wood filler.

These are sold at Home Depot, so are widely available and inexpensive.

http://www.elmers.com/homerepair/products.asp

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Question from Ellie

I recently Stumbled across a product called HA RA. They use micro fibers with water to clean almost any surface in your home. I am curious if you have heard of them or know anything about their safety. We are a family with chemical sensitivies and try to not use any chemicals for cleaning at all. If you could help that would be great!

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know anything about this product specifically, but in general, microfiber cloths that clean with water only are made of synthetic plastic fibers made from nonrenewable crude oil. They don’t biodegrade.

There are pros and cons to these cloths that you need to weigh for yourself. On one hand, they are much better than using toxic chemicals. On the other hand, they will sit in landfills forever.

Personally, I find that I can clean more than sufficiently with baking soda, vinegar, soap, and natural, biodegradable cloths. So I don’t recommend them.

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