Submitted questions will be posted with my response by the following Tuesday or before.
Submitted comments will be moderated and approved within 24 hours.
Mineral Makeups
Question from p.s.
What do you think about mineral makeups? I have sensitive skin and rosacea and am looking for a good foundation that is not harmful to my body. Any suggestins?
Debra’s Answer
I think mineral makeups are fine. There are now a number of different brands and I haven’t checked the ingredients on all of them, just read the labels and make sure they are pure minerals and don’t contain any harmful ingredients.
Removing Mold From Garden Lawn?
Question from BRJ
Hello Debra,
I was wondering if you or your readers knew a good way to remove mold from a garden lawn suitable for someone with mcs? Thanks.
Debra’s Answer
Readers?
How to Naturally Disinfect a Toothbrush?
Question from Wendy
Hi,
I was trying to figure out a way to NATURALLY and NON-TOXICALLY disinfect my toothbrush. I’ve seen things out in the market $$ that steam or use UV rays to kill the bacteria. However, I’m uncertain as to how ‘natural’ they may be, or if there’s any possibility of unwanted chemicals or side effects from those methods?
I’ve heard of hydrogen peroxide with water in a cup. I have also tried a few drops of Agrisept with water to swish my toothbrush. I’m just unsure regarding cross contamination in using the same cup of water for several days? Or which method is the best?
I want the healthiest most natural way to go about this. Any suggestions or recommendations?
Thanks kindly.
Debra’s Answer
I’m not familiar with all the toothbrush disinfectant machines, but UV rays and steam will kill the bacteria without any side effects I know of. In hospitals, they sterilize the instruments used during surgery in an autoclave, which basically is a chamber for using pressurized steam.
I would suggest that you can just use boiling water, because boiling water is the standard method for killing bacteria in questionable water supplies. Just pour boiling water over the brush, or “cook” it in a pot of boiling water. For the purpose of killing bacteria for drinking water, the instructions are to bring the water to a rolling boil and then letting it boil for one minute. This is sufficient to eliminate harmful bacteria.
Non Plastic Food Storage
Question from CP
I apologize in advance for so so many questions. I know people lived without plastic for many years, but now after relying on plastic for so many years it is quite and adjustment, but one that I think is well worth it!
Right now I use mainly Tupperware and was searching online for glass containers to store food in and carry my water. Unfortunately, all the glass containers and corningware type containers I have seen sold seem to have plastic lids. Wouldn’t after multiple uses the lid’s plastic chemicals leach into the food, especially since I wash my dishes in the dishwasher and wash all the dishes together?
I read that you said you carry your water in a glass container. What type of glass container do you use? The closest I have found uses a rubber to close the lid lid (like an oldfashioned milk jug). And since I don’t want to use rubber, I am at lost for what bottle to look for. I know sigg is popular, but I would rather not use aluminum, since I drink so much water a throughout work day.
Also, how do you keep food moist without using plastic saran wrap to cover items? Thanks so much!
Debra’s Answer
At the moment, I am reusing some glass marinara sauce jars with metal lids.
At home, I have those French glass jars with the clamp-on glass lid (photo and order from The Container Store
). They have a rubber gasket that I believe is natural rubber, because they break down and have to be replaced every few years. I’ve had these jars for years in all sizes and use them on shelves and in the refrigerator. I also have some glass jars in several sizes with metal screw-on lids that I got at Target. I can’t find them easily on their website, but I have purchased them in both Florida and San Francisco, so I believe they are standard in all Target stores.
For storing water in the fridge and carrying water, I reuse glass juice bottles with metal lids. They are heavy glass. If you are concerned about them breaking, tie some padding around them, like a folded cotton dishtowel, or even a potholder. If you are crafty, you could make a padded carrier (and if any of you want to start your own business making these, I’ll put them on my website).
How do I keep my food moist without using plastic wrap? Hmmmm, well, I just put it in a covered container in the refrigerator. We all need more covered containers, like covered baking dishes, you can use the cover instead of plastic wrap.
Bed Blankets
Question from MG
I need to purchase a very light weight blanket for my bedroom, since I live in Florida, and would like to find one that dries quickly in my dryer. I don’t have the ability to dry it outdoors and the cotton blankets take too long in the dryer.
Thank you,
Debra’s Answer
I’m not sure what kind of cotton blankets you have that take too long to dry in the dryer, but my recommendation would be a little cotton flannel blanket.
My husband and I live in Florida too, and we just sleep under cotton flannel sheets. That way we don’t need a sheet AND a blanket.
Coffee + carbs = bigger blood sugar boost
Since we’re discussing sugars and sweets on this blog, and one of the issues is how they affect blood sugar, just wanted to pass along this new study about how coffee affects blood sugar.
If you drink a cup of coffee before you eat sugar or other carbs, or with the sugar or other carbs, the caffiene in the coffee will make your body resistant to insulin, which in turn makes our blood-sugar levels go higher. 250 percent higher. So much for dessert and coffee…
Read all about the study at Coffee before breakfast cereal boosts blood sugar.
Disposable batteries and litter
Question from Lisa
Dear Debra,
I’d like to get your opinion on this. I often see disposable AA Batteries corroding and littering parking lots or other places where apparently people just dispose of them.
Do these pose any health issues, specifically if you step on them?
Just curious.
Thanks so much.
Debra’s Answer
Disposable batteries can contain heavy metals such as lead and mercury, and other toxic substances, so it’s best to not step on them if you can help it. The sole of your shoe will protect you from the toxic exposure, but be careful, then, not to wear these shoes into your house (see Q&A: What we pick up on our shoes)
Car smell after engine steam cleaning
Question from Suzanne
I took my 1995 Nissan Altima in for a steam cleaning of both the engine and underside. 15 minutes after I picked it up, it had a rubber smell. Now, a month later, it’s closer to an old car smell. I’m sensitive to this and can only drive it for short distances without getting ill. I’ve baked it in the sun with the windows cracked and used an ozone machine on it, and yet the smell remains. Is there anything to be done? I have an Aireox air filter. If I get a converter for my cigarette lighter, would that help? Do I need to sell it? Thanks.
Debra’s Answer
Readers, any experience with this?
What we pick up on our shoes
Question from Lisa
Dear Debra,
When I’m walking on city side walks or parking lots, I often encounter litter that seems like it could be of a toxic nature. Sometimes I don’t see the items until I step on them with my shoes. I’m wondering if such things such as a cracked cigarette lighter/lighter fluid or old, corroded, weather exposed double A batteries would warrant replacing the shoes.
I don’t want to continue tracking any potential toxins around, especially in my home.
Thank you.
Debra’s Answer
We do pick up a lot of toxic chemicals on the soles of our shoes and bring them indoors, so even if you are careful to only choose nontoxic products to use in your home, you are still bringing toxic chemicals inside with your shoes. Chemicals can include asphalt, pesticides and herbicides from lawns and gardens and sidewalks, and any number of other chemicals that may be present where you walk.
When you walk around your home with toxic chemicals on the soles of your shoes, they come off on the floor. Then when you walk barefoot around your home, they can be absorbed through the soles of your feet. You can also inhale these chemicals as they outgass. If you have children playing on the floor, the toxic chemicals can get on their hands and into their mouths. Children, and especially infants, are even more susceptable to the dangers of toxic chemicals and carcinogens than adults.
I don’t think you need to replace your shoes, however. Shoes protect our feet from hazards encountered when we walk. And a new pair of shoes will only get more pollutants on them.
The solution is to leave your shoes at the door, and put them on and take them off as you leave and enter the house. Have a rack set up next to the door you enter most frequently, where you can leave your shoes when you enter the house. Have slippers or socks ready to put on if you don’t want to go barefoot. By doing this, you will keep the outdoor pollutants on your shoes and keep them from being tracked around the house.
And remember to make provisions for guests and have slippers or socks available for them too.
Lawn care pesticides and herbicides
Question from Lisa
Dear Debra,
I live in an area where people do not want dandelions or other common weeds in their yards, and spray chemical pesticides and herbicides to kill them.
I see the chemical lawn application signs everywhere, warning to stay off the grass for 24 to 48 hours.
The signs themselves have the poison sign right on them, and warn particularly that children and pets should avoid the area.
I’m just wondering, how long would it take for this area to be safe? I try to avoid the sidewalks where they spray, but then I find I can’t get outside to enjoy the outdoors or go for walks.
Also, I wonder if any of these chemicals become airborne as the water they are mixed with evaporates.
Debra’s Answer
Well, if the sign says stay off the lawn 24 to 48 hours, then it probably takes 24 to 48 hours for the area to be safe.
There is a difference between how long it might take for the lawn to be safe and how long it takes for the surrounding air to be safe. The pesticide will sit on the lawn until it breaks down or is washed away. Pesticides in the air immediately after application will blow away from an area much faster, depending on the rate of air movement. Even if the air seems still, a particle in the air will still move (note that bubbles move even when the air is still). How soon after application the air will be safe to breathe depends on the rate of air movement at any given time–obviously if a hurricane is blowing through, the pesticide would be gone in seconds.
I would keep windows closed while the spraying is occuring. Do they spray on a schedule? Is it possible to find out that schedule? Could you be away from home when they are spraying? Could you go for a walk elsewhere while they are spraying?
Yes, the chemicals probably become airborne as the water they are mixed with evaporates, but whether they are a problem or not depends on the ambient air flows, as I already mentioned above.
