Question from Ronda

We are moving into a house that is 22 years old. We are taking out all the carpet and replacing it with prefinished hardwood.

Should we rip out all the plywood (maybe MDF) and glue the hardwood to the concrete or do you think it would have completely out gassed by now and is safe to leave in?

Also, the moisture barriers that I’ve seen today are in a liqued form that are brushed on the concrete. How do I know if the liquid moisture barrier is safe? Lumber Liquidators uses a brand called Mapei for their adhesives and liqued moisture barrier.

Thanks so much for all your wonderful help!!

Debra’s Answer

After 22 years, if you want to leave the plywood in place, I think it would be fine. It would offer more cushioning than applying the hardwood directly to cement. And if you are installing the wood with glue, the glue will form a barrier that would block any outgassing of the plywood (if you completely cover the plywood with glue).

I hope you are using a nontoxic, water-based “woodworking glue” to glue the wood down.

Re the moisture barrier, take a look at the MSDS sheet for hazardous ingredients. I have installed wood floors with wood glue over cement without using any moisture barrier of any kind and it was fine.

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Question from Christina

I am chemically sensitive and have a few botanical allergies, and I have not been able to find a shampoo that I can use without side effects. Has anyone found a plain shampoo without fragrance, without the laureth and lauryl sulfate, and without such herbal additives as chamomile, patchouli, lavender, or marigold? Thanks.

-Christina

Debra’s Answer

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Question from BJK

I must change out my chlorine filtration system in my swimming pool. I don’t want to go to salt water because it still forms the chemical sodium hydrochlorate which is as toxic as chlorine, I’m told. I have been looking into UV and Oxygen filtration systems and I’m having trouble finding anyone that has used them. I’ve looked at EcoSmarte and Brookforge on the internet, but I’d love to hear from someone who has actually installed a totally non-toxic system. I’m worried that it won’t take care of the algae in the hot summer weather where I live. Thanks. BJK

Debra’s Answer

You can see mine at At Home With Debra: My Chlorine-Free Swimming Pool.

Anyone have any experience with the systems she mentions?

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Question from Laura M.

Our landlady had the raised deck and fence of our townhouse powerwashed and sealed. Now the windows and siding are speckled with sealant, and the grass and plants are completely sprayed with sealant. We have a child and we would like this problem to be fixed without further use of toxic chemicals, otherwise we will be extremely reluctant to use the yard and deck. Any suggestions would be welcome!

Debra’s Answer

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Question from LR

Hi Debra

In the section on sweetners in your book Home Safe Home you talk about thermogenic sweetners derived from Lo Han, but I haven’t seen Lo Han mentioned on Sweet Savvy. Can you tell me more about Lo Han? And how does it compare to Stevia?

I love your site and look forward to getting those recipes every week. Thanks so much!

Debra’s Answer

When I wrote about lo han in Home Safe Home, it was before I started experimenting with actually using the sweeteners, which turned into Sweet Savvy. So it was “theoretical”.

Using lo han turned out to be not very practical.

There are several commercial products made with lo han and other ingredients. One mixed it with corn fructose, which I didn’t want to use, another was mixed with a sugar I wasn’t sure of. The best one I’ve found is SweetFiber, which combines lo han with inulin, but I haven’t tried it. They promise three packets a day will help you lose weight.

Regardless, I later learned that the lo han in this type of product is very processed and uses solvents to extract only the sweet portion of the fruit. So this is not in a “whole fruit” form. [I just want to note, since you asked about stevia, that white stevia powder and liquid stevia are also highly processed and not whole foods. The best way to consume stevia is to eat the leaves off the bush or make tea from the dried leaves.]

In Asia, where lo han is more widely used, it is not in this refined form. Lo han fruit is sold fresh and as a dried fruit powder for medicinal purposes, and included in teas. So you may be able to get this whole dried lo han and try it in a beverage.

Here is a good article that has lots more info on lo han, if you wanted to use it for any of it’s medicinal purposes. I don’t see that it really is a viable sweetener for use beyond sweetening tea (but fine to use for that purpose).

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Question from Wendy

Hello,

I have a Whirpool Cabrio he top loading washer. We’ve had it about a year and a half and I have been using Charlie’s Soap exclusively. Unfortunately, I have significant lime build up in the tub of the washer.

(I’ve been having a horrible problem with my clothes smelling like ‘paint’ or something.. after they are washed and dried repeatedly. I’m hoping getting rid of the lime might be the answer? One can only hope.

Anyways, I went to the Whirpool site, and they suggest AFFRESH to keep the washers clean. I’m not sure if this addresses and would solve the lime issue specifically, but that is their recommendation for cleaning the washer.

I’m looking to clean the tub in a non-toxic, non-chemical manner. Does anybody have a non-toxic suggestion for cleaning out the lime deposits in my washer? I was going to try vinegar, (2 cups with a regular load) but was afraid of issues with the stainless steel drum and corrosion? I’m not sure if bleach would solve the problem or get the corroded lime off the tub walls, either.

Additionally, does anybody happen to know if this AFFRESH is an okay option and non-toxic?

Debra’s Answer

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Question from mel

Hi. I read that you recommend agave nectar, and I read your information on it. But I still have one question about the fructose levels. I read that the levels of fructose in the agave can be dangerous to the liver, causing a kind of “liver disease” similar to an alcoholic’s liver. This is what happened to Morgan Spurlock in “Supersize Me.” Have you heard anything about this? Or could you share some places I could look for more research on this? I am waiting for Sally Fallon and WAPF to weigh in on this but I am still very curious. And I respect your opinion so I thought I’d see what you’d heard on the subject. From my understanding, the reason your blood sugar levels don’t rise on agave is because it is mostly fructose but I am concerned about that fructose level. Thank you for your time.

~Mel

Debra’s Answer

This is a confusing subject because people who sell agave say it is “fructose”. My understanding is that fructose is not naturally occurring in fruit, but is manufactured from corn.

The “fructose” that Morgan Spurlock ingested in “Supersize Me” was no way from fruit or agave. He only consumed foods from McDonald’s which meant that the fructose he was consuming was high fructose corn syrup. That is highly refined and could cause liver damage.

We should not be overconsuming any concentrated sweetener. I eat about 1 teaspoon of agave a day.

Please write and tell me what Sally Fallon says. I respect her opinion.

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Question from Melissa

I am trying to clean my house with “green” products so I have started using vinegar during spring cleaning. I have noticed that every time I spray it either straight or diluted I start sneezing. It doesn’t bother me when I use it in the laundry as a rinse aid or when I eat it in salad dressings etc, just when I breathe it. Could I be allergic to its “fumes”?

Debra’s Answer

Straight vinegar used in the quantities we do for cleaning tickles my nose, too. I think it’s just an irritant because it is strong, not an allergy.

Try diluting the vinegar and see if that helps. It usually doesn’t need to be used full strength.

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Question from alex

Do you or any of your readers have any experience with the low voc carpets? This is for someone who is somewhat chemically sensitive. Any help appreciated!

Debra’s Answer

My best recommendation, especially for someone with MCS, is NO carpet. Period. There are natural and less-toxic carpets available, but beyond the carpet itself, there is the maintenance, and they harbor dust and other critters.

Many years ago I bought a house and when I ripped up the carpet there was a whole colony of carpenter ants living underneath it! Which, by the way, had escaped the notice of the pest inspectors.

If you really want clean air in your home, choose a flooring that can be easily swept and washed to remove dust, dirt, and anything else.

That said, I understand some people prefer carpet for various reasons, so, readers, any experience with low-voc carpets?

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Question from svw

Hi Debra,

In the past you mentioned Narvana Safe Haven has a photo catalytic spray and also AFM has a product that will seal in outgassing from couches etc. Do you have a preference of one over the other? Thanks s

Debra’s Answer

I haven’t ever used these.

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