Question from G.O.

Does anyone have a non-toxic method of cleaning mattresses?

Debra’s Answer

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Question from B..A..

We are unable to stay in motels or in the homes of families or friends. My husband is highly sensitve to all chemicals. We would like to buy an organic tent for two, so we can visit our daughter who is five hours away. Does anyone know of a company in the U.S. or Canada?

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Question from Erik

Here’s a question for everyone: What kinds of green and safe products exist for on-the-go lunch making? I am on the hunt for convenient system that can house food for lunches and keep them fresh without toxic leaching chemicals from plastics or other material. Seems like so much waste is generated using ziploc bags and they are also plastic which isn’t good. Something that is safe for kids and the environment.

I am aware of Laptop Lunches, but I think the components are still made of plastic. I would like to know about any others that anyone has come across. Any help is appreciated!

Debra’s Answer

Good question. Readers?

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Question from Charise

Will putting ceramic tile or another non-toxic floor over vinyl flloring seal in any fumes from the vinyl underneath?

Debra’s Answer

Ceramic tile will seal it in for sure.

What you need is for the new flooring to be air tight, which means that the flooring itself needs to be impermeable (wood is not, but ceramic tile is) and the spaces between the flooring tiles need to be filled with impermeable material.

Installation can make a difference. If you cover the flooring with something impermeable, then lay the floor on top of it, that would do it. So that would be something like an impermeable vapor barrier sealant or sheet of vapor barrier.

One thing I would check, however, is if whatever floor you want to install CAN be installed over a vinyl floor. It may not stick.

I’ve installed many floors and have always removed whatever existing floor was there.

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Question from tara

I recently bought a new GE stainless steel kettle and the chemical taste in the water it boils is foul. I have tried and tried to boil and reboil the water, using vinegar, cleaning it over and over to no avail. Is there a ‘safe’ non leaching kettle available?

Tara

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Question from KOS

As I am chemically sensitive, my friends come to me looking for healthy cleaning ideas. One has a vacation rental property and is concerned about “killing bacteria” and uses Lysol to do so. I told her that good old soap and water would get rid of a lot of it and white vinegar would kill off some more. Are there any commerically made products you’d suggest or mix of essential oils? Sure appreciate your help.

Debra’s Answer

There’s actually a whole discussion of this in my book Home Safe Home, on pages 108-111.

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Question from Judith Wisdom

I still haven’t figured out how to handle this one and thought maybe someone might now see an answer.

Over the period of my illness of 20 years I’ve always had mattrasses that were free of flame retardant, purchased from places who knew about chemical sensitivity problems. Many of you must be in the same situation with regard to having to spend more for mattrasses so you wouldn’t be exposed to toxic outgassing. The mattrasses have been constructed of organic lambswool and/or cotton. I’ve also had a barrier cloth box sspring and mattrass cover. (At the time I bought my last mattrass I was unaware of talalay latex mattrasses, but they are now available and might be even better.)

BUT now due to other physical problems I’ve developed I have to get a different bed frame: one with electric controls that allow you to push a button to raise and lower the back and to raise the bed at the knees.

My doctor will write for a hospital bed and I won’t have to pay a cent.

But they come with ordinary foam mattrasses. They are toxic. And while Medicare will pay for one kind of special mattress–a type that helps minimize or prevent bed sores I’ve heard nothing but no from Medicare hospital bed mattrasses vendors re the special medical need I have. If true, I’d have to pay for the mattrass at one of the many good places that would make them.But that is totally out of the question.

Like many who have been out of work for a long time due to an illness, I am so flat broke now that each month there is worry about being able to pay for food or being able to pay my phone bill. So I haven’t a red cent for a mattress. And my current mattress won’t work on a hospital bed, which will have to be a single bed, while mine is a double bed..

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know if this will work, but here’s a lead.

Flobeds website sells adjustable foundations at http://www.flobeds.com/adjust/index.htm, so perhaps they also sell natural mattresses for them. Just watch out, because this website sells mattresses with natural and synthetic materials.

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Question from Mary Ann

I have a big problem with lint on my clothes after washing them. I have been line drying my clothes and have tried several things I have read on the internet to solve the problem including vinegar in the wash cycle, putting the clothes in the dryer 15 min before hanging (this gets some lint off), 15 min in the dryer when the clothes are almost dry, and baking soda in the wash cycle. I don’t want to use the dryer for full drying, I am desperate, HELP!!!!

Debra’s Answer

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Question from KSM

Hi Debra,

I recently received a used sofa from a family member. The sofa is about five years old. I am wondering how safe this sofa is and should I keep it. The tag reads:

Body

Those materials do not sound very healthy to me! Would it make a differance if I put a slipcover made out of organic material on it?

I have young children so I want to make sure that that they are safe.

Thanks for your help and all of the wonderful inforamtion you share !

Debra’s Answer

These materials are NOT healthy. And a slipcover will do nothing to block any fumes that may be emitting from them. I’d advise not to use this sofa.

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Question from Lisa

Hi Debra,

I’ve read many of your answers to questions about the safety of plastics, a hot topic these days.

I think the material used often for eyeglass lenses is either polycarbonate or high index plastic.

In addition, teflon or other based coatings are used for scratch proofing, anti-reflective coating, or UV coating. Frames are often made of plastic or have some sort of coating on them.

What are your thoughts on the safety of such materials sitting so close to one’s face all day?

Do you wear glasses personally? And, if so, what kinds of materials have you used for yourself?

Debra’s Answer

Yes, a lot of plastics are used for eyeglasses.

The thing to remember about polycarbonate is that the concern is not outgassing, but leaching into food and water from contact. Since our skin does not contact the eyeglass lens, I don’t believe there is a problem with toxicity during use.

I do wear eyeglasses. Just reading glasses I buy at the drug store. I buy the type with metal frames, not plastic. At the moment I am wearing a pair with metal sides and frameless lenses. Sometimes the metal sides make my skin break out in a rash, but others don’t. Seems to depend on the brand and quality of the metal.

Plastic eyeglass frames, though, are not particularly toxic. Look for frames made from zyl (zylonite, or cellulose acetate). It is actually a plant-based plastic that is made from wood pulp and has been in use for decades.

Other frames are made from propionate, a nylon-based plastic that is hypoallergenic and nontoxic.

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