Question from Laurie

I hope I am not repeating a question. I have searched to find a non-vinyl crib mattress pad that is not treated with fire retardants. I finally found one by Priva, Inc. but it has a polyurethane membrane and is treated with anti-microbial protection. I cannot seem to find any information that indicates that polyurethane is something I should worry about although I had read that avoiding anti-microbial treatments is a good idea. We bought an organic crib mattress so we do not want to negate the benefits buy using a harmful mattress pad. Any thoughts?

Laurie

Debra’s Answer

There are other crib mattress pads on the Babies & Kids page of Debra’s List that are 100% natural fibers. Many natural moms use wool pads.

I don’t have any experience with this, as I don’t have children. I’m thinking that this pad with the polyurethane film is being offered for mothers who want a more absolute waterproof material. It is a less-toxic alternative to the standard vinyl.

Add Comment

Question from deviaene

Hi Debra,

we’re a family with 2 young children under 2. So it gets busy… to say the least. I also get distracted. I steam all my veggies rather then cook them, but lately, I’ve had a couple of pots in which the water has cooked off without me noticing. Yeah, bad… by the time I smelled something was wrong, the pot was literally BLACK with bubbles and all. but pitch black. The pots were expensive. Stainless steel All-Clad. It smelled bad, I took it under cool water and then got it out of the house ASAP because I feared toxic fumes.

But then, my hubby, who is a clean freak, put his mind to it and actually succeeded in scrubbing off ALL the black stuff. No cleaning chemical, wearing rubber gloves.

Now, I’m kind of wondering whether or not we should still make food in these pots. Maybe the lining was so damaged that we are now exposed to leaching of the heavy metal (stainless steel)???

I have send an email to All-clad but haven’t heard from them…

Kathleen

Debra’s Answer

If it were me, I would trash the pots. All that scrubbing compromises the surface and will cause more leaching.

Set a timer for your veggies to remind you to come look at them before they burn.

Add Comment

Question from Mary

Hello Debra,

I would like your input…..we are removing carpet & putting in hardwood flooring . The challenge for me is the stairs. I feel somewhat unsteady when I think of hardwood , not carpet on the stairs…a little too ‘slippery’.

A frind suggested we put a runner on the stairs….but I am not sure how this would be any safer ( as in not slipping).

My husband says, ‘just put new carpet’, however, we have not researched the non-toxic avaiablitly of carpet.

any suggestions for a healthy AND safe treatment for our stairs ?

thanks…as always!

Debra’s Answer

I’ve never lived in a house with stairs, so have never had to address this myself.

You can research natural and less-toxic carpet at Debra’s List: Interior Decorating: Carpet.

But there may be another option for you. Skidding is a big problem in workplace safety and there are many products designed to make surfaces anti-skid and anti-slip. You can explore them at http://www.noskidding.com and other sites. They are probably sold at hardware stores too.

I don’t know anything about the toxicity of these products, but I can’t imagine they are any worse than new carpet.

Readers, any other suggestions?

Add Comment

Question from KLP

We are interested in purchasing a rock salt lamp. We have heard that they have many health benefits. What is your opinion of these lamps? Thank you.

Debra’s Answer

Those who sell these lamps say that when gently heated, glowing salt lamps emit natural negative ions, creating an effect similar to an ion generator (increasing the wattage of the bulb increases the emission of ions per square foot). When the lamp becomes warm, it absorbs moisture and the crystal becomes damp on the surface. This binds negative ions with the excess positive ions, neutralizing the positively-charged atmosphere of a room. This is physics. I believe this is true.

Negative ions are known to have positive effects on all body functions, including the immune system, circulatory system, and digestive system. In general, our bodies benefit overall from being in an indoor environment full of negative ions, as it is more similar to the outdoor environment.

They certainly have a lovely, warm glow, similar to candlelight.

I have a salt lamp and I find it to be extremely energizing–so much so that I can only have it on for short periods of time. I can’t sleep with it on.

I would say that in my experience, salt lamps can create an effect on the human body. The effect they create is probably different for everyone.

Add Comment

Question from Tracey from Chicago

I just got married the day before we closed on our new house. It’s already been five months, and I have not been able to live in it. I’ve been living with relatives out of state. The new house makes me so sick, I can only visit for a few days here and there, and only when all windows are constantly open and the hvac system is off. My last visit ended with me in the emergency room with difficulty breathing and chest pains. The doctor said it was inflammed bronchial tubes.

It may be left over residue from Ethyl Mercaptan, since there was an undetected propane leak in the home for over two months, before we bought it. OR…it might be the formaldehyde, as I seem to smell it the most when in the basement and near the kitchen cabinets.

We hired odor experts to come in and blast the place with Hydrogen Peroxide Generators for over 24hrs, which cut the fumes by 90% or more, but three months later it is building up again.

Our basement is unfinished with wooden beams on the ceilings, exposed plywood from the floors above, concrete slab foundation and blown-in insulation that is held in place with some sort of a fabric stapled to the studs. The basement is 2,000sf, and the entire house is 6,000sf.

We thought about carbon filtered air purifying systems, but the off gassing has to pass me as it comes out of the materials before it can reach the system…so there will still be exposure to it.

Are there any kinds of really super strong sealants that can be sprayed on…but what about insulation? Is there anything in concrete that would off gas?

Debra’s Answer

This is a fairly complex question that is difficult to answer from a distance. I would really need to come look at it.

What it sounds like is that you have had various treatments to “clear the air” of the pollutants, but the source of the air pollution is still there, continuing to emit.

My advice would be to figure out what is emitting the chemicals and remove or seal it, otherwise it is going to be an ongoing problem.

Also, did something happen between the time you purchased the house and it closed? Was it always this way? Was the problem not apparent when you were initially looking at the house?

It is very very important to consider toxic exposures of a house BEFORE you buy it. Best is to find a home that is nontoxic to begin with, or be sure you know how to remediate any toxic problems before you buy.

Add Comment

Question from MKH

Even though my baby is breast fed, her spit up smells if not immediately cleaned up, which sometimes isn’t obvious to us until much later. How do we get the smell out of things that can’t be thrown into the wash, like the floor of her pack & play or inside her bassinet, using natural infgredients? The only product I’m willing to try so far is baking soda–I’m worried that vingear might not dry or make the fabric smell like vinegar forever, and I’m new to green cleaning as it is. Any advice appreciated!

Debra’s Answer

I have no personal experience with this, so I’m going to let my readers respond.

Moms, what should she use?

Add Comment

Question from AM

Hi Debra,

I was wondering if your readers have some suggestions on some healthy and nontoxic or environmental friendly breast milk storage “essentials”. Seems like the most common types out there are plastic freezer bags made for storing breast milk, but I wonder if the milk fat would cling to those plastic. I mean, if they do then it will be a waste of precious breast milk. Then I read that glass bottles tend to break if you freeze milk in them. Does anyone have any good suggestions?

Thank you Debra for all the great work!

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

Add Comment

Question from k.m.t

Hi Debra,

My husband and I need to replace the 35 year old aluminum siding on our townhome. We are on a very tight budget, but want to be green-friendly and avoid vinyl siding. What are our options?

Thanks,

k.

Debra’s Answer

Here’s what I wrote about siding in Home Safe Home.

Add Comment

Question from Shirley Richey

Dear Debra,

Thank you so much for the recipes. They are wonderful!

I have a friend that’s been giving me apples this entire summer. I pick them right off her trees! They have been producing all summer & she has so many that I’ve been getting bags & bags of them. With a lot of them I’ve just peeled, sliced, put in a pie tin & freeze so I can make apple pie in the fall & winter but my freezer doesn’t have any more room& I’d like to can some of your raw applesauce.

Is it possible without cooking them? I didn’t think so. Any other ideas as to what I could do with apples to store it? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Shirley in Cool, CA (Really! That’s the name of our town).

Debra’s Answer

Unfortunately, you can’t can raw applesauce as the cooking process for canning cooks it.

If you have lots of apples, I suggest drying them in the sun. Then you can store them without refrigeration and use them all winter.

Add Comment

Question from Bev

Any thoughts on this new product Tide Pure Essentials ?

Debra’s Answer

I suspect that they are similar to Tide Simple Pleasures, that is, a petrochemical detergent with some natural fragrances, to appeal to the market segment of consumers who want to be more natural, but don’t want to give up the tried-and-true brands they are more familiar with.

This is not a “natural” product.

Add Comment