Art | Resources
What About an Affordable Sofa Plus Air Filter?
Question from Joelle
Hi Debra,
thanks for all you do in helping families try to live as non-toxic and cleanly as possible!
I have read every single one of the Q&A’s regarding non-toxic, green, eco-friendly, sofas and I am still at a loss. I cannot afford the $5000 price tag for an organic sofa and to be honest, I do not like the looks of most of the options out there. This being said, here is my question and I would truly appreciate your input.
I am at the point where I would like to purchase the most non-toxic sofa that I can afford (Pottery Barn eco-friendly) and add [one of the room air purifiers]=(link to air filters page of Debra’s List) that you did a show on into the room. I used to have an “all or nothing” attitude about detoxing our home but the reality is that the budget will simply not allow for that and we need to get on with joyfully living!
Debra’s Answer
I think you’ve made the best decision that meets your needs.
I once had to make the decision to go work in a toxic office building, so I just took my air filter with me and put it on my desk.
It’s better that you make a less toxic choice that you can afford than make no improvement at all.
As a consumer advocate I have to give you the best choices I can and educate you about the options, and then it’s up to you to choose what is right for you. That’s why I often don’t recommend products that still have some toxic exposures that may be acceptable to some people in some circumstances.
I think you’ve done a great job at figuring this out for yourself.
The old sofa is on its last leg and its time for me to make a decision. Thanks for your help!
Flooring Over Radiant Heat
Question from Cheryl
Hi Debra,
I plan on building a home with radiant in-floor heat. What type of flooring will be safe for me with MCS?
Debra’s Answer
Well, this is a very easy question to answer because the best flooring for anyone to install over radiant heat is also the best flooring for MCS: porcelain, stone, or ceramic tile.
The radiant heat will increase the emissions of any toxic chemicals in other types of flooring, but porcelain, stone, and ceramic tile have no toxic emissions. And These materials are excellent conductors of heat (so they will collect heat and continue to release it after the radiant heating is turned off), do not expand and contract with heat, and are resistant to warping or cracking.
There may be some odor from the mortar, that should outgas quickly, and DO NOT USE GROUT SEALER. Grout sealer is very toxic.
Common Chemicals Cost Us Billions Every Year
Here’s a place we can cut the budget.
“Researchers estimate the United States economy takes a $340 billion hit annually as endocrine-disrupting compounds lower IQs, increase behavior problems and exacerbate health woes like obesity and diabetes.”
And that’s only endocrine disruptors.
According to a new analysis, exposure to chemicals in pesticides, toys, makeup, food packaging and detergents costs the U.S. more than $340 billion annually due to health care costs and lost wages.
“My prediction is that the calculated costs to society will increase substantially once we get better documentation on … additional substances and additional adverse effects.”
—Philippe Grandjean, Harvard University
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH NEWS: Toxic Economy: Common Chemicals Cost US Billions Every Year
ButterBuzz
If you like “bulletproof” type coffee, but don’t like all the bags and jars of different ingredients, ButterBuzz is perfect for you. “Each BuzzPod is packed full of ingredients that are proven to have a variety of health benefits including boosting metabolism, aiding in weight loss and management, improving cognitive brain function, and supporting your hormonal system.” Each pod contains grass fed butter, raw unfiltered honey, raw vanilla powder, raw cacao butter, ground Ceylon cinnamon, cocoa butter—all organic—and hydrolyzed marine collagen.
Nerfertem Naturals
Soaps and body butters made by hand with organic vegetable oils and triple-purified beef tallow from grass-fed pasture-raised cows care for on a small family farm. Pure herbal colorants: turmeric root, annatto seed, French green clay, and others. 100% pure, therapeutic-grade, organic essential oils. I tried this soap and love it. It’s very clean on my skin and the scents are very pure. The mint soap really wakes me up in the morning!
Banner Butter
This small-batch butter is made with “patiently-cultured cream from hormone-free, grass-fed cows with no added flavoring. We go big, but only in taste. Everything else is small, simple and slow.” Salted with sea salt, lightly salted, unsalted, or flavored with combinations like balsamic fig with caramelized onion.
Phat Fudge
An all-organic fudge made from grass-fed butter, tahini, cacao, ground coffee, turmeric, cinnamon, sea salt, maca, raw honey, vanilla, and cayenne.
Wholesome Linen
line of sleep essentials for infants and toddlers made from organic linen fabrics and raw flax fibers. Selection includes a toddler car seat liner. “Our products are soft, hypo-allergenic, machine washable and long lasting. We make them with100% organic raw flax fibers, without adding any dyes or bleaches. We source our flax from certified organic farms in Europe where it has been grown the same way for generations. We turn it into high quality essential sleep products that we deliver to you from Denver, Colorado.”
Modify Furniture
Simple, modern, and colorful, this furniture is designed to change as your needs change. You pick your frame style and color then front and back panel colors, and accessories, At any time you can change your colored panels for new colors! Made from rapidly renewable bamboo, recycled content aluminum, organic powder coating and low VOC finishes.
Are Flannel Sheets Free of Hazardous Chemicals?
Question from Steve
Hi Debra,
I came across some of you posts and writings as I was searching for bedsheets. I would like to know if all flannel sheets are free from hazardous chemicals. Is it safe to buy flannel sheets that are not organic? Must they state that they are free from chemicals on packaging or are all flannel sheets safe because/if they are not treated to be wrinkle free, easy care, etc? I greatly appreciate your advice.
Thanks,
Steve.
Debra’s Answer
All flannel sheets are “safe” in the sense that they
- have no harmful finishes (they are naturally wrinkle-free because of the weave”)
- pesticides are removed as a by-product of processing in raw cotton into fabric
- dyes are “color-fast,” which means they stay in the fabric
Organic flannel sheets would be even better, though the benefit is more environmental.
I myself sleep on non-organic flannel sheets and have for years.
The only problem I’ve ever had is sometimes they use plastic printing for certain designs. Otherwise, a quick tumble in the washer and dryer and I’m always happy with them.
