Art | Resources
batting in sofa
Question from ib
I purchased a cotton sofa with foam batting wrapped in down; is this safe? If not will a cotton slip cover prevent the off gassing. I looked up afm safe choice capret lock out, but it says it’s only for carpets. I emailed them to find out if this product can be used on my sofa. I haven’t heard a response yet.
Your web site is a life saver.
Thank you
Debra’s Answer
AFM SafeChoice Lock Out is the correect AFM product to apply to upholstery fabric, even thoough it says it is for carpets. I asked AFM myself and this is what they told me.
The sofa you describe…it’s important to keep in mind that there are four general catagories of products:
1. completely or mostly organic, recycled, or otherwise earthwise.
2. 100% natural, being made of renewable materials, but not organically grown.
3. part natural and part synthetic (this could range from a small percentage natural to a small percentage synthetic.
4. completly synthetic, made from petrochemicals.
For myself, I choose only products in catagories #1 and #2, or from #3 and #4 only if they are nontoxic.
Is your foam batting made from petrochemicals or latex? And if latex, it it 100% natural or partially synthetic?
Either way, if it is off gassing, a cotton slipcover will NOT block off gassing. You need a barrier to block the molecules that are off gassing and they will pass right through the holes between the weave of the cotton (I know it looks tight to our eyes, but a molecule can float right through with ease.
If you need something to block, I would go with the Lock Out. Everyone else, remember my best recommendation would be a 100% natural sofa (see Debra’s List :: Interior Decorating :: Furniture).
Petroleum Distillates and Petrochemicals
Question from Lynn
Hi Debra,
What is the difference between petroleum distillates, and petrochemicals? Is one more toxic than the other?
Lynn, Michigan
Debra’s Answer
Petrochemicals are any chemicals made from coal tar or crude oil.
Petroleum distillates are petrochemicals that have been distilled in a refinery and then usually processed further and purified in some manner. There are many different types with completely opposite characteristics and uses.
Distillation is the basic process used to separate and purify the components of crude oil. Crude oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons with impurities like sulfur, nitrogen and small amounts of metal. During distillation, the oil is heated in a large closed vesse called a still. The lighter components boil off first and rise to a higher point inside a tower above the still. The heavier components boil off at higher temperatures and condense back into liquids more quickly. These products are captured on trays at each level and pass out of the tower. The lighter and more volatile products are used in gasoline or as solvents, the next heavier might be used as diesel or stove oil and the next as lubricants, and so on.
Though all petrochemical products start as a distillate of petroleum, not all petrochemical products fall into the classification of “petroleum distillates.” Specifically, petroleum distillates include mineral spirits, kerosene, white spirits, naphtha, and Stoddard solvent. These products may contain trace amounts of benzene and other aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene and xylene which have similar toxic effects.
Any product that contains a petroleum distillate in its formula must be labeled with the phrase “contains petroleum distillates” regardless of the actual distillate used. This is so doctors and emergency medical personnel will know how best to treat those who might accidentally drink the product. If a product contains petroleum distillates, the medical personnel may elect not to induce vomiting.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission:
Healthy rug grippers
Question from kt
Hi,
I’m looking for non-toxic, high quality rug grippers for throw rugs that I take up and wash and also larger wool rugs. I know that there are some nasty chemicals in a lot of grippers sold out there. Anyone know a good source for non-toxic ones – and what they are made of?
Thanks,
kt
Debra’s Answer
Readers?
IKEA
Question from Leah
We recently visited Chicago and went to the IKEA store there. Based on what I have read about this company, the store seemed like a dream. The prices were incredibly low and they had tons of furniture amd things to choose from. This is what I read on
“IKEA : This furniture and housewares chain boasts an environmental policy that prohibits the use of PVC, formaldehyde-based glues, brominated flame retardants, and other toxins, and supports the use of environmentally friendly, sustainable and recycled materials”
When I looked at IKEA’s website several months ago, I couldn’t find this information and I am wondering if ALL their products fall under this environmental policy. For example, the sell all kinds of mattresses. How do they not use flame retardents with conventional mattresses? Any idea? We are mainly looking for bunkbeds for our children and have considered purchasing at least the frame from Ikea since their prices are so low. Thanks!
Debra’s Answer
This is a good question. I actually love IKEA for their style and low prices. You can get things like cotton curtains and real wood desk accessories very inexpensively, but as to whether or not the wood is sustainably harvested or the glue doesn’t contain formaldehyde, well, it’s not labeled to indicate that.
I’ve read IKEA’s environmental policy too, in several places, but haven’t listed them on Debra’s List because when I visited the website, I didn’t find the policy there.
Also, when visiting the store and online, I found there were many products that I felt didn’t meet this policy, and no indication of which products did.
I think they need better labeling.
You asked specifically about flame retardants. The policy doesn’t say “no flame retardants”. It says “no brominated flame retardants”. They are using flame retardants, just not brominated ones.
I just looked at one of their mattresses. Under “product description” it says:
Another Side of Being Sensitive…
This morning I received an email from someone with MCS with a gift for everyone with MCS. She said her MCS often reminded her of her favorite childhood story “The Princess and the Pea”. And that sensitive young lady turned out to be a princess!
It just reminded me that inside, we are all princesses and princes, regardless of what our bodies are doing.
Here’s the story if you want to read it again…
Oxygen bleach
Question from Dalia Frydman
Now that Oxigen bleaches are all over the place (even 99c stores have them…) I wonder which ones are really effective because the prices really vary…Dalia
Debra’s Answer
I contacted Natural Choices Home Safe Products, a small company who created their own oxygen bleach based products, and asked them to respond to your question. Click on COMMENTS to read their excellent answer.
Steam Cleaners
Question from Mary Anne
Hi Debra – this is Mary Anne Stern in Los Angeles (the person who sent you the organic manicure/pedicure recipes). THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the help you give to us persons with MCS (I have fibromyalgia also). Anyway –
Can we pretty please get your “take” on the value or advantages (if there are any) to steam cleaners? I started looking into them and quickly got overwhelmed. There’s everything out there from $19.95 hand-held models that are supposed to sanitize your countertops clear up to models that are $2,000+ with a dozen or more attachments.
The advertising promises to do everything from sanitize your home surfaces to cleaning your rugs and drapes to mucking out the tracks in your doors and windows to killing dust mites in matresses; and of course all effortlessly, if you believe the ads. I keep wondering about the old adage about something that seems to good to be true . . .
Because of my medical conditions, I already make my own household cleaners with baking soda, H2O2, vinegar, castille soap etc etc etc. Would a steam cleaner do a better job? Thanks again so much! Mary Anne in Los Angeles
Debra’s Answer
Hi Mary Anne. I’d be happy to give you my thoughts.
I bought a steam cleaner a couple of years ago. It was about $150, so it’s the “middle of the road” model.
I think the idea is fabulous. The hot steam really does clean things without elbow grease. One thing we cleaned was a lot of green stuff that was growing on the north side of the walls of our house in the forest. It came right off.
But, to be honest, I hardly ever use it. I think the reason is that it isn’t “quick and easy.” It sits in my closet and I only think of it if I have a big cleaning job. But this is me. I don’t vacuum either (Larry does the vacuuming). Hauling noisy machines around isn’t something I enjoy. I’d rather sweep with my handmade broom with the nature spirit face carved in the handle than vacuum.
Also, you need to add water to make the steam, and when the water runs out you have to stop cleaning, add more water, and wait for it to heat up again.
I also don’t have a lot of attention on sanitizing my house. There’s only just Larry and me anyway and we’re exchanging germs all the time.
Non-toxic Bathtubs
Question from Susan H.
Debra,
Thanks for the great information on your blog!
We are planning to remodel parts of our bathroom, such as using porcelain tile on the floors and inside the shower. We are trying to find out which bathtubs are the least toxic. The old acrylic tub that we’ve had for 15 years looks awful, and I would like to know if cast iron or porcelain on steel are the best bets. Thank you!
Debra’s Answer
Both cast iron and porcelain on steel are fine choices. Just get a new one or make sure one you choose at a salvage yard was made after 1984. Prior to that year, lead was used in the manufacture of these tubs, which can leach into the water and in to our bodies. Those manufactured after 1984 are fine.
Reacting to organic cotton
Question from Merilee Eggleston
Here’s a strange question: Any idea why I might react strongly to organic cotton but not to conventional cotton? This is true of all the organic cotton I have tried over the years, from the least expensive to the purest of the pure (SuiteSleep)–clothing, sheets, mattress and pillow covers, you name it. The only conventional cotton I react to is percale sheets; clothing and conventional cotton knit sheets seem fine, as do poly-cotton percale sheets (!).
I’m completely mystified. Ideas?
Debra’s Answer
I’m mystified too. Readers? Any ideas?
Diatomaceous Earth
Question from Deanna
Hi!
I was wondering if you, or anyone out there has heard of this or has used it, and if so, what kind of results did you get with it?
I am including the web site where I purchased this (see below) because it has lots of information that seemed in line with all the other info I found on other sites. They all said the same thing: it was a natural product, it kills all kinds of pests, is safe for humans & pets, can even be used as a cleanser for internal parasites in humans.
I purchased the food grade DE & also the DE with pyrethins to use on my dog for fleas. I sprinkled the food grade on all the carpeting in my entire house, working it into the nap & left it there for over a week. I also dusted my dog with the DE with pyrethrins. It is supposed to kill the “pests” by drying them up from the inside.
In theory, this all sounds great, but in all honesty, the fleas on my dog (who, by the way, has never had fleas before) got much worse. After about 3-4 days of his constant scratching & agony, I broke down & purchased the old stand-by poison in the vial that is absorbed into his bloodstream.
The powder is extremely fine & dusty & I spent an entire week cleaning dust off of every surface in my house after this. I believe the part about drying the pests up because it really dried my hands & also my dog’s skin.
Debra’s Answer
I personally used to use DE to control fleas on my cat. It did work for that purpose, without pyrethrins, because, as you said, it dries up the flea bodies.
I no longer use it because someone wrote to me and said the dust caused lung problems in cats. How true that is, I don’t know, but, as you said, it is a very fine powder and that made sense to me.
I’d like to hear the experience and thoughts of others regarding DE. It is a natural, nontoxic product. Readers?
