Hydrogen Peroxide Hazard?

A few weeks ago I posted a comment on the question Cleaning Mildew about hydrogen peroxide. I said: Last week, a reader wrote asking, “Is there really phenol in hydrogen peroxide bought in drugstores? Ever since I read your article in Natural Home magazine about vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, I’ve bought lots of big bottles […]

• Q & A

November 27, 2006

Holiday Gift Giving

I come from a family where the giving and receiving of gifts was a big part of Christmas. But as I have become more aware of the environment and what is really important in life, my ideas about what makes a gift great have changed. I’ve put some of my thoughts in an article at […]

• Q & A

Need an organic cleanser safe for granite and my parrot

Question from sandra I have new “Blue Pearl” granite counters. I am desperate to find an organic way to clean and sanitize granite because I have a parrot. Parrots can die immediately or become very ill due to exposure to fumes common in many ordinary household chemicals. Bleach, ammonia, solvents, Teflon, spray air fresheners, Febreeze, […]

• Q & A

November 24, 2006

Which bakeware is safe?

Question from DHines Do you know which bakeware, such as muffin pans and cake pans are the safest to use? Also where do you buy these pans? I previously was using non-stick but the coating starting peeling off so I threw it away. I was worried about the safety of silicon and every pan I […]

• Q & A

November 20, 2006

Clean a wicker basket?

Question from Susana I just got a wicker basket I’m planing to use it for potatoes and onions, and I would like to know if there is any way that it can be cleaned , to get rid of the dirt from the store and besides you know after a lot of people puting their […]

• Q & A

Is there any safe way to clean velvet?

Question from Susana Hi I have a living room set the material is like velvet, light ivory color, when the guys from the furniture company moved my set to the inside of the house, thay stained te furniture leaving grime spots on the sofa and love seat arms. Since the color of the furniture is […]

• Q & A

Fabric Dyes

Question from SVE Dear Debra, Just found this website with information about fabric dyes: http://terressentials.com/dplanet.html Since I’m chemically sensitive, I found it interesting to read. Could you please clarify the subject of textile dyes – petrochemical, low-impact, Foxfibre, natural, organic, vegetable, etc.? It would be difficult to find enough all-organic clothing and most are quite […]

• Q & A

November 19, 2006

Wool Blankets

Question from Denise It’s cold here in Chicago and I want to buy a wool blanket for my daughter’s bed. But she is so sensitive, I want to make sure it’s pure. What do you recommend? Debra’s Answer I recommend that you order one online from a website that is dedicated to natural bedding. If […]

• Q & A

November 18, 2006

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 […]

• Q & A

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 […]

• Q & A

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 […]

• Q & A

November 17, 2006

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 […]

• Q & A

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 […]

• Q & A

November 16, 2006

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 […]

• Q & A

November 15, 2006

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 […]

• Q & A

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 […]

• Q & A

November 12, 2006

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 […]

• Q & A

November 10, 2006

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 […]

• Q & A

November 8, 2006

Window Treatments for Insulating the House

Question from Robin debra And All, I’ve been through all the sites mentioned in the “window coverings” section of Debra’s list, and am still wrestling with this problem. I want to buy a curtain for a sliding door situated on the bottom level of my house. This room gets very cold in the winter, and […]

• Q & A

Natural latex mattresses and latex allergies

Question from Maureen Anderson I have been using Talalay Latex pillows for a few months and am considering purchasing a natural latex mattress. I have MCS and worry about developing a latex sensitivity, which can be very serious if one needs surgery. What I find on the internet indicates that it is the protein in […]

• Q & A

November 7, 2006