Consumer Product Safety Commission Bans 5 More Phthalates in Toys and Child Care Products

Effective April 26, a new ruling with ban the use of five more phthalates in toys and child care products. This is in addition to the three phthalates in 2009, bringing to eight the total number of phthalates restricted from use in children’s toys and child care articles in concentrations exceeding 0.1 percent. Phthalates are […]

• Q & A

April 23, 2018

Choose Organic Ice Cream

This morning I received an email from the Organic Consumers Association about Ben & Jerry’s annual Free Cone Day. “There’s only one problem,” they wrote. “Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is never free—because we all pay for the health and environmental damage caused by Ben & Jerry’s factory farm dairy practices. Last summer OCA announced […]

• Q & A

April 10, 2018

Another Problem With Rugs: Shedding Particles

I received an email from Well + Good a few weeks ago asking for an expert quote. They were doing a story about rugs shedding and wanted to know if particles from shedding rugs could affect your health. This is something I hadn’t considered before because I’ve had my attention on rugs outgassing toxic chemicals, […]

• Q & A

Furniture – Hard

April 9, 2018

Furniture – Soft

Thoughts about health + illness while lying in bed with the flu

I’m not doing my regular newsletter today because I’ve literally been sick in bed with a flu since I sent the last newsletter. I rarely get contagious illnesses, and this one was very unusual. It actually started at the beginning of February, but it was so subtle I didn’t recognize it as the flu. What […]

• Q & A

April 3, 2018

Pine Street Natural Interiors

This is the interior design website of my friend Rowena, who I have known for years. She knows absolutely everything about toxics in interior design products and carries only the most natural, organic and pure. “We strive to create beautiful, colorful, and environmentally friendly living spaces using healthy materials that are also socially responsible.” She […]

• Debra's List
• Flooring
• Furniture - All
• Furniture - Hard
• Furniture - Soft
• Interior DecoratingPL1
• Upholstery Fabric
• Windowcoverings

Tags: fire-retardant-free, Non Toxic, Organic, Renewable

April 1, 2018

Hnina Gourmet Artisan Chocolatier

Raw dark chocolate truffles and sprouted nuts & seeds gourmet treats, made by a French woman to address her need for pure, raw, dark chocolate and a gourmet experience. “we use 100% raw organic natural and unprocessed traceable ingredients originating from both local organic farms and the world’s best sources of fair-trade sustainable pure organic […]

• Chocolate
• Debra's List
• Food

March 27, 2018

Forces of Nature

The world’s first USDA Certified Organic, FDA registered, homeopathic medicine. ” We source the purest ingredients from across the planet to bring you all-natural treatments that work.”  

• Debra's List
• Health

Oregon Soap Company

Bar, brick, liquid, and foaming soaps, all certified organic by Oregon Tilth. Many are scented with essential oils, but there are also unscented soaps and soaps that contain ingredients like cinnamon, which have their own aroma. One of their unscented soaps contains oatmeal and honey. Save money by purchasing “Assorted Scraps”—assorted scents and odd shapes, […]

• Body Care
• Debra's List
• Soap Body

How Long Does it Take for VOCs to Outgas From Paint?

I’ve been working with a client for more than a month on outgassing her apartment using a “bake-out”. She now says that the paint smell has gone to a point where a normal person wouldn’t smell it, but she still reacts to the apartment after being there for an hour. She sent me a great […]

• Q & A

DIY Toxic Free Pet Bed

  Question from Kimberley Hi Debra, I have just came across your website and love all your reviews and info on non toxic products! I am specifically looking for an all natural dog bed for my new puppy and wondered if you had any UK supplier suggestions? I noticed you offered a US company, but […]

• Q & A

The Felt Company

All kinds of felt fabrics, from straight-off-the-sheep wool to dyed wool felt in many colors. Also polyester and recycled felt, so read descriptions carefully.    

• Debra's List
• Fabrics
• Textiles

March 20, 2018

Linen Dreams

Nightwear for women made mostly of linen, some items made of cotton. Loose-fitting simple designs can be worn to bed or around the house, some even are appropriate to wear elsewhere. Some colors and patterns. Affordable prices for linen.    

• Clothing
• Clothing - Women
• Debra's List
• Textiles

4 Legger

Dog shampoo certified to USDA organic food standards. “We aren’t your typical dog shampoo company. We’re safer and better because for us it is personal. We’re on a mission to change an industry by reducing toxins in pet grooming products and educating pet parents so they can enjoy the company of their best friends for […]

• Debra's List
• Pets

Armstrong’s All Natural

All natural leather care products, including boot wax, boot shine, leather conditioner, leather wax and saddle soap, plus genuine natural wood and horsehair buffing brushes. “ARMSTRONG’S ALL NATURAL products are handmade in small batches in New York, USA. Our mission is to refocus American manufacturing by locally sourcing pure, natural ingredients that support sustainable farming […]

• Debra's List
• Shoes

California Coast Naturals

California grown, certified organic black and green olives and olive oil—hand-picked and hand-packed. Plain, stuffed, and flavored (sweet balsamic sundried olives, anyone?). Their Sun Dried Black Olives are the very olives used in the famous Black Olive Brittle & Goat Cheese Ice Cream featured at Salt and Straw.  

• Debra's List

Millions Now Known To Have Multiple Chemical Sensitive (MCS)

Anne Steinemann PhD has been a leading researcher studying the health effects of fragrance in consumer products for many years. Her latest study assesses the prevalence of multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), its co-occurrence with asthma and fragrance sensitivity, and effects from exposure to fragranced consumer products. She concluded that the prevalence of diagnosed MCS has […]

• Q & A

Good Box Spring

Question from Nick Hi Debra, Wanted to know if you know a good non toxic healthy box spring or foundation for under a mattress? Debra’s Answer Actually I had never thought about this before. I bought a wood slat frame for my natural mattress years ago and I think most people do that. These are […]

• Q & A

Allbird Shoes

  Question from Heather Hi Debra, I am wondering about Allbird shoes and your thoughts? I am desperately trying to find shoes for my kids and elements age boys in Seattle need good shoes. I love Pololo but only found one place in USA that sells them and sizes are slim. What are your thoughts? […]

• Q & A