Super Search

Submitted questions will be posted with my response by the following Tuesday or before.
Submitted comments will be moderated and approved within 24 hours.

Door & window seals, alternative to vinyl stripping?

Question from DB

Does anyone have experience replacing the vinyl stripping around windows & sliding doors? If so, what did you replace it with, how expensive was the job, & how much difference did it make in your ability to live in the dwelling? Thanks so much for any info. DB, MA

Debra’s Answer

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Washing Soda Same as Baking Soda?

Question from Barbara

Is Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda the same as Arm and Hammmer Baking Soda just in a bigger box ?

Debra’s Answer

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate and washing soda is sodium carbonate. They are very similar, but different.

Sodium carbonate (also known as washing soda or soda ash) has the chemical formula Na2CO3. It most commonly occurs as a crystalline substance, which can be extracted from the ashes of many plants. It is synthetically produced in large quantities from table salt in a process known as the Solvay process.

Sodium bicarbonate has the formula NaHCO3. It is commonly called sodium hydrogencarbonate, sodium bicarb, baking soda, bread soda, cooking soda, bicarb soda, saleratus or bicarbonate of soda. It is a component of the mineral natron and is found dissolved in many mineral springs. The natural mineral form is known as nahcolite.

Read more at Q&A: Baking Soda vs Washing Soda for Laundry.

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Green Bed & Breakfast

Question from Katie Gwinn

I am looking for resources to advertise my new Bed and Breakfast, which I call “A Victorian Retreat”. Because I don’t service coffee, alcohol or other toxic drinks, nor allow smoking, I must create a niche for my products and services.

I serve organic and natural foods, gourmet full breakfast, herbal and fruit teas, hand squeezed juices, and organic soy, rice and cow’s milks. I use only cotton sheets and towels, use natural cleaning products (primarily vinegar and soda), offer natural/organic homemade body care products (hot tonic bath, face clay, tooth powder, foot spa) and create a hypo-allergenic environment as well as a beautiful, peaceful and restful one.

I grow an organic garden in the back yard, including veges and fruits which I serve in my Bed & Breakfast. I am converting half of my environmentally uncool lawn to orchard, berry patch and vege garden and the rest to bird and butterfly garden, with only a small patch of grass for outdoor weddings and receptions. I just purchased an electric lawnmower for mowing what’s left of the lawn.

I teach workshops at my B&B on sustainable living, organic gardening and personal effectiveness. I am located in Monterey, Virginia, and if anyone can help me with advertising and networking ideas, please let me know.

It’s an uphill climb in a lodging industry that emphasizes coffee and alcohol and cheap foods and a population that is addicted to these very toxic substances. I’m committed to good health and want to serve my guests only the best but need to learn ways to get the word out to those who will really appreciate my efforts.Thanks for any tips you can give me.

Katie Gwinn, www.trimble-house.com

Debra’s Answer

Well, we can start a directory right here. I’m going to go stay at another green bed and breakfast in Asheville North Carolina in a couple of weeks, so will let you know about that.

I found a website organicplacestostay.com but it wasn’t working well when I visited it today. They have a book, and you can also submit a listing.

Interestingly, when I searched on “organic bed and breakfast” all kinds of things came up. One place (an organic farm) advertised their synthetic Tempur-Pedic beds as being safe for the chemically sensitive (they’re not!). So if we can come up with a good list here, that would be great.

Readers, any ideas for places to get the word out? These places need our support so they can thrive as a business.

And any B&B’s you’ve stayed in you’d like to recommend?

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Coconut water

Question from Sheri

Debra,

Thank you for your latest recipe for Coconut Water . For the last few months I have been making a smoothie for my daughter with young coconut water & meat (she has numerous food allergies and dysphagia which requires thick consistency drinks so she does not aspirate). I had not considered drinking just the water for myself and the idea of the lime with the coconut sounds yummy. I can’t wait to try it. I read your smoothie recipe and thought I would share mine in case anyone wanted something without any dairy.

Green smoothie:

Water & meat from 1 young coconut
1 cup green leafy vegetable (spinach, kale, etc.)
2 cups frozen or fresh fruit (any combination you would like – my favorite is pear raspberry, my daughter’s favorite is all mango)

Cut up fruit & veggie a bit and them place everything in a blender and blend until smooth. If my fruit is a bit tart I will sometimes add just a bit of agave or honey to taste, but usually it is very good just like it is. A great way to get your green veggies without even knowing they are there.

Thanks again Debra for your newsletter and website – they are fantastic. I also want to tell you how excited I am about the new direction for sweet savvy recipes – I am right there with you, now that I have broken the refined sugar habit, I want to take it a step healthier for me and my family.

Debra’s Answer

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Getting Pesticide Out Of Clothing

Question from Julie Vietor

HI,

My clothes all smell of pesticide from being stored in my condo that reeks of pesticide (recently bought it, cannot live in it, have recently had it baked out by professional bake-out contractors, still not good enough, I keep working away at it).

I know soaking clothes in vinegar may help. Am currently trying a 48 hour soak. Has anyone had experience with this? How much white vinegar should I use?

Debra’s Answer

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Pet urine killing grass

Question from Susan W

Any suggestions on what to apply on grass to prevent our dog’s urine killing the grass? I have yellow spots on my front yard (and he has to start using the back yard!) and I’d like to get them cleared up.

Thanks,

Susan

Debra’s Answer

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Fire Retardents In Furniture

Question from Laurie

Your web site and some others mention that IKEA uses pdbe free foam furniture but doesn\’t say if they use some other fire retardent. Do you know?

I recently bought a chair from Crate & Barell advertising they use soy foam rather than polyurethane and would appreciate any insight you have on whether it\’s less toxic, i.e., reduced fire retardents.

Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

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Urethane Foam In Upholstered Furniture

Question from Laura Sharp

We recently built a new house and have killed ourselves trying to make it healthy for our 2 young daughters with all kinds of health issues. We did as much as we knew to do, including solid wood cabinets, healthy paint, hardwood and ceramic tile floors, etc. We also bought completely solid wood furniture. However, I somehow missed the health concerns about upholstered furniture. Since our upholstered furniture has been delivered, our 3-year old has been stuffy with a runny nose, and her excema has flared up. I’m afraid it’s the furniture. The cushions are 85% urethane foam and 15% resin treated polyester. How unhealthy is it, and what do I do now???

Debra’s Answer

It’s probably the furniture. There’s a simple answer to your question at www.foamorder.com/health.html which outlines the dangers of PBDEs found in all synthetic foam products (such as yours).

I don’t know how many pieces you have that need to be replaced, but you’ll need to either remove and replace the foam with natural latex foam or old-fashioned box springs (I have box springs in my sofa), or stuff it with wool batting. You may also need to reupholster.

It might be easier to sell what you have and start over with some nontoxic furniture from one of the websites on Debra’s List: Interior Decorating: Furniture.

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Green Child Daycare

Question from America

Does anyone know of any green daycare for children? I’m have a non-toxic home for my child – and am not happy about the idea of putting her into an unhealthy environment – but it seems as if I have no choice. If anyone knows of a healthy, non-toxic, green-living childcare center …. anywhere – please let me know.

Debra’s Answer

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Memory Foam Mattress Outgassing

Question from Hilary

Dear Debra,

Do you have any information concerning outgassing from polyurethane, i.e. memory foam, mattresses? I’m thinking of buying a particular mattress (like the ones found at sleepwarehouse.com), but I want to make sure that I won’t be breathing in outgas fumes for the near future…any thoughts or information to share?

Thank you!

Hilary

Debra’s Answer

On page 327 of my book Home Safe Home I wrote:

You can always contact a manufacturer and ask them questions about material safety.

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Translator

Visitor site map

 

Organic and Healthy

“Pure


“EnviroKlenz"

“Happsy"

ARE TOXIC PRODUCTS HIDDEN IN YOUR HOME?

Toxic Products Don’t Always Have Warning Labels. Find Out About 3 Hidden Toxic Products That You Can Remove From Your Home Right Now.