Submitted questions will be posted with my response by the following Tuesday or before.
Submitted comments will be moderated and approved within 24 hours.
Getting the Smell Out of a New Refrigerator
Question from Debi
How can you get the smell out of a new refrigerator? I have never had a new fridge before so was not aware it would smell so bad!
I washed it out with soapy water and then have put a bowl of baking soda on each shelf…4 days later, it still smells. It smells like it is more of the vinyl around the edge of the fridge keeping it airtight versus actually inside the fridge but then again I can’t get in there and close the door to see if it smells.
I remember a few years ago we had put a bottle of nail polish in the butter bin in our fridge door and when we went to use the butter it tasted like nail polish. I am afraid to put fod in there because I don’t want it to taste like the plastic smell we are smelling.
Any suggestions?
Debra’s Answer
This IS a problem with new refrigerators, as they are full of outgassing plastic. And the outgassing plastic WILL get into your food.
My general advice is to purchase a used refrigerator, as the plastic does outgas over time, but last summer I myself purchased a new refrigerator because i just fell in love with the design.
It’s what’s called a “trio” because it has two refrigerator doors that open on top from the center, and one freezer door on the bottom. Inside there are glass shelves and easy-to-reach-and-open see-through bins for produce. It is just a joy to use. Several companies make them. The brand I bought was Kenmore at Sears (I’d give you a link, but it was too long).
I was concerned that the interior would have an odor, but the model on the floor didn’t have an odor. So I took a chance, and the one that was delivered to me didn’t have an odor either. Perhaps this was just a fluke, I can’t guarantee it, but this was my experience.
As for your problem, I would have suggested baking soda. Does anyone else have a suggestion that has worked. Readers?
Mercury Thermometers and Your Family’s Health
I want to pass along to you a pamphlet I just found called “Mercury Thermometers and Your Family’s Health”.
I knew that mercury is a dangerous chemical, but didn’t really understand how hazardous a broken thermometer can be, how to properly dispose of a mercury thermometer, or that non-mercury thermometers are available (I actually have a digital thermometer, but didn’t buy it as a mercury alternative). All this is covered in this easy-to-read pamphlet.
How safe is Clorox Bleach?
Question from Laura
I’ve used Clorox Bleach steadily for years. It’s the only thing that seems to ‘clean’. The products sold in stores ( i.e. Clorox Softscrub, etc.) used to mask the bleach smell that have bleach in them, don’t do the job as well as just bleach alone. I usually blend a few drops of bleach on a rag with Polmolive dish soap to do my kitchen counters then rinse afterwards. The smell IS strong but goes away after a few minutes.
Is using Bleach unhealthy on the lungs? I really like the stuff and don’t want to stop using it but if it’s toxic then I’ll have to find other options.
Thanks for any info on this.
Sincerely,
Laura
Debra’s Answer
Product labels on chlorine bleach warn only of the danger when accidentally ingested, however, the inhaled fumes also pose a hazard. Toxicology books report that chlorine is “toxic as a [skin] irritant and by inhalation.”
The Material Safety Data Sheet for Chlorox Bleach states:
Many people do have adverse reactions to chlorine. The chlorine in bleach is the same stuff people often want to remove from drinking water.
Personally, I don’t use chlorine bleach or any products containing chlorine, and I remove it from my water for drinking, cooking, and bathing. That would be my recommendation for you, too.
Content of Metals
Here is a very interesting page that contains information on the content of various metals:
Metals Information — About Metals and Platings.
It tells, for example, what alloys are used to make various types of gold, sterling silver, brass, surgical stainless steel and other metals used in jewelry-making. It addresses allergies to these metals. It tells what plating is and where lead can be found in jewelry.
It’s a good basic resource for metals.
Safety of Rubbing Alcohol for Pest Control
Question from jmarlene
Dear Debra,
I found your site tonight searching for safety of rubbing alcohol.
Living in a townhouse complex, confronted suddenly with roaches. They began to enter from behind a bathroom mirror. Have lived here for 15 years and have not had a problem until now. I have tried vinegar, bay leaves, neem oil, lemon oil, tee tree oil, and soapy water for 2 weeks. Each had an effect which did not last long…new little darlings kept coming out.
I finally called an eco-friendly pest eliminator. In anticipation of their arrival next week, I tried one more item: rubbing alcohol. It is working, however, searched on web for safety, and that is how I found your site. I am concerned about the flammable vapor. I have placed cotton pads in corners of the kitchen and bath, and swabbed the area lightly around the animals water dish. It has been 6 hours exactly and so far none have appeared.
Still concerned about flammable vapors, although the vapor scent does not last long.
Also ordered 2 copies of your book. Can hardly wait to read it.
Debra’s Answer
Here is the MSDS for Isopropyl Alcohol (Rubbing Alcohol). It says that the “flash point” is 53. A flash point is the lowest temperature at which a liquid can ignite. The lower the flash point, the easier it is to ignite the material. So 1 would be really flammable.
The MSDS also says “fire may produce irritating or poisonous gasses” and “may be poisonous if inhaled or absorbed through skin. Vapors may cause dizziness or suffocation. contact may irritate or burn skin and eyes.”
If you are wanting to kill these creatures, I recommend boric acid. It is a lot safer to have around the house that rubbing alcohol.
New Flannel Sheets Smell Like Gasoline After Washing
Question from Erin
I recently purchased new flannel sheets for my children’s beds. My son has been sleeping (I washed it first) on it for the past two weeks and his asthma has been terrible. I was thinking it was from the outside air. However, I took their sheets off this morning and washed them again. When I took them out of the washer I noticed a very strong chemical smell, almost like gasoline. Is this possible? Would I be better off purchasing old second hand cotton sheets for my children to sleep on?
Thank you for any advice or information you might have.
Sincerely
Erin
Debra’s Answer
I’ve been sleeping on cotton flannel sheets for years. I’ve probably purchased at least two dozen sets of sheets from various places and they have all been completely odor-free. Except once. There was a pattern printed on the sheets that was with a kind of plastic-ish ink. It was laying on top of the fabric, not in the fabric. It was scratchy and smelly, so I just threw them away.
I don’t know why your sheets smell, but it is not typical. I wouldn’t decide against cotton flannel sheets based on that one experience.
You may be able to remove the odor by washing in baking soda or vinegar, or by hanging the sheets in the sun. If that doesn’t work, toss these and get new sheets.
Anodized Cookware in the Dishwasher
Question from Cathy
I just found out you’re not supposed to put anodized cookware in the dishwasher. We don’t do it it often but occasionally if my husband is cleaning up (rarely happens) the pans will go in the dishwasher. I can’t see any evidence of damage to the surface of these pans but want to know if they are possibly unsafe to use. I hope you can answer my question.
Debra’s Answer
My husband Larry is the dishwasher in our house, so I don’t have a lot of attention on what is safe to put in the dishwasher or not. But it seems that some cookware is dishwasher safe and some isn’t. I would follow the manufacturer’s advice on this.
At first I answered this question by saying putting your cookware in the dishwasher probably wouldn’t ruin it, but read the comments for the experiences of readers who DID ruin their anodized aluminum cookware by putting it in the diswasher.
Nontoxic Luggage?
Question from Cheryl
I really need a new suitcase for my trips back east to visit family. I need something with some shape to it because I live out of the suitcase the whole trip as I visit various family members. I borrowed a popular commercial one for a recent trip and found that my clothes picked up the smell of the suitcase. Do you have any recommendations that do not have heavy outgassing ? I’m assuming that the tapestry/cloth suitcases could be okay but wanted to check with you first.
Debra’s Answer
I’ve been struggling with the luggage question for months.
I have a set of old leather luggage that I love–old style too, with belts in addition to latches. I’ve been using it for about twenty years and have taken it everywhere I’ve traveled. The belts and latches have all broken and been replaced, but now the spines are breaking and I really don’t think they will make it through another airplane trip, being tossed around as they do in airports.
Knowing I would be taking this trip to San Francisco this week, I’ve been looking for new luggage for months and running into the same problems. The synthetic luggage just STINKS! And I didn’t want to contaminate my clothing. Also, I wanted luggage with wheels this time around as I am tired of carrying it or strapping it to wheels.
I too wanted something with structure, which is why I wasn’t just getting the immediately obvious option: cotton canvas bags. Port Canvas has a wonderful selection of affordable, sturdy cotton canvas luggage, but it is soft.
I checked out the tapestry/cloth suitcases, but, alas, they too smelled because they are made from synthetic materials. Many years ago I purchased a linen and leather garment bag. I wish they still made these.
The most natural suitcases I could find were made by Hartmann. Made with leather and natural fibers, these do not smell at all, but they cost in the neighborhood of $800 a piece. I’m just not going to spend $800 on a piece of luggage that is going to get thrown around at the airport and anyone could pick up at baggage claim. That’s just a theft waiting to happen.
Non-Toxic Mascara Recommendation?
Question from wt
hello,
i’m looking for a non-toxic mascara that WON’T MAKE MY LASHES DROOP. my lashes are relatively thin, and anything heavy will cause them to droop in a heartbeat. is there such a forumula?
would appreciate a recommendation.
thank you!
Debra’s Answer
My lashes are thick, so I’ve never experienced this. Readers…?
Dishwashing soap
Question from S.L.
On your website under the section “At Home With Debra . . . How I Really Live” you say that you use an unscented liquid soap that you got as a bonus to clean your dishes and countertops. I’m wondering if you’ve run out of that original supply and if so, what do you use now?
Debra’s Answer
We’re still using the dish soap we got with our water softener. Some other products I have used in the past to wash my dishes include Dr. Bronner liquid soaps (now made from organically-grown ingredients) and a dishwashing liquid I got at Williams-Sonoma that they don’t carry any more, which was scented with kitchen fragrances, such as sweet basil and meyer lemon. When we run out of what we have, I’ll probably go back to Dr. Bronner.
