Fwd: FROM DEBRA: vinegar made from petroleum, corn-based carpet, new on Debra...

September 16, 2008

A green Craigs List? Very interesting.

CyndiPsssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com.

Greetings!

I have a question for you today. Would you like to have a "green for sale" classified ads section on my website where you could run an inexpensive ad for a healthy or ecofriendly item you want to sell as an individual (like a mattress or a house), and look for used items that others are selling? Or run an ad if you are looking for an item? Please respond to this email with your answer.

I can tell you are all back from summer vacation. The number of comments on my Green Living Q&A blog was way up this week! You're keeping me busy!

Debra :-)

HEALTH, HOME HABITAT #152 ~ 16 September 2008

* NEW ON DEBRA'S LIST

* GREEN LIVING Q&A BLOG: new Q&As / new comments on previous Q&As

* CLASSIFIED ADS

If the links don't work on this newsletter, you can view it online at http://www.dld123.com/newsletter/newsletterupdateback.html

Health, Home Habitat Back Issues (tables of contents)

Search the Back Issues

Other newsletters by Debra

Choose Green Products Confidently

"Really Green taught me what I needed to know to compare products claiming to be "green" or "organic." Now, when I walk into a store looking for green or organic items, I'm confident I'm selecting products that truly meet those definitions and that will benefit my family and me. Thanks, Debra!"

-- Geodie Baxter Padgett

Editor, ParentGuide

Read more about Home Safe Home and order...Read more about Really Green and order... Order both books and save $4.00 on shipping

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NEW ON DEBRA'S LIST

Mary Moppins offers some great tools for cleaning, a Precision Home Cleaning System that will allow you to do all your housekeeping quickly and efficiently, and a great "refillable" mop that lets you use one handle and cleaning head to mop floors, dust walls, wax floors, wash windows, and more, just by changing what you put in the head.

MiEnviron Organics has

Gentle, but very effective, household cleaners made from nontoxic, organic ingredients, based

on the 12 principles of green chemistry.

MiVitality Certified Organic Wholefood Supplements are certified organic whole food supplements. Antioxidents and probiotics.

GenGreen is a local guide with a national range--over 25,000 green listings in 354 cities across America

Healthy Kitchenware sells stainless steel kitchen utensils, glass containers, stanless steel lunch box containers, glass baby bottles, stainless steel water bottles, and more, to help you keep plastics out of your food and drink

Old Fashioned Milk Paint The original milk paint company now has formulas for porous wood and masonry and for non-porous surfaces such as previously painted walls and for new sheetrock. This paint is made from a traditional recipe with milk protein and minerals, no odiferous natural oils or resins.

Rose of Sharon Acres

http://www.roseofsharonacres.com

Handcrafted, all-natural goat milk soaps, "made with the creamy milk of our own Nubian herd" and extra virgin olive oil.

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GREEN LIVING Q&A BLOG

Here are the questions and new comments posted through this morning. Remember, you are welcome to share your own comments and experience in response to any of these questions, and post questions of your own.

To read and comment on more questions posted previously go to Green Living Q&A blog.

I also am available Monday through Friday, from 10 am to 4 pm eastern time to answer your questions immediately and personally with a paid telephone consultation.

NEW COMMENTS ON PAST QUESTIONS:

* How to Launder Mold Out of Clothing has lots of new comments, including an item about how some vinegars are made from petrochemicals

* Choosing Organics Affordably? has info on a program that can help seniors buy organic food

* How To Repel Ants So They Don't Come Back

* Dishwasher Detergent

* Safe Window Film

* fragrance free deodorants

* Are neoprene lunch boxes safe for my kids?

* Question about Surround Ewe wool sleep system

* Safely repair scratched wood finish

* Amylia's soapworks

* Dangers of Burning Wood in Fireplace

* natural thyroid medication

* Safe Mammogram for MCS individual?

* Kitchen Cabinets

* Avoiding EMF

* Tagless clothing

* Wintree Laundry Detergent

* Sensitive Teeth

* non plastic food storage

* non toxic tent?

* How do I air out/out gas a new electric oven?

* Chlorine-Free Pool

* Ridding house of plug in air freshener odor

* Need Air Purifier Advice

* new tire purchase

* EMF Off-Gassing in TV's

* Indoor Air Quality and Pesticide Application

* Toxics While Traveling

* Toxic Garden?

* low EMF nontoxic computers

* Liquid detergent at Costco

* Is 3-Years-New TOO New to be Non-Toxic?

* "Renewing" wood floor finish

* Green Pro and EarthPan nonstick cookware

* Tile Grout Dangerous?

* espresso machine

* Toxicity of Organic Cotton

* Best gaussmeter?

Plastic resin in teethDear Debra, would you please give me your opinion regarding plastic/resin material for the chemically sensitive? Although my question may be a bit out of your area, I'd still be very grateful for your reply and opinion. The resin I'm questioning pertains to resin bonding material on my teeth---

(I'm sensitive to plastics and after getting the bonding I developed an autoimmune disease). If you wouldn't recommend resin/plastic in the home, would it stand to reason one wouldn't want it in their mouth? I can't find much research on this, and my gut feeling is I should replace it with porcelein veneers. Thank you so much for any idea you would share.

KateRead the answer...

Wooden SpoonsHello Debra,

I was hoping for you opinion on some Calphalon wooden spoons I found at Bed and Bath. I was about to purchase them when I read that they were made in China but distributed from OH with an all natural finish. Should I be wary of the fact that it was made in China? Otherwise what brand do you recommend for wooden spoons?

Thanks for you insight!

Read the answer...

What is the best way to deal with oil based paint off gassing with cupboards?Hi!

We painted our cupboards with oil based paint, and I suddenly cannot go into my home without getting sick. It has been a month, and I am still sick there.

Should we wait another month for the paint to off gass, or is there a safe alternative when it comes to newer cupboards than anyone can suggest? We started to look at Kraft Maid with a baked on finish-would that be safe?

I want to go home-help!

LisaRead the answer...

Formaldehyde by any other name...is just as bad...Hi Debra, Having MCS I try to avoid anything with formaldehyde, however I know there are probably a lot of alternative names for formaldehyde used in products. Do you know or have a list of such alternative names that one should look for? Thanks svRead the answer...

Success Brown RiceWhat do you think of Success Brown Rice?

Read the answer...

Wright's Copper Cream or Silver CreamDear Debra,

Thank you so much for your web site. I've gotten a lot of useful information here, but also some confusing information. I spent 2 years trying to figure out what pots and pans to buy. I ended up buying a set of heavy duty stainless steel with 5-layer bottoms (w/aluminum and copper) from Costco--their Kirkland brand.

I understand that I shouldn't scratch them, and not to use steel wool to clean them. Soap water and Bon Ami are good for most cleaning needs, but the interiors can get a little dull and/or get "rainbows" on them. I've always used Wright's (or Twinkle) Copper Cream for the bottoms of Revere Ware pans. It works amazingly well. I've checked out the MSDS and it appears relatively safe. There is some ammonium chloride in it, but that doesn't seem to be toxic at the levels in the product.

I noticed some comments by consumers who also used it (or the Silver Cream) on stainless steel pans, inside and out. It certainly "works" in that it shines the stainless steel, but is it safe to use on the interiors? I would certainly wash it off thoroughly with soap and water, but I'm unsure if these creams have the same effect as products that scratch, like scouring pads.

Alternatively, do you know of some non-toxic way to clean "rainbows" and other discoloration from stainless steel. Vinegar is not an option as the smell makes me nauseous.

Thanks!Read the answer...

Cellphone towers on apartment buildingHi Debra,

I have been regularly visiting a friend who lives on top floor of a six story high building. I recently noticed presence of cellphone towers on the roof of the building (gigantic speaker look alike that picks-up cellphone reception). I am 3 months preganant. Is this place safe for me to be around? Read the answer...

Built new house: problems with polyureseal bpI have MCS and just built a new house trying to follow guidelines for MCS building.

Have solid maple wood floors in whole house. Used AFM polyureseal BP for the finish. The wood floor guy has been doing wood floors for 30 years, and said it was the strongest smelling stuff he had ever used.

The last coat was put on July 9 (9 weeks ago). The first two weeks I couldn't even open the door and go inside the smell was so strong. Now 9 weeks later, we still have an odor from the polyureseal bp.

My wife and two children moved in five weeks ago. Now I have several, several, thousand dollars in a new house that I cannot live in, and I am forced to be seperated from my family.

Anyone else had any problems with AFM polyureseal bp?

Any advice on what can possibly be done?

Have aired out house several days, tried the bake out method, put cups of vinegar spaced througout house to absorb odor, still the odor is there (burns my eyes, causes tightness in chest, trouble breathing, etc..)

This is a terrible situation, I would advise everyone to test everything before you use it, do not rely on what a company tells you. I am running out of money, and short of having the floors sanded again and refinished with another finish, that would have to be tested first, (and I agree with what has been said before, that even though you may tolerate a small sample of something, once it covers 2200 sq ft of wood floors you may not)

I do not know what to do.

ThanksRead the answer...

Mohawk's corn based carpetsAnyone know if these carpets off-gas less or more healthily than petroleum based carpets?Read the answer...

the best, safest windows?Hi,

my condo association is looking to replace windows in our older building. We know we want vinyl free, but we also want very energy efficient, potentially emf-blocking, nice looking windows (we need the kind with the grommets.) I wonder if there are any windows out there that are eco friendly, not too plastic heavy, and don't offgas. Anyone have recommendations?

Thanks!Read the answer...

Back to NatureAfter reading the blog entry about the toxicity of organic cotton I started wondering if it is beneficial for my garden to add back-to-nature, a soil improver made of cotton plants, or do I invite with it all the pesticides used in cotton farming plus the natural toxins cotton plants have?Read the answer...

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CLASSIFIED ADS

to place a classified ad in this newsletter...

REUSABLE BAGS. Eliminate disposable plastic bags and bottles from your life. Bags of all shapes and sizes are made from cotton, organic cotton, hemp, and recycled materials. Shopping bags, tote bags, and everything you need to pack a lunch. Reusable produce bags really keep organic food fresh. Reusable aluminum drink bottles. www.ReusableBags.com

SOAPSTONE COOKWARE IS NATURALLY NONSTICK. Natural stone cookware is beautiful, warms food quickly over low heat, is bacteria-resistant and naturally non-stick, and is so durable it can be handed down for several generations. Food tastes better cooked in soapstone. www.greenfeet.com

FIX WHOLE, ORGANIC FOODS FAST IN A VITAMIX. Whole food vegetable and fruit juices, creamy soups, frozen treats, whole grain breads, fresh nut butters and more are yours in minutes, made from your own organic ingredients. www.vitamix.com

GIVE YOUR BODY THE NATURAL SALT IT NEEDS. Revive your energy with natural living salt. Contains 84 minerals essential to human life. Hand-mined to retain original primordial vibration pattern. Delicious taste makes food "come alive". A life-giving, natural, whole food. Email info for free sample. www.himalayanlivingsalt.com

SUSTAINABILY-HARVESTED WILD SALMON and other wild fish from the pristine waters of Alaska. Flash frozen, smoked, sausage and burgers, cans and pouches, salmon caviar. www.vitalchoice.com

CALL FOR A HEALTHY BED CONSULTATION. 100% wool-filled and wool-encased mattress of heirloom quality, placed on a slatted wood frame for optimal airflow. Our wool fill comes from the EcoDomestic Wool Project and Woolgatherer Carding Mill in Montague, California, home of our production company. Available in U.S. and Canada. www.shepherdsdream.com

SOLUTIONS FOR FLUORIDE HAZARD! Custom made water filters. Removes fluoride, arsenic, chlorine and chloramines without taking out the good minerals that make water wholesome.

Whole house systems, under the counter systems, and 100% chlorine-

free pool and spa system. Medical grade alkaline water unit. Natural Plus Plus LLC 727-447-2344 www.gobeyondorganic.com

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email:

debra

web:

http://dld123.com

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