Fwd: FROM DEBRA: Green Halloween........

[Guest guest]

Maybe I'll give out zucchini this year...................just doing my bit for the environment.............yeah, that's it.............. ;-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings!

 

Happy Halloween! My husband and I are going to a costume party this year for Halloween and are working on figuring out what to put together for costumes without buying or renting a costume. It will be fun! Maybe I should be Mother Nature... I'm not writing anything on greening Halloween this year, as that is well- covered elsewhere, such as www.greenhalloween.org. Debra :-)

HEALTH, HOME & HABITAT #207 ~ 27 October 2009

* 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

 

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GREEN LIVING Q & A BLOG Here are the questions and new comments posted through yesterday. 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.

 

 

* Handling a Flea Infestation

* Less Toxic Hotel Rooms

* Non-Toxic Mascara Recommendation?

* Tempur-Pedic

* Non toxic rain gear

* Make your own cardboard far infrared sauna

* Disinfectants

* Slow Cooker with Lead Free Glaze

* Produce Wash

* looking for plastic-free coffee maker and rice cooker

* Dove soap not fragrance free

* help! we have ringworm!

* Laptop worries

* How do I seal caulk I'm sensitive to?

* Stopping carpet outgassing with an Ozone machine

* Paint outgassing

* Organic Sheets

* Flea control for dogs

* PVC pipe in furnace

* CLR

* professional artist gone MCS

* Water filters...Water Kleen FRS

* Mulch

* Benjamin Moore Natura Paint

* hair dyes / tattoo dyes

* Lubricating jelly

* Is Plastic Heater OK?

* Trying to locate clothes sewer that caters to chemically sensitive people

* vinegar

* Polyfil

* Are Artificial Christmas Trees Toxic and do they off- gas?

* composite decking

* toilet paper

* prefinished solid wood flooring

* Need Stack Washer/Dryer

* confused about new organic mattress

* Formaldehyde-Free Fiberglass Insulation

* Wood finish Recipe for Crib?

 

 

 

 

Lead-free Christmas Lights

Hello,

 

As a grandmother of two small children I am much more aware of all the terrible toxins we have around us. I have been searching daily for lead-free Christmas tree lights. Does anyone know where they can be purchased? I have heard that they are available outside the US, in Great Britain? I certainly do not want to subject the children to any more toxins.

 

Susan Webb

 

Read the answer...

Bambu Veneerware

Are you familiar with these products?

 

I am interested in this single-use bamboo collection of plates, serveware and utensils, as an alternative to disposable plastic or paper plates. It seems like the right thing environmentally, just want to make sure there's no other issues. they say no bleaches or dyes - would there be anything else to worry about, like adhesives?

 

www.bam buhome.com/products/veneerware/

 

Read the answer...

magnetic laundry system

Have you ever heard of the magnetic laundry system that uses magnets in your washer and no laundry soap? It kind of sounds like a gimmic to me.

 

Read the answer...

Confusion about tile grout

I called customer service at Custom Building Products today and by luck ended up talking to someone with experience installing tile for people with MCS.

 

He told me not to use any standard grout but instead a mix of 2 parts sand and 1 part cement. I considered it, but since this is an apartment installation, I don't think that would be allowed due to installer warranty issues and higher risk of cracks developing.

 

The conversation worried me though as he said that the sand and cement method is all he could recommend based on his experiences with MCS.

 

I'm wondering if you've recently used the Custom Building Products Polyblend grout (around 2008-09). I've read of some people having problems with polymers, but the polyblend worked well for you for your 2005 bathroom remodel described in your e-book. I'm worried there might have been some formula changes so if this product has worked for you recently as well, I'd feel more assured.

 

I'm also considering Laticrete SpectraLock, which is the only Greenguard certified brand, and C-Cure since other MCS resource sites recommended it. I recall someone saying the C-Cure needed to be offgassed for a week though :/ .. at least a week isn't too long and I intend to do at least a 5-day bake out anyway.

 

Whether modified with polymers and biocides or not, all the pre- mades have been enhanced with 'special chemicals.' I'll just have to rely on experience here

 

Read the answer...

removing fragrance from car

Hi,

 

I have MCS and so bought a used car; however, there is a lingering smell from scented hand lotion in the car. how do i remove it?

 

thanks,

 

bebe

 

Read the answer...

Central Heating Systems - HVAC or Radiant Flooring?

Hi,

 

We are looking to buy an older rambler and make is MCS safe. Does anyone know what is better for us MCS sufferers? An Electric furnace with a whole house air filtration system and ultraviolet light in the duct work or radiant heat floors? And what kind of radiant heat floors? Thanks everyone and you especially, Debra!

 

Cathy

 

Read the answer...

Black mold growing in tub sealant

Last year I bought some non-toxic caulking material and it works fine. The apt. manager put it right over the old, thinning caulk. Now I find that there is black mold growing through the new caulking. I have MCS from mold exposures, so I am probably a "moldy" person. Is it safe for me to clean that all off myself, and what would I use. I like using a paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda for cleaning up moldy residue on my sink area, but this is caulking. I don't really want to ask the apt. manager to do it since I can't trust him to do it right from the last experience. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

 

Ruth/Wisconsin

 

Read the answer...

Linseed oil fumes

We recently purchased tempered pegboard and have mounted it under a piece of furniture in our bedroom. Although my husband does not notice an odor, the odor from it is very strong to me. I am 7 months pregnant and this could be why I smell it so strongly. I contacted the company who manufactures it (Decorative Panels, Inc.) and they said that there are no toxic substances used and the finish is mainly linseed oil. I am assuming this is what I am smelling. Because of the way it is being used, it is going to be quite a process to replace it with something else, but I wanted to know if you've had any experience with this product (or linseed oil in general). I am concerned since I am pregnant and the odor fills our bedroom (and our toddler spends most of the night sleeping in our room, too).

 

 

Read the answer...

Outgassing in Mattress (Latex vs Ultracel)

Hi. We are looking for a mattress for our 3 year old, and in the proccess, are comparing various products in terms of price and toxicity.

 

Which product is safer in terms of outgassing exposure- conventional 100% natural latex mattresses or the Ultracel mattress?

 

Also, just heard that 100% natural latex products are made into foam using some man-made chemicals. Is this true? We are concerned about the overall outgassing initially and over time.

 

Unfortunately, the Essentia mattress is out of our price range at this time.

 

Thank you for your time, experience and caring.

 

Mehdi and Nancy

 

Read the answer...

Laundry Detergent

I've been discussing laundry with the woman who works for me. Her husband does carpentry and they need something that removes odors- sweat, chemicals, etc. They do not have a clothesline.

 

Currently they are using a Tide product that is heavily fragranced. They don't think Tide's Free and Clear (or whatever it is called) does the job.

 

Can anyone recommend a detergent with little or no fragrance that removes odors? Has anyone had experience with adding borax?

 

Read the answer...

nickel allergy

hello .. i've recently been diagnosed with a strange nickel allegy - it doesn't affect my skin , but causes my lips to react with red bumps. i've been advised to eat a nickel-free diet (which includes no lettuce, no chocolate, no shellfish... an extremely long list of things you'd never expect). Right now I'm using a vanilla-flavored lip chap which doesn't include nickel as an ingredient, but was wondering if there were any lip chaps out there that would definitly be nickel-free.

Thanks!!

 

Read the answer...

Refrigerators and Kitchen Appliances for Chemically Sensitive People?

My sister is redoing her whole kitchen and is looking for kitchen appliances, especially refrigerators that don't trigger her chemical sensitivities. Latex is one of her allergies and she is having a tough time finding anything without it. Even the several year old refrigerators are giving her reactions. Any thoughts? We appreciate any help. I too am chemically sensitive and will be looking for a new frig soon.

 

Read the answer...

Safe Weatherstripping for Doors and Windows

I recently moved into a 25 year old home that needs old and missing weatherstripping replaced- the windows and doors leak badly, especially in the winter. I have MCS and need to find something that will work. Green and environmental contractors and experts say there is nothing out there at present, so I am open to suggestions. I have paper towels stuffed in the windows and under the doors where possible, but they get wet.

 

Read the answer...

Cast Iron and Parkinsons

Debra,

Have you heard of the link between Parkinson's Disease, and possibly MS, and cast iron cookware? My son's Naturopathic Physician said that iron from cast iron gets through the blood brain barrier into the brain, and can actually attract other metals there. She said that research was originally done by Dr. Paul Cutler of Niagara Falls which demonstrated this, and another West Coast research team tried to disprove this, but found the same results, which made them conclude that "this should be further studied." Have you ever heard this? When I asked if people hundreds of years ago were ill from using their cast iron, she said that they did not live long enough to get Parkinsons. What do you think? We use a lot of cast iron here -- we thought it was the best for health! Thanks for all you do! Donna

 

Read the answer...

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