How Long Does Vinyl Flooring Outgas?
We have leased a house with vinyl flooring that is at least three years old. How long do vinyl floors outgas? It was the only house we could find without new flooring, carpet and paint. I am now sensitive to the smells of chemicals but was not bothered when inside the home for 15-20 mins. on two occasions. Do they give off significant amounts of lead?
Removing Perfume Smell from Clothing
I bought some jeans at the Goodwill last week and when I got home and smelled them in my clean home environment, I could smell perfume (there were too many odors in the store for me to detect it there). I have washed them numerous times, including in baking soda, and put them in the dryer, and I can't get the perfume smell out. I even tried washing them with Pet Odor Eliminator to see if that would do anything.
Non-Toxic Plantation Shutters
Hi Debra I need to purchase plantation shutters for a bedroom. I had mcs and need a non toxic alternative so that there is no off gassing! Can you help?
PUL on Organic Cloth Diaper
I just bought many organic cloth diapers. It has a tag that states: Outer 100% polyester, Inner 100% organic cotton. However, now I know that PUL is considered not safe for babies. I wonder how it is transferred to the baby. I mean, is it by outgassing? They don't smell bad and besides, for maximum absorbency they recommend to wash them 5 times prior to use. Is it by leaching?
Sorbitan Monostearate in Baking Yeast
Recently I discovered that the baking yeast I purchase (and most of them that I looked at) have Sorbitan Monostearate added. I am a very frequent baker/breadmaker (almost every day) and wonder if I need to be concerned about this ingredient. I did a bit of online research and saw the MSDS but wasn't sure what to take from it. Some sites say it's safe, others say it's toxic (in large quantities, I assume).
Unfinished Pine Wood Platform Bedframe Offgassing
We bought unfinished pine wood platform bedframe from online, and find it smells strong (wood smell). What kind of option do I have now?
Daughter Had Reaction to IKEA Mattress
I purchased an IKEA mattress recntly for my two and a half year old daughter, mostly due to the fact that they do not use PBDEs. It had a strong odor when we got it, and I aired it out in the sun on my deck for a couple of days and vacuumed it a couple of times before I put her on it to sleep. The first night she rubbed and rubbed her nose until she finally fell asleep.
Help! How to Get Rid of Raid
My husband KNOWS I am against using chemical poisons anywhere in or near my home, so he hides the RAID. About a week ago it finally started raining and the ants started pouring in. He sprayed my kitchen and "cleaned" the counters, opened windows and doors. He also sprayed in a cabinet that has dishes and such things as my juicer and blender. What is my best solution for cleaning everything, even for items that have intricate pieces to them or are not supposed to be immersed in water?
Removing Fragrance from Hair
Every time I go into a store, any store, my hair picks up fragrances from the store and it's patrons. I've tried to remove it with fragrance free shampoo, vinegar and baking soda. Even after washing for 8 to 10 times the fragrance is still there. Any suggestions out there besides shaving my head or wearing a wig?
Mohawk’s Corn-Based Carpets
Anyone know if these carpets off-gas less or more healthily than petroleum based carpets?
Mothproofed Wool Blankets from the 50’s—Are They Safe?
have a few 100% wool blankets from Ayers in Quebec that I inherited a long time ago that date back to the 50's or 60's. The tag says: Moth proof. I really loved these blankets as it is so hard nowadays to get such heavy and warm wool blankets (or if you do, you might have to pay 300$). Do you think they are still toxic, even after 50+ years to have in our home ?
Is Mikasa Crystal Always Leaded?
Hi, I am trying to find out if all of the Mikasa "crystal" pieces are actually leaded or are they just glass? I am trying to eliminate us using these dishes if they contain an amount of lead. We will put them in our china cabinet to enjoy them.
Norwex Laundry and Cleaning Products
I love the Norwex microfiber and am interested in trying some their other products. I don't see any listing of ingredients on their website. They say all natural and biodegradable but I would still like to know what is in them before I buy any. Can you help me? Have you ever looked into them?
RV’s for Chemically Sensitive
Readers have recommended sources for RV’s for chemically sensitive people.
PEVA Vs. EVA Shower Curtain
PEVA is a nontoxic vinyl (it doesn't have the chlorine molecule that makes PVC toxic). I used a PEVA shower curtain in a rented apartment for three months. It worked great and doesn't smell at all.
EVA is Ethylene vinyl acetate, a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate.
MCS Sufferers Which Air Purifier Helped You?
I am a MCS sufferer and for reasons beyond my control I live in a small town with alot of woodsmoke fumes, exhaust from the street we live on, and also formeldehyde fumes from the house itself. I want to find a good air purifier to get me through this until we can move.
Lead-Free Christmas Lights
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?
Zinc Ricinoleate in Deodorant
I gave up using deodorants containing aluminum several years ago and have used several natural products since with varying degrees of success. Recently Tom's of Maine created a new deodorant that claims long lasting 24 hour protection. The ingredients include Zinc Ricinoleate to absorb oder. Is Zinc Ricinoleate safe or is Tom's just replacing one unsafe metal(aluminum) with another(zinc)?
Hardboard and Formaldehyde
I was wondering whether hardboard contains any formaldehyde. I’m fixing an old wood dresser and the bottom of the draws are hardboard/pressed wood that urgently need to be replaced and I want a replacement that will not off gas anything toxic. Should I seal it?
Burning Old Particleboard
I do green cleaning at a home where they are remodeling one bedroom. They've torn up the particle board that was under the rug they also tore up. They are doing oak flooring. The homeowner mentioned to his little boy about have a big fire to burn the old particle board. I spoke with him after about the old p. board outgassing toxins, like formaldehyde and the glue that was holding the wood pieces together.