This past week, the subject of greenwashing came up several times, so I thought I'd bring it up with you. I made it a blog entry, so we can discuss together about truth in green labeling. My reputation as being one who can answer questions seems to be growing! This month's issue of Health magazine quoted me answering a question about a smell in an office. And, as always, this week my Green Living Q&A blog is full of great information.
Debra :-) P.S. My houses are still for sale... but we've decided to take a few months more and finish all the remodeling on both houses. So there will be more pictures to come and details on two green kitchen remodels coming up. HEALTH, HOME & HABITAT #106 ~ 16 October 2007 * GREENWASHING 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) $$$ COMPARE PRICES ON GREEN PRODUCTS $$ $ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GREENWASHING Greenwashing is the act of misleading purchasers regarding the environmental benefits of a product or service or the environmental practices of a company. It's an important thing to know about if you are shopping for green products. I've put together some tips on how to identify greenwashing and what you can do as a consumer to make good product choices. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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.
* Removing Hard Water Stains has my report on testing Spot-X on my glass shower doors...wow! they really sparkle! (and it's totally nontoxic) * Dangers of Burning Wood in Fireplace has some new links on how burning wood in the fireplace creates outdoor air pollution * Controlling Mold on Shower Curtains Restore the Earth Cleaning Products I bought some liquid laundry detergent and it really works. It is by a company called "Restore Products" in Minnesota. It seems like the ingredients are safe and natural, but I'd like some other opinions. I didn't find this company on Debra's List, so I'm a bit worried! Dandruff Treatment Hi,
Klean Kanteen I purchased the stainless steel Klean Kanteen from your Greenfeet link and I did the refrigerator magnet test (Q&A: Magnetically-attractive stainless steel cookware) to see if it would stick. It did not and now I am really confused. Any insight into this? Thanks JC Does commercially grown cotton outgass after washing? Dear Debra, Sealing in Foam Mattress Off-gassing Hi, Debra,
Food Safe Refinishing of salad bowl I have a very nice old salad bowl, made of one piece of wood. It may be teak, but I'm not sure. However it has developed this sticky coating on the outside, and a little also on the inside. I'm assuming it's whatever the wood was finished with originally, turned old and sticky. I am wondering how to safely remove this. It seems a shame to sand this nice old bowl. Any ideas? Properly Disposing of Dangerous Fabric Protector My mother-in-law gave me an old bottle of Scotch Gard Fabric Protector to use on my son's new area rug. I have researched and found out that this is a very dangerous product that can be fatal and is very bad for the envoronment. I need to dispose of it but don't know the safe way to do that. Can you give me advice on what to do with this old, unsafe can? off gassing help for new leather sofa Dear Debra,
plastic in new appliances I need new appliances and am wondering about the plastic outgasing problems with dishwashers and refrigerators. In the store, they smell terrible when opened. Would a stainless interior in a dishwasher make the added expense worthwhile? Avoiding EMF I understand the necessity of people with multiple chemical sensitivities avoiding synthetic chemicals.This is most doable in one's own home and with adequate resources to clear environment and habitat.
color-care conditioner and shampoo Hello,
New toxic office My office will be moving into an office in the next few weeks that we are remodeling. There has been no way to get odor free products. So....I am not sure that I will be there the entire first week (must travel for a few days that week), I will be sure and buy plants for outgassing...spider plants, philodrendron, etc...and get them in there ASAP...and I'll have windows open a lot (I like to have them open anyway). Any other suggestions? I'm not too terribly sensitive, but I am concerned that with new woods, new carpets, new paint, etc...I might go into overload. Odorless Pesticides Dear Debra, Organic children's vitamins? Hi Debra,
Area rugs I have purchased 2 very nice area rugs and I thought buying them with rubber backing was good because I have hardwood floors, however, the smell of the rubbing backing is so strong to me. I wondered what kind of area rugs to buy that will not slip on hardwood if I can't use the rubber backed ones? Is it the same with all rubber backed area rugs?
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ARE YOU GETTING THE HEALTHY NIGHT'S SLEEP YOU DESERVE? Best brand name organic mattresses, natural latex organic mattresses, organic bedding, organic crib mattresses and baby bedding, HEPA air purifiers. Save 5% with coupon code: deb05. www.thecleanbedroom.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 LOTSA BAMBOO. Entire line of Bambu organically grown bamboo products--cutting boards, dinnerware, bowls, utensils, baskets, knives, trays, and more. www.greenfeet.com 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 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@himalayanlivingsalt.com 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 E-BOOKS BY DEBRA DEBRA'S GUIDE TO CREATING A GREEN BATHROOM. Instant download e-book by Debra Lynn Dadd explains all the details of her do-it-yourself remodel. Learn how to choose green building products and materials for bathroom construction, save money on materials costs, and how to install a water-tight bathroom that will last for years. A complete directory of all the green products used on the project is included. Full color photos. Order now. DEBRA'S GUIDE TO CHOOSING NATURAL SUN PROTECTION. Instant download e-book by Debra Lynn Dadd tells how you can enjoy the health benefits of sunshine in balance with natural methods of protection when necessary. Order now. DEBRA'S GUIDE TO CHOOSING A NATURAL BED. Instant download e-book by Debra Lynn Dadd covers the types of natural mattresses that are available, all about the materials, natural bedding, the history of natural beds. Order now.
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 The new, revised, edition of Home Safe Home is now available in bookstores nationwide. Home Safe Home tells what toxic chemicals are generally found in specific household products of all types, and safe solutions you can buy or make at home. It's different from other books on toxic chemicals because the focus really is what you can do to protect yourself and your family and create a healthy home. I bring over twenty years of research and personal real-life experience to this book. * 10 Simple, Inexpensive Things You Can Do To Reduce Household Toxics * How Toxic is Your Home? Quiz (excerpt from the book) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Debra's List ~ 100s of links to 1000s of nontoxic, natural & earthwise products
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| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ email: debra@dld123.com web: http://dld123.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
I also am available Monday through Friday, from 10 am to 4 pm eastern time to answer your questions immediately and personally with a 