Just launched two weeks ago, Debra's List has over 200 links (and over 1000 more to come) for all kinds of nontoxic, natural, and earthwise products. Whether you are looking for organic food, a cotton bed, or a natural paint, it's all on Debra's List. Here are just a few samples.

Naturally Yours
If you've been wanting your office or your child's school to switch to natural cleaning products, check these out. They have a full line of cleaning products used in homes, businesses and government buildings. Economically priced and super-concentrated, these cleaning products are nontoxic, biodegradable, non-ecotoxic, fragrance-free, and cruelty-free. More...

BeWellStayWell "We want to provide our customers with honest and true products that really are natural!...we are offering Natural Beauty Solutions and health products that meet the demands of eco-wise people! Our philosophy is that 'Only the Purest will do for YOU!'" More...

Homespun Fabrics & Draperies "10-Foot-Wide fabrics for seamless custom made draperies or slipcovers, in washable, non-toxic cotton." More...

Ten days ago, hurricane Jeanne, the fourth hurricane to hit Florida in six weeks, came close enough to my house (yes, we had hurricane-force winds!) to knock out the power. So I have a lot of attention right now on being prepared to have light when the power is out. Here are three options that give a lot of light without batteries.

Just the day before the hurricane, a friend of mine gave me a Light Stick. These little light sticks give you instant light anywhere, anytime. Just snap and shake the plastic tube and a nontoxic fluid inside begins to glow. Compared to flashlights with batteries, they are compact, lightweight, and can be stored for up to 4 years. Once opened they give enough light to easily see for up to 12 hours. They are safe to use and non-flammable. You can keep them by your bedside, carry them in a pocket or purse, and keep them in the glove compartment of your car. Used by military, police, and fire departments. Sold at Home Depot and Lowe's, hardware stores, and online.

If you can keep track of a flashlight, Forever Flashlight is the last one you'll need to buy. It uses the Faraday Principle of Electromagnetic Energy to produce a super bright blue LED light. It never needs batteries or bulbs. Watch the video on the website to see how it works.

And here's a light you can always have at hand. The Lifetime Clip Light is guaranteed to live up to its name. Clip it to your keychain or purse or slip it in your pocket. When you press the button, it produces a brilliant blue beam that illuminates a panoramic 180 degrees and can be seen a mile away. It uses so little energy that the light will give more than 100,000 hours of use.

Have you ever wondered what toxic chemicals might be hidden in products, or what the health effects are of common ingredients? The "Toxics" page of Debra's List can help you find out.

EXTOXNET - The EXtension TOXicology NETwork
Easy-to-understand, objective, science-based information about pesticides, written for consumers. More...

MSDS Solutions
Free access to over 1 million Material Safety Data Sheets from over 15,000 manufacturers. Can search by specific product or generic item. More...

ToxFAQs™
A series of quick and easy to understand summaries about exposure to hazardous substances found around hazardous waste sites and the effects of exposure on human health. More...

My daughter is 1 year old and we live in a very small one-bedroom apartment in NYC. She is crawling all over our carpet. Can you recommend an environmentally safe carpet cleaner? I am not sure what to use. Thanks for your help!!

I.G.
New York City

The simplest thing is to spread a fairly thick layer of baking soda over the carpet, let it sit overnight, then vacuum in the morning. Or, use a rented steam cleaner without the carpet shampoo.

For more instructions on cleaning carpets, Natural Choices Home Safe Products has a whole page of advice on solving different types of carpet cleaning problems using their nontoxic, oxygen-bleach based products.

Do you need help finding or choosing products? Have questions about health or environmental issues? I'm here by the phone most days from 10:00am-4:00pm EST to answer your questions. Call me at 727-466-6812 ($2/minute with 15 minute/$30 minumum charge to major credit card).