If you're anything like me today, you're dashing around getting ready for tonight's Halloween festivities. So today this newsletter is going to focus on the Green Living Q+A blog. Next week we'll have more new posts to Debra's List and the first of a series of articles I've already starting writing--all about getting ready for the upcoming holidays. One is about my new cookware...

A writer has been interviewing me for an article she is doing for Health magazine. It's about how to get through resistance from other members in your household (spouse, children, roommates, etc) to taking actions that improve the health of your home or benefit the environment. I have plenty of ideas for her, but we'd like to hear from you. What kind of resistance have you encountered? How have you successfully handled resistance? Are you having any resistence you need help with? You might be quoted (with your permission, of course) in a national magazine! POST YOUR COMMENT...

I'm off to go carve my pumpkin!

Debra :-)

HEALTH, HOME & HABITAT #58 ~ 31 October 2006

* GREEN LIVING Q&A BLOG: new questions and comments
* CLASSIFIED ADS

Health, Home & Habitat Back Issues
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GREEN LIVING Q&A BLOG

I added some new features to the blog this week I think you will like.

When you post a question now, you will be automatically notified via email when a new comment is added to your question. That will make it easier to track your responses.

And I've added two new search pages to help you find what's new. Find new QUESTIONS in a date range and Find new COMMENTS in a date range allow you to enter whatever date range you want, and see the new questios or comments for that time period. These links are located right at the top of the right hand column on the main blog page, right under the big purple SEARCH button. So you won't miss a thing!

Here are the questions and new comments posted through this morning, since the last newsletter. 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 2 pm eastern time to answer your questions immediately and personally with a paid telephone consultation.

NEW COMMENTS ON PAST QUESTIONS:

* Cleaning Mildew has some vital information on the hazardous aspects of hydrogen peroxide you probably don't already know...

* Wood Conditioner for Cutting Boards and Bowls NEEDS READER COMMENTS on what to do if you've already applied an oil that will go rancid...

* Tempur-Pedic another reason not to use memory foam (in a cold climate)...

* How Do I Remove Mold from the Shower Floor Tile?
* Lead on Power Cords
* Less Toxic Hotel Rooms
* New Flannel Sheets Smell Like Gasoline After Washing
* Workplace Fragrance-Free Policies
* Natural Treatment for Nail Fungus
* Good Air Filters?
* Favorite natural baby things?
* Melaleuca
* Tooth Soap
* Solar Hot Water Heaters
* Heating Pads or Other Heat Sources for Relaxation and Pain Relief
* Clean and Shine Wood Floors
* Safe thermos for food

Offgassing From Silicone Bakeware

I looked all over the Internet for information. regarding toxicity for exotic parrots while heating the silicone bakeware. I couldn't find any information, but did find you.

I have two parrots in my family and I would die if anything happened to them on my account. There are so many things that will kill them and I have to be really careful. I have no matter of teflon in my home, no matter what DuPont says, it kills birds from the outgas.

So I finally contacted the manufacturer, and wanted to pass along what they had to say, so this information will be on the internet for others who are concerned about the offgassing of silicone bakeware for whatever reason. They said, "Birds
are sensitive to cooking fumes. It is possible that any cookware can emit
fumes which are hazardous or fatal to birds if heated to temperatures
exceeding 500 degrees Fahrenheit."

SHELLEY
GEORGIA, USA

Read the answer...

sunlight alarm

I recently moved from Southern California beach city to Pacific Northwest. I'm missing daily sunlight. Are progressive light alarm clocks effective, safe? Any suggestions for combating the gray days? Thanks. Take care.

JEANNE
WASHINGTON, USA

Read the answer... NEEDS READER COMMENTS

Crawlspace and Mold

I have been reading your information on mold and the remediation you have done to your home.

We purchased our first house two years ago and it has been a nightmare. Many of the problems we are having are a result of a very damp and narrow crawl space. When we first moved in, we had special vents installed and put down a plastic vapor barrier. We still have very high humidity in our home which has ruined our flooring and our 5 year old roof.

The leaking roof ruined our walls and ceilings before we caught it. I have seen small amounts of mold in many different areas of our house. We are having the roof redone and the flooring replaced. There is no way we can afford mold remediation, unless we do it ourselves.

But our biggest problem is resolving our crawlspace issue. We have looked into a company that uses something called "clean space" technology. The idea is that completely sealing the crawl space will eliminate the moisture.

I have been researching for hours and the studies seem pretty convicing, but I wonder what we would be sealing in. Chemicals? Bacteria? Radon? I am also concerned that drying up the mold and disturbing the crawl space will bring even more pollution into our home (our duct work is in the crawl space).

Does anyone out there have any experience with this? We live in MI if this helps at all.

LEAH
MICHIGAN, USA

Read the answer...NEEDS READER COMMENTS

Baking Out Toxic Flooring Adhesive

Dear Debra,

Thanks to you and AFM for your response to our question regarding the offgassing of a lift chair. We have ordered the chair and will be spraying it with AFM SafeCoat Lock Out.

Our next question regards new subflooring that was just put down. We used AdvanTech subflooring per some information we found here and on the Green Guide. However, the contractor used DAP SubFloor & Deck adhesive and OSI Subfloor Adhesive (we didn't realize adhesive would be needed at all, otherwise we would have provided a low-VOC product for the contractor to use).

The toxic smell throughout the house is extremely strong. We are familiar with the "bake out" procedure you have outlined here. Our question, though, is when to do the bake out. We are going to have parquet wood squares installed and other work done, but should we bake out the house before the flooring is put down over the subfloor--or after all the work is completed?

Of course, we are approving every product the contractor uses after this to make sure only zero or low-VOC products are used. This is quite a job, since most contractors just really are not familiar with "no or low-toxicity" building products.

Thank you for the wealth of information you provide, Debra!

~Min

MIN
VIRGINIA, USA

Read the answer...

Prefinished Wood Flooring

Dear Debra,

We are looking to buy prefinished wood flooring from Lumber Liquidation for our living room, the only room that does not have hardwood floors in it. I noticed, however, you do not have an MCS symbol next to it. Would this be a product that you would not recommend for someone that is chemically sensitive. Thanks Sandy

SVW
WASHINGTON, USA

Read the answer...

recycling peanut butter jars

This has nagged me for years. Maybe you can provide me with an answer. When recycling peanut butter jars is it better to rinse them (wasting lots of hot water) to clean them for recycling or just toss them into the recylcing bin and let the recyclers handle it?

As an addendum to the above, if you are unsure about whether something is recyclable should you give it to the recyclers and let them figure it out or just toss it?
Thanks, Mark

MARK
VIRGINIA, USA

Read the answer...

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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.

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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.

* More information

* 10 Simple, Inexpensive Things You Can Do To Reduce Household Toxics

* How Toxic is Your Home? Quiz (excerpt from the book)

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Debra's List ~ 100s of links to 1000s of nontoxic, natural & earthwise products
Free Newsletters ~ website update, natural sweetener recipes, words of wisdom
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MCS Recovery ~ resources for recovery from multiple chemical sensitivities
Sweet Savvy ~ how to choose and use natural sweetners (lots of recipes)
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