I'm getting ready for all the cooking that I'm about to do for the upcoming holidays by giving my kitchen a good cleaning. Today I'm giving you my cleaning checklist along with all my tips for cleaning everything in the kitchen from the ceiling to the floor with simple, nontoxic methods. New links on Debra's List include nontoxic a nontoxic mold control product and a safe household pesticide for crawling insects, and more new questions and answers on the Green Living Q&A blog. Debra :-)
HEALTH, HOME & HABITAT #59 ~ 7 November 2006
* ABOUT: Cleaning Up the Kitchen for the Holidays
Health, Home & Habitat Back Issues
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ABOUT: Cleaning Up the Kitchen for the Holidays A local paper asked me to write an article about doing a thorough cleaning of the kitchen naturally, in preparation for the holidays. Even though we think of spring as the time to do such a deep cleaning, with Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve, and other winter holidays coming up, we'll all be doing more cooking than usual as family and friends gather around our tables for traditional celebrations. So before all that cooking starts, I agreed autumn is a great time to get your kitchen spic and span in preparation for all the delicious activity. I've expanded the original short article into a comprehensive list with instructions for nontoxic methods for every task. Clean your kitchen for the holidays...
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DEBRA'S LIST: New Links to Great Green Products Concrobium Mold Control is a 100% natural, nontoxic product that allows you to control mold (in basements, bathrooms, kitchens), prevent mold growth after flooding or water damage, and pretreat building materials to prevent mold growth. Website has good links to mold control info. Nature's Embrace makes their own basic skin and hair care products, completely from natural, organic, raw ingredients. Absolutely Organic Baby sells lots of baby clothing made from certified organic cotton with approved low-impact dyes. Also unscented, SLS-free babycare products, everything for organic cribs and palm-leaf "Moses" baskets, and cloth diapers made from hand-picked organic cotton. Recycled Products Cooperative is a national non-profit cooperative that sells over 3000 recycled and remanufactured office products. All they sell is green office products, so it's easy to find the products you want. Lower prices, too. Somerset Cosmetic Company sells cosmetic ingredients and containers for making your own personal care products and decorative cosmetics. They sell both chemical and natural ingredients and have a whole section of free recipes, so you can make your own formulations. Solay Simple has all-natural, unscented household cleaning products made with natural Himalayan Salt (has antibacterial properties). Green Nest has just added a safe, nontoxic, odorless all-purpose bug killer to their website, which will control all kinds of crawling insects around your home. It's made from the minerals calcium and magnesium.
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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.
* Family Resistance to "Going Green" has lots of great comments and suggestions for greening your family and friends * Crawlspace and Mold has links to great resources where experienced experts discuss the issues of crawlspace mold in depth * Lead on Power Cords has an interesting comment about the necessity of evaluating for oneself the danger of a particular exposure and choosing one's actions accordingly * Tooth Soap has instructions for dental care using natural salt.
* How Do I Remove Mold from the Shower Floor Tile? Green Building Resources Hello Debra,
D. W. Removing mold from wood cutting board I got careless and let the underside of my big expensive cutting board get wet, and stay wet without checking it. Today I found a black mold spot 2" x 4". I don't know what to do. I tried peroxide (one treatment) and ultraviolet lamp (grow-light-one treatment), and sandpaper to remove the spot (no effect). Is there a way to kill the spores and remove the black spot and still be able to use that side for cutting food, or do I have to just kill the spores and give up on that side? Please help. AMY washing wool blankets We inherited several old wool blankets that have been stored for many years. They are nice blankets and we would like to use them, but they have a musty smell. Is there a healthy way to have them professionally cleaned? Otherwise, all I can think of is to wash them by hand, a complicated project because of their size. I am grateful for any suggestions. HELEN floor underlayment Is there any type of floor underlayment for wood or cork floors that is low or non-toxic? I have looked at cork underlayment, but it is expensive. Did you use any type of underlayment with your wood floors Debra? Thanks! LEAH Natural latex mattresses and latex allergies I have been using Talalay Latex pillows for a few months and am considering purchasing a natural latex mattress. I have MCS and worry about developing a latex sensitivity, which can be very serious if one needs surgery. What I find on the internet indicates that it is the protein in natural rubber that is the culprit. Would these pillows and mattresses not be dangerous, especially to someone as sensitive and allergy-prone as I am? MAUREEN ANDERSON Are neoprene lunch boxes safe for my kids? Hello,
THETAMAMA Space Bags My mom died of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and she was a very healthy eater. I have to assume that she contracted this cancer from her environment. I am trying to become more conscious of the things I use
in my home as a result.
CAROL Disposing of ashes from wood burning stove? Hi,
SMKA Stain resistant furniture I purchased new upholstered furniture for my home 6 years ago before I was aware of the toxic consequences. It is all treated with stain resistant chemicals. I cannot afford to get new furniture. Is there a way to deal with this? If I put on slip covers will that help? Thank you. KARIN Roaches I am so conflicted about what to with our roach problem. Does anyone have any effective ways of getting rid of roaches? We are going crazy. We clean up completely, spotlessly everynight but still have a problem.. We are getting desparate and really don't want to have to use a spray.. Help? FRANCESCA
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CLASSIFIED ADS 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 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 SOAPSTONE COOKWARE IS NATURALLY NONSTICK. Natural stone cookware is beautiful, warms food quickly over low heat, is bacteria-resistant and naturally non-stick, and is so durable it can be handed down for several generations. Food tastes better cooked in soapstone. www.greenfeet.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 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)
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Debra's List
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100s of links
to 1000s of nontoxic, natural & earthwise
products
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email:
debra@dld123.com
web:
http://dld123.com
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I also am available Monday through Friday, from 10 am to 4 pm eastern time to answer your questions immediately and
personally with a