Well, I'm starting to feel the holiday spirit! I've been stringing up holly all over my website in preparation and have some fun links for you. We've got some great entries today on my Green Living Q&A blog, including my report on additional research I did on the manufacturing of hydrogen peroxide. Be sure to check the Classified Ads today because we have some nice special offers from websites on Debra's List. Debra :-)
HEALTH, HOME & HABITAT #62 ~ 28 November 2006
* I'M DREAMIN' OF A GREEN CHRISTMAS... 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
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I'M DREAMIN' OF A GREEN CHRISTMAS... Make your green holiday dreams come true...practically everything you could want--from gifts to wrapping paper to sugar-free holiday treats is on my special "holiday" list. Browse Debra's "Holiday" List 2006...
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GREEN LIVING Q&A BLOG Here are the questions and new comments posted through yesterday. 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.
* Handling a Flea Infestation has a great tip about using borax to control fleas * Roaches has some suggestions for controlling roaches in electronic equipment * Space Bags has tips for using Space Bags successfully * IKEA contains a letter from IKEA about their environmental and health policies * Clean a wicker basket? has some great tips for cleaning wicker baskets!
* Formaldehyde Absorbers Holiday Gift Giving I come from a family where the giving and receiving of gifts was a big part of Christmas. But as I have become more aware of the environment and what is really important in life, my ideas about what makes a gift great have changed.
DEBRA LYNN DADD Hydrogen Peroxide Hazard? A few weeks ago I posted a comment on the question Cleaning Mildew about hydrogen peroxide. I said: Last week, a reader wrote asking, "Is there really phenol in hydrogen peroxide bought in drugstores? Ever since I read your article in Natural Home magazine about vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, I've bought lots of big bottles of drugstore hydrogen peroxide and used it (and vinegar) all over the house. I even used it on everything except my papers and clothes to wipe the mold spores off. (I hope you think that was a good idea!) But now I'm concerned that I should not be using that kind?" I thought I should do more research on hydrogen peroxide, since I and others have been recommending it as a natural alternative to more toxic chemicals. For years I thought the drugstore type was 100% hydrogen peroxide because I had no reason to think it wasn't. And I didn't know until we started using it in our chlorine-free pool that other concentrations even existed. DEBRA LYNN DADD FLORIDA, USA Read the rest... mercury in energy-saving lightbulbs It is my understanding that energy-saving fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, which concerns me. Are they safe to use? Or safer than regular bulbs? Do all bulbs contain mercury?
CHRIS Best Organic Milk? My wife and I always buy organic milk and want to make sure what we are buying is not only best for us but also best for the cows, farmers, and the earth. We usually buy either Horizon or Organic Valley but our local store (Kroger's) has their own brand called Naturally Preferred. Can you provide any additional info on these three brands that might make one better than the others?
WESLEY WETTENGEL Non-toxic Lightbulbs? Thanks for the information on non-toxic bathtubs, Debra! Now I am questioning light bulbs............do halogen bulbs outgas at an unsafe level? Which types of bulbs are best to use?
SUSAN HUNT flooring questions We have a wall-to-wall carpet in our house that was installed about 10 years ago (we've been living here 3). We want to replace it, and have realized how bad wall-to-wall carpeting is. The other half of the floor is pergo. I don't want to replace the pergo, and therefore it seems it makes most sense to replace the carpeting with more pergo and use non-toxic area rugs. My question is, is the pergo really bad? It has to be better than the wall-to-wall carpet, right? I just think it would look weird if I put a different wood-flooring on half of the house.
CHRISTINE Cleaning Baby Clothes I would like to know a safe way to get baby accident stains off clothes if they happen to leak? I am wondering about how one goes about removing stains off both white fabric and fabric with colour. I have tried hydrogen paroxide but it didn't seem to do the trick. Do you advocate cloth diapers and if so I'd be interested in the cleaning of them? MICHELLE Forest Stewardship Council-Certified Fence I live in the Miami area and am trying to locate a place where I can buy a shadow-box or similar style fence for my yard that is constructed of sustainably harvested wood and/or certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Although Home Depot has a corporate policy to support this concept, no one in the Home Depot stores knows anything about it. I have also called a local lumber company but they don't offer this type of fence material. I'm willing to pay more for a product that I KNOW is made from sustainably harvested wood, but have become frustrated trying to locate a company that sells it. Can anyone help? Thank you very much. CINDY DWYER non or low toxic shower pan liner adhesive? hello. I am trying to install my new shower. My wife is 3 months pregnant and is deeply concerned with the life threatening warnings on the shower pan liner adhesives. Keeping her away for the day and airing the house out is not good enough so I am now looking for a low or non toxic shower pan liner adhesive. Does any such thing exist? Thanks!
IAN KENNEDY Debra Saved My Daughter Dear Parents.
DENISE ARIAS Need an organic cleanser safe for granite and my parrot I have new "Blue Pearl" granite counters. I am desperate to find an organic way to clean and sanitize granite because I have a parrot. Parrots can die immediately or become very ill due to exposure to fumes common in many ordinary household chemicals. Bleach, ammonia, solvents, Teflon, spray air fresheners, Febreeze, incense and burning candles are just a few of the common things that can cause instant death for a parrot.
SANDRA Induction Cooktops We are renovating and will be putting in a new kitchen. I've heard wonderful things about induction cooktops but am not sure about the EMF emissions. I understand that only the size of the pot is heated and should not be any emissions that would be harmful. Anyone familiar with these? Thanks! SANDI
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CLASSIFIED ADS EVAN'S GARDEN ALL-NATURAL AROMATHERAPY SKINCARE, mineral makeup, youth creams, perfumes, dental, deodorant, haircare, baby care, mineral baths, herbal remedies, healthy home, etc. Handcrafted with love. Pure, effective, concentrated. Just what you've been looking for! Free gift plus 15% off & free shipping on your first order. www.evansgarden.com GET COZY FOR THE FALL WITH A 20% DISCOUNT ON LUXURY ORGANIC BEDDING, on sale now through December 31st. Offer good for our entire line of organic bedding, linens and bath including organic mattresses, toppers, comforters, pillows, linens, bath items and solid wood frames. (Offer excludes the Shepherd's Dream collection.) www.greenfusiondesigncenter.com SAMPLE-SIZE NATURAL SALT FOR HOLIDAY GIFTS. >Give friends and family the gift of natural salt their bodies need. Affordable 4-ounce cotton bag filled with whole-food, life-giving salt that contains 84 minerals essential to human life. Delicious taste makes food "come alive". Hand-mined to retain original primordial vibration pattern. 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 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