How can I safely clean my child’s toys and play area?

In your own home, many clean-up duties can be handled by water alone. If your child’s been sick (or someone else in the house has been), you may prefer something stronger.

A homemade disinfectant cleaner can be made with:

I teaspoon of borax
2 tablespoons of white vinegar
1/4 cup liquid soap
2 cups hot water

Mix in a refillable spray bottle and you’re good to go! If you opt for a solution like this, be sure to use when your kids aren't present and rinse off surfaces. Borax is a naturally effective antimicrobial that also inhibits mold and fungus - but it can pose risks if used incorrectly.

Plain baking soda will remove stains (make a paste by adding a bit of water) as well as deodorize (sprinkle around, leave for 15 minutes, and then vacuum). Browse our website for easy recipes for cleaning products.

Learn more about cleaning specific items like unfinished wood toys and stuffed animals by reading Keeping Toys Clean to Make Playtime Pure.

You may also be interested in watching our Healthy Byte video “How Do I Clean My Scummy Bath Toys?”

This answer was provided by our fabulous Senior Editor, Janelle. See all of our questions and answers at Get Answers. Do you have a question? Let us know!

What’s a safe way to clean tough messes (urine, etc.) from carpets?

There are a number of ways to clean carpets without dangerous chemicals. Blotting is a good way to clean up stains quickly, Blot with white paper towels or clean fabric; stand on the absorbents so they penetrate more deeply into the stain, then remove. Don't rub the carpet with the paper towel or fabric; just repeat using clean absorbent material.

Scoop as much of the stain as possible onto a spoon or appropriate implement.

Nothing works better than baking soda to remove odors from a carpet; it literally neutralizes them on the spot. Sprinkle baking soda over the stains and leave it on overnight. You may need a box or two to really do the trick. To avoid clogging up your vacuum cleaner, sweep off as much baking soda as you can, then vacuum up the rest. For a urine neutralizer use borax or baking soda or spray of club soda (do not rinse; soak up moisture with a sponge if necessary).

Are carpet cleaners safe?

Some carpet cleaners –especially spot removers– can be particularly dangerous, because they contain toxic chemical solvents. These products dissolve dirt without soap and water, but give off strong odors and can leave behind chemical residues. Other potentially problematic ingredients in carpet cleaners include compounds that produce lots of fumes (like formaldehyde ), acids, pesticides, disinfectants, lye (sodium hydroxide), fragrances and many others. There are ways to clean carpets without dangerous chemicals.

Visit the Marketplace section of our website for companies that specialize in eco-friendly cleaning products.

How does one get chemicals out of cotton baby clothes and diapers?

Cotton FABRIC does NOT contain pesticide residues. These are removed during processing. This has been laboratory tested in Germany. Cotton BATTING DOES contain pesticide residues, if it is not organic, as it is not as processed as cotton fabric. So it is imperative to buy organic cotton batting, as in a mattress or pillow, but not important to buy organic cotton diapers or clothing. 



The problem with cotton fabric is the finishes, such as a permanent press finish, which releases formaldehyde. Most fabrics of any kind have a "sizing" applied, which washes out in the first wash. Five washes is plenty to remove sizing, but no amount of washing removes permanent press. Dyes are also not a concern if they are "colorfast," that is, they don't bleed when you wash them. 


The reason to buy organic cotton is that conventionally-grown cotton uses a huge amount of the most toxic chemicals, which get into our air and water and soil, and indirectly into our bodies. But the amount of pesticide residue from conventional cotton fabric is nothing.

Debra :-)

This answer was provided by our friend, Debra Lynn Dadd. Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times, Debra Lynn Dadd has been a pioneering consumer advocate since 1982, specializing in products and lifestyle choices that are safer for human health and the environment. She is the author of Home Safe Home.

How Do I Dispose of Toxic Cleaners and Unused Bath Products?

QUESTION:

I'm sure this question has been answered before, but search as I might I cannot seems to plug in the right words. I am gradually changing to all natural products and need to dispose of some of the toxic cleaners and lotions, etc. that I have still sitting around. Any help is greatly appreciated!

ANSWER:

Call the agency that collects your garbage and ask them about their household hazardous waste program. They can tell you how and where to bring your toxic materials that need to be disposed of.

Debra

This answer was provided by our friend, Debra Lynn Dadd. Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times, Debra Lynn Dadd has been a pioneering consumer advocate since 1982, specializing in products and lifestyle choices that are safer for human health and the environment. She is the author of Home Safe Home.

I know there are probably a lot of alternative names for formaldehyde used in products. Do you know or have a list of the other names?

Here are the ones I could find: 

Formalin 
Methanal 
Methyl aldehyde 
Methylene oxide 
Morbicid acid 
Oxymethylene 



And these preservatives, found in personal care products, release formaldehyde: Quaternium-15 
2-bromo-2nitropropane-1,3-diol imidazolidinyl urea 
diazolidinyl urea

Debra :-)

This answer was provided by our friend, Debra Lynn Dadd. Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times, Debra Lynn Dadd has been a pioneering consumer advocate since 1982, specializing in products and lifestyle choices that are safer for human health and the environment. She is the author of Home Safe Home.

How Can I Safely Remove Wax from a Table Cloth?

Here are some tips for safely removing wax from your precious linens.

• Place the stained part over the sink/bucket/outside and pour boiling water over the wax. It will loosen up and come right off without damaging the fabric.
• Put the table cloth in the freezer for a few days, to freeze and dry out the wax. Scrape off big chunks and then put paper towels or brown paper bag pieces over and under the stain and press with a warm (not hot) iron. Rub liquid laundry detergent into the area, let set for a few minutes, then wash in the hottest water safe for the fabric.

Visit How Stuff Works for tips for removing wax from a variety of other surfaces.

This answer was provided by our fabulous Chief Communications Officer, Janelle. See all of our questions and answers at Get Answers. Do you have a question? Let us know!

Is Green Earth Dry cleaning Safe?

QUESTION:

I have a dress that needs dry cleaning. In Houston there is just GREEN EARTH methods not CO2 and I heard that they too can be quite toxic.What should I do?

ANSWER:

GreenEarth cleaning uses liquid silicone. This is essentially liquified sand. It is made from one of the earth's safest and most abundant natural minerals, silica. In the environment, it simply returns to its three natural elements: sand and trace amounts of water and CO2. It is so safe it is not even regulated. This is used exclusively by dry cleaners licensed by GreenEarth Cleaning.

I think it is fine for you to use them.

More about green dry cleaners at Q&A: Help Me Find a Green Dry Cleaner.

This answer was provided by our friend, Debra Lynn Dadd. Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times, Debra Lynn Dadd has been a pioneering consumer advocate since 1982, specializing in products and lifestyle choices that are safer for human health and the environment. She is the author of Home Safe Home.

See all of our questions and answers at Get Answers. Do you have a question? Let us know!

What is the difference between petroleum distillates and petrochemicals? Is one more toxic than the other?

Petrochemicals are any chemicals made from coal tar or crude oil. 

Petroleum distillates are petrochemicals that have been distilled in a refinery and then usually processed further and purified in some manner. There are many different types with completely opposite characteristics and uses. 



Distillation is the basic process used to separate and purify the components of crude oil. Crude oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons with impurities like sulfur, nitrogen and small amounts of metal. During distillation, the oil is heated in a large closed vessel called a still. The lighter components boil off first and rise to a higher point inside a tower above the still. The heavier components boil off at higher temperatures and condense back into liquids more quickly. These products are captured on trays at each level and pass out of the tower. The lighter and more volatile products are used in gasoline or as solvents, the next heavier might be used as diesel or stove oil and the next as lubricants, and so on. 


Though all petrochemical products start as a distillate of petroleum, not all petrochemical products fall into the classification of "petroleum distillates." Specifically, petroleum distillates include mineral spirits, kerosene, white spirits, naphtha, and Stoddard solvent. These products may contain trace amounts of benzene and other aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene and xylene which have similar toxic effects. 



Any product that contains a petroleum distillate in its formula must be labeled with the phrase "contains petroleum distillates" regardless of the actual distillate used. This is so doctors and emergency medical personnel will know how best to treat those who might accidentally drink the product. If a product contains petroleum distillates, the medical personnel may elect not to induce vomiting. 



According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission:

The toxicity of petroleum distillates and other hydrocarbons affects the respiratory system. Aspiration of small amounts of these chemicals directly into the lung, or into the lung during vomiting of an ingested chemical, can cause chemical pneumonia, pulmonary damage, and death. Petroleum distillates with low viscosity, such as gasoline, kerosene, and mineral seal oil, possess the greatest potential for aspiration.

All household products that contain 10 percent or more of petroleum distillates, or benzene, toluene, xylene, or turpentine, are required to have hazard warnings by regulations under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act.

"Petroleum distillates" can also be an ingredient in a product. In this case, it is a mix of petrochemicals that are all petroleum distillates. The mix can vary from batch to batch, so we don't know exactly what is in it. It may contain chemicals of varying toxicities. Pesticides commonly contain petroleum distillates as well as the actual pesticide itself, making them doubly toxic.

I'm not a chemist, so if anyone reading this would like to jump in and correct any errors I've made on this or explain further, please do so!

Debra :-)

This answer was provided by our friend, Debra Lynn Dadd. Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times, Debra Lynn Dadd has been a pioneering consumer advocate since 1982, specializing in products and lifestyle choices that are safer for human health and the environment. She is the author of Home Safe Home.

What should one use to protect wood cutting boards and bowls?

I've been using a product called B's Oil Salad Bowl & Wood Preserver, made by Holland Bowl Mill. It says right on the label that it is made only from natural oils and beeswax. I even called the company, who assured me it was "all-natural". 

We've been using it on our wooden salad bowls and cutting boards since I found it in a fancy San Francisco cooking store years ago. Just recently, we used it to finish the wooden top on a kitchen island we built. It really protects the wood - water beads right up and we felt good having the beeswax around our organic food. It has no odor, except for the slight sweetness of beeswax. 



The Holland Bowl Mill website says it has received many letters from customers telling them B's Oil is so gentle that they use it as their favorite hand cream moisturizer. 

So I was surprised to find out that it is actually made from beeswax and mineral oil! I had a long phone conversation with the owner and made sure he understood that you cannot label a product containing mineral oil as natural. I see he has changed the description on his website after our conversation. 



I set out to find a truly all-natural wood conditioner for my wooden salad bowls and cutting boards, and discovered some interesting things even many woodworkers don't know. 

It is important to apply some kind of protection to wood cutting boards and bowls before using them the first time, to prevent staining and absorption of food odors and bacteria, and to keep water from penetrating the wood, which results in warping and cracking. 



Some suggest "seasoning" the wood with oil, just as you would a cast-iron pan. Warm the oil slightly, and apply in the direction of the grain, allowing it to soak in between each coat. Apply four or five coats of oil. Wait about four to six hours between coats, and wipe off any excess oil that did not soak in before applying the next coat of warm oil. 



Debra :-)

This answer was provided by our friend, Debra Lynn Dadd. Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times, Debra Lynn Dadd has been a pioneering consumer advocate since 1982, specializing in products and lifestyle choices that are safer for human health and the environment. She is the author of Home Safe Home.

What is a safer alternative to common household cleaning products?

The best products are the ones you make by yourself because you know exactly what’s in them. Our website contains links to “recipes” for cleaners using ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.

You can also visit HCHW’s Marketplace for green products we recommend from other companies. Remember to always clearly label homemade solutions and to store cleaning products, regardless of their toxicity, out of reach of children.

How can I safely clean wood?

A safe recipe for cleaning wood is as follows:

1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon liquid soap or detergent
A few drops jojoba or olive oil
3 to 5 drops fragrant essential oil (optional)

Combine the ingredients in a bowl, saturate a sponge with the mixture, and squeeze out the excess and wash surfaces. The smell of vinegar will dissipate in a few hours.

Makes 1/2 cup
Preparation time: less than 1 minute
Shelf Life: Indefinite
Storage: Glass jar with a screw top

Variations:
Lemon Lightener: Lemon is mild bleach and can be substituted for vinegar to lighten wood. Only make as much as you need at a time.

Antibacterial Red Thyme Wood Cleanser: Add 5 to 10 drops red thyme essential oil. Red thyme adds an earthy scent and provides antibacterial qualities in addition to the ones naturally found in vinegar. (Oregano oil and rosewood oil are also effective).

Is X Brand (409, Windex, Chlorox, etc) cleaner safe for use?

Due to limited resources, it is difficult for us to investigate the safety of all products on the market. We have a Chemical Encyclopedia online for information about specific chemicals. Be aware that companies are not required to list every ingredient in their products. You can also use the National Institutes of Health Household Products Database.

Visit the Marketplace section of our website for our criteria for safety and recommended products.

What’s a Non-Toxic Drain De-Clogger That Actually Works?

QUESTION:

“Have you found a nontoxic drain de-clogger that actually works? I’ve been testing some from Whole Foods (I believe Earthworm and BioKleen) and have used them as instructed over multiple days with zero results.

Thoughts? I really really really don’t want to go buy Drano (obviously).”

ANSWER:

Between multiple heads of hair, toddlers tossing toys in toilets, and older kids dumping food down drains, clogs are an inevitable incident in a family home. Still, conventional drain cleaners are some of the most caustic, toxic chemicals you can buy. Try these non-toxic drain cleaner and de-clogger methods to keep your plumbing in tip-top shape.

Tactic One: Plunger

A simple first course of action is using a plunger on the drain. It works the same way it functions in a toilet - using pressure to push the gook through. If you don’t like the idea of using a tool that’s been in the toilet, pick up an extra one to have on hand for sink and shower clogs.

Tactic Two: Clog-busting concoctions

• Baking Soda Drain Cleaner

Mix 1 Cup Salt, 1 Cup Baking Soda, and 1/4 Cup cream of tartar in a bowl.

Using 1/4 cup of the mixture at a time, pour it down the drain, followed by 2 cups of boiling water. Wait at least one minute before repeating. The boiling water changes the chemical composition of the ingredients and makes it strong enough to eat through grease and grime.

This method may take few tries, but it often does the trick!

• Washing Soda Drain Cleaner

Here’s a recipe from queen of green cleaning, Annie B. Bond: “Pour a cup of washing soda over the drain area and let it set for a while to work its way down to the clog. Once the clog is loosened, use the baking soda method, above. Washing soda is more alkaline than baking soda, with a pH of 11. You never want to use washing soda if a commercial acid drain cleaner has recently been used in the drain, as they will strongly react with each other. You also shouldn’t overuse washing soda if you have PVC pipes, as the caustic nature of washing soda can slowly damage the plastic.”

Tactic Three: The Snake

Plumbers often use a drain snake (auger) which a tool that you manually insert and twist down the drain to loosen all the crud and clean up the drain. There are homeowner-friendly snakes available at hardware stores (ranging in price from about $5-$30). Just be sure to read the directions very carefully.

Tactic Four: Pipe Removal

If you have a garbage disposal, the pipe below it might be backed up with food bits. This happened at my parent’s house once and they had modern PVC pipe under the sink which is fairly easy to take apart (it just has rings you unscrew). You just put a bucket under the pipes, twist apart the main curved one, pull off and watch all the mess empty into the bucket. Then you screw the pipe back on and voila!

Note: I attempted this because my parents were about to call a plumber. We figured if I tried and failed, they’d call the plumber. If I didn’t try, they’d call the plumber. So, it was pretty fail safe.

This answer was provided by our fabulous Chief Communications Officer, Janelle. See all of our questions and answers at Get Answers. Do you have a question? Let us know!