The Eco Expert Answers Your Eco Questions
(Page 3 of 4)
September/October 1999
By Debra Lynn Dadd
However, I would be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to suggest you rethink floor coverings altogether. Synthetic carpeting is made from complex blends of up to 120 chemicals that can emit hazardous vapors, including pesticides, neurotoxic solvents, and carcinogens such as benzene and formaldehyde. Both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have amassed stories on the negative health effects of synthetic carpets.
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My best recommendation is to eliminate carpeting altogether and instead install hardwood, natural linoleum, ceramic tile, marble, or other stone-tile floors. Washable natural fiber area rugs can be placed on these floors for warmth and decoration. They are easy to clean and do not harbor dust, molds, fleas, shampoo residues, and other creatures that thrive in carpeting. Before my husband and I moved to our current home, we had it inspected for carpenter ants. The house was certified free of these predators, but when we moved in and took up the carpet, we found the floor underneath swarming with carpenter ants slowly eating away our living-room floor.
If you prefer carpeting, choose one made with natural fibers. A good source for natural carpeting and other floor coverings is The Hendricksen’s Naturlich catalog, available from (707) 824-0914.
Controlling Mold
Our house is located in a forest next to a creek, so it is generally damp. During the rainy season we have a real problem with mold. What can we do to prevent it from becoming overwhelming?
Mold is a living organism that requires certain conditions to stay alive; a moist, dark, environment with little moving air is perfect. I also live in a forest near a creek, and one particularly cold and rainy year I tried to conserve heat by closing the door on my guest bedroom, which contained a bed, books and research papers, and out-of-season clothing. By the end of winter, there was so much mold in that room that it was literally growing on my clothing. My espadrilles and cloth-covered book binders were covered with blue fuzz.
To alleviate the problem, I placed a portable space heater in the room and closed the door. After several hours I peeked in and saw steam rising. The room was like a sauna. After twenty-four hours, however, all was bone dry, and I was able to brush visible mold—which now looked like a dry powder—from walls, clothing, and other surfaces. The moral of the story: If you live in a damp environment that gets little sun, make certain heat circulates completely around the house. Even though this remedy may require more energy use, you need it to keep your home—and yourself—dry and safe. Mold damages both material goods and human health.
Showering Clean
What about those new sprays that promise “you’ll never have to clean your shower again” if you mist your shower area with them daily? Do they really work to keep grout, faucets, and tubs clean—and if so, how? Are they as non-toxic as they promise?