Christmas Tree Skirts Are Toxic

We recently purchased a Christmas tree skirt and it made me ill to have it in the house. After that, we found two other Christmas tree skirts in our basement and those also made me feel sick. I believe that tree skirts had this effect on me because they are probably loaded with the toxic chemicals found in flame retardants. Some people even spray flame retardant on their Christmas trees. I don't want to "[h]ave a holly toxic Christmas this year," so we used a sheet to make a tree skirt. :)

Chairs for MCS

I have MCS and am sensitive to chemicals to the touch. I really appreciate being able to use chairs that I can put in the dishwasher. I came across shower chairs a while back. The one I have can be easily taken apart and placed in the dishwasher, thus removing the chemicals. Here is a link to some products I was looking at on amazon: http://amzn.to/2ftgcWr. Also, I purchased an Ez2care Adjustable Lightweight Shower Bench and it has worked out well.

Seat Protectors for the Chemical Sensitive

Seat protectors can be highly beneficial for those with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity who have skin sensitivities to chemicals. A seat protector can be placed over the seat and back of a chair that has chemicals on it. Based on my experience, a good seat protector:

1. Is impermeable to chemicals (cloth is generally quite permeable)
2. Can fit in the dishwasher to remove chemicals by washing (if I remove the top rack of my dishwasher it will hold even my largest seat protectors)
3. Is relatively lightweight
4. Is not metal (if it needs to pass through metal detectors)
5. Is not too uncomfortable
6. Does not look too weird, and is relatively discrete
7. Does not present a danger with sharp edges or corners

Based on the above criteria, my preferred seat protectors are made from polycarbonate, which I ordered from TAP plastics (www.tapplastics.com). I measured the dimensions of the chairs and car seats that I wanted seat protectors for and submitted those measurements on the order form page. Here are the other dimensions of my seat protectors:

Thickness: 1/8 (.118) inches
Rounded Corners: 1 inches radius cornering
Color: Clear

TAP plastics also will cut to size other types of plastic sheets, including acrylic, but I haven't tried anything other than polycarbonate. The one criteria above that polycarbonate is not great for is comfort, but I just add a folded towel for padding and it is fine.

Good luck!

Sensitive to Soap? Try Washing Your Hands With Clay

I became sensitive to many (or perhaps all) kinds of soap some months ago. Since then, I have searched for alternatives to soap. I have bee using Cetaphil, a non-soap cleanser, Aveeno, a soap-free bar, and various types of clay. The clay seems more effective at removing chemicals than any kind of soap I have tried, perhaps because the clay absorbs the solvents and other chemicals. The clays I have tried include bentonite, red, kaolin, green, and some others. I have not tried Rhassoul clay but some people use that as soap. I have made most of my purchases from Amazon and recently tried Bulk Apothecary, which has good prices on some types of clay. Clay is pretty expensive, but I really needed something to wash my hands with. I received a product recall notice from Amazon on one of the bentonite clay products I had ordered because the product had high amounts of lead, so that may be something to watch out for in clay. 

Movie Review--Homesick: Living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities 2013

Homesick: Living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities 2013 [NR]

I recently watched this movie online through Amazon. It cost $1.99 to rent and was 56 minutes.



"Imagine your home is making you dangerously sick. You could be one of the millions suffering from Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS). Susan Abod hits the road to discover how people with MCS are able to find safe housing. Join Susan as she discovers how people are coping with this 21st century illness." (Amazon.com product description)

This video primarily covers a narrow but important issue for those with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS): finding safe housing. The documentary was well done and truly evokes compassion for those unable to find suitable housing because of MCS. This video could provide some ideas for housing options for those with extreme MCS. In the video, Susan Abod (who has MCS), and her camera person, go on a roadtrip in the Southwest of the United States and interview various individuals with MCS in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.