Exhibition at National Gallery of Art, Washington The exhibition features a selection of documentary photographs by Harry Shunk and János Kender, spanning the artists' early years in Paris to their relocation to New York City in the mid-1960s. It then focuses on two large-scale projects, Wrapped Coast and Valley Curtain. Climate & Clean Energy Notes from the Panther Lounge How to reduce your formaldehyde exposure The Queen of Green was featured on Dr.Oz, Friday April 18, 2014! What's colourless, preserves frogs, coats pillow cases and impregnates 'no-iron' shirts? Subscribe to the Queen of Green digest Learn how to avoid it by watching me on The Dr. Oz show! I'm was a guest expert. They flew me to New York to tape and eat half my weight in complimentary green room hummus.) Formaldehyde is used in clothing, bedding and curtains because it... 2. Prevents mildew during shipping 3. Increases colour fastness 4. Increases stain resistance

Why get your knickers in a knot? 1. Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen says the International Agency for Research on Cancer (PDF); Canada has also declared it toxic and the U.S. doesn't regulate its use in clothing 2. You won't find it listed on the label 3. Even low-level exposure can cause headache, runny nose or contact dermatitis a.k.a. skin irritation a.k.a. rash Formaldehyde is particularly troublesome for those with chemical sensitivities, which may explain why you're still suffering from rashes or eczema even after switching to less-toxic laundry soap and ditching fragranced dryer sheets. Reduce your formaldehyde exposure: 1. Wash all clothes and linens BEFORE wearing or using — gets rid of about 60 per cent of the stuff 2. Avoid products labelled "wrinkle-free", "iron-free", "permanent-press" or "stain-resistant" 3. Perform a "sniff test" — if it smells chemical-y, don't buy it, or return it 4. Choose organic cottons What household goods have you found to be the worst off-gassing offenders?

Comment on this blog to win a $50.00 gift certificate from Canadian eco-designer Nicole Bridger! Lindsay Coulter, a fellow Queen of GreenFor decades, food items have been touted as substitutes to expensive household cleaning products.And now a cleaning expert has revealed the science behind why certain foods are so useful for tackling rust, removing stains and tightening cracks in wood.This ranges from potatoes, banana skins, brazil nuts, vinegar to mayonnaise. A cleaning expert has revealed which food items can be used as substitutes to expensive cleaning products, and also the science behind why they are so effective. For example, potatoes are effective at removing rust because the oxalic acid reacts with baking soda to dissolve the hydrated iron oxides Wipe the inside of the banana skin on the spot of leather that needs to be cleaned. When finished, rub with a damp cloth. Pour into the toilet bowl and leave to sit for an hour to allow the acid to take effect. Clean the inside of the bowl with a toilet brush and flush away.

Good for cleaning brass, copper and silver elements. Rub onto the area that needs cleaning, leave to work and wipe with a moist cloth. Ideal for removing marks on wood. Use a cloth with a small amount of mayonnaise and wipe the mark that needs to be removed. Leave the oils to work and wipe away any residue with a clean cloth.lowes paisley curtainAlso effective on wood surfaces. mga side curtain partsCut a nut in half and rub vigorously over any scratches.tardis shower curtain for saleCut the potato in half and dip the side without peel into baking soda. 19mm curtain pole joinerWhen covered, firmly rub the potato on rusted areas. curtains 130cm drop

Remove limescale by cutting the grapefruit in half and sprinkling one half with salt. Scrub the area and rinse with water. Place dry ground coffee into an old margarine tub with holes in the lid. Place in the fridge and leave to eliminate odour.  told MailOnline that tomato ketchup is good for cleaning brass, copper and silver elements.'Tarnishing mainly occurs due to sulphur compounds in the air. traverse curtain rods heavy duty'When the ketchup is applied to the metal, the natural acid in the tomatoes reacts with the oxidising of the tarnished silver, brass or copper.''extra long white waffle weave shower curtainPotatoes and baking soda are effective at tackling rust because the oxalic acid in the potato mixes with the baking soda to help to dissolve the rust,' said Mrs Depledge.Even the weakest levels of acid can dissolve and loosen the hydrated iron oxides found in rust. 

This also means vinegar is a good rust remover. These foods can also replace the rust with a thin film of smooth hard oxide on the surface of the iron, to help it resist further hydrated oxidation. Phosphoric acid in cola drinks, and citric acid in lemon juice also work. 'Banana skins are often used to buff leather, followed by a damp cloth, and this is effective because the potassium in bananas is absorbed and slowly works to plump up the scratches,' Mrs Depledge continued. Potassium is often found in shoe polishes too, for the same reason.'Ideal for removing marks on wood, mayonnaise contains oils and proteins that gently diminish scratches and marks on wood.'They also react and cause the wood to swell, which tightens cracks in surface. Banana skins (stock image pictured) are often used to buff leather, followed by a damp cloth, and this is effective because the potassium in bananas is absorbed and slowly works to plump up the scratches. Potassium is often found in shoe polishes too, for the same reason

Ideal for removing marks on wood, mayonnaise (left) contains oils and proteins that gently diminish scratches and marks on wood. They also react and cause the wood to swell, which tightens cracks in surface. Tomato ketchup (right) cleans brass and copper because its natural acid reacts with the oxidising of the metal 'The oils in Brazil nuts are also effective and act like a natural die to darken and hide scratches.'Elsewhere, Mrs Depledge added: 'To keep a fridge smelling fresh, experts claim putting dry ground coffee into an old margarine tub with holes in the lid will eliminate odours.'Smelly substances floating around in the air attach themselves to the surface of coffee beans via a process known as ‘adsorption'.'Invisible to the naked eye the many tiny pores in a coffee bean create a large surface area, per unit mass. To keep a fridge smelling fresh, the expert claims putting dry ground coffee into an old margarine tub with holes in the lid will eliminate odours. Smelly substances in the air attach themselves to the surface of coffee beans via a process known as ‘adsorption''This gives, in chemical terms, plenty of area for the smell to adhere itself to and causes it to be cancelled out.'As a subsititute to limescale remover, Mrs Depledge recommends cutting a grapefruit in half and sprinkling one half with salt.