It’s a shame that the October issue of House & Garden devotes only two pages (and an incomplete reporting job) to the important topic of toxins in household cleaners. Writers Sue Halpern and Bill McKibben say “the inventory of chemicals typically used to make detergents, all-purpose cleaners, furniture polish, degreasers, window sprays, and tub and tile cleaners” includes a “laundry list of known carcinogens, hormone disrupters, and neurotoxins.” And they proceed to tick off a list of dark health statistics that may, possibly, perhaps be related to such products. But they don’t identify any of the offending chemicals/toxins. They don’t include a response from any of the major cleaning products manufacturers. And they don’t offer comments from the medical community. They do, however, talk to a couple makers of green cleaning products to let these makers sing the praises of their own green-ness. And they reveal a few of their personal favorites in the green-clean category. All of this left us wanting more of the black-and-white and gray matter (a.k.a. the current facts and current debate) on the safety of household cleaners (an issue that has been kicking around for years). Without a clear raison d’etre, “green” (a consciousness that finally has gone mainstream and is being talked about, even in chic places like the pages of House & Garden), is sure to become just another passing consumer fad. … CHICAGOANS (AND SISTERS) Kate Shifrin and Christie Weller and their company Come Flea with Me get a nice write-up — with pictures — in the October issue of Country Living. The two organize bus trips to flea markets and antiques shows across the country and world — complete with Starbucks coffee and home-baked muffins on the ride out and spirits and snacks on the way back. The next trip is Oct. 22 and goes to the Sandwich Antiques Market. Price: $95 a person. … YOU HAVE HEARD OF SCRAPBOOKING, but how about swatch-booking? The fall issue of Wondertime (a new quarterly from Disney Publishing Worldwide, launched in February and targeted to mothers) offers a wonderful idea for “artfully saving” your children’s clothes — the cherished pieces. It involves sharp scissors, favorite clothes, a blank book and (optional) photos of your little one wearing that cute little thing. … HALLOWEEN AFICIONADOS will want to check out the October issue of Martha Stewart Living — Stewart being a big fan of the day. Readers will find “15 Years of Pumpkin Ideas” from Stewart and her staff, tying in with the magazine’s 15th anniversary.
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