When it comes to cleaning your home, it sometimes seems like there is no green alternative to chlorine bleach for its sheer usefulness and utility. It cleans and sanitizes, and is effective, on mold and mildew, kill viruses and so much more. It seems like the perfect solution. The dirty little secret of chlorine bleach is that is extremely toxic in almost every household dilution, and its residue remains on surfaces for a long time, and it also tends to hang out in the air for a very long time. Another dirty little secret of chlorine bleach is that when it mixes with some other cleaning solutions, particularly acid based chemicals chlorine gas is created.
Now that all of that is behind, you are asking “Well what do you recommend then?” In my cleaning service, I use hydrogen peroxide based cleaning solutions. They are safe and effective, and can stand up to even some of the hardest cleaning jobs around your home. Hydrogen peroxide leave no residues or toxins and breaks down to water and oxygen, while safely cleaning and disinfecting.
If you don’t want to mix your own, and I can’t blame you, there are quite a few out there that work great. My personal recommendation on a product line that you can find in almost all stores is the Seventh Generation products. They work great, are priced competitively and can be readily found at many retailers. Look around and you may even be able to find a company that is making something locally, and I always advocate that if it is an option. I use the Evirox H2O2 concentrates, but they are not readily available for purchase through traditional retailers, however they can be found online.
The first thing to know about why hydrogen peroxide is such a powerful cleaning agent is recognize that it is a strong oxidizer, and is especially effective on organic compounds such as blood, dirt, food, or other naturally occurring products. The key to using hydrogen peroxide as a cleaning agent is to use it in concentrations that are effective, but not too strong. When hydrogen peroxide is in too strong of a concentration it is an effective bleaching agent, and you may even recognize it as a common house cleaner, for example Oxy Clean. For the purposes of household general cleaning we will leave that topic for now, as that is not what we are trying to accomplish. But for those that are interested the chemical compound is sodium percarbonate powder or granules that are mixed with a stabilizer such as soda ash.
Note: These formulas and substitutions are offered to help minimize the use of toxic substances in your home, and reduce the environmental harm caused by the manufacture, use and disposal of toxics. Results may vary and cannot be guaranteed to be 100% safe and effective. Before applying any cleaning formulations, test in small hidden areas if possible. Always use caution with any new product in your home. Keep out of the reach of children, and do not drink. I am sure I could come up with dozens of warnings. As with anything, use good judgement.
For household cleaning the dilutions of hydrogen peroxide should be kept well below 6%. That is even an extremely strong concentration. I use two concentrations for general purpose cleaning, heavy duty and light duty. The heavy duty concentration is for use as a bathroom cleaner including sinks, counters, toilets, shower stalls, and the floors around the toilet. It is also a heavy duty wipe down cleaner and disinfectant. Heavy duty also makes a great spot cleaner for carpets and most fabrics. The light duty solutions is greater for wiping and hand dusting of most surfaces throughout your home. It also effectively cleans glass and mirrors, and stainless steel.
For a heavy duty concentration use 4 ounces of hydrogen peroxide per 1 liter spray bottle. You can add castile soap (up to an ounce) if you like, and even a bit of lemon juice (up to and ounce) if you would like some degreasing properties and a fresh lemony scent. Fill the remainder of the bottle with water, label and enjoy. Again test it out on a small area to make sure that it works well, and with out any adverse effects.
For a light duty concentration use 1 ounce of hydrogen peroxide per 1 liter spray bottle. Again add up to a ounce of castile soap if you like, and up to a ounce of lemon juice. Fill the remainder of the bottle with water and enjoy.
Also to be noted that hydrogen peroxide cleaners need to be kept in opaque bottles to remain effective. Otherwise the break down into oxygen and water when exposed to light.
In today’s busy world, more and more people are choosing to “outsource” many of the tasks that take up time, but don’t prove to be especially enjoyable. As the saying goes time is money, but more importantly, time spent doing the things you love is way better “spent”. Maid services are a prime candidate for time outsourcing. The maid service industry is full of competent professionals, from the individual cleaning person, to the large national chains. That being said what is the right fit for you? Is it worth it to pay to clean your home when you can do it yourself and save the money? Is it everything that it is cracked up to be? That is what we will explore.
The Pros
More Free Time: That is the first and most obvious advantage to outsourcing your home cleaning. What would you do with an extra 3 to 5 hours every weekend. The main advantage is buying back your time at a reasonable price.
General Upkeep: Cleaning your home is a part of home maintenance that should not be overlooked. Keeping surfaces dust free, keeps them from becoming impregnated with dirt, and in general will add value to your home. It is also good to know the general working order of your home. Messes hide other problems that can creep up. Also if you aren’t cleaning your home on the weekend you will have more free time for other home improvement projects, or maybe your significant other will be excited to do them if they are freed from tedious cleaning. It should work for a little while at least.
Reduced Stress: It is a real relief to come home to a nice clean home. How many fights could you avoid with your significant other if only you didn’t have to chase them down to clean the sink, or heaven forbid scrub the toilet. The family dynamic is different these days; for most of us, both parents are working, and between extra hours at the office that we are forced to put in just to keep our jobs, and all of the kids activities, something has to give. After a busy day, it is like spa treatment to come home to fresh clean home, whether it be once a week or once a month. Even if you don’t choose regularly scheduled service, think about those big life events that eat up so much of our time; parties, moving, or even bring home a new baby are just some of these events. Think about how much easier your life would be if you could outsource the cleaning and focus on the more important details.
The Cons
Maid service is not for everyone, and there are some common problems, but we will look at what they are, and more specifically how to avoid them.
Unrealistic expectations: Don’t expect your home to be perfect. If you are a perfectionist and have always cleaned your home a specific way and demand that sort of perfect service, you will most likely be let down. Chances are you can clean your home better yourself, because when you clean, time and money generally are not a factor. That does not mean let big misses slide, just don’t sweat the small stuff as the saying goes and the process can be a lot less stressful. A good service provider should have a guarantee of some sort, and if something was missed they will try to make it right for you.
Be Specific: Specifics matter. What exactly is included for the money you are sending. Does your service offer you a written copy of what is included, or a web page with the specific tasks. If not make sure you ask. Also if you have specific requests, let your service provider know. Believe it or not, people have all sorts of different things that bear more importance to them. Some might incur extra costs, but many can be negotiated into your price, and are more a matter of personal tastes.
Chemicals: Make sure you ask what products your service provider will use to clean your home. Find out if they proscribe to any green cleaning practices. This is a big deal in this day and age. Most traditional cleaning products are extremely toxic, and should be avoided if possible. Many services are going green, or are based entirely on green cleaning practices and principles. Find a company that will help you reduce your exposure to toxins, and airborne irritants.
Give your service a fair chance: It may seem justified to “fire” your service if they didn’t meet your exact expectations the first visit. Instead of firing them right off, communicate what you were not satisfied with and a timely manner and give them a chance to make it right. Sometimes if may take a few visits to really work out the kinks so to speak. It is better to find a service that you know and trust, and maintain open lines of communication. It may be easier said than done to build up a relationship with a new service. That being said, if you have communicated your needs clearly, and no progress is being made, it may be the best choice to move on, just be sure you have given them a fair chance to meet your needs.
Added Expense: In this day and age it might seem perilous to add one more bill into the mix. Many of us just can’t justify the extra cost. If that is the case, don’t stress over it, there are many resources on how to clean your home in less time, and thus save at least some of that time to be reinvested for other purposes. What is reasonable to pay for a maid service? It really depends on a lot of factors so when you get bids, ask some pointed questions. You should never make your final decision on price alone?
I hope I have given you some valuable information to help you make choosing a maid service a little bit easier. Make sure to talk to a few different providers. Choose someone you feel comfortable with, and feel free to ask for references. After you done all that, kick back and enjoy your new found freedom.
Go Green Clean was proud to be a part of the Extreme Makeover Home Edition that recently took place in St. Louis. Our teams cleaned for two days and we donated nearly 100 man hours to the project. Look for the episode to air on ABC Sunday 8/7c in November 2008.
The experience was extremely rewarding for all the members of our team, and it was a great honor to be part of such an amazing event. It is truly an amazing process from start to finish. We were practically the last ones to leave the house right before the Martinez family returned home. We had "front row" seats, for the revel, and it is as emotional as they portray on the show.
If you search for the episode on ABC.com you can see some of our team members in action.
Here is a video I created to help you choose a green cleaning company for your home. It has some great questions that you should ask your cleaning service if you are thinking about going green in your home. For more great info and tips, visit http://www.gogreen-clean.com.m
Here is a great article I found on green cleaning products. The general gist of the article recommends that you choose your green cleaning products carefully. There are a lot of products claiming to be green and there just isn\'t a standard to back up their claims. One standard that the article recommends is the Green Seal certification. All of Go Green Clean\'s cleaning products are Green Seal certified. Read the article to find out more about how you can choose green cleaning products for your home.
Angela
MSNBC.com
Do you know what’s in your cleaning products?
Separating nontoxic products from those claiming to be green can be tricky
By Meredith Reis
Like many consumers, Lindsay Allen places a priority on using green products to clean her home, where she lives with her husband and two small children. Her desire to use environmentally friendly products grew out of an incident that happened when she was a young girl: Her father was injured on a job where he was exposed to toxins.
“It really led to just kind of a heightened sensitivity in me, in creating a toxic-free environment for my family,” says Allen.
For others, the choice to use green cleaners comes from a desire to do what they feel is best for the environment.
And the business of green is booming. According to SPINS, a market research and consulting firm for the Natural Products Industry, consumers purchased $290 million worth of natural household cleaners and supplies in 2008. But separating truly nontoxic products from those simply claiming to be green can be tricky for some shoppers. First of all, “green” is a marketing term. There is no scientific definition of what that would mean when it comes to household products.
This could change in the future. The Federal Trade Commission is in the process of reviewing and revising their Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, also known as the “Green Guides.”
For now, the FTC’s Consumer Resource for Sorting Out Green Claims states that: “Claims that a product or service is ‘environmentally friendly,’ ‘environmentally safe,’ ‘environmentally preferable,’ or ‘eco-safe’ .... are unhelpful for two reasons: First, all products, packaging and services have some environmental impact, although some may have less than others. Second, these phrases alone do not provide the specific information you need to compare products, packaging, or services on their environmental merits.”
So, how can one best determine which products are the least toxic? It’s a question that’s complicated by the simple fact that companies are not required by law to disclose to consumers every single ingredient contained in their products. Some cleaners feature partial ingredient lists on the package, others list no ingredients at all and still others make information available only through their Web site or a toll-free number.
Environmental groups like Women\'s Voices for the Earth are pushing for full disclosure so people who are interested in learning about the potential health and environmental impact of certain ingredients can understand what’s in each product.
“There are about 9,000 chemicals on the market today that have not been fully tested for safety,” said Urvashi Rangan, senior scientist at Consumers Union. “That’s not to say they’re all dangerous. It all depends on how much you’re exposed to and for how long. But a better rule of thumb to go by is just using less to get these jobs done.”
The industry insists all their products are safe when used correctly, even those that contain stronger ingredients and have “warning” or “caution” labels. It is recommended, however, that some people, like those with asthma and certain allergies, avoid these stronger products.
“The most important information on a cleaning-product label is the safety and usage information,” said Brian Sansoni, vice president of communication and membership for the Soap and Detergent Association. “Cleaning products are safe when used as directed. There is a huge amount of research and development and testing that goes into cleaning products before they ever hit the store shelves. The fact is, millions of people use cleaning products safely in their homes every single day.”
Finding the safest products For those who want greener products, Rangan says you want to look for the lowest number of ingredients. “It’s helpful if you can recognize what some of those ingredients are, and I mean beyond ‘plant-based materials.’ What are those plant-based materials? And if there are some questions in your mind and you have some cleaners at home, do some Internet searching. The NIH does have a database of all the chemicals that are out there, and you can look up and see what the actual health effects might be.”
Rangan also recommends looking for products with the Green Seal logo. “It’s not on a lot of products, but it’s a solid, independent verification program with really good standards behind it.”
Still, the WVE and other environmental groups have pressed the industry to disclose more. Recently, the Soap and Detergent Association, along with the Consumer Specialty Products Association, agreed to new, voluntary guidelines that will give consumers more ingredient information. Those guidelines take effect in January 2010, but due to proprietary concerns some ingredients will still not be included and can be folded under such categories as “fragrance” or “preservatives.”
Anja Rudiger, board member for Women\'s Voices for the Earth, says her organization is not satisfied. “What WVE is working toward and what all the women that we work with are calling for is national regulation, is a legally required action to disclose all the ingredients in cleaning products, and that includes every manufacturer, whether they now declare themselves as green or not.”
Sansoni responds: “There can be a hundred or more components that go into the makeup of just one fragrance. Can you imagine trying to list all that information on a product label? Our voluntary guidelines are consistent with what’s already out there governing cosmetics, and yet we’re still providing more information than any law that’s already on the books in the United States.”
On Thursday, at least one company took steps to meet these calls. SC Johnson, maker of such products as Windex, Shout, Pledge and Glade, announced they will list all of the ingredients in their products. The company\'s Web site states that this will include dyes, preservatives and fragrance ingredients. “Fragrances will be shared by listing all ingredients that could potentially be included in the fragrance. This approach helps protect the proprietary details of the specific formulation of individual fragrances, which are a trade secret and competitive advantage for SC Johnson and its supply chain.”
The information will be made available via labels, a dedicated Web site and the company’s toll-free phone number. The rollout of this information will be complete by January 2012.
In an effort to force ingredient disclosure by other cleaning product manufacturers, the environmental group Earth Justice has cited a long-forgotten, 1974 New York state regulation requiring companies to file complete ingredient lists (and any related scientific research) with the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation.
Earthjustice put manufacturers on notice and a handful complied, including the makers of Simple Green and Seventh Generation. Last month, the group filed a lawsuit against four major cleaning manufacturers that did not file these disclosures with the state: Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, Church and Dwight and Reckitt-Benckiser.
The Soap and Detergent Association responds that the lawsuit is “unfounded, lacks legal standing and its claims are not supported by state law. Further, the challenge ignores efforts by industry to offer more information than ever before about cleaning products and their ingredients.”
Making cleaning products at homeSome people who want to be absolutely sure about the ingredients in their cleaning products are choosing to make their own. In fact, the WVE has sponsored “Green Cleaning Parties” across the country, hosting about 4,000 people since they started in March 2008.
Consumers Union also tested several recipes featuring basic ingredients, like baking soda and vinegar.
“When it comes to this product area, and knowing what you\'re using, and knowing how hard that is to do out there because of lack of disclosure, using ingredients that are in your kitchen pantry can actually be a really effective way of dealing with a lot of cleaning chores you have around the house,” Rangan said. “While they may not have the ‘oomph’ of all the industrial-strength cleaners out there, when you clean more regularly, they can, in fact, be effective enough to keep your house clean.”
The one caveat is that you should always use a fresh batch. Homemade products don’t always keep as well as traditional cleaners.
For Joyce Silberberger, the choice to use homemade cleaners made sense. “It makes a difference, it’s cheaper, and I feel like I’m doing my part to save, save the earth for my grandchildren and their children.”
2009 MSNBC Interactive. Reprints
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29663739/
Go Green Clean is the St. Louis leader in green residential cleaning. To find out more about our holistic approach to green cleaning, visit us at http://www.gogreen-clean.com./ This is our first podcast and we are taking the time to thank our friends at Vazing for helping Go Green Clean to be a leader in green residential cleaning in St. Louis. Check out Vazing at http://www.vazing.com./ Go Green Clean will continue to post podcasts with tips on how to keep your home green and clean. Our next episode will feature Angela giving pointer on improving the air quality of your home, and keeping dust at bay. Check out website for tips and to find out more about Go Green Clean. http://www.gogreen-clean.com./
Hello,
My name is Angela Ricketts. This is my first post of what should become a regular service to my clients and anyone who is interested in keeping a green and clean home. Go Green Clean is a residential cleaning service based in St. Louis, MO. We take a holistic approach to green cleaning, and we are always striving to find better and healthier solutions to the toxic and wasteful traditional methods of home cleaning.
One of the biggest contributors to the need to clean our homes on a regular basis is dust. You have to dust often, or dust becomes impregnated dirt, that is later much harder to remove. Changing your furnace filter every 1-3 months, is an easy way to cut down on the dust in your home and even improve the overall air quality. If you aren\'t going to change it every month, at least check it to see that it is still serviceable and not clogged. I also recommend dating the filter with a magic marker when you replace it. Also its not a bad idea to switch to a paper filter instead of the old fiber glass kind. The folded paper filters trap much smaller particles helping you really keep dust down.
Another area of our homes that is a leading contributor to dust in our homes is the closets. Clothes tend to shed of small particles of fiber, that settle on the floors and furniture, etc... It is a good idea to keep the floors of your closet clean so you can have them vacuumed when your home is cleaned. I also recommend investing in some plastic storage totes. That way you can put seasonal clothes away that aren\'t being worn. Your closet will be more organized, and the clothes you wear regularly won\'t shed as much fiber in the closet.
Another thing that gets over looked is the bedding. You should change out your sheets weekly if you are able. Your bedding collects tiny skin particles and sheds its own fibers. Every time you toss and turn at night in sheets that haven\'t been changed for a while, you send up a cloud of dust and debris. Its also a good idea to clean the blankets and covers regularly, at least take them outside and shake them out every other week.
Carpets are a dust trap as well. You need to be using a powerful vacuum with a good filter system to pick up the dust, and keep it in the cannister. I recommend cannister vacuums with HEPA filtration for most any surfaces. I don\'t like aggitators because I think they just kick the dust up into the air, although agitators do get hair and fibers out of carpet better, I don\'t think its worth the trade off of all the dust they kick up. You should also take out small area rugs and carpets regularly and shake or beat the dirt and dust out of them.
There are many more things you can do to keep dust down in the home, some of them can get pretty expensive, like electro-static filters and having your duct work cleaned out. If you are having severe enough problems with dust, it may well be worth looking into these options. For most of us though, just taking the simple steps that I have recommended above should be enough to keep dust at bay.
Stay tuned to future episodes of my blog and watch my podcast for more great tips. In future episodes I will give you tips on reducing the number of products you use to clean your home, thus simplifying the process, showing you some tips on how to clean your home in record time, and organizational techniques that work for Go Green Clean.
Thanks for reading,
Angela
