Author: oi_admin

Maid Brigade Supports Reading Across America Day

Posted on March 2, 2012 by oi_admin - News

The National Education Association's Read Across America Day is the nation's largest reading event, occurring each year on Dr. Seuss's birthday, March 2nd. Every year, many activities like read-a-thons and storytimes are held across the country to sponsor children reading. In 2010, about 45 million children and adults participated in this event.

In support of Read Across America Day, Maid Brigade is hosting a book drive to boost children's literacy. The book drives starts today, March 2, 2012, and will run through the end of the month.

Maid Brigade will be collecting new and gently used children's books that will be donated to various charities and organizations.

Come down to your local Maid Brigade and help support Read Across America Day! For more information, please log on to maidbrigade.com.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the health of you and your family. For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com. For more information on "Household Cleaning Products and Breast Cancer", please watch our video at greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Salt...The Natural Housecleaner

Posted on February 29, 2012 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Did you know that you can clean your home with salt? Salt is mildly abrasive and kills germs.

Here are some natural green cleaning tips to use the next time you clean your home:

Use salt to clean up oven drips and food spillovers from the floor of an oven. Sprinkle salt over the spilt food, and then allow the oven to cool down completely. Use a damp cloth or a brush to clean up the spill.
Clean drains regularly by boiling a solution of salt and water and pouring it down the drain. This helps prevent a build up of grease, grime and bacteria.
Degrease greasy pans by scouring them with a paper towel and salt. Sprinkle the salt over the grease, set the pan aside for 30 minutes and then wipe up the salt and grease using the paper towel.
Get rid of burnt-on food from an enameled pot by filling it with an inch of water, stirring in four tablespoons of salt, then letting this soak overnight. Loosen the burned food the next day by bringing the salty water to a boil.
Remove food stains from glassware by rubbing the salt into the stain using a damp sponge. For stubborn stains, soak the glassware for 24 hours in a solution of 1/2 cup salt and 4 cups of vinegar. Wipe off the stain and wash as usual. This is also effective for getting rid of lipstick stains as well.
Make a paste of one part salt and one part lemon juice and use this to get rid of mold and mildew from kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
To get rid of rust, cut a lemon in half, dip it in salt and rub it over the rusty area. Wipe this off and allow the area to dry. Clean copper with a mixture of salt and vinegar.
Remove tea and coffee stains from counter tops by rubbing with a soft cloth dipped in a mixture of white vinegar and salt.
Polish tarnished silver by spraying the silver item with vinegar, sprinkling salt and then scrubbing with a soft cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly.

Organizing Your Life

Posted on February 26, 2012 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

The beginning of every year is a perfect time to start re-organizing and de-cluttering your life and your home. But where do you begin?

Here are some suggestions to help you get started:

Cupboards and drawers. Take on manageable amounts. Begin with a drawer or cupboard, perhaps the toothbrush/toothpaste drawer. Throw away the extra toothpaste caps and frayed toothbrushes. Put the head bands back in the comb drawer. Dig the dental floss out from the back of the drawer and wipe the dried toothpaste off the drawer bottom. Next, take on the toiletries drawer. Stack the extra soap, shampoo, and toilet paper neatly. Put the brushes back in the comb drawer. Get rid of all the old hair ties that you found in the back of the drawer that you won't use anymore. Move on to the linen closet. Fold and stack the towels. Sort the ratty ones from the nicer ones and tear the old ones into rags. Put the washcloths in a box or plastic container to keep them contained. Keep sorting through drawers and closets for as long as you can.

Clothes closets. Tie a ribbon in the middle of the hanger rod, with all of your clothes hanging to the left of the ribbon. After you wear something, launder it and hang it up on the right side of the ribbon. After two months, see what is still hanging on the left and take it to Goodwill. This method can work assuming you store your clothing seasonally, and you keep costumes, and special outfits and dresses in another place. If you don't, this project may take up to a year until you have gone through all of the seasons.

Try and keep your closet floors for your shoes, not boxes. This will keep your shoes from getting squished and ruined. Closet floors are a magnet for boxes that hold things you don't know where else to put.

Basements and attics. Out of sight, out of mind! Moving something to the basement or attic usually means, "I don't want to deal with this now, get it out of my sight." Attack these piles one at a time and get rid of those stacks once and for all!

Garages. A thorough house cleaning is going to result in more junk in the garage. There are going to be some things you just can't part with yet, but after reading about basements and attics, you wouldn't dare send the junk there! Instead you will send it to the garage! The garage is a project all in its own and needs time budgeted accordingly. Begin sorting in the house so that by the time you get to the garage, you're a pro!

Remember: The important part of de-cluttering is beginning. Start de-cluttering today!

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about our environment and health of you and your family. For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com and maidbrigade.com. Watch our video on achieving work/life balance at greencleancertified.com/greentv. To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in your home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Reducing Indoor Air Pollution: A Look At Secondhand Smoke

Posted on February 23, 2012 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

Environmental tobacco smoke, better known as secondhand smoke, is the mixture of smoke that comes from the end of a burning cigarette, cigar, or pipe. Secondhand smoke is also the smoke exhaled by the smoker.

Secondhand smoke contains a mixture of more than 4,000 compounds. Most of them are strong irritants, and more than 40 of them are known to cause cancer in humans and animals.

According to a report done by the Environmental Protection Agency, secondhand smoke is responsible for about 3,000 lung cancer deaths each year in nonsmoking adults, and affects the respiratory health of over 100,000 children.

Children from parents who smoke in their presence have higher chances of getting middle ear infections, from fluid buildup, and respiratory tract infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis. Older children who have been exposed to secondhand smoke may have slightly reduced lung function.

Children with asthma are greatly affected. The EPA estimates that exposing your children to secondhand smoke increases the symptoms and the number of episodes they have. Exposure can also cause eye, nose, and throat irritation.

To reduce secondhand smoke exposure in your home, do not smoke inside your home, and do not allow others to smoke in your home. This can help, but will not eliminate the non-smoker's exposure to secondhand smoke.

If smoking does occur in your home, open windows or use exhaust fans. Ventilation will help reduce but will not eliminate exposure.

There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Any exposure is harmful!

Source:

http://www.epa.gov

http://www.cancer.org

Enjoy The Rest Of Winter By Keeping Your Family Healthy

Posted on February 19, 2012 by oi_admin - Healthy Body

Winter in New York this year has been pretty mild. I have to admit, I am loving the weather! But know matter what the weather is outside, there are still germs lurking around that can cause colds and flu.

Here are some quick tips to keep you and your family healthy for the rest of the winter:

Keep those hands clean! This is probably the most important thing you can do to prevent a cold. Vigorously rubbing with warm, soapy water for about 20 - 30 seconds is best. Make sure you scrub your hands all over and rinse well. In public restrooms, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet.

Teach children to wash their hands often, especially before and after eating or playing with other kids.

Avoid touching your face as much as possible, especially if your hands are not clean. The eyes, nose and mouth are the most common ways to catch a cold.

Teach children to keep germs to themselves by sneezing or coughing into their arms or elbows instead of into their hands.

Try to stay hydrated. It helps keep your entire body operating at its best. For your body to fight infection, it needs adequate water. For most of us, drinking 6 to 8 eight ounce glasses of water each day will do the trick. Water is the best choice. Avoid drinking too much soda, coffee or sugary juice drinks which can actually dehydrate you. While orange juice can help because of the vitamin C, limit yourself to 8 ounces each day to be sure to get enough water in. Decaf green tea is also soothing, plus it has immune-boosting antioxidants.

If someone in the house smokes, avoid contact with them while they are smoking. The inhalation of secondhand smoke can affect the ability of the respiratory system to work properly to protect against viruses.

Getting enough rest helps keep the immune system strong. It can also help shorten the duration of an existing cold. Kids usually need 8 to 10 hours of sleep.

A healthy diet can also keep colds away. Add some vitamins A and C into your diet. If you do catch a cold, don't under estimate the power of a good bowl of chicken soup. It soothes the throat, clears the head, and makes us feel better.

Source:

http://www.cdc.gov

http://www.cancer.org

Tips from past blogs at http://blog.maidbrigade.com also used.

Important Information About Indoor Air Quality

Posted on February 16, 2012 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

In the last couple of years, scientific evidence has shown that air within homes can be more polluted than outdoor air. Other research indicates that people spend about 90% of their time indoors. Because of this, the health risks for some of us may be greater due to exposure to pollution indoors than outdoors.

Most homes have more than one source that contributes to indoor air pollution. Luckily, there are steps that we can take to reduce the level of indoor air pollution in our homes.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the primary cause of indoor air quality problems in homes come from sources that release gasses or particles into the air. Insufficient ventilation can increase pollutant levels by not bringing enough outdoor air inside to dilute emissions.

If there is not enough outdoor air in the home, pollutants can build to levels that pose health concerns. Weather conditions also contribute to lesser amounts of outdoor air entering the home, which can make pollutant levels build up even more.

Health effects from indoor air pollutants may also be experienced soon after exposure, or, possibly, years later.

Apartments can also have the same indoor air problems as single-family homes because the pollution sources are similar.

Office indoor air problems are usually caused by contaminated ventilation systems, improperly placed outdoor air intakes, or maintenance issues.

Tune in to this weeks blogs to find out how to improve indoor air in your home, apartment, or office.

Source:

http://www.epa.gov

http://www.cpsc.gov

Looking For The Perfect Valentine's Day Gift?

Posted on February 9, 2012 by oi_admin - Healthy Soul

Valentine's Day is almost here and for those of us who want to get a head start on finding that perfect Valentine's Day gift, look no more!

Here are some eco-friendly gift ideas that would definitely put a smile on anyone's face!

To add a little spice in your life, theochocolate.com carries organic and fair trade gift sets, such as the Hot & Spicy Collection, which includes spicy chile dark chocolate and chiptole spice sipping chocolate.

Why not give a gift where some of the proceeds go to support endangered animals? The Chocolate Survival Kit from ecoexpress.com does just that. The kit also comes in a reusable bamboo box. Eco Express carries everything from organic chocolate cashews, to fair trade organic chocolate envelopes, to rainforest goodie gift bags.

At shop.sweetriot.com, you can find kosher, dairy-free, gluten-free, and all-natural chocolate items, from nutbars to dark chocolate cacao nibs.

Instead of eating chocolate, why not drink chocolate? The TeaRoom's Drinking Chocolates are infused with specially selected teas. Log on to tea-room.stores.yahoo.net to choose your favorite drinking chocolate!

For those loved ones who would rather smell their Valentine's gifts than eat them, organicbouquet.com is the place to go! All of their products, from floral arrangements and gourmet gifts, to unique home accessories, have been certified by USDA, Fair Trade, or Rain Forest Alliance.

Happy shopping!

The Best Soap In The World!

Posted on February 6, 2012 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Every day we learn another reason why using toxic household cleaners to clean our homes is unhealthy for us.

Because green cleaning is a very important aspect of healthy green living, I love when I come across an item that I can use to clean my home and make it safer for my family.

Castile soap is a plant-based soap that loosens grime and dirt from surfaces. It is more gentle than soap, so it won't dull surfaces. Castile soap can be used in many different ways:

For washing the car, mix ¼ cup liquid Castile soap with hot water in a bucket, filling the bucket almost to the top. Rub a generous amount of the solution on your car’s exterior, windshield, hubcaps, and tires with a large sponge, then thoroughly hose it off.

To clean your floors, make a solution of ¼ cup liquid Castile soap and 2 gallons warm water. If the floors are greasy, add ¼ cup distilled white vinegar to the bucket.

For cleaning my leather couch, add 2 drops liquid Castile soap to 1 quart warm water. Apply to the leather with a barely moist sponge.

Stir 1 tablespoon liquid Castile soap into 1 quart warm water. Dampen a cloth with the solution and wipe down countertops. Rinse, then dry with a clean cloth.

Create a homemade soft scrubber that you can use to clean sinks, showers, tubs and tile, by combining 1 tablespoon liquid Castile soap and 1/3 cup baking soda.

Add a few squirts of liquid Castile soap to 2 cups hot water and apply to your stovetop. You can also use Castile soap to clean the grease off of the burners, and the vent hood.

Source: www.drbronner.com

Make Life Simple By Cleaning Smarter

Posted on February 3, 2012 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Having trouble fitting cleaning into your busy work week?

Simplify your life by learning how to clean smarter:

If you have a busy schedule, don't overwhelm yourself by trying to clean the entire house in one day. Make life simpler and cleaning easier by cleaning one room a day.
Instead of vacuuming the entire rug in each room, just vacuum pathways, focusing on high traffic areas the most. Save the rest of the vacuuming for a later date.
Keep a spray bottle of vinegar and water solution in the bathrooms and kitchen. This way it is easier to wipe up stains on countertops and around sinks right after they happen.
Using a vinegar/water solution, spray and wipe down door handles and light switches to lessen day to day germs.
Wipe down fingerprints and crayon marks on walls with a baking soda/water paste.
After spraying cleaning solution on tables, countertops, and stoves, let it sit and do its job for a few minutes before wiping it off. Stains will come off a lot quicker.
Fluff up blankets and throw pillows by putting them in the dryer for a few minutes.
Dust furniture with a damp cloth or a dry microfiber cloth.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about our environment and health of you and your family. For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com and maidbrigade.com. Watch our video on achieving work/life balance at greencleancertified.com/greentv. To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in your home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Quick Ways To Keep Up With Cleaning

Posted on February 1, 2012 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

Between work, family, school, chores, activities, and cooking, who has time to clean?

And, after a long and busy week, who really wants to clean?

Here are some great ideas that I use to help fit cleaning into my daily schedule without it becoming too overbearing. This way, my house looks presentable and clean all week long:

--Using baking soda and warm water, wipe down the inside of the refrigerator. This way the baking soda scrubs and eliminates odors at the same time.

--Washing dishes after dinner is a perfect time for reconnecting with the children. Spend time talking about the day while washing the dishes. It makes your cleaning time go faster too!

--Spray the oven with oven cleaner on the night you decide to order take out. Then, after dinner, or even the next morning, stains are easily wiped away. For a great oven cleaner, I mix two teaspoons borax, two tablespoons liquid soap and about one quart warm water together in a spray bottle.

--For microwave cleaning, bring a cup of water to boil in the microwave and let the steam do all the work. Wipe away all loose food.

--If your lampshades are cloth like mine, dust them with a lint roller. It works great!

--Grab a microfiber cloth, wrap it around your hand, and dust your house as you go.

--Wipe down the outside of your dishwasher, refrigerator, oven, washing machine, and dryer. Clean up spots and spills on countertops to freshen up the space.

--Go through junk mail, papers and filing while watching your favorite tv show.

--Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the television and computer screen. You can also dust the air vents with a microfiber cloth to prevent dust buildup.

--Sweep the areas near the front, back, and garage door daily. This will help lessen the amount of dirt coming into your home.

--Put ice cubes in your house plants so you won't have to water them everyday.

Got tips? Share them with us!!!

The Easiest Way To Clean Your Bathroom

Posted on February 1, 2012 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Let's face it, nobody likes to clean the bathroom. But sooner or later, it has to be done. Why not make cleaning quick and easy by using a few natural cleaners that you can probably find right in your own home?

To clean my bathroom, I basically use borax, vinegar, baking soda, and liquid soap.

To clean the sink, shower, tub, and tiles, I dilute some liquid soap and scrub with a nylon scrubbing pad....it's that easy! You can also scrub tub and tile surfaces with baking soda mixed with a small amount of water.

If there are any mildew spots, I usually scrub them with a solution of borax and water. Mix a half cup of borax with one gallon of water.

Those annoying mineral deposits found around faucets can be cleaned by soaking a paper towel in vinegar and letting it sit on the deposits for about one hour. After an hour wipe faucet down.

To clean the toilet bowl, I put 1/4 cup borax in the toilet bowl and let it sit either for a few hours, or overnight, depending on how much time I have to clean. Clean around the toilet with a mix of borax (1/2 cup) and water (one gallon).

To clean those clogged drains, pour 1/4 cup baking soda down the drain, followed by 2 ounces of vinegar and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Rinse with two quarts of boiling water. I use this pretty often to prevent clogged drains.

Making My Home Healthier and Greener

Posted on January 30, 2012 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

One of my New Year's resolutions for this year was to make my home healthier and greener. My family was all on board with this, especially my children, because they are learning all about "going green" in school. We try and buy fresh fruit from the local markets whenever we can, we use recyclable bags instead of plastic ones, and we recycle our cans and paper goods weekly. I decided to compile a list of ideas and tips to help me in my quest to go greener. If you can think of any more, please write in and let me know!

Switch one of my appliances to an energy efficient one. This is a perfect reason to get that new energy star dishwasher I've had my eye on!

Stop buying plastic disposable water bottles and opt for reusable ones. Besides saving money, this is a great way to help the environment.

Turn off the lights when leaving the room. This will help cut down on the electric bill too!

Open the curtains and use natural sunlight as much as possible.

Turn off all computers, cell phones, ipods and ipads at night. Unplug them from the wall as soon as they are done charging. Also unplug unused appliances.

Reuse old computer printer paper as scrap paper.

Make my own natural homemade cleaners to clean the house with and share my recipes with others who want healthier, greener homes!

There are so many things we can do in our homes that help play a part in reducing landfill waste, cleaning the air, and preserving our environment.