Author: oi_admin

Featured Franchise of Boise

Posted on May 26, 2011 by oi_admin - News

Our latest Featured Franchise is Maid Brigade of Boise owned by Russ Biaggne. A native of Boise, Russ and his wife Laurie have two children—Austin (15) and MacKenzie (11). Russ is quite the outdoorsman! He enjoys skiing, playing softball and soccer, camping, fishing and hunting, but of course his favorite activity is spending time with his family.

Maid Brigade of Boise holds a special place in our hearts and a special role in the history of our company. Russ’ office is the original green cleaning Maid Brigade! He brought the idea to Home Office in 2006 and we quickly realized the benefits for our customers, employees and the environment. Maid Brigade of Boise was a big help as we developed our Green Clean Certified® cleaning system.

Russ and his office are also well-loved in the local community. Maid Brigade of Boise supports several organizations including: FC Nova—a soccer club for kids 4-18; Women’s Fitness Celebration—the country’s largest, women’s only race/walk; and Camp Rainbow Gold—a year-round getaway for kids who’ve been diagnosed with cancer.

Want to read more about Maid Brigade of Boise and get some great deals? Click here!

Controlling Ants Naturally

Posted on May 26, 2011 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

Pesticides can be used to get rid of ants in your home, but the potent chemical compounds may be more harmful to you and the environment than the pests. Here are some natural, non-toxic ways to get rid of ants.

First, remove attractants. Keep counters free of crumbs and sticky spots. Cover the sugar. Cut off water sources such as drips or dishes left soaking overnight.
Keep a small spray bottle of soapy water handy and spray the ants.
Set out cucumber peels/slices at the ants point of entry. Ants do not like cucumber, especially bitter cucumbers.
Leave mint tea bags near areas where ants are. Dry, crushed cloves or mint leaves also work.
Make a trail line of cayenne pepper, citrus oil, lemon juice, cinnamon, or coffee grounds near the ant column point of entry.
For those ants crawling around the deck, slip a few cut up cloves of garlic between the cracks.
For long-term nontoxic control of ants, sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth where ants congregate.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about our environment and the 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.

To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in the home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

All About Mold Allergy and How to Prevent it

Posted on May 25, 2011 by oi_admin - Healthy Body

Molds found indoors come from the outdoors. It is possible to see high levels of molds inside if they are high outside. Any house can develop a mold problem given the right conditions. Certain molds, such as Aspergillus and Penicillium are more commonly found indoors. You might not see it growing on the walls, but it may still be present in your home.

Molds require two factors to grow indoors:

1. Moisture from condensation, leakage from pipes or foundations, or any ongoing source of water.

2. Something to grow on that provides them a food source.

Molds particularly like to grow on wallboard, damp wood, fabrics, leather, and paper products. They can also grow on concrete or the dirt on windows or window frames. Food products, particularly vegetables, fruits, and breads provide a good place for mold to grow.

Molds spread by producing spores that can become airborne when they are disturbed directly or by air currents. These spores end up on surfaces where they grow.

Dust from mold-contaminated houses can cause allergy symptoms if a person who is allergic to the mold inhales them. Some molds produce bad odors. These odors may be irritating without actually causing an allergic response.

To kill off mold the natural way, try these recipes:

1. Combine two teaspoons tea tree oil with two cups water in a spray bottle. Spray on problem areas. Do not rinse.

2. Combine 20 drops grapefruit seed extract with two cups water in a spray bottle. Spray on problem areas. Do not rinse.

3. Pour some white distilled vinegar into a spray bottle and spray on the moldy area. Let set without rinsing.

To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in the home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

All About House Dust Mites

Posted on May 24, 2011 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

While usual household insecticides have no effect on dust mites, there are ways that allergic people can reduce exposure to dust mites in the home - first, take actions to reduce dust mite populations and second, reduce exposure to dust.

Lower humidity: Reduce humidity levels to less than 50 percent inside your home, especially in the bedroom. This isn't hard to do in the winter, but can be a challenge during summer months, especially in homes without air conditioning. Studies have shown air-conditioned homes have ten times fewer dust mite allergens than non-air-conditioned homes. In addition to cooling the house, air conditioning reduces the humidity dust mites need to thrive.

Pets: If you are a pet lover, locate their sleeping quarters as far from yours as possible and furnish their sleeping area so it can be cleaned easily. Hardwood or vinyl floors with washable area rugs are ideal.

Reduce air infiltration: Airing out the house with open windows allows entry of pollen, which is another allergen as well as food for dust mites. In some climates, incoming air may be humid, which promotes dust mites.

Cleaning: Wash all bedding weekly. Research has shown laundering with any detergent in warm water (60 °C or above) removes nearly all dust mite and cat allergen from bedding. If you cannot launder blankets, dry clean them at least once a year. Shampoo, steam clean or beat non-washable carpets at least once a year.

Select appropriate furnishings: Avoid overstuffed furniture because it collects dust. Also avoid wool fabrics/rugs because wool sheds particles and is eaten by other insects. Use washable curtains and rugs instead of wall-to-wall carpeting. If you cannot replace carpeting, have it steam cleaned at least once a year, springtime is best. This will prevent a build up of dust mites feeding on skin cells in the carpet during the summertime. Enclose mattresses and pillows in plastic to decrease mite populations in the bed. Replace feather pillows with synthetic ones.

Air Purifier: A HEPA air filter is very effective at removing dust.

All About Dust Mites:

House dust mites are tiny microscopic creatures that are an important cause of allergic reactions to house dust. They belong to the family of eight-legged creatures called arachnids. This family also includes spiders, chiggers and ticks.

Dust mites are hardy creatures that live well and multiply easily in warm, humid places. They prefer temperatures at or above 70 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 75 percent to 80 percent, and die when the humidity falls below 40 percent to 50 percent. They are rarely found in dry climates.

As many as 10 percent of the general population and (in some regions) 90 percent of people with allergic asthma are sensitive to dust mites. Recent studies in the United States suggest that at least 45 percent of young people with asthma are allergic to dust mites.

Dust mite particles are just the right size to be inhaled. They are found in the highest concentrations in pillows, mattresses, carpeting and upholstered furniture. They float into the air when anyone vacuums, walks on a carpet or disturbs bedding, but settle out of the air once the disturbance is over. A dust mite allergic patient who sleeps for eight hours every night spends one third of his life with his nose in direct contact with a pillow loaded with dust mite particles!

There may be many as 19,000 dust mites in one gram of dust, but usually between 100 to 500 mites live in each gram. (A gram is about the weight of a paper clip.) Egg-laying females can add 25 to 30 new mites to the population during their lifetime. Mites eat particles of skin and dander, so they thrive in places where there are people. Dust mites do not bite, and cannot spread diseases. They are harmful only to people who become allergic to them.

Great Ways for Reducing Pollen and Other Allergens in Your Home

Posted on May 22, 2011 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, pollen grains are the tiny male cells from flowering plants and trees. Bees and other insects carry pollen from plant to plant, but sometimes plants release the pollen into the air for the wind to carry. This can cause sneezing and stuffiness in humans with over-sensitive immune systems who are exposed to these airborne cells.

Cleaning can reduce the amount of allergens (substances you are allergic to) in your home, which can help alleviate allergy symptoms. Be careful, though, because many cleaning products are known to cause allergy-like symptoms in some people.

The cleaning product does not trigger an allergy, but it is an irritant, and an irritant can cause the same symptoms as an allergy. Symptoms of irritation that can be caused by cleaning products include sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, congestion, asthma attack, wheezing, and skin rashes.

The best way to avoid irritation from cleaning products is to have someone in the household who does not have allergies do the cleaning. Even the act of cleaning, especially doing things like sweeping, can trigger an allergic reaction, because dust and other allergens can be stirred up.

However, if you suffer from allergies and must do the cleaning in your home, it can help to use products that are less likely to cause allergy symptoms.

Avoid using cleaning products that contain harsh, potentially irritating chemicals. Common home cleaning chemical ingredients that can be irritating, include formaldehyde, ammonia, sodium lauryl sulphate, and sodium hypochlorite.

These chemicals are found in cleaning products like furniture polish, disinfectants, dish detergents, dish soaps, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, all-purpose cleaners, and drain, oven, and glass cleaners. Read the labels and avoid staying away from cleaning agents that have these ingredients.

For allergy sufferers, the best types of cleaning products are those that are non-toxic. Green cleaning products are better for those with allergies, but read the labels carefully, as some of these products still contain irritating substances.

Using all natural products to clean is also an option. Bakng soda and vinegar can get just about anything cleaned, in different concentrations for different uses. White vinegar and baking soda can be used almost anywhere. For example, use vinegar and salt for a surface cleaner, use baking soda and water to clean baby bottles, and use olive oil or lemon juice with vegetable oil to clean furniture. To freshen air, ventilate, or use cinnamon, cloves, or steeped tea.

To reduce indoor allergens, reduce dust-collecting clutter. Vacuum carpeted floors regularly with a double-bag or HEPA filter vacuum. Regularly wash blankets and throw rugs. Wash all bed linens in hot water every week. Keep counter surfaces clean and dry. Do not leave food around, and store food in sealed containers.
Taking a few simple steps to keep dust to a minimum, preventing molds from growing, and controlling cockroaches and other pests may help minimize your allergy symptoms.

To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in the home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Tips for Reducing Dust Mites in Your Home

Posted on May 22, 2011 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

Dust mites, as small as they are, produce waste that is a common cause of allergies and asthma.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to help you get rid of dust mites:

Cover your mattress in a dust-proof cover with a tight weave.

Wash all bed linens weekly in very hot water.

Place pillows in dust-proof covers or wash them weekly.
Avoid putting carpeting in your bedroom.

Vacuum all carpeting and upholstery in your home weekly.

Use an air filter that helps get rid of dust mites.

Wipe down hard surfaces.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about our environment and the 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.

To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in the home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Allergies and Cleaning Products

Posted on May 21, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Some people can be sensitive to chemicals in everyday household cleaning products. Here are ways to reduce your exposure to these chemicals.

Alternative cleaning products for allergy sufferers maidbrigade.com

Air Fresheners. Air fresheners contain substances caused volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which, some studies suggest can cause asthma in children. Synthetic fragrances, such as artificial musks, can also cause allergic and asthmatic reactions.
Alternative solution: Buy some odor-absorbing rubber or spider plants. Or, make your own air freshener by putting a teaspoon of baking soda, two tablespoons of white vinegar and two cups of water into a spray bottle.

Bleach. Bleach contains sodium hypochlorite, a chemical that gives off toxic fumes that can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and lungs.
Alternative solution: Borax powder, a natural mineral that you can buy from the chemist. Dilute it in hot water (a teaspoon per liter) and add a couple of tablespoons of vinegar.

Oven Cleaners. Some of these contain sodium hydroxide, a highly toxic chemical that can irritate your airways and cause breathing problems.
Alternative solution: Put a heat-proof dish filled with water in the oven and turn on the heat for a while to let the steam soften any baked-on grime. When the oven has cooled, make a paste using equal measures of salt, baking soda and vinegar, spread it over the oven surfaces and scrub off.

Spray Polish. Spray polish contains VOCs and synthetic fragrance.
Alternative solution: Use a natural wax polish, such as beeswax. Work it into your wood surfaces and buff until you get a shine.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner. Toilet bowl cleaners often contain naphthalene, and the fumes can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, lungs and skin.
Alternative solution: Use vinegar to soften any limescale. Pour half a bottle into the bowl last thing at night, then give it a good scrub in the morning.

Washing Powder. Some washing powders contain sodium carbonate, which can cause allergic skin reactions.
Alternative solution: Only use non-biological washing powders, as these are less likely to irritate the skin.

Window Cleaner. The overpowering smell you get when you open a bottle of window or glass cleaner is ammonia, which can irritate the skin as well as the eyes and lungs.
Alternative solution: Add two tablespoons of vinegar to a small bucket of warm water, wash, then dry with a clean cloth.

To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in the home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Adults, Allergies, and Cleaning Products

Posted on May 20, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

Did you know that chemical sprays used for cleaning could actually trigger asthma and allergies in adults?

According to a study of more than 3,000 adults who did not have asthma when the study began, using cleaning sprays more than once a week can trigger asthmatic attacks, and the risk of asthma increased as the use of sprays increased.

Sprays that could lead to asthma and allergies include glass cleaners, furniture cleaners, and air fresheners, the researchers reported in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Previous studies have shown that people whose work exposes them daily to cleaning products, especially spray degreasers, bleach solutions, and air fresheners, are more likely to have asthma or the kinds of respiratory systems, such as coughing and wheezing, that people associate with allergies. Women who already have some type of lung infection or illness are at increased risk from spray cleaning products.

Cleaning with homemade natural ingredients, like vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and washing soda, is a healthier way to keep your home shining!

To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in the home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

What Are You Allergic To?

Posted on May 19, 2011 by oi_admin - Healthy Body, Uncategorized

Allergies are classified by their source (like food allergies) or the part of the body they affect (like skin allergies). Some allergies last all year, including those to food, medicines, latex, dust mites, insect stings, and animal dander. Other allergies, like hay fever, are seasonal. From spring to fall, plants reproduce by spreading pollen through the air. In people with hay fever, pollen irritates the immune system, triggering a host of allergy symptoms.

Nasal allergies, including hay fever, can irritate the eyes, nose, roof of the mouth, and throat. Some culprits are:

Animal dander, which are dead skin cells from animals.

Dust mites, which are microscopic insects that live in household dust, even in tidy homes. Dust mites have to have conditions of warmth and humidity to thrive.

Mold spores from fungi are spores that thrive indoors in damp areas, such as basements and bathrooms. They also gather outside in warm climates and in leaf piles.

Pollen is a fine powdery substance released by trees and plants, including ragweed, grasses, and hay. Flowering plants (like roses), usually do not cause allergy symptoms. Their pollen is too large to be carried by wind.

False irritants, like tobacco, smoke, and perfumes, can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, but they are not allergens.

To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in the home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Grow A Healthy, Eco-Friendly, Lawn that is Safe For Your Family

Posted on May 17, 2011 by oi_admin - Healthy Home, Uncategorized

This year, bring your lawn back to life the eco-friendly way. To save money, start planning now.

Part of creating a green yard is your plant choices. Go with indigenous (native) or hardy varieties because they require less water and fertilizing. Most hardiness zone areas give you hundreds of options, from azaleas to zelkova trees.

From sowing to maturity, your plants need water. Set sprinklers to run during the coolest part of the day so water will not evaporate as quickly, giving it time to soak in. This will keep your water needs, and bill, down.

Once your garden is growing, consider how you feed and protect it. Many common fertilizers and pesticides have toxic chemicals that can run off into drains and water sources. Many experts say that, if tracked into your home on feet and paws, toxins can linger without sunlight, water, and soil microbes to break them down.

To crowd out weeds, seed bare and thin spots in lawns, add mulch gardens and flower beds. Fertilize with products that are low in soluble nitrogen and, for a truly green garden, go organic for slow nutrient release and fewer toxins.

Use compost and mulch to reduce water use. Compost keeps plants healthy so they require less water. Mulch helps keep soil moist.

Set mower blades to cut grass as high as possible (at least 3 inches). Taller grass shades its own roots and requires less water.

For new lawns, plant perennial ryegrass and drought-tolerant fescue. These types need less watering and chemical care.

Reducing Pollen and Dust Mites

Posted on May 14, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

Your number one defense against pollen is to avoid it as much as possible. You cannot get rid of pollen outside, but you can limit it indoors. Here are some tips:

Close the windows at home and in your car.

If you need to cool down, run the air conditioning instead of opening the windows. Put the air on "recirculate" so you are not bringing in oustide air filled with pollen.

Put pillows, box springs, and mattresses in cases that keep dust mites out.

Throw sheets, comforters, blankets, curtains, and washable stuffed animals regularly into the washing machine, set to the hottest water temperature the material can handle.

Use the clothes dryer. Dust mites cannot take heat.

Keep kitchens and bathrooms clean and dry. If you use a humidifier, clean it regularly so it doesn't become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold.

If your kids have dust mite allergies and their toys cannot be washed, put the toys in the freezer for 48 hours every two weeks. Freezing temperatures will kill the dust mites.

To further reduce dust mites, consider replacing your carpeting with hard flooring and getting rid of upholstered furniture.

In the basement or attic, put away collectibles and clothes in plastic storage bags and run a dehumidifier to prevent mold growth.

To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in the home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Featured Franchise of the Peninsula

Posted on May 13, 2011 by oi_admin - News, Uncategorized

We love Maid Brigade of the Peninsula owner Linda Hendrickson’s approach to employee relations and we think you will too! That’s why she’s our Featured Franchise this week.

Linda opened her local office in 2006 and from the beginning she’s focused on employee retention. At Maid Brigade of the Peninsula (and all Maid Brigades around the country!) treating employees well is an essential part of running the business. And Linda’s genuine care and concern for her team members’ well-being has been rewarded with loyalty and hard-work. One team member recently celebrated her five year anniversary with Maid Brigade and more anniversaries are coming up! The office also runs an Employee of the Month program to reward team members with the most happy customer reports. Last month four employees tied for the award!

Maid Brigade of the Peninsula finds time to contribute to the local community—and the office is making a real impact! Linda and her team members provide free cleanings for homeless shelters, including Shelter Network, which operates several shelters in San Mateo County. In fact, one of Linda’s current employees was once a client of Shelter Network.

Click here to see local specials and to read about Charlie—the most popular team member at Maid Brigade of the Peninsula.