Author: oi_admin

Quick and Easy Green Cleaning Recipes

Posted on April 23, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

One of the greatest exposures to toxic substances can be found right in our very own homes.

Many cleaners and solvents used on surfaces such as countertops, tubs and floors are filled with ingredients whose labels read caution, poison, warning, or danger. Today, there are safer alternative cleaning products that can be used which will lessen our exposure to these toxins and chemicals. Castile soap, baking soda, and lemon juice work wonders on tough grime in bathrooms and kitchens. You can even save money by making your own easy recipes that are toxic-free for you, your family, and the environment.

Here are some recipes to try:

Basic Household Cleaner. Mix together one teaspoon liquid castile soap, a squeeze of lemon juice, and one quart of warm water. If a surface needs extra power, try saturating area with moist salt or baking soda, allow to sit for ten minutes, and scrub.

Grease Cutter. Dissolve one teaspoon castile soap in one quart of hot water and add 1/4 cup lemon juice. Let soak for ten minutes before scrubbing.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner. Sprinkle 1/4 cup baking soda into bowl and add 1 cup lemon juice. Let sit for 1/2 hour, scrub, and flush.

Basin, Tub and Tile Cleaner. Mix 1/2 cup baking soda with three tablespoons liquid castile soap. Scrub.

Drain Cleaner and Deodorizer. Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down drain followed by one cup hot lemon juice. Let sit for 10 minutes. Run water for 30 seconds.

Glass and Window Cleaner. Mix four tablespoons of lemon juice with 1/2 gallon warm water.

For dishes and tough stains, mix lemon juice and baking soda to make a scrubbing paste.

For an abrasive cleanser, use baking soda.

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

Featured Franchise of Northwest Houston

Posted on April 20, 2011 by oi_admin - About Us, News

Jim and Susan Fordice are the local owners of Maid Brigade of Northwest Houston. When they aren’t thinking about cleaning green they are spending family time with their children and grandchildren! Their time together usually involves outdoor activities including soccer, baseball and camping. When Jim and Susan have alone time together they enjoy reading, ballroom dancing and hanging out with their 3 dogs and cat.

The Fordices are originally from the Midwest and have moved around the country due to the corporate job Jim used to have before owning his own Maid Brigade. They wanted to take control of their own future and didn’t want to keep moving wherever an employer told them to. Since Jim has a background in franchise sales and spoke with different franchisees on a regular basis he started thinking about owning his own franchise. The Fordices found Maid Brigade and never looked backed.

Recently in their office they celebrated the anniversaries of Clara, Reyna, Mary and Nancy who’ve been with them for 4, 2 and 1 years! Jim and Susan highly value their team members and appreciate all of the hard work they do.

Maid Brigade of Northwest Houston likes to stay involved with their community too! Jim sits on the Board of Directors of the Cy-Fair Chamber of Commerce and is extremely involved with giving back. They have donated cleanings to a variety of non-profits for use at fundraisers, Cleaning for a Reason to help cancer patients as well as move-in cleanings for Habitat for Humanity. To date they have donated over $4,100 in cleanings for the year! The Fordices also recently finished collecting books during the Maid Brigade Book Drive and donated their collections to the Cypress Christian School’s library. The community involvement doesn’t stop there though. Laura Stark, the office’s General Manager, is involved with a local Houston organization called Corridor Rescue. The organization is dedicated to helping animals who have been thrown out on the streets, usually injured and starving, to fend for themselves. This organization dedicates itself to saving the lives of these animals that are found along the I-59 and West Little York area of Houston known as the “Corridor of Cruelty.”

They service the Champions, Copperfield, Cypress, Tomball, 1960 West, and Northwest 290 areas.

Healthy Green Cleaning

Posted on April 13, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Did you know it is possible to have a "clean and green" kitchen?

One of the things I disliked about cleaning the kitchen and the bathroom is having to use strong, toxic chemicals and cleaners to get the job done. But no more harsh chemicals for me! Green cleaning is the way to go! It not only healthier for my family, but for also for the environment. Chhosing to make my own natural cleaning products from ingredients I have at home also saves me money.

Try these green cleaning tips:

Club Soda is a great cleaner for stainless steel sinks. Pour some on a cloth and wipe. The club soda will remove stains created by food and soap scum.

Vinegar is mildly acidic so it works very well to clean grease, soap scum, mineral deposits, mildew and coffee stains. Vinegar is also a great glass cleaner. Use with old newspaper to get that spotless clean on glass doors and windows.

Toothpaste is a great cleaner for chrome because it removes rust and mineral build up. Use only plain toothpaste with no added whiteners or tarter control agents. Old toothbrushes with toothpaste on them work great when trying to get around shower heads and drains.

Lemon juice has antibacterial qualities as well as a fresh and invigorating smell. Lemons can be used to clean soap scum and hard water deposits and are also great to clean and shine copper and brass. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section. Use the lemon to scrub dishes, sinks and stains on counters. Mixing 1 cup olive oil with ½ cup lemon juice makes a great furniture polish for your hardwood furniture.
Don’t forget to recycle your lemon peels and orange peels by putting them down your garbage disposal. It freshens the drain much better than the very expensive gel tablets sold for the same purpose.

Baking soda can be used in place of abrasive cleansers. It also works as a great deodorizer and not just in the refrigerator and freezer - Try a box in the bathroom and the closets!

Safe House Cleaning for Your Home

Posted on April 8, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

Here are some tips for safer house cleaning:

Ventilate your work area when using strong cleaning produts.

Read the manufacturer's label for warnings and directions before using products.

Don't ever mix ammonia and bleach, or any other strong cleaners together.

Remember that labels of strong commercial products may not list all hazardous chemical ingredients.

Call the manufacturer for a Material Safety Data Sheet to find information about product ingredients and safety issues.

Remember that soap and water usually do the job, and antibacterial products are not usually necessary in the home.

Vinegar has many gentle but effective cleaning properties.

Save money by making your own products.

Green Clean Your Allergies

Posted on April 5, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Spring has sprung and so have your allergies. For allergy sufferers, spring can be the worst season to clean the home. If your allergies are causing sneezing, sniffling, itchy and watery eyes, the last thing you want to expose yourself to are more allergy triggers like particles and pests.

What can you do to reduce these allergies? A thorough green spring cleaning! It can actually reduce symptoms, especially if you are allergic to things that thrive in an unclean house, like dust mites, mold and animal dander.

To rid your home of allergens for good, first know what you are allergic to so you are better prepared to tackle cleaning tasks that stir them up.

To get rid of dust mites that might be lurking in your bed sheets, wash your bed linens in 130 degree water weekly. The hot water will kill the mites. Remember to wash the decorative pillows and stuffed animals in hot water every 1-2 weeks.

Try not to dust with cotton cloths because they can spread particles around on surfaces which sends them back into the air. Use microfiber cloths instead. They trap dust and remove dust mite allergen that accumulates on hard surfaces.

Buy a vacuum cleaner with a hard-shell container or a bag vacuum with a HEPA filter. HEPA filters prevent smaller particles from blowing back out.

To remove bathroom mold, use a solution of borax and water.

Spring cleaning a house from top to bottom is a big job. If you are not up to the task of cleaning because of your allergies, hire someone to do your spring cleaning. Maid Brigade house cleaning services can clean your house in a couple of hours!

Green Clean Your Home with Natural Cleaning Products

Posted on April 5, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

These days, there are many cleaning products to choose from. Supermarket and hardware stores are filled with different brands and types, most of them using harsh, powerful chemicals to do their job.

However, it is possible to clean just as effectively using natural green products which are less harmful to your health and the environment.

Baking soda is an effective natural cleaner and deodorizer. Mixing baking soda with lemon juice, vinegar, or even water and making it into a paste will create a fantastic all-purpose cleaner and stain remover. As a deodorizer, baking soda absorbs odors and also neutralizes them. Use it to deodorize the dishwasher by sprinkling one-half cup baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher between loads. Baking soda can also be used to help mask pet odors.

Sprinkle baking soda on carpets 10 minutes before vacuuming to get rid of any unpleasant odors that are lingering in the room. Use baking soda to clean stainless steel items, and also to remove tannin stains from tea and coffee in crockery. You can even use it to remove crayon marks from walls and wallpaper by gently scrubbing with a damp sponge sprinkled with baking soda.

Vinegar is very effective on solid stains, such as limescale and calcium deposits (soap scum) from hard water because it is a mild acid. Use it to clean the shower and the bath and even to unclog the washing machine (once a month pour one cup of vinegar into the washing machine and run the machine through a normal cycle, without clothes). Vinegar can also remove mold and mildew from bathroom tiles and shower curtains.

Vinegar is a great stain remover, whether it is food stains in pots and pans, stains in toilet bowls, perspiration from clothes, or animal urine stains in the carpet. Like baking soda, it is also a great natural air freshener. Place a small bowl of vinegar in the room or spray some into the air to help deodorize the area.

Lemon juice is mildly acidic and dissolves grease very effectively. It also has a bleaching and deodorizing effect. Use lemon juice to clean and deodorize cutting boards, clean kitchen sinks, brass, copper, or stainless steel cutlery. Combined with salt, it can get rid of berry juice stains from fabric.

Salt is a fantastic stain remover. Mix it with alcohol (1 part salt to 4 parts rubbing alcohol) to tackle grease. Use salt to clean spilled red wine or to clean blood stains.

Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh and Green

Posted on April 1, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

Everybody wants a clean smelling home, which is why air fresheners are such hot selling items. But commercial air fresheners are filled with VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that put toxins into the air.

There are plenty of natural, healthy ways to keep the air circulating in your home as fresh and sweet smelling as possible:

Open the windows. Open the windows every once in a while to optimize ventilation.

Sprinkle baking soda. Baking soda absorbs odors. Sprinkle a small amount on stale carpets and vacuum. Put a box of baking soda in your fridge to eliminate food smells.

Decorate your home with plants. Potted houseplants help take VOCs and carbon dioxide out of the air. Boston ferns are especially good for removing formaldehyde, and the Peace Lily is ideal for reducing acetone.

Use aromatherapy. Burning a few drops of essential oils such as lavender, lemon and verbena, in a diffuser with hot water will do wonders for cleansing the air and imparting a wonderfully natural fragrance. Make your own aromatherapy room spray by mixing 8-10 drops of essential oils with 2 ounces of water filled in a spray bottle.

Green Cleaning Tips for the Bathroom

Posted on March 31, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Here are some great green cleaning ideas for cleaning the bathroom:

To clean the shower floor:

In a large bowl, add several scoops of baking soda. Mix in liquid castile soap until the resulting paste has the consistency of frosting. After a shower, while the floor is still wet, apply a layer of paste to the floor. Allow to sit and dry for at least 24 hours. The following day, rinse off before showering to avoid slipping on the paste.

To clean shower door soap scum:

All you need is a clean, cotton rag and a bottle of lemon oil. It cuts through scum so easily, you don't even need to scrub - just wipe!

To prevent soap scum:

Almost every soap, when broken down in water, will leave a scum residue as the water evaporates. But there is one soap - castile soap - that does not leave a residue. Health food stores and even some grocery stores carry basic castile soap.

Bathtub and shower cleaner:

Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on the shower floor, or into the bathtub (you may want to close the drain). Then, pour vinegar onto the baking soda and let it bubble. Don't pour too much; you don't want to dilute the baking soda - just wet it. Let this sit for a half hour, and then lightly scrub with a cotton rag. Rinse with water. Letting this soda/vinegar mixture sit does help to remove stubborn stains from shower floors (especially those with a rough surface).

To clean mirrors:

Mix 1 cup vinegar, 3 cups water, and 10 drops lavender oil together in a spray bottle. Use a cotton rag for wiping (paper towels often leave tiny bits of paper and paper dust behind).

To clean mold and mildew:

Mix 2 cups water, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 1/8 cup tea tree oil together in a spray bottle. Keep this mixture in a marked spray bottle - spray the shower floor with this every day to prevent mold and mildew. If it's already built up - first scrub with some baking soda/vinegar and then keep up with your Tea Tree spray daily.

To clean toilet bowl brush:

Clean your toilet bowl brush by filling its container with water and dropping in one or two denture tablets.

Bathtub/Shower drain deodorizer:

Mix together 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 1 tablespoon cream of tartar and sprinkle into drain. Pour a kettle-full of boiling water down the drain to activate the cleansing, removal of debris, and odor.

Clean inside toilet:

Drop in 1 or 2 inexpensive denture tablets between cleanings to release debris and remove calcium deposits.

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

Featured Franchise of Houston

Posted on March 31, 2011 by oi_admin - News

Robert Moser, owner of Maid Brigade of Houston, is well-known throughout the Maid Brigade family for his dedication and willingness to help others. We think that’s a great reason to feature Maid Brigade of Houston this week.

Robert opened his local Maid Brigade in 1998 and has been a success story ever since. In 2003 Maid Brigade of Houston was named Outstanding Franchise of the Year and in 2010 Moser received the company’s Top Gun Award for his excellent operational performance. Moser makes sure his company’s success is shared by all employees. He even offers an IRA plan for team members with matching company contributions.

Maid Brigade of Houston is currently participating in our Book Drive to boost children’s literacy and will be donating the books they collect to the Houston Area Women’s Center.

Featured Franchise of St. Charles, MO

Posted on March 31, 2011 by oi_admin - News

Picture this. You and 32,000 other parade-goers are bedecked in green and enjoying a beautiful spring day while celebrating your inner Irish. And then, coming up the parade route you spot your local cleaning service. If you’re a resident of Cottleville, Missouri that’s exactly what happened this St. Patrick’s Day! Maid Brigade of St. Charles, MO took going green to a whole new level, getting involved in the St. Patty’s Day fun, and we love it!

Maid Brigade of St. Charles is locally owned and operated by Nathan Supinski, a native of St. Louis and an avid Cardinals fan. Nathan incorporates his love of America’s pastime into his business--Maid Brigade of St. Charles sponsors both a local little league team and the local law enforcement’s annual softball tournament.

A recent addition to the Maid Brigade family, Maid Brigade of St. Charles is proving to be an up and comer. Supinski has three team members who have been with him since the first day of business and they are a big part of the reason St. Charles customers are raving about Maid Brigade service.

Green Your Allergy Season

Posted on March 28, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

Spring is here, but with it comes seasonal allergies, which are affected by pollen from flowers, trees, grass, and a host of other factors right outside our windows. For allergies to seasonal things, like pollen, or those in your home, like dust mites, there's a lot you can do to minimize the misery:

Hot Water For Laundry

Wash your bedding weekly in water that is at least 130°F to keep dust mites in check. These bugs also live in clothes and carpeting, but their highest concentrations are in beds. Washing with cold or warm water will not help get rid of dust mites, and the dryer alone is not hot enough to kill all of them.

Air Filter

Keeping the air clean in your home can bring relief from pollen, mold, and pet dander. HEPA (high-energy particulate arresting) filters are most efficient. This kind of filter has been shown to remove 99% of airborne particles without producing harmful by-products. They are ideal for bedrooms and living rooms. When buying larger units, note the square footage a purifier can treat, listed on the package.

Dehumidifier

Keep your home cool and dry to decrease mold, dust mite growth and roach intrusions. One study found that levels of dust mites and other allergens dropped significantly in homes where the relative humidity was lower than 50%. To maintain this level, you may need to run your air conditioner along with a dehumidifier. However, remember to empty the unit's water often and clean it regularly, according to the manufacturer's instructions, to prevent mold growth.

Use your bathroom exhaust fan when taking a shower

This will help prevent to growth of mold in the shower. Cleaning your bathtub or shower liner is also important. Better yet, replace your liner every month or two, if you have mold sensitivities or asthma.

Keep your dryer vent clear

Build-up of lint in the dryer vent will cause an excess of dust in your house. Have your vents cleaned regularly to avoid aggravating your allergy symptoms.

Use a vacuum with a HEPA Filter

HEPA filter vacuums do not recirculate back into the air the polluting particles that the vacuum has just picked up. Make sure you have a true HEPA filter and not a HEPA-like filter. You can tell by looking at the manufacturer's test results of their filter. A true HEPA filter will have test results stating that .3 microns are 99.97 percent or above.

Get rid of clutter

Allergy sufferers need to be especially careful about controlling dust in their homes. And clutter is a major source of dust and dust mites. If you can't see your floors or walls in closets and basements, you have a clutter problem. Just as clutter clogs your house and obstructs the free flow of energy in your home, clutter also clogs your nose and obstructs the free flow of life-giving air into your body.

For more information on healthy green cleaning and green living, please log on to greencleancertified.com and maidbrigade.com. For more information on "Household Cleaning Products and Breast Cancer", please watch our video at greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Making the Decision to Go Green

Posted on March 26, 2011 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

Did you know that ...

...the burning of petrol, diesel, coal and gas to generate electricity and power produces heat trapping gases that cause global warming?

...that cutting and blazing innumerable trees each year is responsible for 20-25 percent of all carbon emissions? We are cutting rainforests at the rate of 100 acres per minute.

...about 20 species of plants and animals become extinct every week?

...30% of the water used in most homes is flushed down the toilet?

...plastic waste thrown into the river or sea kills close to one million water creatures yearly?

...a laptop consumes five times less electricity vs a desktop?

...pesticides are causing irreparable diseases?

...tissue paper consumes 60 millions trees yearly?

...slow moving traffic contributes eight times more air pollution as compared to traffic moving at regular speed?

... a dripping faucet consumes over 20,000 Liters of water in a year?

Going green means changing the way we live small steps at a time:

~ Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth and soaping your hands. This can save 11,000 litres of water per person per year.

~ Energy-saving light bulbs last around ten times longer than ordinary light bulbs.

~ A plant on your desk would act as a natural filter, absorbing pollutants & computer radiation while replenishing oxygen levels.

~ Walk for shorter distances instead of using car or scooter.

~ Try and switch to organic crops.

~ Minimize consumption of plastic bags and bottles.

~ Recycle paper, gifts, wraps and bags.

~ Switch off lights when not in use and don’t leave equipment in sleep mode.

For more information on healthy green cleaning and green living, please log on to greencleancertified.com and maidbrigade.com. For more information on "Household Cleaning Products and Breast Cancer", please watch our video at greencleancertified.com/greentv.