Author: oi_admin

Control Infection by Green Cleaning

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

In June 2009, the World Health Organization declared a “level 6” alert regarding the H1N1 flu virus, declaring it a global pandemic. Level 6 is the most critical stage of a pandemic, and such an alert is meant to serve as a warning that the human-to-human spread of a disease is currently occurring in multiple communities and countries.

In the United States, green cleaning experts predicted that the move to green cleaning products and systems would be put on hold while industry decision makers focused on measures capable of eradicating the H1N1 virus, regardless of their impact on the environment. After all, to rid Hong Kong of the virus that causes SARS, hotel managers and housekeepers working in an emergency situation used thousands of gallons of bleach to clean and disinfect surfaces. But in some cases, the bleach was not applied, diluted, or disposed of properly, causing a variety of health-related problems for the users.

When it comes to the spread of new and frightening viruses, environmentally responsible products, systems, and services have appeared to meet the challenge. Consumers throughout North America and the world have begun to incorporate scores of green measures into their cleaning routines. More and more consumers are learning that they can use green cleaning practices and products rather than resorting to the use of conventional, and potentially environmentally harmful, products and procedures.

One of the first steps in preventing disease transmission is learning all the facts about H1N1 and cross contamination in general. For instance, proper hand hygiene is still at the top of the list when it comes to preventing the spread of a variety of diseases.

Use natural, environmentally friendly cleaners properly and often instead of harsh sanitizers and disinfectants that have an adverse impact on the environment.

Sometimes the most common transmission points for disease are frequently overlooked or unrecognized, which can increase the risk of infection. Examples of these are television remote controls, telephones, keyboards, railings, door knobs, and light switches. To prevent the spread of contamination, these “touch points” should be cleaned frequently.

The good news is that there are products that can disinfect and sanitize surfaces while still minimizing any effect on human health and the environment. When used correctly, a combination of hydrogen peroxide and citrus ingredients are an effective cleaning and disinfecting tool. This is because citrus ingredients break down surface oils and soil while hydrogen peroxide acts as a disinfectant. These safe, effective products have also been certified as Green by key organizations, making them a perfect choice for any Green cleaning program. In fact, many hospitals use hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant wherever possible.

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.

Keep A Non-Toxic Home While Fighting Off Colds and Flu

Posted on January 11, 2011 by oi_admin - Healthy Home, Uncategorized

Did you know that common exposures to toxic chemicals in your everyday life can actually increase your chances of becoming sick?

When bacteria and viruses encounter a strong immune system, the immune system recognizes the bacteria or virus as a foreign invader and fights them off. But when the body's immune system is compromised, it cannot do its job of protecting us against the bacteria and viruses that can make us sick.

Our immune systems are exposed to so many toxic chemicals that weaken its ability to defend the health of our bodies. Plastics, pesticides, and pollutants of all kinds are in most consumer products, and virtually all of these chemicals can damage the immune system, leaving our bodies vulnerable to attack.

There are so many toxic exposures in our homes today. These toxic chemicals are known as "immunotoxicants" and cause increased incidence or severity of infectious diseases.

Removing immunotoxicants from your home will do even more than stop colds and flus, it will protect you and your family from contagious diseases, including bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, measles, mumps, whooping cough, and others. Removing immuntoxins from your home also allows your immune system to regenerate naturally and fight off infectious diseases.

If you have children or pets in your home, it is important to reduce their exposure to toxic chemicals. A child's immune system is not fully developed until age seven or eight.

Every step you can take towards removing toxic chemicals in your home will greatly improve your health. Begin today!

Go Green In Your Kitchen

Posted on January 11, 2011 by oi_admin - Healthy Home, Uncategorized

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It is also the perfect place to go green. From small changes to large, you can save energy and lessen your impact on the planet by making smart choices.

The simplest energy-saving move is to upgrade your lighting by switching to CFLs, or better yet, LEDs, which last about five times longer than CFLs. Another idea is to consider adding a skylight that takes advantage of natural lighting and also cuts your energy bill by capturing thermal heat.

Materials are another important consideration. Bamboo cabinets are ideal, because bamboo replenishes itself so quickly. A great choice for countertops are those made from recycled glass and concrete that do not emit VOCs.

Choose low-flow faucets in both your kitchen and bath. You can also install low-flow toilets and shower heads in the bathroom. Water savings are a key component of green design.

Other tips for green kitchens:

--Install Energy Star appliances
--Turn down the temperature setting on your dishwasher
--Replace vinyl with healthy
--Rapidly renewable flooring like cork or environmentally friendly linoleum
--Install a recycling bin right under the counter to make recycling easier

Why Hiring Maid Brigade Can Be Good For Your Health

Posted on January 10, 2011 by oi_admin - Healthy Home, Uncategorized

Green cleaning for health is one of the latest movements to be accepted among reputable cleaning companies, like Maid Brigade, who wish to provide a quality cleaning service, while maintaining an active respect for the protection of the health of the cleaning crew, as well as their clients. Green cleaning for health also makes efforts to protect and respect the environment.

Hiring Maid Brigade's green cleaning service is the perfect solution for those businesses, organizations, and individuals who may be seeking a greener alternative to the traditional, more "toxic" cleaning solution. No other cleaning program within the industry is as healthy and environmentally responsible as green cleaning for health.

However, green cleaning for health does carry responsibility with the name. It isn't just a matter of saying that you respect the environment. Such a cleaning program (like Maid Brigade's) involves an entire system based upon, but not limited to, green cleaning products. Maid Brigade cares about your health!

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 www.greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Keeping A Clutter-Free Home

Posted on January 10, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Is clutter taking over your home? Here are some easy ways to help you declutter your home and your life today:

Tackle messes one room at a time.

For every new item you buy, get rid of an old item.

Remember that improvements in one room can spread to the rest of the house.

Make cleaning up fun for your kids.

Create a vision for the room you're cleaning.

Teach your kids how to sort.

Use a hanger system to determine which clothes you wear most.

Ask yourself if you really need something. If you hesitate, you don't.

Establish a "magic triangle" in your kitchen between the stove, refrigerator and the sink. Keep the items you use most in that area. Anything you use less often, keep outside the triangle. It will save you a ton of time.

Identify useful utensils with the cardboard box test: Take all the utensils out of your drawers and put them in a cardboard box. For the next month, whenever you use one of the utensils, put it back in the drawer. If after four weeks it's still in the box, you probably don't need it.

Tips for Decluttering Children's Rooms

Posted on January 6, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

Any parent knows that kids create clutter like nobody’s business, but it is possible to have a relatively simple, uncluttered home as well as peace of mind. Here are some tips for simplifying your home with kids:

Identify what is important. The first step in decluttering is identifying which toys and other possessions are truly important to your children. What do they play with, what do they love? Then get rid of as much of the rest as possible, keeping only those they use and love.

Massively purge. In the beginning, if you have a lot of kid clutter, you’ll want to go through a massive purge. The way to do this is to block off a day to go through their rooms. Do one area at a time: a drawer, a section of the closet, a shelf. Take everything out of that area, put it in a pile, take out the important items and donate the rest to charity. Move on to the next area.

Contain the clutter. Contain your childs clutter by letting them keep their stuff in their rooms. Use the living room, kitchen and dining room for household items only. If you have play areas for toddlers around the house, try and contain the toys in those areas only. This will help leave your living area simple and minimal.

Bins. Bins and baskets are the best type of containers for childrens items. They also help make cleanup simple and easier for the kids. Label each bin, or use picture labels if your child cannot read yet. Try to teach your children that everything they own has a “home”.

Cubbies. Try adding small plastic 3-drawer organizers, or cubbies in the closets or in childrens rooms. This will allow them to have a place to put their little odds and ends that would otherwise be all over the place.

Find a place for school papers. Try to have one place to keep all incoming school papers. Designate an inbox or a folder just for school papers so you never have to search for them. Try using the Google Calendar online for all important school events and activities.

Clean as you go. Teach your children to clean up after they are done playing.

Clean before bed. Try doing a quick clean-up right before going to bed. This will help make your mornings more pleasant.

30-minute cleanups. Once a week, try doing a “30-minute cleanup” with the children. Make family cleaning fun. Set a timer, and see if you can all finish cleaning and pitching in with household chores in 30 minutes. This way, the house is clean and everyone has the rest of the day to have fun.

Allow them to mess. Kids are not perfect. They will inevitably make a mess. You have to allow them to do this. Then, when they’re done, ask them to clean it up.

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 www.greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Planning A Green New Year's Eve Party

Posted on January 1, 2011 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

Ring in the New Year with a resolution to help protect the environment and reduce your carbon footprint. If you are planning on having a New year's Eve party, make it an eco-friendly occasion with invitations, decorations and food.

Create New Year's Eve party invitations on the computer and send them via email instead of creating and mailing paper cards.

If using disposable tableware, buy paper goods created with recycled content instead of non-biodegradable plastic.

Decorate with items you've created or that you already have on hand. Create edible centerpieces out of colorful fruit skewers or simply use pretty potted plants that you can let your guests take home as party favors. Use paper punches to turn old wrapping paper, greeting cards or magazines into confetti for the countdown at midnight.

Save electricity by using organic beeswax candles instead of turning on extra lights. Although they won't be powerful enough to light an entire room, use them to create atmosphere on the patio or illuminate the powder room, for example.

Serve snacks created with organic foods like locally grown vegetables. Instead of imported cheese, opt for domestic artisan cheeses. If you're using convenience foods, organic frozen quiches and dips are also available in regular grocery stores. You can even find organic wines and other drinks to toast after the ball drops in Times Square.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services wishes you and your family a very Happy, Healthy, and "Green" New Year! For more information in healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to maidbrigade.com/ and greencleancertified.com. Check out Maid Brigade's video on "Household products and Breast Cancer" at greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Clean Your Kitchen The Healthy Way

Posted on December 28, 2010 by oi_admin - Healthy Home, Uncategorized

Cleaning products can contain many dangerous chemicals, which are usually not listed on the labels.

One of the easiest ways to protect your family from harm is to stop using cleaning products found in stores and start making your own.

Here are some quick and easy tips to keep your kitchen shiny and clean:

Countertops. For a light "scrub", combine baking soda and liquid soap until you get a good consistency. Make only as much as you need, as it dries up quickly.

Ovens. Mix 1 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup of washing soda together. Add water to make a paste and apply the paste to oven surfaces. Let soak overnight. The next morning, lift off soda mixture and grime and rinse surfaces well.

Microwave Oven. Make a paste of 3-4 tablespoons baking soda mixed with water. Scrub on with a sponge and rinse.

Cutting Boards. Spray with vinegar first and then with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Keep liquids in separate spray bottles. It doesn't matter which one you use first, but using both while cleaning is more effective.

Teaching Children to Clean up After the Holidays

Posted on December 27, 2010 by oi_admin - Healthy Home, Uncategorized

Whether you are a stay-at-home or working parent, teaching your children how to clean and stay organized will improve your life and theirs. You can teach your children good cleaning habits by being neat and tidy yourself. Hanging up clothes and putting things away after you use them sets a good example for children to follow. Here are some ways to encourage your children to clean up and organize:

Decorate boxes, baskets, and plastic tubs with your children that can be used as toy storage.

Store the boxes under beds and in closets. Decorated baskets and shoe boxes also look great on bookshelves. Keep board games on shelves, small toys in small containers, medium sized toys in medium size containers, and reserve toy boxes for large items.

Cleaning before bedtime. Five minutes before bedtime, get the kids to put their “stuff” away. Praise your children for keeping their toys and books organized, and make sure to let them know how nice it is to wake up in a clutter-free home.

Storing toys. Store half of your children’s toys and switch them around every few months. This way, they can “new” toys to play with while staying organized all at the same time.

Have your children pick out toys they don't play with anymore and so they can donate them to the Salvation Army, friends, or relatives.

Put up hooks and pegs on the backs of room door and on the insides of closet doors for quick hang-ups when the children come in.

Assign each child a different color towel and make sure they hang it up after every use. Explain that this not only keeps the bathroom clean, it saves water making your home a “greener” environment.

Let the children help in the kitchen. They can wash vegetables, set the table, clean the table, or load the dishwasher. Try not to expect perfection, but do try to praise them for helping out.

Have children listen to music while they are cleaning. If they don’t have iPods, play a cd everyone likes and take breaks to dance a bit.

Set aside a period of time each week for children to dust and vacuum their rooms, and to clean under the beds. Make sure to clean your room at the same time so you are setting a good example. Be certain to schedule quality family time after as a reward. Keeping their room clean will become a good habit and something to celebrate.

After Holiday Cleaning Tips

Posted on December 27, 2010 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

The holidays are full of festivity and fun. Here are some tips to help you clean a little easier.

Spills on the carpet. No matter how careful everyone tries to be, someone is going to spill some food or drink on your nice clean carpet! To keep the spill from doing damage, try to dab it up as quickly as possible. Mix one tablespoon of mild liquid dishwashing detergent in 1/2 cup of warm water (you can also use 1/2 cup of white vinegar). Grab two clean white towels. Use one to dab at the stain with the solution, and the other to alternately blot the area to soak up the spill.

Keeping frost away from windows. If you live in a cold weather area, it's nice to be able to look outside and see the pretty winter snow and holiday decorations. If your home windows fog up in cold weather, wipe windows with a solution of 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol (or antifreeze) per 1 quart of water. You can also moisten a cloth with glycerin and wipe the insides of the windows.

Clean candle wax drippings. To clean hardened wax off of candlesticks, place the candlesticks inside the freezer for about an hour. After an hour, remove the candlesticks and the frozen wax should easily peel off. Wash and dry candlesticks. If you're pressed for time, run the candlesticks under very hot water, cover your hand with a soft towel and gently push hot wax off the candlestick.

To remove still warm candle wax from a tablecloth, rub the wax with an ice cube to harden it, then scrape the wax off with a spatula. Place a paper towel over and underneath the remaining wax. Press wax area with a warm iron. Keep changing paper towels until all remaining wax is absorbed.

Fireplace cleaning. To prevent a lot of ash dust from spreading around the room when you clean out your fireplace, sprinkle damp tea leaves onto the ash first.

If you have a slate hearth, you can make it a glossy showpiece by washing it every six weeks, letting it dry, and wiping it down with lemon oil.

Wash brass fireplace tools in warm sudsy water.

Quick Clothing Stain Removal. Dip a clean white cloth or handkerchief into a glass of club soda and sponge off the stain.

Keeping the Indoor Air Fresh in Your Home

Posted on December 14, 2010 by oi_admin - Healthy Home, Uncategorized

When most people hear the words, "air pollution," they usually picture car exhaust and smokestacks. But pollution isn't just about the toxic fumes that are spewed into the great outdoors. Pollution inside our homes is a serious threat, not only to our health, but to the environment. The pollutants we introduce to our homes and office buildings migrate into our outdoor air and eventually into our land, drinking water, and waterways.

Sources of indoor air pollution include building materials, fuels, carpeting, paints, furniture and household products, such as air fresheners and cleaners. Many of these products contain volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which are hazardous to breathe. According to the EPA, concentrations of many VOCs are five to ten times higher indoors than outdoors. Poor ventilation also contributes to the problem, creating mold and other bacterial contaminants.

What can you do? Try to minimize products containing VOCs as much as possible. Make your own natural, cleaning products with baking soda, vinegar and lemons. When painting or putting in new carpet, ask for low-VOC, formaldehyde-free paints and adhesives. Look into purchasing eco-friendly area rugs made with chemical-free wools. Install exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathrooms.

Buying Organic - Is It Really Healthier?

Posted on December 14, 2010 by oi_admin - Healthy Body

Buying organic foods is healthier. Eating organic protects you from harmful chemicals like pesticides. But even though organic is healthier, it is not cheap! Here are some tips on when to go "green" and when to save your "green" and buy conventional foods.

Fruits and vegetables with a thin skin that is difficult to remove, or that you usually eat, should definitely be organic. These fruits and vegetables have high levels of pesticides even after washing. Produce with thicker skins has a better barrier to pesticides and when you throw the peel in the trash, the chemicals go with it. Make sure to scrub all fruits and vegetables before eating or peeling them because cutting them can bring any chemicals on the skin into the flesh.

Buy organic: apples, peaches, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, grapes, pears, nectarines, peppers, celery, potatoes, and carrots.

Buy conventional: avocados, eggplants, pineapples, bananas, corn, kiwi, mangoes, papaya, sweet peas, oranges, grapefruit, and squash.

Leafy greens are particularly susceptible to pests, so they are usually grown with high levels of pesticides. Since it is too difficult to scrub all of the chemicals off of every leaf of a head of lettuce, leafy greens should be organic. Other vegetables, like broccoli, either don't retain pesticides very well or don't need a lot to begin with, so it's OK to go conventional.

Buy organic: all lettuces and greens such as kale, collards, mustard, swiss chard, and spinach.

Buy conventional: broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, cauliflower, eggplant, melons, and sweet potatoes.

Milk: Although many of the hormones and antibiotics used in conventional milk production are washed out before we drink it, the process isn't perfect and some make it through. Organic milk also has higher levels of Omega-3 fatty acids, which help keep our hearts healthy.

Buy organic: milk, yogurt, cheese.

Fish: Since fish grow in the ocean, it is impossible to know if they contain pesticides, so the USDA has no guidelines for certifying organic seafood.

Buy conventional: fish, other seafood.