Category: Healthy Home

Getting Rid of Flies Naturally

Posted on June 22, 2010 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

If you are trying to get rid of flies around your home and you don't want to use harmful chemical repellents, try out these natural methods:

Essential Oils. There are many scents flies cannot stand, and one of these is eucalyptus oil. Place a few drops of eucalyptus oil on absorbent cloth or in small containers to keep flies at bay.

Herbs. There is one particular herb that naturally repels flies and will keep them away from your home, and that is basil. Flies cannot stand basil, so consider buying or planting a few basil plants around the perimeter of your home. Mint can also be a deterrent, and has a pleasant scent. Make a few sachets out of crushed mint and hang them in areas of your home where flies seem to be a problem.

Homemade Fly Paper. Make your own fly paper by using ingredients from home. Combine equal parts of corn (or maple syrup) and sugar in a shallow pan or dish. Cut about 1 inch wide strips from a brown paper bag. Cut a hole through the top of each strip so string can be inserted through and used to hang the fly traps. Soak the strips in the mixture for a few hours. Hang your homemade fly trap anywhere in your home where flies are present. Pleace a small cup or bowl underneath to catch any drips.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about you and your family. Share your comments, tips and recipes with us! For more information on healthy green living, please log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com.

Getting Rid of Those Pesky Flies!

Posted on June 21, 2010 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

The warm weather is here...and so are those pesky little flies. One fly alone has the potential to lay 9,000 eggs! Here are a few things that will help eliminate, or at least minimize the number of flies in your home.

1. Try and keep the doors closed as much as possible. If the doors are shut, the flies can't get in.

2. The smell of cooking meat is a strong attraction for flies, and they will congregate at the screen door waiting for an opening. Even the scent of hamburger defrosting on the kitchen counter can attract them.

Whenever you are cooking in your home, make it a rule to keep the doors closed as much as possible. Try and clean up the food right after meals.

If the door must open and close often during meal-preparation such as barbecues, point a fan from the inside toward the open door. Flies do not like wind.

3. Animal feces are one of the biggest fly attractants. It is not a fun job, but someone will have to remove it from the backyard. Bury it, flush it or seal it in bags in a trash can.

4. The lids of your trash cans should fit and seal tightly to eliminate any space for flies to get in. Keep lids on your kitchen wastebasket as well. Do not let any decaying matter sit around.

5. Flies love the protection of piles of brush and tall grass, so try and keep the yard manicured as much as possible.

For those who compost, a compost heap is an ideal breeding ground for flies, so it might help to keep the compost heap as far from the house as possible. Try not to keep the compost heap too moist. Turn it often. Do not add meat or oil products to the compost.

6. Flies also love moisture and standing water. If you cannot figure out why flies like your yard, check your bird bath or search for any undrained water. Although there might not be anything you can do about living near a pond, lake or swamp, you can drain the water that collects near your house on the lid of trash cans or in buckets.

7. Cover the Fruit. Fruit flies are those tiny gnat-size flying insects that magically appear a few days after you put the fruit bowl on the counter. Get rid of fruit flies by placing fruit in a muslin cloth bag.

8. If your house is still infested with flies and you just cannot figure out why, you may have to go on a search. A dead rodent or even potted plants could have played host to a fly breeding ground. Clean the house thoroughly and lift all carpets to check for maggots. Pour boiling water down all open drains, then cover them.

9. Try using fly-offensive plants. Citronella is known for its mosquito-deterring properties, but it can also work on flies. Other plants that have fly-repelling reputations are false indigo, lavender, elderberry, basil and mint.

10. Use Reflectors! Some people claim that hanging CDs, or hanging plastic ziploc storage bags half full of water with a few pennies in them near an entryway will keep flies away. The sun’s reflection is the key. It makes the flies dizzy and they will stay away.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about your health. How do you keep those pesky flies away? Write to us and share your comments! For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please go to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com.

Are There Household Dangers in Your Home?

Posted on May 24, 2010 by oi_admin - Healthy Home, Uncategorized

Potential health hazards could be lurking around your house. The good news is that they are easy to to uncover, and relatively inexpensive to correct.

Here are some of the most common household hazards that may be lingering in your home.

Kitchen Sponges:

The sad truth is that unless you’re diligent about sanitizing them often, kitchen sponges often carry more germs than toilet seats. Sponges can harbor more than 100,000 bacteria, including food-borne diseases that were wiped off the counter. Toss them in the dishwasher regularly, replace them, or zap them in the microwave for two minutes.

Dirty Air Ducts:

Dirty air ducts contain dust, pollen, bacteria, and even mold, and the contaminated air is recycled and circulated throughout your home, day after day.

Radon:

Radon is a natural radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell, or taste. It is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. You can purchase a do-it-yourself radon test at a home improvement store and get the results in a matter of days. Homes in certain parts of the country, and those with dirt basements, are particularly susceptible to the gas.

Bisphenol-A:

In a major study, leading scientific experts warned of adverse health effects from bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical found in water bottles, cups, baby bottles, tin cans, and many other commonly used household products. BPA is a hormone-mimicking chemical used in polycarbonate plastics. They often have a #7 recycling code. In animal tests, it has caused problems ranging from an increase in the incidence of prostate and breast cancer, to early onset of puberty in girls, to diabetes and obesity.

Lead:

Lead is another invisible threat in your home, and one that’s easy to discover. It is a potent neurotoxin that can affect the brain and can result in a lower IQ, memory problems, or increased aggression. Lead can be found in old paint, pipes, and even soil. You can have your home tested for lead by a professional, or you can purchase a lead test kit and swab surfaces for evidence of the chemical.

Mold:

Basements are often the culprits of mold spores, which can produce allergens, irritants, and in some cases, potentially harmful toxins. Black mold is an especially dangerous type of mold. If you discover mold in your house (or suspect it could be in your house), you should promptly clean it up and fix the water problem that is causing the mold.

Aluminum Cookware:

Aluminum found in pots and pans can leach into your food, and when ingested, can damage your kidneys and liver and weaken your bones. A growing number of researchers say the metal could cause Alzheimer’s disease. Glass, cast iron, stainless steel, and porcelain cookware are good alternatives to aluminum.

Bed Linens:

Sheets that have permanent press finishes which are commonly used by manufacturers in order to minimize wrinkling usually contain formaldehyde, which is a known carcinogen. Formaldehyde becomes a gas at room temperature and new or unwashed sheets can release formaldehyde fumes, causing flu-like symptoms. Consider staying away from permanent press fabrics, and opt for organic cotton or bamboo sheets instead.

Cockroaches:

Cockroaches carry a range of bacteria, including salmonella, staphylococcus, and streptococcus. You may need professional help to rid your house of roaches, or you can try to do it yourself. Make sure the kitchen trash can is emptied regularly. Do not keep newspapers, cardboard boxes, or magazines stacked inside the house. Try not to leave pet food out, and repair any holes in the walls.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about your health. Share your ideas and tips with us. For more information about healthy green living, please log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com.

House Dust and Indoor Allergy Relief

Posted on May 11, 2010 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

Every home contains enough allergens able to trigger a reaction in an allergy sufferer. Household dust can appear in the cleanest home, resulting in year round allergies to the indoor air.

Indoor allergies impact the lives of millions each year and have the potential to cause chronic health problems ranging from allergies, upper respiratory issues and asthma. However, these allergies can easily be managed by reducing the level of airborne allergens in the home.

Dust consists of microscopic particles found in both indoor and outdoor environments. Typically, house dust allergies are triggered by common allergens such as pollen, dust mites, cockroach waste, pet dander and mold. Symptoms of a house dust allergy include sneezing, runny, itchy or watery eyes, nasal congestion and a runny nose.

Vacuum Cleaners:

Cleaning the surfaces in the home may not be enough to remove allergens and prevent their recirculation back into the indoor air. An essential tool for household cleaning is a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) vacuum. HEPA filters are designed to trap small particles such as allergens and prevent their recirculation – while traditional vacuums put allergens back into the indoor air triggering house dust allergies.

Carpeting:

Carpets easily trap airborne particles and allergens such as pollen, dust mites and pet dander. Reducing trapped allergens and house dust requires:

Regular weekly or twice weekly vacuuming with a HEPA filtered vacuum.
Professional cleaning every six months to a year to remove trapped allergens, mold and other particles able to re-circulate into the air.
Removal of carpeting may be recommended for those with moderate to severe allergies.

House Dust and Dust Mites:

Bedding, comforters, curtains, towels and other soft surfaces trap dust mites. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, dust mites are the most common trigger of allergies and asthma. Several steps can be taken to reduce the level of dust mites as an allergen trigger in the home.

Vacuuming soft surfaces to remove dust once or twice weekly.
Washing bedding, comforters, towels and curtains in hot water reaching at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
Use of allergen proof covers or hypoallergenic pillows and mattresses.

Helpful Household Tips:

Use HEPA filtration air purifiers and systems to remove airborne allergens and reduce symptoms caused by house dust allergies.
Use a dust mask while cleaning if needed. This will limit the exposure to airborne allergens in the home, and decrease allergy symptoms.
Clean up after meals. Open food not only attracts bugs and mice, but cockroach waste in particular can trigger a house dust allergy.
Dry all surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen after use, and check for leaks in the plumbing that can result in mold growth.
Use natural homemade green cleaning solutions to clean your home.
Basements, vents and crawl spaces can hide and trap allergens and household dust, pushing them into clean areas of the home. These areas should be cleaned on a regular basis because they easily hide areas with high moisture and humidity, promoting mold growth and circulation of spores in the home.

Indoor Allergy Relief is Possible!

Even for severe allergy sufferers, finding relief from indoor allergens is possible. Scheduling an appointment with a physician to diagnose allergy symptoms and determining proper allergy treatment is only the first step. Homeowners need to take proactive steps to reduce home dust allergies and improve indoor air quality.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about you! Share your tips on how to get rid of indoor house dust allergies with us!

For more information on green living and green cleaning, please go to greencleancertified.com.

A Clean Home is a Healthy Home ...Or Is It?

Posted on March 10, 2010 by oi_admin - Healthy Home, Uncategorized

Over the past decade, the ever-expanding market of home cleaning products has included a number of dangerous chemicals and harsh cleaning agents. Today, the cleaning products are more dangerous than the things we are trying to clean up.

Many common household products contain bleach, ammonia, alcohol, formaldehyde and more. The toxic fumes of these chemicals are a major threat to indoor air quality, which can irritate eyes and respiratory systems. Some substances are even linked to neurological, liver and kidney damage, asthma and even cancer.

Fortunately, green cleaning can achieve an accepted level of cleanliness, which is pleasing for adults and safe for children and pets, without using hazardous household cleaners and disinfectants. Green cleaning is the use of environmentally -friendly products and services that are non-toxic, biodegradable, and petroleum-free.

Green cleaning is simply taking the next step beyond our current approaches to maintain and improve the healthfulness, comfort and aesthetics of our surroundings.