Tag: healthy home

New Year, New Priorities: Why 2025 is Your Year for a Cleaner, Healthier Home

Posted on January 16, 2025 by maidbrigade - Healthy Home

It’s the same every year: your New Year’s celebration is followed by a long list of New Year’s to-do’s and resolutions. Maybe you’re hoping to hit the gym more or put more time towards your passion projects.

Maid Brigade is right there with you. We believe 2025 is the perfect opportunity to make peace of mind a priority in your day-to-day life. Why? Peace of mind and mental clarity will allow you to make room for all the important New Year’s to-do’s you already have in mind, and all the ones you haven’t written down yet because you believe you’ll never find the time.

With help from a professional cleaning service like Maid Brigade, your time is yours again. After all, this year is about more than just turning over a new leaf. It’s about clearing your headscape (and your calendar), imagining yourself in a fresher, tidier space, and feeling free to tackle the tasks that really matter. In this article, we’ll discuss why scheduling a professional cleaning is the first step towards a happier and more fulfilling 2025.

Healthy Home, Healthy Life

A number of advantages await you when professional cleaning makes its way to the top of your task list. Plus, booking a Maid Brigade service is simple – maybe the simplest part of making and keeping your 2025 resolutions. Here are five ways a visit from our cleaning team can benefit you and your surroundings right now and all year long:

Less Mess, Less Stress

It’s true: your stress and anxiety levels may be on the rise if you don’t have a clean, organized space to come home to. Clean rooms and furniture can give you a greater sense of control while reduced visual clutter can decrease the number of stressful, demanding items that are constantly in view and on your mind. Finally, a clean bedroom in particular can help you relax and achieve better, more restful sleep, lowering your overall stress levels significantly.

Improved Physical Health

Complement your efforts to eat healthy and stay active by maintaining a clean home. From sparkling kitchen countertops to wooden floors that shine, when the cleaning is taken care of, you can turn your attention to meal prep, fitness classes, taking a walk, and other wellness activities that would otherwise get pushed aside.

Allergens, dust mites, and other common irritants may also be on the prowl in your home, but not with the right green cleaning services. Maid Brigade’s PUREcleaning® process, for instance, uses electrolyzed water to disinfect your home from top-to-bottom without leaving behind unpleasant chemical residues and odors. Bye-bye bacteria; hello fresh, healthy home.

Resetting Your Focus

Believe it or not, your productivity could hinge on how dirty and disheveled your home is. Think about it: if your home office is crowded with stacks of unfinished paperwork, leaning towers of books, and used coffee mugs, your mind-space is going to feel equally messy, preventing you from completing the essential daily to-do’s that keep your life on track. Whether it’s your work, your studies, or your hobbies, a clean home can provide the foundation for creativity, clear-headedness, and the ability to focus on all the things that matter most.

Smiles All Around

Improve your mood with regular professional cleaning! Negative emotions like irritability, tension, and confusion often result from a grimy, chaotic environment. According to the American Cleaning Institute, 87% of Americans feel their best when their home is clean. Additionally, 70% of Americans say that having a clean home makes them feel accomplished, building towards that calm, happy mood that allows you to sink into your sofa and relax at the end of yet another great day.

Clearing Your Clock — And Your Calendar

Who wants to spend hours every week scrubbing their baseboards and vacuuming their carpet? Take back your free time with a professional cleaning service. This can be as simple as finding a few extra minutes to unwind and enjoy a warm cup of tea or as big as starting that new novel writing course you’ve had your eye on for the last few months. A clean home clears the way for all the fun and enjoyment that life has to offer, giving you the opportunity to set positive intentions and turn distant dreams and goals into present realities.

Schedule Your New Year Cleaning Today

Starting the new year with a clean slate is no small feat, and many people report that keeping their home mess-free is more work than a full-time job. At Maid Brigade, we understand the importance of making time for yourself. We want you to slow down, breathe, and not worry about mapping out a schedule for when every room in your house needs to get dusted. That’s what a regular professional cleaning is for.
Make 2025 the year of the healthy home and book your first cleaning service with Maid Brigade today! Visit our website to find a location near you.

Why Are HEPA-Filtered Vacuums Essential to Your Home Cleaning?

Posted on October 11, 2023 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air. A HEPA filter is a high quality type of air filter designed to capture small particles, including dust, pollen, pet dander. These filters are incredibly efficient, trapping particles as small as 0.3 microns with a 99.97% efficiency. HEPA filters are known for their ability to improve indoor air quality, which is essential for a healthy home.

As a professional cleaning service, we use HEPA filtered vacuums because of the immense benefits for our cleaning teams and our customers. Here's why:

Improved indoor air quality: HEPA filters trap and remove a wide range of airborne particles, including allergens, dust mites, and mold spores. This can lead to significant improvements in indoor air quality, especially for people with allergies or asthma.
Reduced risk of respiratory problems: Exposure to airborne allergens and other irritants can trigger respiratory problems such as asthma attacks and allergic reactions. By using a HEPA filtered vacuum to remove these particles from the air, you can reduce your risk of developing these problems.
Cleaner, healthier home: HEPA filtered vacuums remove more dirt, dust, and other allergens from your carpets and floors than traditional vacuums. This can help to create a cleaner, healthier home for you and your family.

Maid Brigade's cleaning professionals are trained to use HEPA filtered vacuums effectively and efficiently. We understand the importance of proper vacuuming techniques and the significance of HEPA filtration in the cleaning process. We have always been committed to the highest quality cleaning supplies, including vacuums that improve indoor air quality! If you are looking for a cleaning company that can provide you with a cleaner home and a healthier home, Maid Brigade has 30+ years of experience to bring you exactly that.

What to Look for in a House Cleaning Service

Posted on April 11, 2023 by oi_admin - About Us

Trusted house cleaning services from Maid Brigade offer the invaluable peace of mind you deserve. However, when you are hiring a cleaning service for the first time, it's natural be extra cautious before making a commitment. At Maid Brigade, we want to make your decision easier by providing you with the answers you need and the valuable experience we have to offer.

A Reliable Cleaning Company Matters

Reliability and trustworthiness are the most important factors to look for in a house cleaning service. Your home is a safe space and we know the trust you put in us to take care of your space, belongings, and your valuable time. When you schedule a cleaning with Maid Brigade, we provide you with our expected time of arrival and discuss our plan of entry accordingly depending on if you will be home or not. Being reliable means being on-time, easy to reach if needed, and taking excellent care of your home's cleaning needs at every visit.

An Eco-Friendly and Healthy Home Cleaning Service

Eco-friendly cleaning is becoming increasingly important with time. It’s even more important if you have immunocompromised family members living with you, like elderly parents. So, before hiring a house cleaning service, inquire about their green cleaning methodology, equipment, and cleaning products. Your home health is an essential part of your overall health!

At Maid Brigade, we have always taken great pride in being the experts at eco-friendly, safe, healthy home cleanings. Our PUREcleaning process will leave your home shining without any harmful, toxic products being used.

Cleaning Service Availability and Flexibility

Ask the following questions:

How flexible is the scheduling process?
How can you book weekly, biweekly, or monthly cleaning services?
Are the services customizable to your needs?

We offer many service options based on frequency, specialty, and complexity to fit all of your cleaning needs. Recurring cleanings such as weekly or biweekly service are a frequent request by our customers. We want your cleaning schedule to align with what you need when you need us!

Is My Cleaning Company Insured?

Is the cleaning company adequately insured and bonded to take care of you and the cleaning crew?

Some insurance policies, like professional liability insurance, only ensure the safety of the employees, but does not cover any loss or damage to your property. Maid Brigade is fully bonded and insured so you can feel confident in your decision to have our team come to your home.

A Cleaning Service with an Established Reputation

How long has your cleaning company been in business? New cleaning companies can be good, but there remains the additional risk of inexperienced or clumsy service. When you have the option at hand, always go for an established company with several years of well-backed experience. Maid Brigade has been in business for 35+ years and our years of experience have led us to many happy customers! We have customers who have been with their local Maid Brigade for 15+ years! We're proud to have built trust with our customers and have their continued confidence in our house cleaning services.

What are the Benefits of a Professional Cleaning Service?

Hiring an established professional cleaning service ensures all the above criteria and much more.

Years of experience and expertise of Maid Brigade ensures flawless service.
We have screened, vetted, and trusted employees as opposed to independent contractors.
You get the cleaning service that aligns with your schedule and your home's needs.
Maid Brigade is fully insured and bonded.
We have a thorough and trusted training process in place for the employees so our quality of service always remains top tier.
You get consistent and timely house cleaning ensuring peace of mind.

Advantages of Weekly, Biweekly, and Monthly House Cleanings

Recurring house cleaning services bring many advantages to your overall well-being.

Here are a few ways we make your cleaning day the very best day:

Your health is a priority! Regular cleanings protect you from the spread of germs, viruses, and bacteria.
Regular service continually protects you and your home from a build up of dust, dirt, and other allergens that can cause respiratory problems.
Our HEPA-filtered, 4 stage filtration vacuums improve your home's indoor air quality.
Come home with one less item on your to-do list! Regular cleanings help reduce stress levels, increase productivity, and provide a sense of calm and relaxation.
Your peace of mind matters! Save time and money by preventing the buildup of dirt and grime, which can be harder to clean in the long run.

Our 35+ years of experience enable us to provide unparalleled cleaning services for you. If you want all the perks of eco-friendly, reliable, and experienced regular house cleaning, Maid Brigade is your destination.

Monthly Home Cleaning Checklist

Posted on September 27, 2019 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

Every season our homes tend to build up dust and dirt that we might not see immediately. While weekly or bi-weekly cleanings will keep your home looking clean regularly, it's the areas in your home that aren't always easiest to get to that will need seasonal care. For this reason, it's important to do a deep clean every month to keep your home healthy. Scheduling a deep cleaning in a different room in your home each month will let you rotate your cleaning and keep your home truly clean.

These are the things you want to clean in each room monthly. This list is outside of your regular cleaning chores:

Take down the curtains and place them in the dryer to knock the dust out of them. If the dust is excessive, you may need to pop them in the washer.
Using furniture movers, pull all the furniture away from the walls. Also remove pictures from the walls. Using a dry microfiber mop, wipe all the walls and ceiling to remove the dust.
Remove any glass light fixtures and place them in the dishwasher.
While the furniture is pulled out, use a vacuum and clean the woodwork and the carpet behind the piece.
Before putting the furniture back, use a microfiber cloth and dust the back of the piece of furniture.
Using a wet, fine-woven microfiber cloth go over the inside of the windows as well as the window frames.
Place the furniture back and dust it completely including the sides and fronts.
Vacuum all fabric furniture completely, including the seat pillows, sides and base.
Any knick-knacks can be deep cleaned by placing them in the dishwasher.
Use a paintbrush to remove dust on lamp shades. Then go over the shade with the upholstery tool on your vacuum hose

Additional items for bedrooms:

When deep cleaning bedrooms, place bedspreads in the dryer to remove dust.
Vacuum books on bookshelves.
Vacuum under the bed.
Remove the sheets and vacuum the mattress. On a quarterly schedule you should also flip the mattress.

For more information from DIY green cleaning expert Leslie Reichert, visit https://www.facebook.com/GreenCleaningCoach/

Why is Consistent House Cleaning Good for Your Health?

Posted on March 9, 2019 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

Let’s face it, constantly cleaning, organizing and putting stuff away is not anyone’s idea of a good time. But keeping your home clean on a consistent basis is important for a number of reasons. You might not realize that cleaning can give you a sense of satisfaction which releases endorphins and makes you feel better. Even if the reasons below don’t spark motivation for you to keep your house clean, maybe remembering that feeling good when you are done can keep you focused.

Removing allergens – Keeping your home dust free will remove allergens from your home. Dust contains dust mite excrement, which is the true cause of dust allergies. Dusting your home on a weekly basis keeps the allergens at a safe and manageable level. You can also use a HEPA air filter to help remove dust from the air, which keeps the dust from settling on the furniture, meaning you can dust less often.

Lowers stress – A clean and organized house can lower stress levels for you and your family. Marie Kondo’s “KonMari Method” of tiding up recommends getting rid of anything that doesn’t give you joy. Things that don’t give you joy are probably adding stress to your life and should be removed. Once removed, you will feel better and will have a little less stress in your life.

Home safety – For the safety of your family and pets, you want to remove the dirt and clutter from your home. Frequent cleaning removes germs. Not to mention too much clutter can cause trips, falls and accidents. Items stacked too high can fall down and be dangerous. Items left in the middle of the floor can cause a fall which can lead to a debilitating injury.

Germ-free – Cleaning and disinfecting should be a priority for your cleaning regimen. Some people do not realize that you cannot disinfect a surface that has not been cleaned first. Using disinfecting wipes on a dirty surface does not kill germs. Areas must be cleaned first with soap and warm water, rinsed completely, and then disinfected. The disinfectant needs to sit on the surface for 10 minutes or more to kill the germs.

Pest removal – Dirty homes are a haven for nasty pests such as ants, spiders, mice, and even flour moths. Leftover food attracts ants which are very difficult to remove from your home. They are attracted to spills and drips on floors and cabinets. By keeping your kitchen spotless you are working to keep ants and rodents away. Cobwebs are really just spider webs with dust on them. You’ll want to dust and vacuum walls and ceilings to get rid of the spiders that are making the webs. Keep your food products in airtight containers which will keep the flour moths from infiltrating your pantry. Keep your shelves spotless so there is nothing in the pantry to attract them.

Cleaning your house after the Holiday Season

Posted on January 8, 2019 by oi_admin - Home Organization

What’s your official day to do your holiday cleanup? I’m sure your answer really depends on when you put your decorations up. A good rule of thumb is January 6, which is known as “little Christmas.” Personally, I’m feeling pretty good if I get my decorations down by Valentine’s Day! It really doesn’t matter what day you choose as long as you take them down and put them away so they are organized for next year. Once the decorations are down and stored, we can then focus on the cleaning.

Organizing your Christmas decorations

You can choose to put your decorations away by room or by item. I like to store all my window and outside lights together as they are the first I’ll want to get out next year. Store all the decorations for each tree together so that you know which decorations go with which tree. Use clear storage tubs so you can see what’s inside.
Labeling is very important. Make sure you list everything inside each storage tub so you don’t have to dig through everything again the following year.
Make a fun date with yourself (and your family) to take down the decorations. Set aside a specific block of time so you keep focused. Trying to take down decorations in between cooking dinner and folding laundry probably won’t work - you’ll end up frustrated next Christmas when you realize nothing was put away correctly.

Stains and cleanup problems

Christmas has its own set of cleaning problems. Below are some tricks on how to deal with them.

Pine pitch - If you had a real Christmas tree you may have some sticky pine pitch on your carpeting or hardwood floors. Once evergreen trees come inside a home and warm up, the sap inside the tree branches drips out of the trimmed limbs. This is called pine pitch and it can be very hard to remove. To remove it, you’ll want to start by rubbing the area with an ice cube to freeze the sap. Scrape as much of the sap off of the flooring as you can, then use a clean cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol to dab the area until the pitch is removed from the floor.

Water stains - You may have some water stains from the tree stand overflowing. This stain can be removed by using vinegar. Pour vinegar into a spray bottle and liberally spray the entire area. Let it sit without scrubbing. After 30 minutes dab the area with a paper towel and repeat the process until the stain disappears.

Table Linen stains - Don’t put your table linens away until you know they are completely clean and stain free. You can use rubbing alcohol on greasy stains and oxygen bleach for food spots. Once the linens are clean and dry, press them and then wrap them in tissue paper and store them in an airtight container.

Window sill spots – If you have discovered the trick of using white athletic tape to hold your Christmas window lights in place you also are dealing with the adhesive residue left when you remove it. An easy remedy is to scrape off as much of the adhesive as you can with a putty knife. Dampen the area with rubbing alcohol, which works to break down the adhesive. Place a drop of dish detergent over the area and work it into the residue. Wipe the window sill with warm water and a microfiber cloth.

Floors – Your floors will have taken a beating over the holidays between decorations, guests and all the cooking and baking. Plan to give each hard floor a good scrubbing on your hands and knees if you can. Start by moving all your furniture away from the walls and vacuuming the floor and the wood trim around the room. Use a bucket of hot water with a drop of dish soap and use a microfiber cloth to clean your way around the room. Once the outside of the room is dry, move your furniture from the middle of the room to the edges and wash the middle area. Once the floor is completely dry, you can replace area rugs and reset the furniture.

Guest room sheets – Strip all the beds and wash them in hot water. Add a touch of oxygen bleach to clean and disinfect them. Dry them on high heat to kill dust mites and other allergens. While the sheets are in the dryer, use an upholstery tool to vacuum the mattress and the sides of the box springs. Wipe down the bed frame and remake the bed as soon as the sheets are dry. A simple trick to remove wrinkles in the sheets is to spray them with witch hazel after they are on the bed. You can add a few drops of an essential oil to create a fragrant linen spray.

Microfiber Cloth Cleaning Hacks

Posted on August 6, 2018 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Healthy Home

Microfiber was developed in Japan during the 70’s for swimwear. Ten years later, European scientists found that it was the perfect fabric for cleaning due to its absorbency. By the early 2000s, the microfiber industry had exploded. Even though microfiber has been around for decades, there are many who have yet to try cleaning with microfiber tools. Take a look at all you can do with microfiber – it’s worth the investment!

Perfect windows – There are many different types of microfiber cleaning cloths. For windows, use a fine woven microfiber. It almost looks silky. The microfibers are very small and will leave windows perfectly clean. Dunk the cloth into hot water and wring it out well so it’s damp. Wipe it over the glass and then watch as it picks up dirt then dries perfectly without streaks or smears. Or spray the glass with water and use a dry microfiber cloth as if it’s a paper towel. Dry the glass completely and it will be free of streaks, smears and lint.

Save on paper towels – Use microfiber cloths in place of paper towels when cleaning. Microfiber is more absorbent than paper towels and better for the environment since they are reusable. Be sure to launder microfiber cloths, towels and mop heads with only other microfiber materials.

Chemical free dusting – Most spray dusting polishes leave layers of silicone on furniture. Instead, use a dry microfiber cloth to dust your furniture. Microfiber has tiny fibers that hold onto dust. It will hold onto dust and dirt particles until laundered which makes dusting much faster.

Preventing cross-contamination – Hospitals have used microfiber mops for years to prevent cross-contamination. You can use in your home for the same reason! Microfiber mops have a cover that attaches with Velcro onto the end of the mop. Once it’s dirty it can be removed and laundered. It’s like using a brand-new mop every time you clean. No more smelly, moldy mops!

Large outdoor windows – Homeowners may struggle keeping large windows clean from salt, pollen and other outdoor elements. A damp microfiber cloth wiped over large windows will remove any salt or pollen and leave the windows looking crystal-clear.

Dusting walls – Instead of washing the walls in your home, try dusting them instead. Use a microfiber mop with a dry mop head and dust your walls in minutes. The microfiber will pick up the dust without dealing with a bucket and rag.

Ceiling fans – Have you looked at the paddles of your ceiling fan lately? Dust them quickly with a large-looped microfiber cloth. Using the dry cloth, wipe it gently over the fan paddles to pick up and remove dust. This task will takes minutes and leaves the fan dust free.

Perfect granite – If you have dark granite counter tops, you may struggle with streaks and smears from cleaning. Try using a microfiber cloth designed for glass. Dampen the cloth and wipe over the granite to leave it looking showroom perfect!

To read more from Leslie about cleaning with microfiber, check out this blog:

https://maidbrigade.com/blog/microfiber-for-cleaning/

A Connected Home

Posted on May 26, 2018 by oi_admin - Healthy Home, News

Artificial intelligence is an amazing thing. We prefer to ask Siri questions instead of others, Alexa knows our favorite songs and now we have introduced AI into our homes in the form of “Smart Thermostats.” Many of these different smart home devices can learn and respond to temperature preferences with the idea that using a smart thermostat will save money and energy. A more recognizable thermostat, the Nest claims to have saved over 22 billion kilowatt hours of energy since 2011 and some energy companies have given smart thermostats to their customers because of the ability to save more energy than traditional, manual thermostats.

How it works

Smart thermostats are connected via wireless internet in order for users and customers to monitor their energy and temperature and make adjustments through an app. These devices record the patterns and preferences of your home within a few days and program themselves to repeat the settings. Smart thermostats will also recognize when the house is empty and will adjust the temperature to an energy saving level and will record when the house becomes occupied again to return the temperature to normal.

Is the smart thermostat right for you?

If you are already considering a smart thermostats, check what system is compatible with the device. Most smart thermostats work with either Google or Amazon.
They can save customers about 10-12% on energy bills each year. Some argue that a traditional, manual thermostat is a better choice if you’re staying in a home less than 2 years.
Smart thermostats also have the ability to notify customers of needed maintenance or repairs. Notifications are customizable for each issue. This can potentially save on expensive repair bills should the system fail or have a weather related emergency.
If you’re considering installing a Smart Home System, make sure the brand will work with your current system and needs.

To read more about saving energy, check out these blogs:

https://maidbrigade.com/blog/save-money-by-using-less-energy

https://maidbrigade.com/blog/green-your-home-by-using-less-energy

Healthy Home Allergen Treatments for Spring

Posted on April 18, 2018 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

Protecting your home from allergens is simpler than you may think, however, some time and financial investments may need to be made in order to keep your allergy symptoms to a minimum and to reduce medical expenses. Preventative tools and products are worth the investment when it comes to allergies.

The goal is to create a safe, dust-free place where your body and lungs can rest after exposure to air pollution and other impurities. Cleansing the bedroom is a great place to begin since 30% of our lives are spent sleeping. Here are some tools and tips to follow.

The first step is to invest in an allergen-free pillow. Even though down pillows are soft and comfortable, they can aggravate allergies. You can also find allergen-free pillowcases to create a barrier between you and the pillow.

Mattresses are the perfect breeding ground for dust mites. They love dark, warm and moist conditions. Start by vacuuming your mattress twice a month by using an upholstery tool to vacuum the top and the sides. After vacuuming, mattress covers are the best defense against dust mites. Similar to allergen-free pillowcases, a mattress cover will create a barrier between you and the mattress that will allow air to flow but will keep out dust mites.

The next step is to use a high quality, HEPA filtered vacuum when cleaning your bedroom and home. HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air. HEPA filters force air through a fine mesh to trap harmful air particles like pollen, pet dander and dust mites. Vacuuming at least twice a week with a HEPA filtered vacuum will help keep your bedroom dust free. Be careful when choosing a new vacuum as some are marketed as “HEPA-like” and may not be truly HEPA filtered.

Using a HEPA air purifier in your bedroom will also help prevent dust. When you’re out of the home, turn the air purifier to its lowest setting and turn it back up when you return. Purified air will help you sleep soundly and help your lungs rest after fighting polluted air during the day.

Next, dust your bedroom with a soft, large-loped microfiber cloth with a spritz of water. This tool will pick up dust and hold onto it. Aerosol cleaning products contain irritants that can aggravate allergies and should not be used in the bedroom. By using a microfiber cloth, you can clean your bedroom quickly without using toxic chemicals.

Fabric curtains and draperies harbor dust mites. You can either remove them completely and replace them with non-fabric blinds or shutters, or remove them at least twice a month and place them in the dryer on a hot setting. The heat will kill dust mites and remove dust and dirt.

Although this last tip is a major investment, it will help reduce allergens, dirt and germs in your home. Remove wall-to-wall carpeting in your room and replace with hardwood flooring. Carpets absorb dust and hold onto it. It’s very difficult to rid carpet of dust, dirt and allergens completely. Once carpet has been removed, you can use small area rugs. They will need to be placed in the dryer at least once a week to remove dust.

Keeping dust and dirt to a minimum within your home is the real goal when protecting yourself from allergens. These tips and tools will help reduce dust and allergens within your home and will lead to decreased medical costs and better health.

For more information on how you can protect your home safely, visit Leslie's website!

Celebrate Our Earth This April

Posted on April 5, 2018 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

This year, we celebrate the 48^th Earth day across the world. In 1969, Senator Gaylord Nelson decided to create an official day to celebrate the Earth and raise awareness of the environmental concerns he had after the devastating oil spill in Santa Barbara that year. The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970. An incredible 20 million people attended celebrations and festivals around the country. It was a national event that was held to demonstrate support for the environment. The stage was set by Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring Book which raised public awareness and a concern for all living organisms. The book was sold in 23 countries and began a worldwide movement. It shared Carson’s compassion for the future of the planet and all living things on it. Since then, Earth Day is recognized every year across the world. At Maid Brigade, we’re proud to keep our earth healthy by using green cleaning products that are safe for the environment.

In 1990, a campaign began which would make Earth Day a worldwide event. This brought the environmental issues to a world stage that included 122 countries and over 200 million people. EarthDay.org states, "Earth Day is the largest secular observance in the world, celebrated by more than a billion people every year, and a day of action that changes human behavior and provokes policy changes.”

Earth Day will be celebrating its 50^th anniversary in 2020. There are ways you can celebrate this special day in your own home.

Here are some things you can do:

Plant a tree in your backyard
Check the air pressure in your tires and make sure they are at the right levels for the best gas mileage.
Donate your clothing instead of throwing them out.
Try growing your own organic garden. You can start with an organic herb garden.
Wash your laundry in cold water and dry them on a line.
Lower the temperature on your hot water heater by 5 degrees.
Buy energy efficient light bulbs for your house.
Have an energy audit done in your home. This audit can be free.
Invest in a reusable coffee cup.
Use earth-friendly cleaning products.
Switch your bills to e-bills so you use less paper.
Check your faucets for leaks.

Be on the lookout for more of our earth-friendly tips this month!

For more green cleaning and green living information, check out Leslie’s website.

At home allergy treatments

Posted on March 28, 2018 by oi_admin - Healthy Body, Healthy Home

Dealing with dust allergies is a battle that affects many people, especially during the spring. To win the battle you need strategies that will help reduce the triggers in your home. Creating safe spaces where your lungs can “rest” is the key. Allergists refer to our immune system as a bucket that fills up over time. When our buckets become full we deal with allergic reactions. Each of us have different sized buckets, but we all need places in our homes where we can let our immune systems rest from dust, pollutants and irritants. Here are some things you can do in your home to create a clean and safe environment.

Cleaning more often – A simple, inexpensive step is to dust and vacuum more often. People in Europe use their vacuum to do most of their dusting. They use the dusting brush and go over all the wood and fabric surfaces with the vacuum. This makes cleaning quick and easy as well as very efficient. The vacuum captures and holds the dust. Wiping the dust with a dry cloth can put the allergens back into the air which defeats the purpose of cleaning.

Plants – Indoor plants are not only beautiful to look at, they also help clean the air we breathe in our homes. In fact, NASA calls plants “nature’s life support system”. By adding a potted plant like a Peace Lilly or Spider Plant to your home you will be naturally removing allergic toxins in your air. Place plants in the most used areas of your home, such as the living room and bedrooms..

Air purifiers – Our indoor air has been shown to be much more polluted than the air we breathe outdoors. We spend 90 percent of our time indoors, so it’s important that we clean it constantly. During most of the year we keep our windows closed to keep out the cold or heat. With limited air exchange we end up breathing the same air over and over again. Using a HEPA rated air purifier throughout the house will remove the allergens and keep pollutants to a minimum.

Mattress and pillow covers – We spend more than a third of our lives sleeping so an important place to focus on air quality is in the bedroom. Starting with your bed, find encasement covers for your pillows and mattresses to keep dust mite allergens away from your body. For some allergy sufferers, investing in hypoallergenic pillows and bedspreads may be the best solution. Down pillows are soft and very comfortable but can trigger allergies while you are sleeping. Wash pillows and blankets often in very hot water and dry on a hot setting to kill dust mites and remove their droppings

Remove stuffed animals and draperies – Dust accumulates in fabrics. Since we don’t dust or wash our draperies every time we clean, they tend to collect a tremendous amount of dust which can be a trigger for those suffering from dust allergies. Stuffed animals also collect dust in a child’s room and can trigger an allergic or asthmatic reaction. The safest alternative is to completely remove drapes, curtains and stuffed animals - especially in the bedroom. Instead, use hard window treatments such as window blinds and shutters. If your child has trouble parting with their favorite stuffed animal, place it in a pillow case once a week and wash it in hot water and dry on a hot setting.

Considering hard flooring vs carpeting – Carpeting, like draperies, are dust magnets. Even the best vacuum can’t remove all the dust and dander from a carpet. Allergist recommend removing all the carpeting in a home and replacing it with hard wood flooring. Hard floors are much easier to keep clean and the dust can be kept to a minimum. However, removing carpet throughout a home and replacing with hardwoods can get expensive. For a more economical solution, we recommend a professional carpet cleaning to reach the harmful dust mites hidden below the surface.

HEPA rated vacuum – Make sure you have a high-quality vacuum that has a HEPA rated filtering system. There are many different vacuums advertising they are good at removing allergens, but make sure you research the brand before making a purchase. There are only a few vacuums that are rated HEPA. Remember that you want to look for a vacuum that is rated HEPA not a vacuum that uses HEPA rated filters. A vacuum rated HEPA cleans the surfaces it touches as well as the surrounding air you breathe.

Dust mite sprays on furniture – Some people ask if dust mite removal sprays work and the answer is yes, but you need to be careful should someone in your home also have a chemical sensitivity. Spraying your fabric furniture with these sprays will kill the dust mites living in them, but they also add another type of pollutant to your air.

Keep humidity low – Dust mites like dark, moist environments so keeping the humidity low in your home is a great way to combat dust mites naturally. Use a dehumidifier all year round to keep the moisture in the air below 50%.

Keep pets out of the bedrooms – We all love our pets but their dander can be a trigger for someone dealing with allergies or asthma. Keep pets out of the sleeping area of someone dealing with allergies.

For more green cleaning and green living information, check out Leslie’s website.

For other allergy and asthma health tips, read these blogs:

https://maidbrigade.com/blog/support-your-immune-system

https://maidbrigade.com/blog/5-tips-to-get-you-through-an-earlier-allergy-season

How to treat head lice

Posted on March 8, 2018 by oi_admin - Healthy Body, Healthy Home

A case of lice does not reflect a lack of cleanliness or personal hygiene as some would like to think. Head lice cause itching and discomfort but are not found to transfer dangerous diseases in the United States like lice in other countries. Here are answers to the most common questions about lice:

How can I get infected with lice?

Head lice can be transferred by sharing things like brushes, combs and even hats. They can transfer from direct head-to-head contact and lice can transfer from pillows and sheets too. But there is no evidence that lice are transferred from pets to humans.

Do head lice jump from person to person?

Head lice don’t have the body type to jump. They are transferred only by direct contact.

How long do lice live?

Lice can only live 24 hours without a host, but with a host they can live up to 30 days. Lice reside in pillows and sheets and return to the host for feeding. Lice, like bed bugs, bite their hosts for blood. Their bites are annoying and itchy but are not dangerous unless they get scratched and infected.

What’s the best way to rid lice from hair?

Some feel that they should treat for lice even when they only suspect that there is an infestation. There are no shampoos that totally kill head lice and their nits so manual removal is the only solution. Wash hair with a specialized, over-the-counter shampoo, rinse completely and then go through hair with a nit comb. Remember that the shampoo is extremely strong and toxic so overuse is not recommended.

Two different types of louse combs used when treat of head lice.

How do I remove lice from my home?

Removing lice from your home is an extremely labor intensive project. All fabric furniture must be completely vacuumed. Pillows and stuffed animals should be put into a garbage bag for 10 days to make sure that any nits that hatch in that time period die, separated froma host. Other items can be put into the dryer for 30 minutes on a high heat. All sheets, pillows and comforters should be washed and dried on a hot setting. The entire house should be cleaned before treating the infected person.

How do I know if I really have head lice?

Persistent itching can be indication that an infestation exists. Professionals use a magnifying glass or a florescent light although some feel the florescent light highlights hair lint as well as nits and confuses the diagnosis. Regardless, lice are normally visible with a magnifying glass.

For more green cleaning and green living information, check out Leslie's website.