Tag Archives: Cleaning

Dangers Of Chlorine In Showers, Pool, And Cleaning Products-The Facts Revealed

August 11, 2024   Matt

Dangers Of Chlorine In Showers, Pool, And Cleaning Products-The Facts Revealed

Today’s world is filled with problems and worries. A
lot of people are already health conscious but somehow
they are still overlooking some things. Are you
already aware that tap water and cleaning products
contain a certain element that can be very dangerous
to an individual’s health? That element is chlorine.
If you want to find out more about the possible
dangers of chlorine in showers, pools, and cleaning
products, read on and get the important facts.

• Skin Irritant – you can easily tell when there’s
chemical in the water, whether you’re taking a shower
or when you’re swimming in the pool. You will suddenly
feel the stinging and you have a blurry vision. And of
course, how can you ignore the smell? Water with
chlorine is not that good, especially to people.
Studies have proven that chlorinated water can cause
skin irritations, specifically eczema.

Aside from eczema, individuals with seborrhea,
psoriasis, and acne can experience worsening of their
conditions. Chlorinated water destroys the vitamin E
and polyunsaturated fatty acids found in the body. It
generates toxins which create free radicals. There is
a remedy to these skim irritations. Doctors usually
recommend patients to take supplements which contain
vitamin E, flaxseed oil, and fatty acids.

• When chlorine combines with other water compounds,
trihalomethanes is produced. These are carcinogens
which don’t degrade and so the body’s fatty tissues
store them. This may not sound alarming but what if
the carcinogens were stored in the fatty tissues of
your breast? The chemicals are also called as
organochlorides. These can also be stored in semen and
blood which can cause DNA mutations that suppress the
function of the immune system. Hence, cell growth can
be interfered.

• There are still other health concerns that you need
to look into. Children who are always exposed to
chlorine in pools will experience aggravated asthma.
As mentioned earlier, carcinogens can be stored in the
body and so you will be more prone to cancer. Breast
and bladder cancer are just some of the possible
illnesses that you can get. Some individuals were also
noted to get malignant melanoma.

At present, studies are being conducted to establish
the connection of chlorinated water and certain
household products to congenital cardiac
abnormalities.

• Competitive swimmers are able to absorb a large
amount of chlorine which go directly to the
bloodstream, even on their training sessions.

• Children are able to inhale more toxins as compared
to adults. If you don’t want your kids to suffer from
the dangers of chlorine, make sure that you use water
filters.

• Try to check the chlorine content of pools. If there
is a very high content of chlorine, the dental enamel
can be eroded because of the high acid levels.

• Toxin is greatly absorbed though your skin as
compared to breathing. So whenever you take a bath or
swim in the pool, or when you’re cleaning the house
using household cleaners, your body can absorb
chlorine.

Ensure that your pool is not over chlorinated and try
to limit your bath time. While you’re shopping for
chlorine alternatives for household cleansers, pool or
shower filters, make sure that you get the best
quality products. That way, you can protect yourself
and your loved ones from the dangers of chlorine in
showers, pools, and cleaning products. It helps to
know some facts so that you will know what to do,
right?

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The Latest Vacuum Cleaning Equipment Is NOT Your Mothers Old Machine!

July 12, 2024   Matt

The Latest Vacuum Cleaning Equipment Is NOT Your Mothers Old Machine!

There was a time not to long ago when a vacuum cleaner was basically the same machine no matter where or how it was purchased. In previous times, the decision on what vacuum cleaner to purchase was based more on the “extras” the salesman offered but more often than not, it was the financing arrangements that were available.

Like now, most families could ill afford the additional expense of replacing home appliances, what few that were available. The vacuum cleaner however was one piece of equipment that was considered almost a necessity once it was used, especially with the advent of wall to wall carpet.

Many homes pre-1960 didn’t have wall to wall carpet but instead relied on area rugs for floor coverings. These large rugs could be taken out to the backyard, hung over a fence or clothesline and beaten with a carpet beater to remove ground in soil.

Vacuum cleaners removed the need to take rugs out of the house for cleaning. Today however, there are several carpet cleaning technologies available. Two of the most popular types of vacuum cleaner technologies include HEPA filtration and bagless.

Both technologies have the champions and like everything else have their positives and negatives. The positive with HEPA filtration is that small particulate dirt is better captured. This allows for a cleaner exhaust and theoretically, a cleaner indoor environment. The negative with HEPA type filters is that because they capture the finer dirt particles, they tend to need more frequent bag or filter replacement. Another potential issue is that as the HEPA filter captures more dirt, it also tends to lose some suction power as the filters fill.

Bagless vacuum cleaners are exactly what the name suggests. Bagless vacuum equipment typically features a cup or hard plastic container that captures the dirt during use. This makes emptying a lot easier and the amount of consumables like vacuum bags and filters is a lot less.

Consider not only the technology but the ease of use, general quality of the equipment, weight if you’re going to carry it up and down stairs, etc. Onboard tools are nice but why carry around all that extra weight when not needed. Every vacuum technology has their share of people who love and people who hate it. The key is to find the vacuum cleaner you like.

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12 Things To Know About Carpet Cleaning

January 04, 2024   Matt

12 Things To Know About Carpet Cleaning

Carpets, there in all of our homes. Of course it’s a given that at some point you will be doing some carpet cleaning. Here are 12 things to know about carpet cleaning that will make your life easier.
1. Toxic
Most of the products on the market for carpet cleaning are safe and will have a minimal impact on the environment. However some of the carpet cleaning products do contain toxic chemicals which can be hazardous to the person using them as well as other people in the house or pets. So be sure to read the labels carefully before using. Always try to choose a product with the least amount of chemicals and in the mildest you can find that will work.
2. Clean Often
It’s always best to clean your carpets on a regular basis. If you do not clean your carpets on a regular basis you will need to use a stronger chemical product because the dirt will have ground itself deeper into the carpet and it becomes more difficult to lift. Cleaning your carpets on a regular basis is easier on the environment, your health, and it will help extend the life of the carpet.
3. Use Caution
Read labels very carefully. Not only on the product but on any documentation provided with the carpet. Should you use the wrong product or a product with stronger chemical than your carpet can handle you could damage the carpet.
4. Hire The Pros
If you are not comfortable with cleaning your carpets yourself or you can’t be bothered to rent a carpet cleaning machine, drag it home, and get to work, then hire the pros! There are many professionals that will clean your carpets for a very reasonable fee and give you a guarantee on the work they do.
5. Installation
If you are laying new carpets chances are the reason you are doing this is because you want them to look appealing and accent the room while at the same time providing functionality. If you install the carpet poorly or install the wrong type of carpet for the area you will have a higher maintenance cost and the carpets will need to be cleaned more frequently. So make sure you choose the correct carpets. Regular vacuuming and spot removal will also lower your cleaning maintenance costs.
6. The Right Underlay
The underlay is more important than you might think and is directly related to carpet cleaning. You need to match the underlay to the type of carpet you will be installing. Carpet should not be placed in areas were water, chemicals or hard to clean products could be spilled on the carpet. Kitchens, copy rooms, lockers, and entrances to buildings are not a good location to place carpets because your carpet cleaning costs will be high. Poor grade underlay will affect how the stain soaks into the carpet and how difficult stain removal becomes.
7. Stop The Worst
The worst soiling on your carpets comes from outside. So if you stop outside soil from coming in contact with your carpet you will reduce the amount of chemical cleaners you will have to use. Place a large walking mat at all outside entrances Every few days you should vacuum the mats this will prevent soil from entering the carpeted areas of your home. Have visitors remove their shoes so that they aren’t dragging that loose dirt across the carpets.
8. Vacuum Often
Believe it or not daily vacuuming with a good vacuum cleaner that has good suction and a power head with a brush type power bar will help to eliminate soil build up and reduce the amount of times you will need carpet cleaning performed. That’s because the dirt gets picked up before it has a chance to get ground in and soil the carpet.
9. No Drinks
Limit the places you allow the kids to have drinks and messy foods. If you have young children make them stay seated while drinking. If you are really concerned about reducing staining then don’t let any family member’s family drink or carry soft drinks, coffee or other food items across the carpet.
10. Act Fast
If you can react to the spill immediately and any spots you see with a good spot remover you will help prevent stain from becoming permanent and it will save you having to use a carpet cleaner. Be careful what you use to remove stains because if you use the wrong chemicals you could smear the stain and spread it further and deeper into the carpet. Always first try clear cold water and blotting with a cloth to remove the stain and only move on to a stronger product only as a last resort.
11. Toxic Chemicals
You should know that carpet spot removal cleaning products contain some of the most dangerous chemicals found in any cleaning products. If you us these products be sure to wear gloves and use the cleaner according to the manufactures directions. Avoid all type 4 spot removers because they contain Tetrachlorethylene which is very toxic to people and pets.
12. Steam Cleaners
Steam or rotary cleaners for carpets use a fairly mild products so they are an excellent choice. But you can still misuse them so follow the directions carefully. If you use this type of cleaner you will have to be careful that you do not saturate the carpet with hot water because if you do it will take longer to dry and may result in damage to the carpet.
Some of the cleaners supplied with the machines you rent from the local store are highly toxic so be sure the room or rooms you are working in have a good supply of fresh air. Be sure to keep kids and pets off the newly cleaned carpets until it is dry because there is always a residue left on the carpets that can be harmful to kids or pets. Always let the carpets dry completely and then vacuum right after it is dry to remove any residual contaminants.
These 12 things to know about carpet cleaning that will make your life easier much easier and keep you on top of the carpet cleaning game.

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House Cleaning – The Professional Business

November 10, 2023   Matt

House Cleaning – The Professional Business

Most people get into house cleaning to earn some extra money. You may have family, friends and neighbors as your regular clients. Are you ready and motivated to take your part-time business to the next level?
Growing any business takes time and patience. And if you have a loyal client base now, set aside a portion of your gross revenue for advertising, custom business forms and your own products and equipment.
Expanding your business also takes planning. How can you start getting new clients without a large advertising budget? A small one-time investment in custom business forms is the first step.
So what’s wrong with not using business forms? Absolutely nothing if you’re satisfied with your client base right now and not interested in making more money.
But I hear from a lot of professional house cleaners that are struggling in their business. They wonder why they don’t get more of the jobs they bid on. They ask why people won’t pay their rate and instead want to negotiate the price down.
If you’re not presenting yourself as a professional business, your prospects assume you just need to make some extra money; you don’t have their respect and they think you’ll be happy to take whatever they offer to pay.
Now think about this for a minute. Who would you be more likely to hire: the plumber that shows up to estimate your job with a clipboard and custom business forms or the plumber that shows up with a flyer? Be honest with yourself; you are going to trust this plumber inside your home around your personal possessions. What if this person were to break or damage something? Do you think about this issue with the plumber with the clipboard and custom business forms, or is it more of a concern with the plumber with just the flyer?
Your prospects are judging you and forming an opinion from the moment you answer their call. And you know what they say about first impressions? It’s absolutely true in running a business. Not only are they judging you before they hire you, but they judge you again when you arrive on the scheduled service date.
– Use the Service Agreement to define your terms of doing business and to document the service for each client. This forms performs dual purpose as it is also your estimating form that you use during your in-home or telephone bidding. You will discuss the content with your prospect and then have them sign it, not as a contract, but to provide you and them with an understanding of your terms and the service start date.
– The Customer Checklist records your estimate for your new client and has all the cleaning tasks listed that you perform. This form alone can get you the job immediately or even later after your prospect has tried other services.
– The Work Order is created from the important notes you recorded on the Service Agreement during the walk through or telephone interview. It specifies the client, the address and phone number, information pertaining to pets in the home, client specific requests and directives, including important notes you documented about the home.
– The Service Checklist is used by you or your team on the scheduled service date. It is a reminder of the regular service tasks that are to be performed and is used to maintain quality. One of the biggest complaints from clients is that quality deteriorates over time. If you’re not using a Service Checklist, you’re not instilling trust in your clients, especially new clients. They will auto- matically check your work on every appointment to make sure you didn’t miss anything. And if you did, you’ll hear about it – quick!
When you start to use business forms for your existing clients, they will probably ask you why the sudden change. This provides you with a chance to tell them that you’re expanding your business and would appreciate referrals. This leaves them impressed and knowing that you are serious about running a professional business and will be more likely to make referrals.
Custom business forms speak loudly to your prospects and in the long run land you more jobs, referrals and larger profits!

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Cleaning House – Caring For Your Dollhouse

October 01, 2023   Matt

Cleaning House – Caring For Your Dollhouse

We all have things in our lives that hold some sort of sentimental or monetary value. For some, it is a prized collection of coins or rare books. For others it is an irreplaceable antique or piece of jewelry. It is these things that always require special care and preservation, whether it is a yearly polishing or a consistent cleaning.

The same practice holds true for avid dollhouse collectors. Dollhouses are basically miniature replicas of a large-scale home, equipped with wood furnishings, electrical lights and even miniature pieces of china and crystal. Dollhouses, and their accessories, require the same kind of loving care that a regular home needs.

First of all, you should never place a dollhouse in a room that gets direct sunlight. The suns rays can heavily damage the delicate woods used in making most dollhouses. It can cause paint, wallpaper and fabrics to fade dramatically. And in extreme degrees of temperature changes, it could even end up warping or cracking the wood.

Another thing to keep in mind when caring for dollhouses is to always dust it regularly. Dust collects in our own homes on a daily basis, and the same holds true for dollhouses. All the accessories are so small and intricate that they require a good dusting and polishing to maintain their value and beauty. The dolls, animals or other small figurines you purchase for your dollhouse should also be dusted regularly to maintain their quality.

You should never store a dollhouse in damp climate. Dampness, such as in a basement, can deteriorate the materials used to make a dollhouse. It can also lead to mold development that can be difficult to remove or eliminate from fabrics or carpeting. You should also be weary of storing a dollhouse in the attic because moths or other household varmints could do damage to the house itself or its accessories.

Be sure to keep your dollhouse away from household pets. Pets love to chew and nibble on small objects, and what better chew toy than a piece of dollhouse furniture or a miniature figurine? Small children and toddlers should also be kept away from dollhouses. Children of this age like to put things in their mouths. The small accessories present a choking hazard to younger children who don’t understand the value of what they are touching.

Not all dollhouses are going to be detailed enough to go to extreme measures of protection. But for most avid collectors, these precautions are necessary. In fact, one of the best ways to store a prized dollhouse is to have a special case made for it, usually from a clear material. This prevents dust from collecting on items inside the house and it keeps pets and small kids from touching it. And if you are a smoker, a case is a great way to keep smoke from tobacco away from the dollhouse.

Prized possessions need proper care, so it is best to stay on top of keeping your dollhouse in tip-top shape.

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Make a Weekly Cleaning Schedule

September 16, 2023   Matt

Make a Weekly Cleaning Schedule

We all know how easy it is for our week to get away from us. It seems strange because we live in such a highly technical age. Sometimes it feels as if all those toys that are supposed to help us live easier lives have actually taken over the world. Instead of a little more down time, we’re constantly being called on our cell phones, beeped, paged, and generally at the mercy of others every hour of every day.

Our regular routines are more difficult than ever to keep. When we’re not at work or school, we’re driving the kids to events. We also try to schedule a work-out, lunch with a friend, and recreational activities. It’s not hard to see where a weekly household cleaning schedule can fall by the wayside. So how do we keep up with that aspect of our lives?

One key is to actually write out a weekly household cleaning schedule. Seeing something in black and white gives us a much better sense of just what needs to be done. Once you list your chores, you can decide if you want to devote an entire day off every week to doing them. You may find that there are some things you can do during the weekday evenings, thus freeing up a little more time to relax.

Floors definitely demand a lot of our attention. After all, there’s a floor in every room. Some are carpeted; some may be tile, marble, or linoleum; while others might be hardwood floors with area rugs lying on top. Chances are you use a variety of tools and products to clean them. Most likely you vacuum carpets and rugs. For the wooden floors you would use mops with hardwood floor cleaners. Hopefully you use earth friendly floor cleaner on hard surfaced floors.

Cleaning Your Floors

Most of us feel a lot better about the whole house when all the floors are clean. There’s something really unpleasant about looking down and seeing dirt, stains, and piles of objects that aren’t in their normal place. In terms of our weekly household cleaning schedule, floors can take up a fair amount of time.

As with anything else, keeping up with problems as they happen, is an important factor. For instance, if you spill something on your tile flooring, grab your earth friendly floor cleaner right away and clean it up. If your pets shed regularly on your carpet, vacuum every couple of days instead of waiting until your weekly household cleaning schedule tells you it’s time. As with most things, preventative maintenance and prompt action can be big time savers.

Wood floors are beautiful and always add a special something to the appearance of a room. Just as with your carpeting, they don’t require a huge amount of work if you stay on top of the job. Usually, you can do them when you do the rest of your weekly household cleaning schedule; or maybe you’ve elected to do all of your floors on a certain day or night. Generally using mops and hardwood floor cleaners will do the job.

Fortunately, one of the things technology has done for us is to make our weekly household cleaning schedule easier. For instance when it comes to floor care, you can often do it in one step. In times gone by we’d have to wash the floor, often on hands and knees and then follow up with a wax or polish. It’s also great to know that research and developers are creating more in the line of earth friendly floor cleaners.

Kitchen and bathroom floors often take the brunt of the abuse in our homes. It’s usually better to work on them more often than our weekly household cleaning schedule dictates. When we cook, we often spill food and drink, as well as splash water around while we’re scrubbing vegetables or washing our hands. In the bathroom, hair spray and other products go with gravity and head for the floor. These rooms are ideal for combined cleaner/ polisher. Many homes use hardwood flooring or look-alike tile in which case mops with hardwood floor cleaners are appropriate.

Regardless of the flooring combinations in your home, you want to save time and make all the chores as easy as possible. You already have plenty to do on your weekly household cleaning schedule, so plan for it to go as smoothly as possible.

Whenever you can use earth friendly floor cleaners as well environmentally safe cleaners everywhere that you can.

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