Green Cleaning Services

Helpful Green Tips For Your Labor Day Party Weekend

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 by Marie Stegner

The long Labor Day weekend is coming and many families will celebrate the approaching end of summer and back to school season with a cook out.

Here are tips and ideas for keeping your Labor Day party and weekend eco-friendly:

Eco-friendly Drinks. Reduce the wastefulness of plastic water bottles and aluminum cans by serving pitchers of ice water, lemonade, iced tea, or juices. Put out permanent markers for guests to write their names on their cups to eliminate waste. If you do use bottles or cans, be sure to put out clearly marked recycling bins.

Green Paper Products. It is not always possible to avoid paper products, especially during a party, but today there are more eco-friendly paper products available. When you need to use disposable dishes, look for products that are recycled, biodegradable, or made from unbleached paper products.

Renewable paper-ware is made from bamboo, sugar cane, wood, reed, and other natural materials. Compostable paper-ware is made from renewable sugar cane and comes in hip and functional new square designs.

Grill Green. Hot dogs, hamburgers, shrimp, steaks, or corn on the cob on the grill create a smokin' Labor Day menu, but did you know that your choice of charcoal matters? Choosing eco-friendly Forest Stewardship Council certified charcoals ensures that no trees from endangered woodlands were cut to produce the charcoal for your Labor Day barbeque.

Forest Stewardship Council certified charcoals reduces greenhouse gases that are emitted when your charcoal burns. No unhealthy additives are released into the air or onto your food.

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

Link Found Between Pesticides and ADHD in Children

Monday, August 30, 2010 by Marie Stegner

Do organophosphate pesticides affect the human brain?

According to a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, U.S. researchers reported last week that children whose mothers were exposed to certain types of pesticides while pregnant were more likely to have attention problems as they grew up.

Researchers found that women with more traces of pesticides in their urine while pregnant had children more likely to have symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at age 5.

Organophosphates are designed to attack the nervous system by affecting message-carrying chemicals called neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine, which is important to human brain development.

Few symptoms showed up at age 3, but by age 5, the trend, which was stronger in boys, was significant.

Back in May, a different team found children with high levels of organophosphate traces in the urine were almost twice as likely to develop ADHD as those with undetectable levels.

In the U.S., there are 40 registered organophosphate pesticides, including malathion. Studies have also linked pesticide exposure to Parkinson's, an incurable brain disease.

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.

Going Green

Friday, August 27, 2010 by Marie Stegner

Many people resist going green because they feel it is too much work or it takes too much time out of their schedules. However, little changes here and there can add up to measurable energy savings. These simple tips can get you moving in a "green" direction.

Conserve Water

Turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth can save you an average of 8 gallons of water per day.

Go Old School

Using cloth napkins and real plates instead of paper plates will save trees.

Our grandparents hung laundry out to dry in the fresh air and sunshine. While this is a nice idea, it isn’t very practical in terms of simplifying our daily life. We can, however, look at how we use the clothes dryer. This appliance uses more energy than any other appliance in the house except the refrigerator. Use the "moisture sensor" feature on the dryer. This feature dries clothes until they are just dry.

Go for the Light

As your light bulbs burn out, replace them with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL). Energy saving bulbs use 75% less energy than regular bulbs and can last up to ten times longer.

Ban the Bag

When food shopping, use paper bags, or even better, bring your own bag (BYOB).

It is estimated that one trillion plastic bags are used every year worldwide. These bags don’t completely breakdown when discarded. Rather, they become tiny particles that remain in our soil and eventually make it into the food chain.

Be a Turn Off

75% of the power consumed by home electronics takes place while they are turned off but still in standby mode. An easy solution to this is using a power strip for your electronics. When you are done in your office for instance, one flick of the switch turns off everything.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the environment. For more information on healthy green living, please log on to greencleancertified.com and maidbrigade.com.

Did You Know.....

Tuesday, August 24, 2010 by Marie Stegner

Did you know....

Cleaning products were responsible for nearly 10 percent of all toxic exposures reported to U.S. Poison Control Centers in 2000, accounting for 206,636 calls. Of these, nearly two-thirds involved children under six, who can swallow or spill cleaners stored or left open inside the home.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside the typical home is on average 2-5 times more polluted than air just outside, and in extreme cases, 100 times more contaminated, largely because of household cleaners and pesticides.

The Janitorial Products Pollution Prevention Project reports that 6 out of every 100 janitors in Washington state have lost time from their jobs as a result of injuries linked to toxic cleaning products, particularly glass and toilet cleaners and degreasers.

In a 2002 U.S. Geological Survey study of contaminants in U.S. stream water, 69 persent of streams sampled contained persistent detergent metabolites, and 66 percent contained disinfectants.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about you and your family. For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com and maidbrigade.com.

Healthy Cleaning Products

Monday, August 23, 2010 by Marie Stegner

Everyone likes a clean home, but few of us like the chore of cleaning. Even worse, we often rely on a cocktail of hazardous substances to make our bathrooms sparkle or our floors shine.

Dishwashing detergents often contain phosphates that pollute the groundwater, wood polish sometimes contains flammable toxins like nitrobenzene, and laundry detergent can contain bleach and other corrosives.

We lock our cleaning products under our cabinets away from children but do we ever stop to realize what these chemicals are actually doing to our own bodies?

Many cleaners irritate our skin, eyes, and lungs. They also leave toxic residues or pollute the water when we rinse them down the drain. But keeping our homes clean and avoiding toxic cleaners isn't tough to do. Green cleaners are made from a range of safer substances that we already have around our house.

Stock up on a few safe, simple ingredients like soap, baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, and borax. These products can take care of most household cleaning needs.

A paste of baking soda, salt, and hot water makes a great oven cleaner.

To clean up mold and mildew, use a mixture of lemon juice or white vinegar and salt.

Baking soda and cornstarch are both great carpet deodorizers.

For an effective glass cleaner, use a mixture of half white vinegar and half water.

Instead of using drain cleaner, try pouring a quarter cup of baking soda followed by a half cup of vinegar down the clogged drain. Close the drain tightly until fizzing stops, then flush with boiling water.

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
and maidbrigade.com.

Learning About Toxic Ingredients

Thursday, August 19, 2010 by Marie Stegner

Did you ever wonder about the ingredients that make up your cleaning products? Since companies do not have to disclose all the ingredients in cleaning products, how do we, as consumers, know which ones might be harmful to use?

Here is a list of frequently found ingredients that can be toxic to you and the environment:

Ammonia is found in glass cleaners, floor cleaners and bathroom cleaners. It is poisonous when swallowed. Ammonia is a big irritant to the skin or when inhaled.

Diethylene Glycol is found in glass and bathroom cleaners. It is poisonous when swallowed and irritating to the lungs.

Chlorine Bleach is found in a variety of cleaners. It is very irritating to the eyes and skin and is an environmental hazard.

Triclosan is found in antibacterial cleaners and thought to be contributing to antibiotic resistant bacteria.

DEA and TEA are found in many products and used as preservatives. When combined with nitrosomes, they can produce carcinogens.

Petroleum based ingredients are found in all kinds of cleaners. They are very bad for the environment.

Fragrance is found in air fresheners and almost all cleaners. Fragrance usually contains phthalates used to stabilize synthetic scents. Fragrance is a known carcinogen and is a frequent cause of allergies.

1,4-dioxane is found in dishwashing and other household cleaners. It has been found to be a cancer causing ingredient.

Formaldehyde is found in a variety of cleaners. It is a known carcinogen.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services takes pride in educating consumers about toxic chemicals!

For more information on healthy green cleaning and green living, please log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com.

No More Mosquitoes!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010 by Marie Stegner

Summer weather brings mid-afternoon storms and intense heat, but do you know what else it brings? Mosquitoes!

How can you keep these uninvited guests from crashing your outdoor get-togethers?

Prevention is the best medicine. If your property has poor drainage, puddles, or wet piles of leaves, you could be creating the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, which multiply quickly. To prevent these pests from taking up residence in your yard, remove standing water. Empty flower pots, buckets and watering cans. Sweep away puddles and get rid of standing water on your pool cover. Keep your gutters dry and clean. Re-slope problem areas so that the water drains properly. Trim any overgrown grasses or foliage on your property so that the mosquitoes have no place to hide.

What about Citronella?

Although citronella has been used as bug control for a long time, it might not be as effective as we think. If you are looking for an alternative scent with great mosquito-repelling properties, try lemon-eucalyptus oil. Even the Center for Disease Control has listed it as a helpful repellent. Lemon eucalyptus candles do exist but are hard to find. Other scents that are thought to repel mosquitoes are garlic, pennyroyal, thyme, and rosemary.

How About Mosquito Nets?

There are various types of mosquito nets that can be set up on lawns, around porches or even around gazebos. There is even a mosquito umbrella cover that can cover an entire patio set. Mosquito nets are easy to install and are also waterproof.

Replace exterior bulbs with yellow lights. Bugs are attracted to light. Yellow bug lights are yellow light bulbs, similar to a regular light bulb. The yellow color doesn't actually repel mosquitoes or other bugs, it becomes invisible to them so the bug won't gather around them.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services would love to know how you ward off pesty mosquitoes. Write to us and share your tips with others!

For more information on healthy green living, please log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com.

Check out These Tips on Healthy Green Living...

Tuesday, August 17, 2010 by Marie Stegner

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the health of you and your family. Check out our latest non-toxic and eco-friendly tips that are sure to keep your family healthy and "green."

viewer.zmags.com/publication/655e31a7

www.maidbrigade.com/green-cleaning-e-guide

Take a Step in the Right Direction....

Friday, August 13, 2010 by Marie Stegner

Creating a healthier home for you and your family starts with green cleaning products.The ingredients that go into these products make all the difference as to how safe and eco-friendly they are.

There are no regulations when it comes to product claims. Companies can use the words natural, environmentally safe, and nontoxic, on product labels which lead us to believe we are buying natural, safe and earth friendly products when in fact, we're not.

Companies also do not have to disclose all ingredients used so we are left wondering whether the product is safe to use.

Stay away from products containing ammonia, diethylene glycol, chlorine bleach, triclosan, DEA and TEA, fragrance, petroleum based ingredients, 1,4-dioxane, and formaldehyde. These chemicals can be harmful to you and the environment.

When we use cleaning products we are breathing in fumes and mists containing volatile organic compounds (VOC's). When using a combination of VOC's, it is impossible to know how they react together, especially when they are inhaled and absorbed into our bodies. They also remain in the air creating indoor pollution in our homes.

Babies, pets and children tend to put things in their mouths. Not only can they breathe the cleaning products in, but residue from cleaning the floor, counter or bathroom may remain behind and can be ingested by a child or pet.

Some of the toxic chemicals in cleaning products also contribute to pollution in the environment. Many of them do not break down readily and remain within our air, water and soil.

It is particularly important that we protect our families and our environment from unnecessary exposure to chemicals. Choosing green cleaning products is a big step in the right direction!

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

Tips For Cooling Inside Your Home

Wednesday, August 11, 2010 by Marie Stegner

During these hot days of summer, why not try some of these inexpensive tips to cool your home?

Use windows and window coverings to your advantage.  Keep all windows, curtains and blinds closed to keep your house cool for as long as possible. If you are home and don't want all the windows covered, cover them when needed.  Dark-colored curtains, roman shades, and even dime-store roller shades can be very effective. Roller shades can block up to 80% solar heat. If the air cools down enough in the evening, open the windows to promote as much air circulation as possible.

Do not add to the heat inside. Use appliances such as irons, washers, and dryers at night or early morning. Use a clothes line to dry clothes.  A big source of heat is the stove. Cook outdoors as much as possible. Use a toaster oven for baking. Toaster ovens don't warm up the kitchen like conventional ovens do. Turn off computers and appliances when not in use.

Change your bulbs.  Incandescent light bulbs are heat generators. Switch them for energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs or halogen infrareds. Fluorescent "corkscrew" bulbs contain mercury, so consider the safety risks before putting them in children's bedrooms, playrooms, or other places where they might break.

Use fans.  Place inexpensive portable fans in front of open windows when it cools down inside to bring the cool air inside.  Install a ceiling fan if needed. Attic fans also circulate cool air from outside through the house. Use ceiling or room fans even if you have an air conditioner. This way you can set your thermostat higher because the air movement from the fan will help the room feel cooler.

Keep refrigerator well stocked. Refrigerators that are full of food don't warm up as quickly when the door is opened, so they require less energy to stay cool.

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

Green Tips For Cooling Off This Summer

Tuesday, August 10, 2010 by Marie Stegner

Green Ways To Reduce Body Heat:

Wear clothes in natural fabrics. Fabrics such as cotton, hemp, and linen breathe better than synthetic fibers and naturally wick moisture away from the body.

Eat cool. When the weather is hot, dine on salads and sandwiches instead of large, protein-rich meals. Oven or stove top cooking heats up your house as well.

Stay hydrated. Avoid alcohol and caffeine in the heat because they can promote dehydration. Drink more water than usual or try an electrolyte replacement drink if you are sweating a lot.

Cool off with water. Soak your feet in a tub of cold water, take a cool shower, or put a wet washcloth on the back of your neck. Keep a spray bottle of water in the refrigerator and spritz yourself throughout the day.

Head down and out. When your house is hot, the basement is usually the coolest place in the house, or try going to the movies or the library - anywhere that is air conditioned.

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.

Boost Your Metabolism the Healthy Way

Monday, August 9, 2010 by Marie Stegner

Did you know that certain foods you eat can not only make you healthy and more energized, but can boost your metabolism? Here are some of the top foods that can help:

Grapefruits are rich in fiber so the body burns extra calories to break it down. Grapefruits lower insulin levels in your body that trigger your system to store fat.

Green Tea is a healthy catechin that speeds up your brain and nervous system which causes the body to burn more calories.

Yogurt contains probiotic cultures that help regulate the digestive tract. High levels of protein in yogurt require a lot of energy to be processed.

Almonds contain essential fatty acids to help raise the body's metabolism. Since they are high in calories, only eat a handful a day.

Turkey is rich in protein. It builds lean muscle tissue which causes your body to burn extra calories which raises your metabolism.

Apples are low in calories and high in fiber. Your body needs to burn calories to break this down. Apples should also make you feel full so you eat less.

Spinach speeds up your metabolism and is a great source of vitamin C, potassium, iron, and magnesium.

Beans are low in fat, rich in fiber, and packed with protein. Your body also burns extra calories to process this food.

Jalapenos can speed up your heart rate and metabolism. The capcaisin found in them causes your body to burn extra calories long after you ingest them.

Broccoli contains calcium and vitamin C. Calcium acts as a metabolic trigger, while vitamin C helps the body absorb more calcium.

Oatmeal lowers the body's insulin level and speeds up metabolism because the body takes a long time to break down the fat-soluble fiber in oatmeal.

Soy Milk (not the sweetened variety) is loaded with calcium which boosts metabolism.

Curry speeds up metabolism and increases the amount of calories the body burns.

Cinnamon helps lower cholesterol. It also helps the body metabolize sugars more effectively and maintain steadier blood sugar levels.

Remember to drink water throughout the day to keep your body hydrated. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, especially if you are diabetic or taking medication.

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

Living A Chemical-Free Life

Friday, August 6, 2010 by Marie Stegner

In our fast-paced, stress-induced world, living a healthy lifestyle and eating good food can be one of our greatest challenges. After all, time is precious, and sometimes quick, easy and convenient can mean more to us than our own health.

Chemical-free living is a lifestyle that omits chemicals from as many aspects of life as possible.

Living a chemical-free life doesn't necessarily involve making huge changes in your life. It is about being aware of what is harmful and what isn't. It is about finding ways to improve your health and well-being in every way possible.

When it comes to hygiene products like soaps, shampoos, deodorants, and lotions, look for plant-based organic products. Choose products that are better for the environment and are not tested on animals.

Make organic products a part of your life. The food you put into your body is a great place to start! Shop at local farmers markets and buy organic fruits and vegetables that are not sprayed with fertilizers or pesticides.

Try and incorporate less harmful products into your life. Say good-bye to cleaning products and hello to vinegar, baking soda and essential oils. Replace pesticides with garlic spray. Add lemon, orange and pine essential oils and make your own disinfectants and window cleaners. Say no to harsh cleaning products and bleach!

We have the power to alter the environments that we create for ourselves. Changing your home into a healthier place can have a big impact on your life!

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
and maidbrigade.com.

Maid Brigade Makes TV Debut!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010 by Marie Stegner

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services will be featured on "Breakthrough With Tony Robbins," Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010 at 8:00 eastern on NBC!

Join us as we celebrate Maid Brigade's debut on TV!

For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com.

A Healthier Step in the Organic World

Friday, July 30, 2010 by Marie Stegner

Whole Foods Market is taking action to address widespread organic labeling fraud in personal care.

Certain brands are making organic claims on products whose main cleansing and moisturizing ingredients are made up of petrochemicals.

Whole Foods believes that the "organic" claim used on personal care products should have a very similar meaning to the "organic" claim used on food products and that their shoppers do not expect the definition of "organic" to change substantially between the food and non-food aisles of their stores.

Brands that have organic claims that are not certified under the USDA National Organic Program have until June 01, 2010 to explain how they will change their labeling or formulations to comply with Whole Foods new policy.

Brands that do not submit an explanation are expected to be dropped from store shelves over the coming year.

Consumers can now shop at Whole Foods without worrying about being ripped off by petrochemcial formulations masquerading as organic products.

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 log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com.

Do Cell Phones Cause Cancer?

Thursday, July 29, 2010 by Marie Stegner

Do cell phones cause cancer?

Supposedly, cell phones emit low-level, non-heating radiofrequency (RF) energy, rather than electron-stripping ionizing radiation, the type proven to permanently damage tissues and disrupt DNA.

But damage from radiofrequency energy may be cumulative over very long periods. Most American children today face a lifetime of exposure. It is very important to focus closely on the most recently published studies, the ones that show the effects of long-term exposure.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), has reported on key studies that link radiation from long-term cell phone use with increased risks of brain and salivary gland tumors, migraines and vertigo, as well as behavior problems in children, including hyperactivity.

The current U.S. government radiation standards are outdated and no steps have been taken to update them. Particular concern should be focused on the amount of radiation that penetrates a child's softer, thinner, skull (twice the amount that could penetrate an adult skull), and that long-term use starting in childhood could pose even bigger risks than those already documented. Children's cell phone use should be limited.

Safety Tips:

1. Save long conversations for land-line phone use.
2. Use a headset or speakerphone setting, and keep the phone itself away from your body.
3. Find out how much radiofrequency energy your cell phone emits. This measurement is called the Specific Absorption Rate, or SAR. The SAR permitted in the U.S. is 1.6 watts per kilogram. The FCC has a list of the SAR of various phone models.

The U.S. government should take a stand and require phones to be labeled with their emissions at the point of sale!

Write to us and let us know how you feel about cell phones and radiation!

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the health of you and your family. For more informaiton on healthy green living and greeen cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com.

Are Your Products Really Organic?

Monday, July 26, 2010 by Marie Stegner

The Organic Consumers Association has been working to clean up the "organic" cosmetics industry since 2004. Unlike organic foods, many health and beauty products are falsely labeled as "organic."

The word organic is not properly regulated on personal care products like toothpaste, shampoo and lotion unless the product is certified by the USDA National Organic Program.

Due to this lax regulation, many personal care products have the word organic on their product label, but unless they are USDA certified, the main cleansing ingredients and preservatives are usually made with synthetic and petrochemical compounds.

The Organic Consumers Association recommends consumers look for the USDA organic seal on personal care products that claim to be organic. Although there are multiple "organic" standards all around the world, each with its own varying criteria, the USDA Organic Standards are the "gold standard" for personal care products.

If you are looking to purchase a product that is totally organic, look for the USDA organic seal. If it doesn't have the seal, read the ingredient label to find out how many ingredients are truly organic and how many are synthetic.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the health of you and your family. For more information on healthy green living, please log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com.

The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010

Saturday, July 24, 2010 by Marie Stegner

The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 is a bill that was introduced in Congress to regulate cosmetics that may contain hazardous chemicals.

This Act gives the FDA authority to make sure cosmetics and other products are free of toxic ingredients.

Some provisions of this bill will:

1. Phase out ingredients linked to cancer, birth defects, and developmental harm.
2. Create a health-based safety standard for children, elderly, workers, and   other vulnerable populations.
3. Require full ingredient disclosure on product labels and websites.
4. Educate workers about unsafe chemicals in cosmetics and hair and body care products.
5. Develop alternatives to animal testing.

Start paying attention to the products you buy. Educate yourself and learn more about the things that you are putting into your body.

Watch out for ingredients like synthetic fragrances, parabens, sodium laurel, phenoxyethanol, propylene glycol, and PABA.

Avoid liquid hand soaps with triclosan, nail polish and removers with formaldehyde, skin lighteners with hydroquinone, and anti-aging creams with lactic, glycolic, AHA and BHA acids. Watch out for hair dyes with ammonia, peroxide, p-phenylenediamine, diaminobenzene, and all dark permanent hair dyes.

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.

Are Your Fragrances Full of Toxic Chemicals?

Thursday, July 22, 2010 by Marie Stegner

Musks are artificial chemicals used in fragrance mixtures that are added to everyday products. Studies indicate that musk may disrupt the hormone (endocrine) system and may also disrupt a natural defense the body uses to protect itself from toxic chemicals. Some musks are also linked to cancer. Musks can accumulate in fat and build up in the body.  Musks have been detected in breast milk, fat, and blood.

Exposure. Musks are often used in cosmetics and body care products that contain fragrance, like perfume and soap. Musks are also used in air fresheners, detergents, fabric softeners, cleaning products, and cigarettes. They are also used as food additives. Musks can be inhaled, ingested, and absorbed through the skin.

Health Effects.  Musks can irritate the skin, or trigger allergic reactions.  Some studies show that musk has been linked to cancer.  Certain musks were also linked to reproductive problems in women.  A recent study showed that musks can interfere with the ability of structures in cell walls to keep toxic substances from entering the cell. By disturbing a cell's natural ability to fend off toxic chemicals, musks could allow poisons to build up within cells and cause damage.

Regulation. In the United States, all musk chemicals are unregulated. Safe exposure has not been set yet. Europe has banned the use of nitromusks in chemicals and body care products because of the growing concerns of health effects.

Prevention.  Switch to fragrance-free cosmetics and body care products. Choose products that do not list "fragrance" as an ingredient.  Choose fragrance-free laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and household cleaners. Avoid air fresheners that use artificial fragrances to cover up other odors.

How do you feel about toxic chemicals in your cosmetic and body care products? Share your comments with us!

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.

Does the Chemical, "Paraben" Cause Cancer?

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 by Marie Stegner

Parabens:

What are parabens?
Are parabens regulated?

The FDA limits the levels of parabens allowed in food and beverages but it does NOT regulate these chemicals in cosmetics and body care products.

Prevention:

One way to reduce exposure to parabens is to switch to paraben-free cosmetics and body care products.

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.