Maids

Keeping up the house is a LOT of work – that’s why so many people turn to Maid Brigade! When customers ask us for "power clean" tips they can do in between our cleaning visits we share these three “Power Clean” tools that really save time:

Microfiber. Scientifically woven to pick up more dust, dirt and germs than traditional cotton cloths or paper towels, they require little, if any, cleaning solution because they are so effective at cleaning mirrors, glass, counters, furniture dusting, etc. using water alone. They really save time – and money too!

Bucket.  Keep all your house cleaning supplies in one bucket, and keep one bucket on each floor of your home. You’ll be surprised how much time it saves when you don’t have to stop cleaning to retrieve supplies from another area or level of your home.

Cobwebber.  This handy tool telescopes so that you can quickly reach high places, low places and corners. The average home can be cobweb-free in just a few minutes with this tool. Don’t forget the front porch – this is where lasting first impressions about your housekeeping abilities are made first!

Even products that are non-toxic and biodegradable can create health risks.  One problem with cleaning chemicals is that exposures can be from inhalation and skin absorption, not just consumption.  Another is that our families are exposed to these on a regular basis. Also, our body can’t purge all these chemicals and small exposures can add up to larger ones through accumulation.

Did you know that solvents, which are in many household cleaners (to cut through grease, for example) can cause a broad range of neurological damage, from as mild as headaches to as serious as dementia?  One example is 2-butoxyethanol (also known as 2-butyl).  It is in over 200 household products that families have trusted for years (even supposedly "green" cleaning products).  Yet the EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) has identified 2-butyl as having potential effects on blood, the central nervous system, kidneys and liver.
 
Maid Brigade’s green cleaning solutions are certified by Green Seal to meet stringent health and environmental criteria.  You can trust us to keep you home cleaner and healthier than any other cleaning service.
 

Some of the happiest people are those who have a healthy work-life balance and, with a little practice, you can be one of them.  Here are some steps you can take to help you find the balance that is best for you:

Step 1:  Write down the roles you are juggling.  Many people are not aware of how much they ask of themselves.  Keep a log of your daily activities for one week.  Find out where you spend the majority of your time.

Step 2:  Determine what is most important.  What are your priorities?  Once you found where you spend most of your time, determine if you need to make changes that will strengthen a healthier work-life balance.  Make sure you schedule time for things that help you relax and feel better. 

Step 3:  Learn to say "no".  Let go of the guilt.  Say "yes" to what you really want and "no"to less important tasks.  This will help restore harmony and make life easier.

Step 4:  Ask for help:  Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.  Many women feel they can do it all, but in reality, most of them need help.  Asking for outside maid service to help with house cleaning, or delegating responsibilities to other family members in the home are all ok.  Asking for help can solve many problems.

Step 5:  Just do it!  Start enjoying your life!  Give yourself permission to make these changes without feeling guilty.

Creating and achieving a work-life balance is a continuous process that requires a great deal of self-discipline.  It is about how to maintain that balance so you can keep your energy flowing and keep yourself healthy for years to come.  Those who do make the effort reap the rewards by leading full, content and satisfying lives.

 

As a pioneer of the green house cleaning movement Maid Brigade sees it as our corporate responsibility to act as advocates for the consumer with regards to the health impact of cleaning chemicals. Most of our primary customers, busy working mothers, have neither the time to research these impacts nor the expertise to interpret scientific data which links certain chemicals to various illnesses.  Yet it is vitally important that you be able to make informed purchasing decisions to reduce potential chemical exposures and protect the health of your family.  Our consumer advocacy mission intends to assemble valuable information on the topic of household chemicals and cleaning products and convey that information in a convenient manner that is easy to understand. Our consumer advocacy web site, GreenCleanCertified.com, contains numerous articles and videos, and even an interactive quiz on green living. 

In 2010 we are doubling our efforts and have hired a Consumer Health Advocate to help us help busy working moms to achieve a healthier home through green living and especially green cleaning.  Through our research we have come to understand the “2nd shift” phenomenon – working a number of hours cleaning and keeping house after a full day in the paid workforce.  Our Consumer Health Advocate will also help busy moms with work/life balance – because this balance can have so much impact on health. 

Maid Brigade welcomes Marie Stegner as our Consumer Health Advocate.  A registered nurse, professional health and wellness manager and mother of three, Marie answers the call for more consumer education and advocacy related to the impact of common household chemicals on our health and the environment.   Marie came to us through our partnership with Mom Corps, the leader in the flexible employment arena.  She will be blogging for us on a regular basis as well as writing articles, creating videos and even appearing at local events - all to help busy women lead healthier lives and create healthier homes.
 

Around the house, a thorough de-cluttering this winter will help you feel calmer and more balanced going into the first spring of the new decade. Purging and de-cluttering is not easy and involves physical and often emotional effort. Here are some ideas to make the task more manageable:

One at a time. Look at the trees, not the forest. This project is really a series of small projects, not one massive one. Focus on the immediate closet, or dresser, or room you are de-cluttering. Don’t think about the next area until you have completed this one.

Take the history test. If you haven’t used an item in over a year, do you really need it? Of course this can’t be a hard and fast rule, but if you put each item to the test, you’ll be surprised how much clutter you can eliminate.

Make it green. Recycle or donate what you’ve purged to reduce landfill waste. If you’re going to have your home cleaned after you’ve de-cluttered, hire Maid Brigade, the only cleaning company that is Green Clean Certified® for your family’s health.

What a challenge it is to keep cleaning green during the holidays! While the season is wonderful and a time of joy, it’s also a festival of rubbish! Just dealing with all those cardboard boxes, used gift wrap and packaging materials can really be a headache.

To keep detritus down and handle how to get rid of it can be a lot simpler when you keep on hand a supply of  boxes or bins specifically set up to handle the different types of trash. It’s a pretty safe bet that while you’re at it, you should create bins to sort out all the cardboard, cans, bottles, paper, etc. the holidays seem to generate. Not only will this make tidying up much quicker and easier, but it also cuts down on the volume of recyclables headed for the landfill.

Food waste around the holidays is always a dilemma because there’s always leftovers that aren’t getting eaten that tend to pile up. Instead of tossing scraps and leftovers into the garbage, why not dig them into your garden if the ground’s not frozen or, better yet, treat yourself to a composting box? Another slightly radical idea to consider is starting your very own worm farm. You can use the veg refuse to feed the little critters! If you didn’t already know, worms, while admittedly slimy, are very good and useful creatures. Be the first on your block to get started on vermiculture, the latest trend in the home composting revolution.
 
Handy housecleaning tools to use around the house to help you green clean have come a long way this season. While it’s true that very few moms really want a new vacuum cleaner for Hannukah or Christmas, there are a plethora of extremely appealing and environmentally friendly ergonomic products out there that would be a welcome addition to any wish list. Visit your favorite home-oriented store to survey the latest in vacuum cleaners, dustpans and scrub brushes designed to handle every cleaning situation. You might also want to check out Crate & Barrel’s color coded tarpaulin recycling bags, or Simplehuman’s trendy trash can with separate bins for recyclables and trash. The company OXO makes a handy can featuring different sized compartments to hold various sized bags to make family recycling a snap. Manufactured of industrial grade stainless steel, the OXO model is also super attractive.

Reduce the volume of your holiday waste by recycling wrapping paper and recycling gifts and, in view of the recent trend of belt tightening, by reducing the number of gifts you give and receive.

Tis the season to be jolly, but don’t forego your intentions to keep green!
 

Maid Brigade and Mom Corps have partnered:  Helping busy working moms around the house. 

Mom Corps is an innovative staffing solution, supplying companies top-tier, experienced professionals "on demand" to meet business needs and cycles, while enabling candidates seeking flexibility to pursue their professional careers.  We provide professionals challenging work in their respective fields through virtual, contract, and full or part time flexible jobs that allow them to maintain work/life balance.

Maid Brigade and Mom Corps developed our alliance to foster a better sense of work/life balance for working women who juggle career, family and household management and worry about “doing it all well”.

Take our survey!

Our first venture as partners is a research project.  We want to know how busy women like you feel about balancing housework and career in an age of digital distractions and viral pandemics.

All survey participants will be entered into a sweepstakes to WIN a FREE green house cleaning, valued at $250. Plus, you will receive a FREE copy of our Green Guide to help you learn more about green living for health and the environment.  And, you’ll receive a FREE copy of the survey findings once the research is complete. 

It’s simple! Click the "Take our Survey" link above to tell us how YOU balance career and housework.  We invite you to learn more about our new partner, Mom Corps.

Dog grooming is expensive, sometimes a lot more than getting your own hair done! That said, if you’ve got a poodle or a Bichon or a breed that requires professional attention, it’s best to leave any job that requires clippers or scissors to someone in possession of a grooming certificate. But if it’s just a bath Fido needs, this is something you can accomplish at home without too much mess or fuss. When you use green or natural dog shampoo, it's better for your dog and better for the environment.

First, brush your dog thoroughly before rushing for the wash tub. Remove all tangles and mats first because they only get worse when they’re wet. If your dog has gotten into pine sap or tar, remove it first with a little mineral oil or petroleum jelly. If there is no other recourse, cut off the offending substance with scissors, using great care, of course, to not nick your pooch. Apply a little petroleum jelly or mineral oil near the eyes to protect them. Not in the eyes, just around. Also put a cotton ball in your dog’s ears to keep water out. Use a ball that is big enough to not get caught in the ear canal.
 
Next remove your dog’s collar and place him in the bath. If you have a small dog, the kitchen sink will do. If you have a spray attachment, the bathtub is even better, although it’s a good idea to line the bottom of any kind of tub with a dish towel to keep his paws from slipping. Close the door to keep him from leaping out of the tub and dashing from the room. That’s a mess! If you don’t have any way to spray, you are best off using a water pitcher. Use something plastic, never glass!

Human shampoo is too harsh for dogs. It has the wrong pH for their skin. Any commercial dog shampoo is fine, but you can make your own green dog shampoo using 1/3 cup glycerin, 1 cup lemon Liquid Joy, 1 cup white vinegar and one quart of water. Combine these ingredients together in a liter bottle and shake before each use.

The water used to wash your dog should be warm but not hot. Never spray water directly in the dog’s face. Tilt his head up to make sure water runs down his back and not into his eyes. Use your fingers to rub in the green shampoo. If your dog is anxious, talk to him soothingly and massage his chest. Some experts say start with the back, then the rear and then the legs, saving the face for last. In general, work from top to bottom, working the suds down the body.

Rinse out the green shampoo with warm water, never too cold or too hot. Cover your dog’s eyes with your hand to prevent water or shampoo from getting in. Use a detangler for easier combing if you have a long haired dog. After the final rinse, use your hands to squeeze out as much water out as possible. Wrap your dog in a large absorbent towel. Blot, don’t rub, to avoid creating more tangles. You can let your dog shake itself to help dry off. Remove the cotton balls from the ears and let your dog dry naturally if you can. If you must use a blow dryer, keep it on the coolest setting. Also if the weather is cold or even cool, don’t let your dog outside until it is dry.  Finish by brushing your dog once again. Don’t bathe too often as it removes the natural oils from the skin. Most dogs only need a few baths a year. Regular brushing and attention to the nails is all many dogs need to stay healthy and clean.

Now that you’ve finally got the kitchen or bath of your dreams, how in the world do you clean it in a way that is green? Beautiful and pricey building materials like granite and marble require special attention. Here’s a speedy tutorial how to keep them looking like they just came off the show room in an eco-friendly way.

Marble that’s in daily use (like a countertop) should be wiped regularly with plenty of warm water and a few drops of a mild dish detergent – but just a few! Rinse well as soapy residue can build up on the surface. An effective home-made marble cleaner can be made with a solution made of four cups of warm water and 3 tablespoons of baking soda should do it. Dip a soft cloth into the solution and wring out the excess. Wipe the solution on the countertop and let it sit for 2 hours before wiping it clean with warm water and polishing it with a soft cloth.

Here’s a green trick to make your marble shine.  Take a piece of white chalk, crush it and then dampen it with a soft cloth that’s been moistened with a little water.  Next rub it on the marble and allow it to dry for a minute before rinsing with clean water and then finishing with a soft dry cloth.

Never use anything abrasive on marble like a scrub brush or steel wool or anything you would normally use to remove a stain. Never use bleach or a harsh chemical either, as these will damage marble in a nanosecond and they're definitely not green.

Granite is harder than marble or slate and that’s what makes it the godfather of all natural stones. Only a diamond can cut it, never your kitchen knives. But granite can’t tolerate anything acidic, which means that two highly favored natural cleaning substances, lemon juice and vinegar, are no no’s. While you can clean almost anything with a solution of warm water and vinegar, don’t use it on granite. Never, ever! Warm water and a soft cloth are all you need to clean granite. Use distilled water if you’re concerned about high chlorination or heavy mineral content.

Dry thoroughly to prevent water marks. Granite flooring, by the way, should be dust mopped daily to prevent grit from building up. If you must use a product, go for a little hydrogen peroxide if your granite is light colored, or acetone for dark. Be careful if someone tells you to use clear ammonia because it will dull your granite over time. Ammonia is definitely not green, either.

Hopefully these tips will help you enjoy your granite and marble surfaces for many years, in a green and sustainable way.

Blame it on J.Lo and her well publicized fetish about protecting her offspring, but antibacterial wipes and antibacterial soaps have become the new scourge. We’ve literally become a nation of germ-a-phobes! You think you’re protecting yourself and your children from everything from Swine Flu to the common cold, but the reality is antibacterial soaps and wipes are really not so good for you. A consumer protection group called Beyond Pesticides  released a report about these products, and the news may surprise you.

Did you know that over 75% of the liquid soaps and 30% of bar soaps on the market contain some kind of antibacterial agent? The most common active ingredient is called triclosan, a commonly used chemical that easily penetrates the epidermis and makes its insidious way into our bodies. While triclosan is effective for use in hospitals, which is what it was designed for, it is a carcinogenic chemical that when overly used can weaken the immune system, decrease fertility, alter sex hormones, cause birth defects, even cancer. It has also been linked to antibiotic resistance and environmental effects on tap water.

The most worrisome part is how many products you might already be using and have in your home contain the stuff. For example, triclosan is an active ingredient in the Reach Antibacterial Toothbrush, Dial and Jergens liquid soap, Clearasil Daily Face Wash, Right Guard deodorant, even Arm & Hammer Essentials Natural deodorant, which makes a person wonder about the fast and loose use of the word “natural.” Hmm. Triclosans also exist in Farberware microban cutting boards, Solarcaine, Teva sandals, Merrell shoes and Fruit of the Loom socks. For a complete list of the hundreds of products that contain this toxin, check out the website, www.grinningplanet.com.
 

Your little boy or girl loves their teddy bear, but seeing them clutch an object you know has been dragged across the floor, been spit up on, thrown up on, or took a dunk in the toilet is just, er, a lot to bear. Even if nothing especially tragic happened to darling teddy, just FYI for all you allergy sufferers, stuffed animals are a known haven for dead skin cells and dust mites.

What if the toy in question can’t be washed? Try freezing germs out! How to do it? Simply place the stuffed toy in a plastic bag and tightly tie it up. Make sure to squash out as much air around the toy as possible. Next, put the plastic bag in the freezer and leave it overnight. If your child can’t sleep without his or her favorite stuffed animals, freeze it for at least 3 hours. Because germs and dust mites thrive on warm conditions, the deep freeze will kill them.

You can also spot clean stuffed toys with warm water and an anti-bacterial soap and let them sun dry. Extended sun exposure will kill germs, but because it may also fade or change the look of the toy, I say, go for the freezer method. It’s easy, and foolproof!

I'm standing in front of my recycling bins with piles of recyclable trash. I'm turning the containers upside down and all around looking for the codes, but what do those symbols mean?  Most recycling codes apply to the different kinds of plastic. Every code is in the shape of a triangle (and seriously, some of them are very small and hard to find) but what’s the sense of the numbers? 

I decided it's time to learn!

A triangle with the number 1 means PET or PETE, which is an acronym for polyethylene terephthalate. Most beverage bottles (and peanut butter jars) fit into this code. By the way, No. 1 is highly recyclable and the ‘greenest’ plastic you can buy.

No. 2 is HDPE, or high density polyethylene. Milk jugs, shampoo bottles, bleach, detergent, butter and yogurt tubs are made of this stuff. It’s easy to recycle and is often repurposed into fencing, drainage pipes and even floor tile.

No. 3 is PVC, used to make containers for cooking oil, window cleaner, medical equipment and outdoor siding. Clear food packaging is often made of PVC, too. Unfortunately, most neighborhood recycling places won’t take it, even though it can be effectively recycled into mud flaps, doormats and even speed bumps. PVC’s should be handled with care as it is a known carcinogen. 

No. 4 is LDPE, or low-density polyethylene. Squeeze bottles, totes, furniture and carpeting are made of this material as well as ice scrapers and plastic brooms. A lot of medicine is packaged in it. Forget trying to recycle it. Nobody will take it so you wind up just throwing it out.

No. 6 is polystyrene, used to make compact disc cases, egg cartons and ‘disposable’ cups and plates, a reminder that while these utensils are disposable they are not really recyclable as few centers will accept them.

Seems that if we're serious about reducing our carbon footprint, it means avoiding (or at least minimizing) buying anything plastic with a number higher than 2.
 

According to the EPA approximately 165 pesticide compounds are thought to cause cancer.  To make matters worse, a new study conducted by the EPA and published in Environmental Science & Technology finds that pesticides linger in our homes long after they were applied.  The study detected outdoor pesticides (used in the garden and on the lawn but tracked in on the soles of our shoes) as well as indoor pesticides (used to control roaches, fleas, ticks, lice, ants and more).  Some of the pesticides detected on kitchen floors were banned from sale years ago!

According to the study, the most commonly found pesticides were:

• Permethrin (in 89% of homes)
• Chlorpyrifos (78%)
• Chlordane (74%, banned in 1984)
• Piperonyl butoxide (52%)
• Cypermethrin (45%)
• DDT (42%, banned in 1972)
• Fipronil (40%)
• Diazinon (35%, banned in 2004)

Some key takeaways to help keep your home more green and healthy:

1. When applying pesticides outdoors, wear disposable shoe covers or use a pair of shoes specially designated for this purpose that are left in the garage.  Also, start at the far corner of your yard and work your way back toward the house to keep from stepping in applied pesticides.
2. Find green products to control detrimental bug populations in your yard, and remember, not all bugs are bad - some prey on the true pests.
3. Kill roaches, spiders and other bugs you can see with your shoe, not a pesticide. 
4. Be aware that small children and pets are most often exposed to these harmful chemical residues since they spend the most amount of time on the floor of any member of your family.  Don't allow pets to eat food that has dropped on the floor; remove it before they have a chance.
5. Take measures to minimize the amount of toxins that you can control in your home, to counteract those that you can't control.  Using Maid Brigade's Green Clean Certified (R) Service can help with this since we don't use harmful chemicals to clean your home.

Most of us have heard of “carbon footprint,” and have read articles helping you assess what your carbon footprint – how much petroleum you use each year—is, but what about your water footprint?  You can now find out what your water footprint is online. The basis for the water footprint concept and methodology has been established by Professor Arjen Hoekstra at UNESCO-IHE and further developed at the University of Twente,in  the Netherlands. The concept and methods are adapted from all available science on the subject.  What compiles your water footprint? According to the Water Footprint Network, “People use lots of water for drinking, cooking and washing, but even more for producing things such as food, paper, cotton clothes, etc. The water footprint is an indicator of water use that looks at both direct and indirect water use of a consumer or producer. The water footprint of an individual, community or business is defined as the total volume of freshwater that is used to produce the goods and services consumed by the individual or community or produced by the business.”

I love Blythedale Children’s Hospital! So inspiring, so uplifting!

Just FYI, BCH is located in Valhalla. As a parent, you pray you never need to go, but if you do, it’s reassuring to know BCH is completely dedicated to the diagnosis, care, and treatment of kids with complex medical problems and rehabilitative needs. A national leader in developing multi-disciplinary care, Blythedale is super innovative in their approach, plus they’re good neighbors, which is why we offered Maid Brigade's housecleaning services there!

In celebration of Earth Day last month, we sent a great team of house cleaners to do a thorough green spring cleaning --  using our HEPA-vacuums, microfiber cloths and mops, and safe, Green Seal certified cleaning solutions! -- of Blythedale’s ‘family house,’ which is the equivalent concept to a “Ronald McDonald’ house. This means it’s the place where out of town families stay at no charge while their sick child receives treatment at the hospital.

Everyone on the cleaning team was so eager and enthusiastic and proud to help out. They each put their hands and their heart into making every surface shine, which made Gary and me proud too. Later, we heard from the hospital that our housecleaning efforts were really appreciated by the families staying there. After spending a day in the hospital, you know it must feel good to have a clean ‘home’ to come home to!

Thanks, Blythedale! I gotta admit I love that warm ‘n fuzzy feeling that comes from knowing we did somebody else some good!