Cleaning Information & News

After Holiday Cleaning Tips

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:20:00 +0000

This article is very helpful for after holiday cleaning tips, as we all know it can be a bit overwhelming.

We have some ideas, here at Cleanphirst, as well to make it easier for you.
First, those carpets always see a lot of use during the holidays after parties, dinners, and family. CleanpHirst has a great Carpet Cleaning product that will help you out. Carpet Cleaner.
We also have a great kit for you that will get the whole house done. Our Home Cleaning Kit will do the trick for you.

All of our products are "green" and great for the environment, for you, and your family. I know for a fact when I am cleaning, I do not want to inhale all those chemicals, or smell like bleach when I am done. I absolutely hate it when I ruin a piece of clothing, too. These products won't ruin clothing, make you dizzy from breathing them, or hurt your family.

Check them out and please let us know if you have any questions. You can email me directly at rachelg@cleanphirst.com

Thanks! Hope everyone had a great holiday!

Alcohol Free Hand Sanitizer Available By The Gallon!!

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 20:15:00 +0000

Just in time for flu season
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Buy 1 gallon get 1 Free
Use Code Buy1Get1 at checkout
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CLEANpHIRST Introduces New Products!

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 19:01:00 +0000

CLEANpHIRST is happy to announce that we've added new products and combined several of our best to make special cleaning kits.

	Home Cleaning Kit 1 Bottle All Purpose Cleaner 1 Bottle Green Glass Cleaner 1 Bottle Carpet Cleaner 1 Bottle Bathroom Cleaner 1 Microfiber Cloth Click To Order
	Quick Decon Kit For small to mid-size jobs this Decon Kit treats up to 1,600square feet in minutes using a fogging application. Completely cleans mold on virtually any surface combined with a fogging application purifies the room air. CLEANpHIRST DECON will sanitize allergens, dander, mold and other harmful bacteria. Decon can also be applied in a spray application. Click To Order
	Commercial Decon Kit For large jobs this Decon Kit treats up to 6,400 square feet in minutes using a fogging application. Completely cleans mold on virtually any surface combined with a fogging application purifies the room air. CLEANpHIRST DECON will sanitize allergens, dander, mold and other harmful bacteria. Decon can also be applied in a spray application. Click To Order
	CLEANpHIRST Decon 2.5 Gallon Kit CLEANpHIRST Decon eradicates bacteria, viruses, spores, molds and fungus to 99.99999% and neutralizes toxic chemicals immediately, while being totally biodegradable and safe enough for household use. 2.5 gallons treats 32,000 sq. ft. (Fogging Application) Click To Order
	CLEANpHIRST Decon 5 Gallon Kit CLEANpHIRST Decon eradicates bacteria, viruses, spores, molds and fungus to 99.99999% and neutralizes toxic chemicals immediately, while being totally biodegradable and safe enough for household use 5 gallons treats 64,000 sq. ft. (Fogging Application) Click To Order
	CLEANpHIRST Decon 16oz Set CLEANpHIRST Decon is the world’s most advanced antimicrobial / decontaminant. CLEANpHIRST Decon eradicates bacteria, viruses, spores, molds and fungus to 99.99999% and neutralizes toxic chemicals immediately, while being totally biodegradable and safe enough for household use. 16oz. treats up to 1,600 sq. ft. area (Fogging Application) Click To Order
	CLEANpHIRST Decon 64oz Set CLEANpHIRST Decon is the world’s most advanced antimicrobial / decontaminant. CLEANpHIRST Decon eradicates bacteria, viruses, spores, molds and fungus to 99.99999% and neutralizes toxic chemicals immediately, while being totally biodegradable and safe enough for household use. 16oz. treats up to 1,600 sq. ft. area (Fogging Application) Click To Order

Kennel Cleaning with CLEANpHIRST Microbial Decontaminat

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:21:00 +0000

Like disinfecting a cat cage, cleaning a dog run is a relatively simple, everyday task. Do it correctly and you ensure your canine residents a healthier, less stressful stay. But do it incorrectly and you essentially put out a welcome mat for all the germs and bacteria that can make life miserable for the dogs—and for you.

Simple Steps to Ensure your Kennel is Clean:

Remove you pet from the area being cleaned. ( Our products are stay for four legged friends, but cleanings is best done with your four legged friend out of the away.)
Remove all washable pet items ie bowls, toys and bedding. Pet Bowls and toys may be sanitized in a 1:10 mixture of CLEANpHIRST Microbial Decontaminat for 5 mins. Rinse several times to ensure no residue resides. Wash pet bedding in HOT water.
Remove any remain solid waste.
Mix 1 part CLEANPHIRST Microbial Decontaminat to 4 parts Water into a sprayer of your choice. (We recommend the FogMaster Jr or a Hudson Sprayer)
Spray surface with water to remove heavy soil.
Saturate every surface with the Microbial Decontaminat mixture. Including but not limited to the flooring, gates and fencing. Allow surfaces to remain wet for 10 minutes.
Scrub any soil area with a deck brush.
Rinse all surfaces thoroughly with fresh water.

Your kennels is now cleaned and sanitized. Your four legged friends might not notice, but you will.

Preventing Mold In Your Home

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 21:18:00 +0000

Moisture and Mold Prevention Tips

Clean up spills or leaks immediately. Mold will start growing within 24 hours if not dried completely.
Clean and repair roof gutters regularly.
Make sure the ground slopes away from the building foundation, so that water does not enter or collect around the foundation.
Keep air conditioning drip pans clean and the drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly.
Keep indoor humidity low. If possible, keep indoor humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) relative humidity. Relative humidity can be measured with a moisture or humidity meter, a small, inexpensive ($10-$50) instrument available at many hardware stores.
If you see condensation or moisture collecting on windows, walls or pipes immediately dry the wet surface and reduce the moisture/water source. Condensation can be a sign of high humidity.
Vent appliances that produce moisture, such as clothes dryers, stoves, and kerosene heaters to the outside where possible.
Use air conditioners and/or de-humidifiers when needed.
Run the bathroom fan or open the window when showering. Use exhaust fans or open windows whenever cooking, running the dishwasher or dishwashing, etc.
Increase ventilation or air movement by opening doors and/or windows, when practical. Use fans as needed.
Cover cold surfaces, such as cold water pipes, with insulation.
Increase air temperature.

Flood Water After a Disaster or Emergency

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Mon, 16 May 2011 21:36:00 +0000

Click here for original post by the CDC

When returning to your home after a hurricane or flood, be aware that flood water may contain sewage. Protect yourself and your family by following these steps:

Inside the Home

Keep children and pets out of the affected area until cleanup has been completed.
Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles during cleanup of affected area.
Remove and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected (such as, mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings, and most paper products).
Remove and discard drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with sewage or flood waters.
Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces (such as flooring, concrete, molding, wood and metal furniture, countertops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures) with hot water and CLEANpHIRST Microbial Decontaminant.
Help the drying process by using fans, air conditioning units, and dehumidifiers.
To completely clean up mold on any surface, you may want to consider a complete home fogging with CLEANpHIRST's Quick Decon Kit.
After completing the cleanup, wash your hands with soap and warm water. Use water that has been boiled for 1 minute (allow the water to cool before washing your hands).
- Or you may use water that has been disinfected for personal hygiene use (solution of ⅛ teaspoon [~0.75 milliliters] of household bleach per 1 gallon of water). Let it stand for 30 minutes. If the water is cloudy, use a solution of ¼ teaspoon (~1.5 milliliters) of household bleach per 1 gallon of water.
Wash all clothes worn during the cleanup in hot water and CLEANpHIRST Laundry Detergent. These clothes should be washed separately from uncontaminated clothes and linens.
Wash clothes contaminated with flood or sewage water in hot water and CLEANpHIRST Laundry Detergent. It is recommended that a laundromat be used for washing large quantities of clothes and linens until your onsite waste-water system has been professionally inspected and serviced.
Seek immediate medical attention if you become injured or ill.

Spring Is here!

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 20:39:00 +0000

Spring is the time to freshen up your home

Here are some tips to help prepare your house:

Clean & sanitize window treatments
Spring is a great time to inspect and clean window treatments. Whether you need to wash blinds, send drapes to the dry cleaners, or throw washable curtains into the washing machine, getting your window treatments clean after a long winter can brighten an entire room. Be sure to dust down the window casing, wash window sills, and clean any window hardware while you are at it.

Clean & disinfect all bedding
Even with mattress covers, and all of our bedding, mattresses occasionally need to be inspected and cleaned, and in some cases flipped. Use this time to inspect your mattress pads, pillow covers, and all bedding for needed replacement or repairs.

Clean & sanitize air vents
If bouts of coughing and sneezing plague your family at home, perhaps your dusty air conditioning vents and ducts are to blame. Rather than learning to live with your allergenic symptoms, try cleaning your air conditioning and heating vents.

Change air filters
Dust-choked filters and vents become overworked. A fresh filter blocks dust and allergens at the source, preventing them from passing through the ducts and registers. Similarly, the coils in an air conditioning or heat pump system need annual cleaning so that dust does not pass into your household.

Purify your air purifier
If you let your air purifier go too long between regular cleanings and replacement filters, it can get too gunked up to work properly. Yes, it’s a dirty job, but it’s also very satisfying to see all the stuff you and your family didn’t breathe. I was a little intimidated to open up the machine and clean it myself, but the user manual walked me through it.

Disinfect the faucet aerator
Your faucet has clean water running through it every day. But, did you know it can also harbor some serious germs and bacteria? Periodically remove the screen and disinfect it by placing it in boiling water with a tablespoon of white vinegar (instead of bleach).

Why The Flu Is The Smartest Virus Around

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 23:06:00 +0000

Original Story by Norman H. Edelman, M.D.

Thousands of people around the world are diagnosed with influenza each year. Even more do not receive an official diagnosis, but still have what is commonly known as "the flu."

It often starts as a cough, sore throat, chills, fever, or even just aches, and is easily confused with the common cold. What many do not understand is that the influenza virus is both a serious respiratory condition and one of the "smartest" viruses around.

The history of the influenza virus can be traced back more than 800 years. Before 1932, when the virus was first identified in a laboratory, the virus's progression was tracked by written histories of the disease symptoms.

The first influenza epidemic was reported in 1173 CE. The most recent influenza pandemic was the H1N1 strain, which sickened millions and led to more than 18,000 deaths globally in 2009-10.

Although we generally refer today to a single influenza virus, there are actually many forms of influenza virus, none of which are either the same virus identified in 1932 or the virus our ancestors suffered from 800 years ago. While all varieties of influenza are RNA-type viruses that attack the respiratory system, the molecular biology of each virus mutates frequently, effectively trying to "outsmart" those of us physicians and scientists who strive to keep the virus at bay.

So let's take a look at exactly what this ever-changing influenza virus really is. There are three types of influenza viruses -- A, B and C. Influenza A and B viruses cause seasonal epidemics of disease almost every winter in the United States. Influenza A is the most common and is a quickly mutating serotype and is often more debilitating than the Influenza B virus. Influenza type C infections cause a mild respiratory illness and are not thought to cause epidemics.

All three influenza viruses continually mutate to "trick" the body's immune system. Each year, we develop antibodies against one strain of influenza but the virus often changes the next year and leaves us at risk again. In some cases, the antibodies developed from previous years may provide some protection against the new influenza virus, but that is not a game of chance we want to take and why there is a need of annual vaccination.

As antiviral drugs are only effective if given early, it is more important to vaccinate as many people as possible before the start of flu season. Each year, the World Health Organization's (WHO) scientists look at the influenza viruses and predict which three, two influenza A and one influenza B viruses, will be the most prevalent during the upcoming season. Pharmaceutical companies then develop vaccines that provide the most protection against those predicted viruses.

Since influenza viruses are continually "drifting" by undergoing small changes from one season to the next or even within the course of one flu season, it is impossible to predict with complete certainty which influenza viruses will be predominate or the severity, timing or duration of an influenza season. The vaccine can cross-protect against circulating viruses. Antibodies created through vaccination with one strain of influenza viruses will often offer protection against different, but related strains of influenza viruses.

The influenza virus is easily transmitted from person-to-person and we all are at risk for contracting influenza. For some, this will only mean lost work or school days, but for those at highest risk, the results can be more serious, leading to hospitalization and even death. Although sanitizing your home, work and other spaces can slow the virus progression, vaccination is the optimal way to prevent influenza outbreaks.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual influenza immunization for everyone over six months of age. Groups at higher risk of influenza infection or complications include:

People 50 years of age and older
Children six months-18 years of age
Pregnant women
People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, diabetes and others
Residents of long-term care facilities and nursing homes

What puzzles many of us in the health care industry is that although protection against the virus is a simple vaccination, influenza immunization rates fall far short of public health goals every year -- even among those at highest risk. Studies have shown that influenza outbreaks typically start in areas in which the population has little or no immunity. This can be either because of a mutation to the virus or, as with some developing countries or rural areas, vaccination is sparse.

Why are immunization rates for many groups low? Is it the product of complacency in those who have never had influenza, or something else? Whatever the reason, it is important to be vaccinated annually each flu season. Contrary to popular belief, however, the vaccine may not make you sick. According to the CDC, it is safe and effective. If you do get sick immediately after receiving the vaccine, it is likely that you either were exposed to the virus either before or within two weeks after receiving the vaccine, when your body is building immunity against the strains or that it was a new strain not accounted for in the vaccine.

It is important to learn as much as you can about the seasonal influenza virus and vaccine to protect yourself and your loved ones. The American Lung Association's Faces of Influenza campaign is a great place to get educated and find a location to get your influenza vaccine if you haven't already. It is rarely "too late" to get vaccinated, as flu season usually lasts well into the spring, with virus activity peaking in February or March in most years.

More knowledge about this serious illness is just one click away at http://www.facesofinfluenza.org/.

Click Here To Order Products
Or Call (816) 228-1123

Home Selling Help: Cigarette Smoke Can Eliminate Buyers

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 21:21:00 +0000

Original Post By Owner University

Have you noticed how online auction sellers frequently use the phrase “from a non-smoking home” in their marketing? It’s a key advertising phrase that attracts non-smokers. With more cities and states passing stricter non-smoking laws, the topic of passive smoke on people and things is being brought up more often. The effect of the economy on real estate is like the effect of cigarette smoke on a home. Who knew it could affect so many different things and hang around this long? In a market where competition is tough, values are painfully low for sellers and buyers are scarce, every little bit counts.

Most homes have a subtle odor that’s part of the lifestyle of the owners. It may be from pets, cleaning products or last night’s dinner. But if anyone in the home is a smoker, lingering tobacco smoke may be noticeable as well. Most smokers will step outside before lighting up, but some smoke indoors, and should they ever need to sell their home, there is a pool of buyers sensitive to tobacco smoke that may exclude the home from consideration due to the smoke residue.

Smoke goes everywhere, and tobacco odors can be re-activated by heat or humidity, so cleaning the residue is a major undertaking. Enough that in a buyers’ market, many will choose to move onto the next home on the list when faced with the work it takes to remove cigarette smoke from an entire building. There’s more than man hours to consider. There’s considerable expense as well. Carpeting and window coverings will need to be completely replaced for someone who is sensitive to the smoke. A professional fogging from CLEANpHIRST should do the trick.

It’s not just the carpets and window coverings that need cleaned. Tobacco residue builds up on the walls, and especially the ceiling. These surfaces will almost always require complete repainting. Before painting, the surfaces must be washed, rinsed and dried. CLEANpHIRST's Microbial Decontaminant is the perfect solution for this task. Then the stains must be sealed with a primer designed to cover stains and seal in odors. Without it, nicotine stains can seep through several coats of fresh paint overnight.

Other surfaces that will need to be scrubbed with Microbial Decontaminant include: cabinets and drawers (inside and out), furnace ductwork and filters, windows and closets. Light fixtures and ceiling fans will also need cleaning. Smoke tends to be drawn towards lights, so the bulbs may need to be swapped out too. Tile grout is a challenge. The porous surface makes it difficult to get completely clean. It may need to be replaced, especially if it’s in a bathroom where steam from a hot shower can aggravate the problem.

After cleaning, you can check to see if the odor is gone by closing up the house and leaving for a few days, leave the air conditioning off in the summer, or set the furnace to be toasty warm in the winter. Check back a few days later and have someone that is sensitive to cigarettes walk through. This is the ultimate test. In a slow market when you are selling your home, take every step you can to keep your home in the running with the buyers that come through. By eliminating cigarette odors, you can avoid having non-smoking buyers scratch your home off their list.

Call CLEANpHIRST
For More Information
816.228.1123

Are Pet Odors Chasing Away Potential Home Buyers?

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 15:24:00 +0000

Don’t Let Pet Odors
Kill Your Sale!

Having pet odors inside your home can turn off potential home buyers and keep your home from selling. Ask your real estate agent for an honest opinion about whether your home has a pet smell.

If your realtor detects a smell, here’s how to get rid it:

Air your house out. While you’re cleaning, throw open all the windows in your home to allow fresh air to circulate and sweep out unpleasant scents.

Scrub thoroughly. Scrub bare floors and walls soiled by pets with CLEANpHIRST Microbial Decontaminant. This will neutralize and remove pet odors, making your home easier to sell.

Got stubborn pet odors covering a large area? We recommend calling one of our professionals to come out and completely defog your entire home with CLEANpHIRST Microbial Decontaminant.

Wash your drapes and upholstery. Pet odors seep into fabrics. Launder, steam clean, or dry clean all your fabric window coverings with CLEANpHIRST Laundry Detergent. Steam clean upholstered furniture by adding CLEANpHIRST Microbial Decontaminant to your steamer.

Clean your carpets. Spot clean your carpets with CLEANpHIRST Carpet Cleaner, or shampoo your carpets and rugs with CLEANpHIRST Microbial Decontaminant for larger areas.

Once your house is free of pet odors, do what you can to keep the smells from returning. Crate your dog when you’re out or keep it outdoors. Limit the cat to one floor or room, if possible. Remove or replace pet bedding.

Control ongoing urine smells. If your dog uses indoor pee pads, put down a new pad each time the dog goes. Throw them away outside in a trash can with a tight lid. Remove even clean pads from view before each showing.

Replace kitty litter daily, rather than scooping used litter clumps, and sweep up around the litter box. Hide the litter box before each showing.

Relocate pets. If your dog or cat has a best friend it can stay with while you’re selling your home (and you can stand to be separated from your pet), consider sending your pet on a temporary vacation. If pets have to stay, remove them from the house for showings and put away their dishes, towels, and toys.

Bedbug Invasion Is Turning Into Big Business

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 15:24:00 +0000

By Jennifer Alsever
msnbc.com contributor

Bedbugs mean big money — whether you’re a victim or an exterminator. The result: an exploding bedbug business that is not likely to die down anytime soon.

Why? Bedbugs are expert hitchhikers, catching rides inside purses, shoes, luggage, clothes and shopping bags, and they can secretly set up camp in new locations, going for up to a year without feeding. They’re showing up in college dorms, nursing homes, day care centers, libraries, funeral homes and even movie theaters.

And they are tough to get rid of.

“We are on the threshold of a bedbug pandemic, not just in the United States, but around the world," said Missy Henriksen, spokeswoman for the National Pest Management Association, an industry trade group. “They can go into clean and dirty properties alike. They are equal opportunity pests.”

That’s good if you’re an exterminator or make stuff that kills bedbugs. Revenues from bedbug extermination hit $258 million last year, up from $98 million 2006, according to the trade group, which represents 7,000 pest control companies. Industry officials expect 2010 revenues to be even bigger.

“It is absolutely out of control right now,” says Andy Carace, owner of Pest End Exterminators, based in Derry, N.H. So far this year, the 28-employee company has had 800 bedbug jobs. Five years ago, it had 50 cases.

“Bedbugs have been identified as the single most difficult pest to treat in our industry,” Henriksen says.

Extermination is a tough job. Pesticides such as DDT once nearly wiped out the bedbug problem 50 years ago, but there is no one single effective way to tackle them today. One method used successfully in Ohio, for instance, might not work on a different bedbug strain in New York, says Henriksen.

Bedbug victims may have to pay hundreds and even thousands of dollars for extermination, since most cases require repeated treatments.

To meet demand, Pest End created a new bedbug division, hired three new employees and spent $15,000 to buy and train a 2-year-old beagle named Rascal who can sniff out bedbugs and their eggs. Carace says a trained dog can find bugs faster and with better accuracy than a technician can.

Bedbug-detecting dog Barney signals which container has live bed bugs during a demonstration at the Bed Bug University North American Summit in Chicago. Pest End now gets 15 to 30 calls a day from hysterical homeowners wanting to book Rascal at $200 an hour. Nationwide, dogs are used in about 15 percent of bedbug cases.

“A lot of people call and they think they have bedbugs and they don’t,” says Courtney Nicholson, Pest End’s bedbug dog handler. “Some people start scratching themselves, driving themselves crazy. There’s a bit of paranoia.”

Homeowners and hoteliers are not the only ones affected by the creepy crawlies. Last month, Nike Town, Victoria Secret and Abercrombie & Fitch closed the doors of their New York City outlets to deal with bedbug infestations. Used furniture stores, office buildings and Laundromats have been affected. Hospitals, nursing homes and cruise ships are seeking advice on what to do if they’re invaded as well.

“These companies may be spending hundreds of thousands of dollars dealing with bedbugs and managing hysteria,” says Jeff White, research entomologist for BedBugCentral.com, a for-profit online clearinghouse of bedbug information. White says he has seen hotel rooms stripped down to the concrete to purge the pests.

For retailers, the expense extends beyond extermination and includes lost revenues due to business closures and contaminated products that must be discarded. Most insurance policies don’t cover infestations so any costs come straight out of the bottom line. Return policies may change to prevent contamination from returns from bedbug-ridden homes, says White.

The even bigger cost is obvious: What happens to a store’s reputation when customers can’t shake the heebie-jeebies and to come back and spend money?

“We have clients across the board who are concerned about this,” says JoAnn Sullivan, who advises retail clients on the topic for Marsh Risk Consulting. She tells them to treat a bedbug infestation much like they would a food recall.

“You want to have a plan,” she says. “It’s going to get out, so get out in front of the story.”

Consumers can choose from a wide range of products, although it is hard to say what might be effective.

There are $160 FabricTech mattress covers, $10 specialty sprays and $30 luggage liners. For $22, people can buy “interceptors,” which are placed under a bed’s legs to trap the bugs on their way up to a nighttime snack. For $320, a portable heating unit is said to kill off “stowaway” bedbugs hidden in luggage.

Another new gadget, NightWatch Bedbug monitor, is supposed to identify bedbugs by mimicking a sleeping person by releasing heat and carbon dioxide that attracts the bugs. The cost: $422. There are even $30,000 portable insect inferno trailers for sale that fire up the heat to kill bugs in a couch or mattress.

Many makers tout “green” products, promising safer solutions over harmful chemicals, and bedbug experts say it’s tough to know which products are legitimate and which are not.

“There is potential for fraud,” says Jerome Goddard, a Mississippi State medical entomologist. A maker of a “green” herbal spray recently embellished comments Goddard made about the spray’s effectiveness and then implied in advertisements that Goddard endorsed it when he did not.

“Whenever there is a buck to be made, people may stretch the truth,” he says.

Many county or university extension services also offer online advice on how to sort through bedbug products, and PestWorld.org, which is run by the National Pest Management Association, lets people search for reputable pest control companies.

The Environmental Protection Agency recently warned consumers to also check whether the pesticides to be used have been approved by the EPA and are approved for treating bedbugs.

How do I know if I have bed bugs?

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 21:28:00 +0000

This is a tough one. It can be hard to tell if you've got them or not, because they are pretty small, only come out for very short periods, and because they are pretty good at hiding. First off, you should look for some key signs.

1) Waste - Bed bugs create a lot of waste, and that is harder to hide than they are. It can consist of dark spots on your mattress (which can be blood, feces, etc.) or of shed skins, eggs, dead bed bugs, etc. You may find it inside your mattress, in the box springs, or in the linens. It looks like this:

2) Bites - You should be seeing little red bites on you without really knowing why. People rarely catch bed bugs in the act - they come out when you are asleep, and only bite for a short period. Also, like many bugs, you cannot feel the bite until a few minutes after it happens. The bites are very hard to identify - most doctors actually can't tell you for sure what they're from just by looking at them. There are a few examples here, here, here, and here.

3) Hiding places - Look in all the key spots where they could hide. This means the mattress and around it, folds in the linens, curtains, and nearby furniture. Look for the waste or dark spots. You probably won't see live ones, but they look like little mini-cockroaches.

4) Catch them in the act - Keep a flashlight by your bed, and turn it on about an hour before dawn and watch the sheets closely for movement. Bed bugs usually bite around then, but if you get up or move too much they will go back into hiding. This can be hard to do - if you've only got a few of them, they only need to come out once a week or so anyway, so you might get unlucky and not see any, even though you have them.

5) Carpet tape - This is a great way to do it. Get some double-sided carpet tape (it's tape designed to keep rugs stuck to the floor) and lay out strips around your bed, and on the sides of the mattress but where you won't run into it when you sleep. Leave it out for a few days. If you've got bedbugs, it's likely that at least a couple of them will get stuck on it. You can buy it online here.

Sources and Useful Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bed_bug

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/bedbugs/

How To Prevent Bed Bugs

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:18:00 +0000

Bed Bug Prevention Tips

A bit of information that you might like to know about. An entomologist (insect expert), and has been telling us that there is an epidemic of bed bugs now occurring in America. Recently, we have heard on the news that several stores in NYC have had to close due to bed bug problems, as well as a complete mall in New Jersey.

He says that since much of our clothing, sheets, towels, etc. now comes from companies outside of America, (sad but true), even the most expensive stores sell foreign clothing from China, Indonesia, etc. The bed bugs are coming in on the clothing as these countries do not consider them a problem.

He recommends that if you buy any new clothing, even underwear and socks, sheets, towels, etc. that you immediately wash them with a germ killing laundry detergent, and put them in your clothes dryer for at least 20 minutes on high. An effective laundry detergent will kill germs and bacteria, and remove any odors or chemicals, and the heat will kill bed bugs and their eggs.

TO PREVENT BED BUGS: DO NOT PURCHASE CLOTHES AND HANG THEM IN THE CLOSET FIRST!

It does not matter what the price range is of the clothing, or if the outfit comes from the most expensive store known in the U.S. They still get shipments from these countries and the bugs can come in a box of scarves or anything else for that matter. That is the reason why so many stores, many of them clothing stores have had to shut down in NYC and other places.

All you need is to bring one item into the house that has bugs or eggs and you will go to hell and back trying to get rid of them. He travels all over the country as an advisor to many of these stores on bed bug prevention and clean up after they have the problem.

Bathroom Cleaning Tips

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 17:48:00 +0000

Helpful Hints

Always keep an all-purpose cleaner and a sponge in the guest bath so you can sneak away and clean up when unexpected company shows up.
Keep a squeegee and Green Glass Cleaner in the shower so everyone can wipe it down when they are done (this will help prevent mildew).
Steam helps to loosen build-up so why not clean while you're in there?
Disinfectant can be used on everything in the bath except the mirror. Use a green glass cleaner for that!
Don't forget doorknobs and switchplates.

Cleaning Shower Mats

Dip a stiff brush in a bathroom cleaner and warm water solution to clean bath and shower mats.

Easy Bathroom Cleaning

Clean after a steamy bath or shower. The walls, fixtures, etc., will be much easier to clean because the steam will have loosened the dirt.

Cleaning the Sink

For light stains, rub with a fresh cut lemon.
For dark stains (like rust) rub with a paste of borax and lemon juice.

Bathtub Rings

To avoid bathtub rings, don't use oily bath preparations. Use a water softener if you live in a hard-water area. Rinse the tub immediately after bathing.
If a ring does form, wipe it off with undiluted ammonia (wear rubber gloves) or a wet sponge generously sprinkled with baking soda. Rinse clean and wipe dry. For a more stubborn stain, scour with automatic dishwashing detergent or rub with a cloth dipped in vinegar.

Cleaning with Rubbing Alcohol

Glass Cleaner will clean the caulking around bathtubs. It also shines chrome and glass. Liquid chlorine bleach (1/4 cup to one gallon) will also clean caulk.

Cleaning Toilet Bowl

Clean the toilet bowl while you're away by pouring in 1/4 cup of Microbial Decontaminant and leaving it until you return.
Keep the toilet bowl ring-free by pouring a half-gallon of white vinegar in it once a month. Let it soak overnight before flushing.
Don't use bleach if you're already using a tank-held cleaner that's released when the toilet is flushed. The two may react chemically. Instead, use the Microbial Decontaminant.
To avoid clogging and odors, pour one cup baking soda down the bowl weekly.

Getting to Dirt in the Corner

Can't get to that dirt in the corner? Make a pointed tool by cutting an old whisk broom at a 45 degree angle.

Small Bathrooms

If you have a small bathroom or a tile entrance and don't have time to bother with a scrub bucket, just use an all purpose spray cleaner and a damp sponge for quick clean up.

Mildew

To remove mildew from the corners of the tub, dip cotton balls in microbial decontaminant and let them sit, when you finish cleaning the bath, remove cotton and rinse well. The mildew will be gone.

Disinfectant

Clean with a disinfectant to kill germs. Everything in the bathroom except the mirror can be cleaned this way in just 3 or 4 minutes a day. Using a decontaminant in different

Save Money!

Using one strong microbial decontaminant in different mixture rates can save a lot of cash, instead of buy 3 different cleaners to do odd jobs around the bathroom! Click here to see our disinfectant kit.

Health Tip: Prevent Passing Germs

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:45:00 +0000

MRSA: The Superbug Slideshow

Infectious Mononucleosis Slideshow

Strep or Sore Throat Slideshow

(HealthDay News) -- Viruses that cause thecommon cold or flu are spread in droplets produced when a person coughs or sneezes, a process the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls "droplet spread."

Virus- or bacteria-laden droplets also can spread disease when a person touches a contaminated surface, then touches their own eyes, nose or mouth, the agency says.

The CDC offers these suggestions to help prevent the spread of germs:

Always cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough. Try to sneeze or cough into a tissue instead of your hands.
Wash your hands often, and make sure you spend about 20 seconds washing them. That's about the time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice, the agency notes.
Carry a bottle of hand sanitizer to wash your hands when you're not near a sink.
Teach children to follow these same practices.

-- Diana Kohnle

Avoid triclosan and triclocarban in all cleaners!

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 13:33:00 +0000

Lawsuit: Antimicrobial Soaps Damage Reproductive Organs

Published July 29, 2010
| Reuters
A nonprofit environmental group has sued the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, claiming the agency failed to regulate toxic chemicals found in "antimicrobial" soap and other personal care products.

The National Resources Defense Council alleges that two common ingredients, triclosan and triclocarban, can damage reproductive organs, sperm quality and the production of thyroid and sex hormones.

According to the suit, which also names U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius as a defendant, recent bio-monitoring results found "residues of triclosan in 75 percent of Americans over the age of 6."

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Tuesday. Representatives of the FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services declined to comment, saying it was a matter of policy not to comment on lawsuits.

Plaintiffs contend that the FDA violated federal law in its delay over establishing safe conditions of use. More than 30 years ago, the agency first proposed to regulate such products for over-the-counter use, but they remain on the market and are unregulated, the group said.

"As a result of the FDA's lengthy delay, consumers remain exposed to triclosan and triclocarban through a variety of over-the-counter drug products, such as antimicrobial hand soaps, that proliferate on the market," the lawsuit stated.

The suit seeks an order requiring the FDA to finish its study on the conditions of use by a specific deadline.
No manufacturers or retailers were named as defendants or were cited in the lawsuit.

The FDA said in April it was reviewing the safety of triclosan. It noted there was no evidence it could be harmful to people and did not recommend changing consumer use of products that contain the agent.

POPULAR CLEANING PRODUCTS

The popularity of antimicrobial products has grown in recent years and the products are increasingly found in homes and offices, where germs can easily be passed from person to person.

The lawsuit cites various recent studies that associate the chemicals with a host of health risks, from lower thyroid hormone levels to the disruption of testosterone production.

In 1978, according to the lawsuit, the FDA proposed to ban from interstate commerce both triclosan and triclocarban either six months or two years after publication of its final study, but no action was taken until 1994, when some ingredients were reclassified.

"Healthcare antiseptics containing these chemicals remained on the market and increased in prevalence" since 1994, the lawsuit said.

The National Resources Defense Council said it had met with the FDA to try to hasten the study, to no avail.
Responding to a letter from U.S. Rep. Edward Markey of Massachusetts in February, the FDA said it could not give a specific timeline, but said it was "working diligently" to publish the proposed rule. It also cited a lack of long-term data regarding potential health effects from exposure to the toxins.

The case is National Resources Defense Council v. USDA et al, 10 CIV 5690.

P.S. Don't be fooled by 'greenwashed labels' when other harmful ingredients are lurking still inside the bottle in the store, like DEA, TEA or SLS, etc.

Back to School Lists

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:40:00 +0000

With school openings just around the corner many parents are scrambling to meet the needs of their children’s ever expanding “must-bring” list. The days are long past where only a box of 48 crayons, 10 - #2 pencils, left handed scissors with the green handle (I was the only lefty in the class) and a small tube of Elmer’s Glue was all that was required on the first day of school. Today the “must-bring” list has expanded past classic school supplies and a 3-ring binder, and resembles more of a janitorial supply list from my first semester of college; toilet paper, disinfecting spray, paper towels, tissues, paper cups and plastic knife, fork and spoons, hand sanitizer, and sometimes even laundry detergent.

Many elementary and middle school students throughout the country are required to bring these items and more. Not only can it be expensive, but it can be tedious and tiresome if you have more than one kid in school. Many retail stores are expanding their back to school sections to try and cash in on the diminishing budgets that many schools are experiencing. It used to be backpacks next to the trapper keepers (remember those), and sneakers next to the jeans in the back to school sections. Now it is more like hand sanitizer next to a pack of printer paper, and hand soap next to the pens and pencils. As the “must bring” list grows, so does the amount of cleaning supplies jammed into the never ending back to school sections.

With parents and consumers feeling the overall economic squeeze of late, the best way to beat the crowds and overcrowded shelves in the back to school sections is to shop around online. You can save both time and money, and often buying in bulk can offset costs for the families that have more than one student at home. Many companies like ours, are family businesses and understand the pinch that is felt and offer some outstanding deals on “must-bring” items. Search for your entire list and save time and save yourself from drowning in the overstuffed aisles of back to school sections.

Web Directory

Free Web Directory - A human edited web directory offering both free and paid submissions.

More States Require 'Green' Cleaning Products

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:40:00 +0000

More states are requiring schools and government buildings to use environmentally friendly cleaning products, raising debate about their costs and benefits.

After a burst of legislation last year, 10 states including Connecticut, Illinois and New York require or encourage "green" floor waxes, window cleaners and other products in schools, according to Green Seal Inc., a nonprofit that certifies the products. Similar bills are expected to be debated this year in at least five states.

Critics say that while the measures are laudable, states should not mandate which products schools and agencies must buy, especially if they increase costs for governments that are struggling financially.

But supporters say the laws protect the environment and reduce the use of harsh chemicals that can harm workers' and children's health.

"The goal of the bill is to make schools and other public space less toxic and healthier for kids and the general public," said Democratic Rep. Cory Mason, sponsor of a bill in Wisconsin.

Nevada lawmakers watered down a bill last year that would have required green cleaning products in schools after school officials raised concerns about the cost and their lack of expertise in such cleaning. The bill signed by Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons only requires schools to use environmentally sensitive floor cleaners.

In Hawaii, Republican Gov. Linda Lingle last year vetoed a bill that would have required the Department of Education to give preference to products approved by Green Seal. She said it was inappropriate for the state to rely on certifications from "a single private organization." The Democratic-controlled Legislature overrode the veto.

Mason's plan, like those in other states, would require public buildings in Wisconsin to use cleaning and paper products certified as environmentally sensitive by the federal government or several private groups. But it also would encourage agencies to apply the products in ways that reduce water use and the amount of chemicals released into the air.

The Assembly natural resources committee voted 8-6 on Wednesday to approve the bill, which Republican critics said was unnecessary.

"It's an overreach of the state in telling local schools what they should do to keep themselves clean," said Rep. Jim Ott, R-Mequon.

The vote sends the measure to the full Assembly for approval. Senate sponsors of the bill have said they plan to seek approval after the Assembly.

Green cleaning products are widely available at prices comparable to traditional products. In some cases, manufacturers receive green certifications for products they have long had on the market. After a rocky start years ago, their effectiveness also is now comparable.

"There is no reason to pay a penny more to acquire green products. Plain and simple," said John Matthews, senior vice president for JohnsonDiversey. "And across the board, reputable companies are capable of making g reen products that perform well."

- Read More at ABC News

Top 25 Best Cleaning Tips Ever

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:18:00 +0000

Best cleaning tips we have ever heard!

Leave a comment and let us know your favorite or best cleaning tips ever!

Buffing a marble tabletop with nano polish leaves a thin, invisible film that helps reduce the risk of stains.
To stop bathroom mirrors steaming up, regularly rub a dry bar of soap over the surface and rub in with a clean cloth.
Stop clothes with thin straps falling off hangers by sticking small felt furniture pads onto the hanger just beyond where the straps sit.
To remove oil from silk clothing, gently rub cornflour into the area and lightly brush off. Cover the oil mark completely with more cornflour and leave to sit for a few hours. Shake clothing free of flour and then hand wash, or use a gentle machine cycle, using soap suitable for delicates.
To keep your car windows ice and frost free when left outside overnight in the wintertime, mix three parts vinegar to one part water, put it in a spray bottle and spray on the windows as needed.
To remove pollen from the stamen of flowers, take a piece of sticky tape about five centimetres long, gently press the sticky side to the pollen mark and lift off. Repeat with clean sticky tape as required. Do not try to brush it off.
To pick up small fragments of broken glass, press pieces of bread onto the affected area.
If you have an aquarium, save the water each time you change it and water your house plants with it. It’s full of nutrients and makes a great fertiliser.
To stop ants entering your house, draw a chalk line on the ground where you want them to stop. If you live in a rainy area where ants are a problem, you must re-draw the chalk lines each time it rains.
To deter silverfish, place whole cloves in wardrobes and drawers.
To get blood out of fabrics, use hydrogen peroxide. Apply it directly to the stain and then launder in the washing machine.
To remove body oil stains from collars and cuffs of coloured shirts and blouses, rub hair shampoo directly on the stains. Rinse out the shampoo, then wash the clothes as usual.
To prevent ash from flying everywhere when cleaning out a fireplace, use a spray bottle filled with microbial decontaminant to cover the ashes with a light mist.
To clean the bottom of the iron, sprinkle salt on the ironing board and iron back and forth.
To clean a microwave oven, add four tablespoons of lemon juice to one cup of water in a microwave-safe bowl. Boil for five minutes in the microwave, allowing the steam to condense on the inside walls of the oven. Then wipe them with a soft cloth.
To clean a stainless-steel sink, put the stopper in the sink with two denture-cleaning tablets and half fill with water; leave for several hours or overnight and the next day it should be sparkling. Then use the water to clean the draining board, too.
To remove marker pen off hard surfaces, spray on hair spray and then wipe it off.
To remove cat and dog hair from clothes and furniture, rub them with damp rubber gloves.
To clean your shower curtain, wash it in the washing machine with about one cup each of vinegar and bleach, some white towels and a normal amount of laundry detergent. Adding fabric softener will help keep the curtain clean. When the load is done, return the curtains to their place in the bathroom to drip dry. The wrinkles will disappear in a day or so. (Check your washing machine manual to ensure it’s okay to use bleach).
To clean glass windows, add about one tablespoon of cornstarch to about one litre of lukewarm water. Wet and a rag or squeegee, remove excessive water and wipe down glass as if using regular glass cleaner. Dry with either a soft cloth or paper.
To restore toilet bowls back to their shiny best, clean with old, flat Coke or Pepsi. To dissolve limescale, leave the soda overnight to soak. Then clean with a microbial bathroom cleaner.
Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to clean the tops and creases of Roman blinds.
Vacuuming a mattress, particularly along piping and crevices, removes dead skin cells that attract dust mites.
A good microbial decontaminate kills mould spores. Mix three drops in one litre of water and then use to wipe down areas susceptible to mould.
To get rid of the smell of garlic from your hands, rub against stainless steel – your sink is ideal. Then wash hands with soap and water and use a hand sanitizer.

The 5 Germiest Places to Be

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:20:00 +0000

By Jenny Everett, SELF magazine

Actress and celeb Megan Fox says that she has a phobia of germs—so much so that she won't use public bathrooms and recoils at restaurant cutlery. And, she's not the only woman who's freaked out by nasty bugs: In a Self.com poll, 75 percent of readers said they flush public toilets with their foot, and 63 percent avoid handrails on subways, buses, and escalators. 1 in 10 said they avoid shaking hands.

According to SELF contributor Maryn McKenna, author of Superbug: The Fatal Menace of MRSA, we should at the very least be cautious and aware. And she should know. She's a self-described "scary disease" reporter who's been following around Centers for Disease Control detectives for years, tracking drug-resistant staph (a.k.a. MRSA)—a bug that was once contained to hospitals and jails, but in recent years has made its way into the general public. When she wrote about MRSA for SELF, her inbox exploded with women who had somehow been affected by this potentially fatal bug.

Freaked out after reading Superbug (put us in Megan Fox's corner), we asked Maryn for advice on avoiding MRSA and bad bugs in general. Here's what the scary disease reporter had to say.

The Gym

"I never wear shorts to the gym anymore and it's not just because I have awful thighs! I know there will be a day when I am lost in my workout and I will sit on a bench without wiping it down. It's impossible to be mindful 100 percent of the time and to me it's not worth the risk. At the very least, it's important to change out of your gym clothes immediately after your workout. Staph reproduces in sweaty, salty environments, so the longer you stay in your gym clothes the more likely you are to be at risk."

Germs at the Party

"Staph—all Staph—lives on our skin and in our nostrils. We are the carriers. It can of course live on us without making us sick, but certain environments (an extreme example would be an Army barracks) increase risk of infection." If you're somewhere crowded and sweaty and hot, wash your hands often. "The hands are the single easiest way to transport bugs, but washing your hands is like whacking them over the head with a hammer. The friction of rubbing your hands together jars them loose, then the suds lift them away from your skin so the water can rinse them away."

Germs at the Makeup Counter

"I am a total sucker for makeup, but makeup sampling freaks me out. Never ever try something that people are putting their fingers in. That skin contact transfers all kinds of bugs." If you're sketched out, ask the woman at the counter if she has a new tester you can use. They almost always say yes because they want to make the sale.

Germs in the Kitchen

"These types of bugs are starting to make it into the food chain so it's important to wash produce well and use separate cutting boards for meat. It's not about being paranoid, it's about incorporating simple steps into the workflow of your day."

Wonder when to expunge that kitchen sponge from your life? It's best to chuck it after about a week, or when it starts to smell funky. Why? Unsafe bacteria are probably lurking on the surface and could spread to your food.

Germs at the Doctor's Office

"Drug-resistant staph really exploded in healthcare. So if you're going to the hospital for, say, an out-patient surgery (even something as simple as a mole removal!) ask them about how they keep the place clean. Challenge them about it."

If you don't want to get sick when surrounded by sneezers, wash your hands or slap on some sanitizer as often as you can. Cold bugs don't become strongly rooted on your skin, which means soap and water will literally wash them away. Alcohol-based sanitizers kill viruses outright, and they're as effective as hand washing. Keep a small bottle on your desk and in your purse.

How Flesh-Eating Bacteria Ravage the Body

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:05:00 +0000

From CBS - Serious flesh-eating infections of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as MRSA, affect 94,000 people in the U.S. each year and are linked to 19,000 deaths.

In 2005, Sandy Wilson was seven-and-a-half months pregnant when she got the infection. After an emergency C-section, her son wasn't affected. He's a happy 5-year-old today. But the disease horribly ravaged her body, hospitalizing her for nearly two-and-a-half years.

At one point, Wilson had an open cavity in her abdomen. She said in an exclusive interview on "The Early Show" she didn't think she'd be around to celebrate her son's first birthday.

"When I first looked at (the cavity), it was very hard," Wilson said. "And knowing what I had seen in the emergency room, I thought, you know, I can't live through that, because you can't live without your abdomen. An arm, a leg, you know, your vision, you can live without those. But you can't live without your abdomen. And I could read it on people's faces. They tried really hard to be encouraging, but I could read it."

A majority of the time she was ravaged by the flesh-eating bacteria, Wilson said, she was confused because of the anesthesia from her many surgeries.

"I had surgeries for the month or two after (the discovery of the infection) once a day, sometimes twice a day, going down to about every other day," Wilson said. "I didn't understand why I couldn't see (my son). So I was accusing everybody of keeping him away from me, and I also thought that he had died, and I had done something wrong. So I was being punished."

How did Wilson get the infection?

"They don't know," Wilson said. "I had roughly around 750 donors during that time, as well as a central line. I had an open C-section wound at the time. Also, I'm a pediatric emergency room nurse, so I could have been compromised with that prior to delivery."

CBS News Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton added, "This is really our worst nightmare in the medical profession. And I've seen this with a patient and we're talking here about a bacteria that is highly resistant to what we call our 'big gun' antibiotics."

She continued, "We always have staph bacteria all over us. About one percent of the population is what we say colonized with MRSA, usually, believe it or not in our nasal passages. And all it takes is either a sick person in the hospital or a person on the street with an open wound ... but that bacteria gets into the body, can become rampant, and gives you a condition called necrotizing fasciitis, and it is life threatening. About 50 percent -- one out of two patients -- with that condition can actually die from it."

Ashton explained the flesh-eating bacteria live in crowded places, such as daycare facilities or prisons, or anywhere there's close contact. A compromise in your skin, she said, gives an "in" for the bacteria to grow.

"Contaminated items is another factor," Ashton said. "Sporting equipment, things at health clubs, razor blades. Do not share those things. And lastly, of course, lack of cleanliness. In a hospital, we see lot of this, but it's also seen a lot in the community."

Ashton said washing your hands is one of the most important things to safeguard against this bacteria.

MRSA, CBS News co-anchor Erica Hill pointed out, can look in its early stages like a spider bite.

Ashton added the bacteria move fast from that point on: "When you start to get a fever, low blood pressure, that's an indication that it's systemic through your body."

CLEANpHIRST Cleaning Products Endorsement

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:54:00 +0000

After 7 years of daily using regular cleaning supplies that contained bleach, ammonia, etc. I developed respiratory issues that caused me to wear a face mask while cleaning. Since I have started using Clean PHirst I no longer have to wear the face mask and after a month haven't had any issues! My clients and I both love the products offered at Clean PHirst. They are easy to use, effective, and leave no residue behind.

Tami Schallenberg
Commercial & Residential Cleaning

Raise Money & Help Your Community!

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:56:00 +0000

For every $10 Three Pack of CLEANpHIRST Hand Sanitizer sold, your cause earns...$4.50!

Plus, through a customized web store your cause can earn HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS more with online cleaning product sales!

Use the power of this protection and health product line to drive your organization's fundraising needs. A CLEANpHIRST fundraising program can create a dynamic revenue opportunity and make your community safer.

Click here for more information on CLEANpHIRST Fundraisers!

Top 8 Germs In Your Home

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 21:26:00 +0000

The commonly used phrase "wash your hands" will not fully prevent the germs spreading throughout your home. H1N1 flu continues to spread around the globe. All the hand-washing in the world may not be a match for the germs and viruses lurking on household surfaces. "There is a big appreciation for influenza that you can get it from your hands, but a lack of appreciation that viruses can be picked up on surfaces," said John Oxford, who heads the Hygiene Council and is a professor of virology at St. Bartholomew's and the Royal London Hospital. A study was done to identify the dirtiest places in the home and tell us how to keep them germ-free.
CLEANpHIRST offers products that can be used daily around the house to stop the spread of bacteria and viruses. We also offer Alcohol-Free Foam Sanitizer that is extremely efficient in killing and eliminating any left-over germs that remain on your hands.

1. Kitchen Cloths and Sponges

People frequently use sponges or cloths to wipe germs from surfaces in the kitchen. As a result, 70 percent of kitchen sponges in U.S. homes failed the hygiene test by having high levels of bacteria, according to the Hygiene Council. The council recommends running sponges through the dishwasher regularly and washing kitchen cloths on the hot cycle in the washing machine.

2. Kitchen Faucets
Typically people wash their hands after handling raw meat in the kitchen, but they touch the faucet to turn on the water and do not think about the bacteria that they leave. The Hygiene Council found more than half of faucets in American homes are covered in bacteria. Use a disinfectant spray on faucets to kill germs.

3. Tub and Shower
Rubino identified the shower as the third germiest place in the home. The bathtub may have 100 times more bacteria than the trash can, according to an in-home bacteria study conducted by the Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community at Simmons College in Boston. The Hygiene Council recommends that showers and tubs be disinfected twice a week to get rid of dead skin cells left in the tub that can carry germs too.

4. Pet Food Dish
Most pet food dishes stay on the floor and do not get washed regularly. Rubino said "it's not practical to disinfect it every time, but wash your hands after you touch it. Pets -- we love them -- but they don't practice good hygiene."

5. Microwave Touch Screen
This spot is notorious for not getting cleaned. "You can put something in (the microwave) that is raw to cook it and could leave behind E. coli or Salmonella" Rubino said. He added that even though the food comes out cooked, the germs that can make you sick are left on the outside of the microwave for the next person to touch. It is important to wipe down the touch screen regularly, especially after cooking raw meat.

6. TV Remote
Imagine the typical couch potatoes -- watching TV while they absent-mindedly chew their fingernails, snack on food and flip through channels, leaving all kinds of bacteria on the remote. "Anything in your home that you touch a lot leaves germs behind," Rubino said. Make sure to sanitize the remote control regularly to prevent sickness.

7. Light Switches
Touching the light switch is practically unavoidable, but keeping it clean is not. The bathroom light switch can have as many germs as the trash bin, according to the Simmons College in-home bacterial study. Disinfect light switches twice a week or every day if a member of your household is sick.

8. Baby Changing Table
"When changing a baby's diaper, in all likelihood bacterial contamination will occur" Rubino said. He likens the changing table to a "dirty toilet seat" that the baby's whole body touches. During diaper changes, the baby wipes container, the diaper packaging, the trash can and anything around the changing area get contaminated with bacteria through touching after handling a dirty diaper. The baby changing table area should be cleaned often.

Visit our website: http://www.cleanphirst.com for a full list of our CLEANpHIRST products that specialize in eliminating bacteria and germs from these 8 areas!

Strong Enough for the Military, Safe Enough for Moms

noreply@blogger.com (CLEANpHIRST) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:39:00 +0000

We like these guy's enthusiasm, but their cleaning products and techniques could be a little better.

We recommend clearing the room with a Microbial Decontaminant to kill all the germs and the polishing up the brass, cleaning the windows for maximum visibility, and then holding the room with an effective all-purpose cleaner.