In 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) actually rated indoor air quality worse than outdoor air quality.  In fact, the EPA had indoor air quality as one of the Top 5 health risks to Americans.  Their studies showed that the air in our homes contains anywhere from 20 – 150 different toxins.

So how does the air quality become so poor that it can end up harming our families?  There are a few causes, but one of the largest reasons is due to products we use in our homes that release toxins, gasses, or other chemicals into the air.  The largest offenders are the cleaning products we use.  If you are using cleaning products that contain harsh chemical cleaning agents, that product inevitably finds its way into the air of your home.  In this age of easy temperature control in all seasons, the air in our homes stays a bit longer than it did in the “open-window era”.   To make matters worse, there are a lot of products out there that claim to be “all-natural”, but they contain various harmful and quite unnatural ingredients.  (check out the “Our Products” page for more information on eco-friendly cleaning products).

Although cleaning products are among the chief causes of this indoor air pollution, there are other guilty parties: hair sprays and other hair products, air fresheners, building materials, pest control products, and more.

The large volume of toxins make their way not only into the air, but also rests on our countertops if we don’t rinse after cleaning, on our clothes, in carpeting, and most other surfaces in our homes.  Because of this, we are not only breathing in these toxins, but our skin is also in contact with them.  This exposure sometimes manifests itself immediately and sometimes it takes time before you notice.  Sometimes the effects are major, sometimes minor.

The obvious symptoms that might accompany this exposure are irritated skin, red or dry eyes, headaches, sore throat, dizziness, or fatigue.  The long-term effects are things like allergies, asthma, bronchitis, sleep apnea, and some skin conditions.

Beyond the health issues these toxins cause you, your family, and your pets, these toxins also have environmental ramifications.  Eventually, the polluted air from your home makes its way outside to harm the environment.

Fortunately, this problem is relatively easy to remedy!  Here are a few simple steps…

• Ditch chemical cleaners and other toxic cleaning products (see the “Our Products” page for more information).
• Seek out non-chemical health/beauty products (especially aerosol products).
• Create your own fresh air by growing some indoor plants.  Plants take in carbon dioxide and emit oxygen creating healthy air inside your home.
• Get rid of old rugs/carpeting, big old cloth sofas, and other “soft” items that can accumulate all these chemicals.  If possible, stick with wood or tile floors and read up on eco-friendly bedding/furniture and area rug alternatives.
• Stop using more air fresheners.  These are often loaded with chemicals.  Use natural candles, lemons, cinnamon sticks, and other healthy items to give your home a fresh scent.
• Get outside and/or open the windows!  Be sure to spend some time outside every day.  Not only do you get fresh air, but you also get some sunlight to give your body Vitamin D and boost your mood.  During more mild days/seasons, be sure to open your windows and let outdoor air circulate through your home!
• Book your GreenClean Co. appointment NOW!

While we make every effort to care for the environment in the products we use and the practices of our company (read more here), our cleanings teams still have to drive to each cleaning assignment, and we still have to send out some printed material to reach new clients (although we use Barefoot Press who does it in as eco-friendly a way as possible).  Because we care about the environment, GreenClean LLC. will purchase carbon offsets for the miles our teams drive and our marketing outputs.

We will be using CarbonFund.org and we encourage everyone that is able to look into offsetting their carbon footprints as well!

Welcome to our blog.  We use this site as a communication medium with our customers.  It is an efficient place to book appointments and make payments…but we hope it can also serve as a platform to share valuable information about our company, eco-friendly products and ideas, and to get everyone’s input on how they strive to leave the world a little better than it was when we got here.

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