National Safety Month

       June has begun and Cleaned To Perfection is welcoming the summer month with open arms.  Along with the official start of summer, it is also National Safety Month, and we've compiled a list to keep you and your family safe not only while you clean, but also throughout the summer months. While this list does give many helpful hints, it is just a starting point, be sure to add a comment down below with some of your own helpful safety hints you use within your family!


CLEANING 

• Keep all products in their original containers
• Never sniff, touch, or taste to determine the product
• Keep all the products locked up, and out of reach of children
• Reach your labels, and never mix chemicals, they can release a harmful gas
• Open windows and turn on fans while cleaning and for an hour or two afterwards
• Wear protective clothing - long sleeves, long pants, socks, shoes, and gloves - it spraying pesticides 
• Even "all-natural" or "environmentally friendly " labeled products can be serious if ingested 
• Make sure mop buckets are carefully guarded; even a very small bucket of water or fluids can be hazardous, causing drownings or serious health issues if ingested. 
• The slippery surface of a freshly mopped floor is dangerous as well. It may cause a slip leading to a dangerous fall
• Never turn your back on a ladder
• If possible, use cleaning tools with telescoping handles 
• It is recommended to changed the batteries of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors twice a year (helpful idea is to change them with the clock)

OUTSIDE 

• Teach your children to never play on or around a lawn mower, even when it is off
• Children under 6 should be kept inside when the lawn is be mowed 
• Frequent playgrounds that have shock absorbent surfaces
• Teach children to use equipment properly 
• Enforcing no pushing, shoving, rough housing 
• Use appropriate and well fitted equipment in sports (helmets, goggles, etc) 
• Don't leave unattended kids near open flames (grills, campfires, fire-pits, bonfires, etc)
• Always have a bucket of way and fire extinguisher on hand
• Only let professionals handle fireworks 

POOL CLEANING 

• Keep water in constant moving; it prevents bacteria from forming 
• Check the pools filter and backwash frequently
• Brush and vacuum at least once a week
• Test your pools water, the pH balance and sanitizer levels needs to be checked 
• Have a water treatment going 
• If going on vacation:  brush and vacuum, test the levels, set the timer/ask a good friend to make sure pump runs eight hours a day 

POOL SAFETY 

• ALWAYS MANDATE A LIFEGUARD ON HAND
• Be CPR certified 
• Keep the water clean
• Have the children take swimming lessons
• Know the weather, realize if there is a storm coming in
• Wear your life jackets, remember toys are not a replacement for life jackets
• Always aha a phone on hand for emergencies 
• Don't clutter pool and the surrounding area 
• Have a 4foot or taller fence surrounding pool area 

To keep everyone properly protected from the sun use the proper SPF Sunblock for your skin type, wear a hat, and keep in proper shade.  

These are just a few helpful hints for your family, as always we love to hear any that you have to offer!  Any emergency immediately seek medical assistant or call 911. 

Reducing Allergens in Your Home

The month of May brings many things:  sun shining, flowers blooming, green grass, windows open, and lastly, those pesky allergies.  May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, and a clean, dust free home is the first step to enjoying clean, fresh air. In the United States alone, 70 million people suffer from asthma or allergies.

Cleaned to Perfection has some helpful hints to keep the air your family breathes as clean as possible.  Dust in your household contains common allergens such as dust mites and animal dander. When these are disturbed from furniture, carpet, or a hard surface they become airborne and pollute the air you breathe.   Most common cleanings just recirculate the dust in the air, but with these simple cleaning tips, you can dramatically decrease the level of allergens in your home.

     

• While cleaning wear a mask to protect yourself from the recirculated dust.  After, it is recommended that you leave your home for a few hours to avoid the allergens. 
• When dusting hard surfaces, use a moist cloth or a special duster designed to trap and lock dust. 
• It is recommended in place of wall to wall carpeting,  using hardwood or linoleum floors, with just small, washable area rugs. 
• If not a viable option for your home, vacuum once or twice a week with a vacuum that has a high-efficiency air filter. As well as periodically, deep cleaning the carpet to remove stains, spills, and dust. 
• Instead of cloth, consider switching to leather furniture. 
• Wash bedding, linens, and curtains in hot water at least once a week. 
• Use double paned window if in colder climates, and inspect and clean the pollen and mold from window sills and frames. 
• Remove items that collect dust such as : knickknacks, ornaments, old magazines and books. 
• Store childrens toys in plastic bins. 
• To reduce pet dander, if you have an allergy, don't keep pets with feathers or fur.  If you are unable to find a home for your pet, make the bedrooms a no-go zone.
• Wash dishes frequently, do a deep cleaning of the sink, remember to wash the faucet, to remove any old debris and mold.  
• Store all food in a sealed plastic container (including pet food).  Wash pantry with soap and water, picking up any debris that may have fallen.
• At least twice a month, wash your fridge, wipe out any drippings, get rid of any old, expired food.
• Mop the kitchen floor at least once a week.
• In the bathroom, get rid of any wallpaper, using a mold resistant paint or tile in place. 
• Use a towel to dry the shower after every use.  Scrub to remove mold, and remove any mats or rugs that may have collected dust and mold.  
• Keep your entire house between 68 and 72 degrees, and the humidity no higher than 50 percent. 
• Don't allow smoking in your home. 
• Do a regular cleaning at least once a week, and a thorough deep cleaning in the home at least twice a month.

All of us at Cleaned to Perfection realize the amount of work that goes into a maintaining a clean, healthy, happy home. Hopefully, with these helpful hints this allergy season will be easier on you and your family. And as always, we are available to help you with your cleaning needs for this season, and those to come.  Call us for an estimate at 631-941-4607, or visit our website Cleaned to Perfection and fill out an estimate form and we will get back to you.

We're Taking the Cleaning out of Your Spring!

LET US TAKE THE CLEANING OUT OF YOUR SPRING!

      With the first chirp of the birds outside your window, you open your eyes to a new season.  Spring has finally sprung!  

      The jump-off to spring also means that it's time for spring cleaning.

Cleaned to Perfection is proud to offer a complete set of "extras" 

that meet your spring cleaning needs.

      

      We want you to wake up on the weekend knowing that your home is cleaned from top to bottom, and more importantly, that your family is breathing fresh, clean air. The extras that we've added have all come from our client's requests in the past.

Give us a call with your spring cleaning requests 631•941•4607
You can find our "extra" recommendations here! 
Let spring begin !

Are Green Cleaning Products Really Safer?

Reduce, Re-reuse, Recycle! Save Our Planet! Go Green!

Yes, we hear it everyday. We are bombarded by pleas for our help in protecting our planet and with suggestions on just how we are supposed to do this. No more plastic water bottle! Instead, use refillable bottles. Save the trees by buying recycled paper! Ok, protecting the planet is good. Making a little bit of extra effort for the cause is fine, but does any of this affect us personally?

The answer is yes! Many of the products we use in our daily life not only harm the environment, but can be harmful to us, and our pets, as well. Since we are Cleaned To Perfection, we are going to talk about cleaning products.

Now, many people will say that "regular" cleaning products must be safe since they are allowed to be sold. According to Live Science, part of the problem is that the products are over used. A cleaning product may be relatively safe if used by itself in small amounts. However, most people go cleaner happy and use a specialized cleaner for everything. The repeated exposure to the chemicals in all of these products add up and can be quite harmful.

Then, of course, there is the matter of the effect the chemicals have on the planet. The trouble comes when the chemicals are washed down the drain.  Live Science reports "Volatile organic compounds, used to enhance the performance of a product, can impair neurological functions, while other chemicals can act as respiratory irritants, carcinogens or reproductive toxins, depending upon the extent of exposure, according to the National Environmental Trust and other environmental groups."

Green Cleaners should not contain these harmful products and are becoming easier to find in mainstream stores. Cleaned To Perfection uses only top quality cleaners to ensure our clients, and the planet, are not exposed to harmful chemicals. Call our office to learn how you can purchase cleaning products by Better Life directly from us!

Introducing Better Life Cleaning Products

Cleaned to Perfection is always working hard to make your life Cleaner, Greener and healthier. We are now pleased to announce that we have partnered with one of the safest green cleaning companies Better Life.  Better Life uses only the safest cleaning solutions that are plant derived, non toxic, and independently verified as safe and effective by Whole Foods' Eco Scale. We have eliminated all paper waste in our cleaning process, and have reduced our environmental impact wherever possible. We have the best and most durable tools that withstand years of use, that way less of our tools end up in the waste stream. Lastly we use HEPA, microfiltration vacuums in our green home cleaning processes. These vacuums are proven to reduce indoor allergens and other airborne pollutants.