It's Easy to be Green - Maid Brigade's Robin Murphy Shares Tips

Did you know that the air inside a typical home is two to five times more polluted than the air outside? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this is largely due to household cleaners, which can also contribute to allergies, asthma, dyslexia, birth defects and more. Did you know that they can also pollute the soil, ground water and air and produce greenhouse gasses? If you are concerned about your health - or that of your family members, pets and guests - there are a number of ways to reduce the toxicity of the air you breathe while in the comfort of your home.

Pleasantville, NY (PRWEB) November 26, 2008 -- Did you know that the air inside a typical home is two to five times more polluted than the air outside? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this is largely due to household cleaners, which can also contribute to allergies, asthma, dyslexia, birth defects and more. Did you know that they can also pollute the soil, ground water and air and produce greenhouse gasses?

If you are concerned about your health - or that of your family members, pets and guests - there are a number of ways to reduce the toxicity of the air you breathe while in the comfort of your home.

In the bedroom

First, for those concerned with allergies, dust mites are often a strong offender. To get rid of them, consider vapor steam cleaning. Vapor contains between five and six percent water, so the steam will not contribute to a moist environment. Another way to minimize dust mite populations is to replace pillows every six months.

Washing sheets and blankets once a week in water at least 130 degrees will also kill pesky dust mites. Sun also kills them, so hang out your blankets on a line outside during the warm, sunny weather.

Water, water everywhere

Did you know that nearly 80% of the energy used by washing machines is for heating the water? Whenever possible, wash laundry in cold water, and wash only full loads to reduce the number of times you run the machine.

Short showers - five minutes or less - can reduce water usage from 25 gallons to 12.5 gallons. Now that's a lot of savings!

Cleaning up Green

Most people keep cleaning supplies under their kitchen sink. Take a look under yours, and toss any products whose labels contain the word "danger," "warning," or "caution," as they can post health hazards to you and your family.

Instead of putting harmful chemicals on the many surfaces in your home, try making your own green cleaner. All you need are a few items you probably already have.

If you collect antiques, put some olive oil on a rag and wipe down the wood surfaces to pick up the dust and create a fresh shine.

Baking soda is perfect for cleaning the oven. Mix baking soda with water, and coat the surface of your oven. Let it sit overnight, and scrub it off.

Like that lemon-fresh smell? Use lemons or lemon juice to cut grease on baked-on pots and pans.

Make your own window cleaner by mixing ¼-cup white distilled vinegar, one-cup water and ½-teaspoon of liquid dish washer in a spray bottle. This mixture will remove residue left behind from other cleaning products and give windows a streak-free shine.

Conserving energy

Are you still using old-fashioned light bulbs? If so, consider this: if every home in the country replaced one incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb, enough energy would be saved to light 2.5 million homes for an entire year. And, you'll reduce your energy consumption by about 75%.

Most of us are aware of rising heating costs but may not know how to manage our own. Wrap your water heater in a layer of insulation to save a thousand pounds of carbon dioxide each year. Insulation also reduces heat loss by 25% to 40%. Additionally, reduce your water heating costs from between six and 10% by lowering the temperature on the water heater to 130 degrees.

Where to begin

For many, the idea of going green is a big undertaking. But, by taking small steps to green your home, you can make a big difference in your personal health and in the health of the environment.

Robin Murphy is president of Maid Brigade, the Green Clean Certified™ housecleaning company servicing the New York and Connecticut towns north of New York City. Maid Brigade's teams utilize green processes and solutions with such advanced cleaning tools as microfiber mops and vacuums with HEPA filters to deliver a greener clean. For more information, visit www.maidbrigade.com or call 888-525-6243.

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