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Keep Your Indoor Air Clean with House Plants

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Did you know that indoor air can be contaminated with industrial chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene?  These chemicals are used extensively in building materials, furniture materials, paints, inks, varnishes and adhesives. Over time, these chemicals are emitted into the air.  Benzene and formaldehyde are known carcinogens and continued research indicates that trichloroethylene is carcinogenic in many animals.

At Clean Conscience, indoor air quality is an important aspect of our green cleaning process.  That’s why we use ProTeam vacuums.  All ProTeam vacuum models collect at least 99.9% of indoor air pollutants.  Between green cleanings, you can keep your indoor air free of toxic pollutants with certain house plants.  The following is a list of plants that will capture at least two of the three indoor air pollutants mentioned above.  To see a more extensive list of air filtering plants, see this table.

English Ivy

Hedera helix (Common Ivy, English Ivy) is a species of ivy native to most of Europe and western Asia. It is labeled as an invasive species in many parts of the United States, and its sale or import is banned in the state of Oregon.

English Ivy removes benzene and formaldehyde but not trichloroethylene.

 

 

Peace Lily

Spathiphyllum is a genus of about 40 species of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas and southeastern Asia. Certain species of Spathiphyllum are commonly known as Spath or Peace Lilies.  The plant does not need excessive light or water to survive.

Peace Lilies remove benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene.

 

 

Chinese Evergreen

Aglaonema is a genus of about 40 species of foliage plants in the family Araceae, native to the tropical swamps and rainforests of southeastern Asia, from Bangladesh east to the Philippines, and north to southern China. No common name is widely used, though they are sometimes called “Chinese Evergreens”. Please note: The sap of this plant is poisonous to health. It causes skin irritation. If ingested, the sap causes irritation of the mouth, lips, throat and tongue.

Chinese Evergreens are popular houseplants and ornamental plants for offices and shopping malls because they are among the easiest houseplants to grow.  They tolerate a wide range of light, as well as neglect, and are relatively resistant to pests.  Chinese Evergreen removes benzene and formaldehyde but not trichloroethylene.

Song of India Plant

Dracaena reflexa, commonly called Pleomele or the Song of India, is a species of Dracaena which is a tropical tree native to Madagascar, Mauritius, and other nearby islands of the Indian Ocean. It is widely grown as an ornamental plant and houseplant, valued for its richly coloured, evergreen leaves, and thick, irregular stems.

Pleomele removes benzene and formaldehyde but not trichloroethylene.

 

 

 

Cornstalk Dracaena

Dracaena fragrans (Cornstalk Dracaena) is a flowering plant species that is native throughout tropical Africa, from Sudan south to Mozambique, west to Côte d’Ivoire and southwest to Angola, growing in upland regions at 600–2,250 m (2,000–7,380 ft) altitude.  It is a popular as a houseplant, valued for its tolerance of a wide range of indoor conditions from full sun to low light conditions.

Cornstalk Dracaena removes benzene and formaldehyde but not trichloroethylene.

 

Gerbera Daisy

Gerbera daisy is a genus of ornamental plants from the sunflower family (Asteraceae).  There are approximately 30 species in the wild, extending to South America, Africa and tropical Asia. Gerbera is very popular and widely used as a decorative garden plant or as cut flowers because of it’s bright and varied flower colors.

Gerbera daisy removes benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene.

 

 

Red Pot Mum

Chrysantheium morifolium (Chrysanthemums), often called mums or chrysanths, are of the genus (Chrysanthemum) constituting approximately 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae which is native to Asia and northeastern Europe. Chrysantheium morifolium is commonly called Florist’s Chrysanthemum or Pot Mum.

Chrysantheium morifolium removes benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene.

Your local plant nursery will likely have many of these plants on hand.

Give us a call today to schedule a free estimate!

 

 

 

The Hidden Health Dangers of Chemical Cleaning

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Most of us are raised to believe that a clean home is a healthy home, and eliminating dirt, dust and dander will provide a germ-free environment that will prevent allergies or illness. While this may be true in some cases, the utilization of chemical cleaners to sterilize our homes may actually be causing more illness than we ever realized. From acute skin, eye and respiratory irritation to longer term illness, such as cancer, chemical cleaners contribute to a host of compromised health issues that can be avoided by going green.

According to a Product Report by the Organic Consumers Association, some cleaners are among the most toxic products found in the home, containing toxic chemicals, fragrances and sudsing agents that give off hazardous gases we breathe in, burning agents that are absorbed by the skin and hormone disruptors that can take a toll on the body’s natural biological processes. The result? Respiratory problems, watery eyes, irritated skin and a host of other potential long-term illnesses that can be prevented by avoiding conventional cleaning products.

So…what can we do about it? Thankfully, awareness about the harmful health effects of chemical cleaners is growing, and by making nontoxic cleaning choices we can avoid exposure to illness-inducing substances. That means, choosing environmentally friendly products without chemical ingredients, and looking for products with the Green Seal certification. Avoid cleaners containing triclosan, formaldehyde, phosphate, chlorine, sodium hydroxide, benzene, toluene, xylene, methanol and ethylbenzene, perchlorethylene, ammonium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid and hypochlorite bleach to prevent chemical exposure, especially on surfaces that are frequently used (Source: Green Living).

At Clean Conscience, we only use the highest quality, eco-friendly cleaners that do not contain toxic ingredients. We’ve found that you don’t need chemicals to provide an amazingly clean home (and office), and that you can enjoy a chemical-free, clean environment without having to suffer any health consequences. We allow you to make the healthy choice for your health, as well as the health of your family!

To learn more about how Green Cleaning is Safer for People, click here.

Give us a call today to schedule a free estimate!

Clean Conscience is proud to use Portion Pac Sustainable Solutions!

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PortionPac recently announced an unprecedented step to balance 100% of its energy use from all sources by funding green house gas reduction and clean energy projects. The company is investing in Climate Action Reserve and VerifiedCarbon Standard-certified projects through TerraPass and is purchasing Green-E®-certified Renewable Energy Credits through Renewable Choice. For its commitment to using green power, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized the company as a Green Power Partner.

“This is a huge honor and we are proud to be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In our decisions personally and as a company we are aware of our responsibility to help create the future for our families and our world.  Business has great power to affect change and we choose to leverage that power to send a message to others across the U.S. that supporting clean sources of electricity is a sound business decision and an important choice in reducing climate risk,” said Burt Klein, President of PortionPac.

According to the U.S. EPA, PortionPac’s green power purchase of  656,000 kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of more than 90 passenger vehicles per year, or the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of nearly 60 average American homes annually.

Clean Conscience Receives ARCSI Residential Cleaning Seal of Excellence

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Greg Macchia, Owner, Clean Conscience
Phone: 303-495-2444

E-Mail: greg@cleanconscience.net

Secondary Contact: Ernie Hartong, ARCSI Executive Director
Phone: 614-547-0887
E-Mail: Ernie@arcsi.org

CLEAN CONSCIENCE RECEIVES ARCSI RESIDENTIAL CLEANING SEAL OF EXCELLENCE
Cleaning Service Meets Rigorous Business and Industry Standards to Qualify

May 10, 2011, – Boulder, CO – Local cleaning company Clean Conscience has been awarded the prestigious ARCSI Residential Cleaning Seal of Excellence by the Association of Residential Cleaning Services, International (ARCSI). In addition to adhering to a strict code of ethics, cleaning services that receive the Residential Seal of Excellence must also provide documentation that they are insured and bonded,  conduct background checks for employees as part of their hiring process,  participate in ongoing industry continuing education programs, and proof the  company has been in business for at least two (2) years.

 

“As the not-for-profit international trade association representing the residential cleaning industry, ARCSI believes that in documenting and verifying information before awarding our prestigious seal,” said ARCSI Executive Director Ernest J. Hartong. “We are providing consumers a level of expectation and confidence regarding the professionalism, ethical business practices, and commitment to continuing education from company they are considering giving access to their homes.”

 

Clean Conscience’s owner, Greg Macchia, is thrilled to be among the elite residential cleaning businesses that have been admitted to the program. “The Residential Cleaning Seal of Excellence is a program that allows us to demonstrate that we are committed to excellence in our operation and the services we provide to consumers.  The Residential Seal of Excellence provides consumers with a higher level of confidence, and we are proud to be held to those standards.”

 

If you’d more like more information on The Residential Cleaning Seal of Excellence, or to interview ARCSI Executive Director Ernie Hartong, call 614-547-0887 or e-mail ernie@arcsi.org. For more information on Clean Conscience, contact Greg Macchia at 303-495-2444.

 

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The Association of Residential Cleaning Services, International (ARCSI) was established to assist residential cleaning service owners and professionals in starting, promoting, building and expanding their businesses. With members in the US, Canada, the Philippines, Australia and throughout Europe, ARCSI is committed to providing valuable information to ensure the growth and development of our members’ businesses. For more information, visit wwww.arcsi.org or call 614-547-0887.

The Boulder Creek Festival

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Clean Conscience Booth at Boulder Creek Festival

It was great to see so many customers visit the Clean Conscience booth at this weekend’s Boulder Creek Festival.  Considered Boulder’s unofficial kickoff to summer, the festival draws nearly 400,000 people to downtown Boulder for the holiday weekend.  The entertainment is quite diverse and includes belly dancers, marimba bands, martial arts demonstrations and the Boulder High cheerleaders. The Festival also features plenty of food and drink vendors, arts and crafts, carnival rides and the Great Rubber Duck Race in which 7,000 rubber ducks race down Boulder Creek.

We hold a raffle for a free house cleaning each year at the festival. It’s fun to have an opportunity to meet the people who enter the raffle and hear how much they would love to have their home cleaned by Clean Conscience. This year’s lucky winner was Kristen Nelson of Boulder. Congratulations Kristen! We look forward to giving your home a healthy green cleaning!