Mothers Know Best

A newly released national survey of mothers found that keeping their homes clean was the best means of protecting their families from the germs that cause colds and flu. Likewise, there is a general recognition that toys can be a significant source of germs. The Alliance for Consumer Education's (ACE) nationwide Germ Study examined mothers' overall awareness of how germs that cause colds and flu are spread. It then assessed their views as to the most effective means of preventing and / or containing colds and flu.

For example, in the 2007 survey 32% of respondents felt that keeping their house clean was the most effective means of protecting against colds and flu. This was the Number One response.

"The ACE 2007 Germs survey clearly illustrates that mothers understand the threat of exposure to those germs that can cause colds and flu and are taking steps to minimize that threat and protect their families," said Joseph M. Healy, Chairman of the Board, Alliance for Consumer Education. "One of the simplest, most effective things that people can do to minimize the risks from germs is to frequently wash their hands and clean their homes and places of work on a regular basis. It is gratifying to see that the percentage of moms who recognize the importance of home cleaning continues to rise. At the same time, still more consumer education needs to be done to continue raising overall awareness of the importance of home cleaning."

For those few still cleaning their own homes, keep up the good work. For the rest of you who have discovered the advantages of a professionally cleaned home - congratulations! You are taking the necessary steps to maintain a healthy home for you and your family.

Christmas Trees Cause Increase in Asthma?

What's next - tell me there's no Santa?

A few years ago our family made the switch to an artificial Christmas tree. Mainly I was tired of finding pine needles in my carpet in June. Although I had become somewhat of a scruge. I no longer wanted the hassle of hunting through the tree lots for the perfect tree, hauling it back in our minivan (which of course had to be cleaned out afterwards) and the endless turning trying to find the best side once in our living room.

I felt reassured in my decision when I read an article this week linking live Christmas trees to an increase in asthma and sinus problems.

The study, which was presented at The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting in Dallas, examined the relationship between mold growth on live Christmas trees and poor indoor air quality.

This study grew out of a consistent and dramatic increase in asthma and sinus complaints among patients every winter, which is especially pronounced during the holiday season, notes study researcher John Santilli, MD."As mold growth is common in the area surrounding outdoor foliage, we hypothesized that the presence of a live Christmas tree may be contributing to indoor mold," he says.

Indoor Mold Levels Rise Twelve times during a two week period, researchers measured mold counts in a room containing a live Christmas tree, beginning when the tree was brought inside and decorated. The tree was located 10 feet from a heat vent, and the indoor temperature was maintained at between 65 and 68 degrees.

For the first three days, counts remained at 800 spores per cubic meter of air, then began escalating, rising to a maximum of 5,000 spores per cubic meter by day 14, when the tree was taken down.Mold allergy affects up to 15 percent of the population, according to Santilli, and people with sensitivity to certain molds commonly experience nasal, eye, and throat irritation; nasal stuffiness; and headache.

Additionally, there is a well-documented link between asthma attacks and molds, and the added risk of invasive fungal disease among people with compromised immune systems.Santilli says normal indoor air has a mold level of 500-700 spores per cubic meter; anything higher indicates a source of mold growth inside the building."

Ventilation systems and water-damaged areas have long been recognized as sources of mold, but we need to continue to search for new and unique sources of contamination," Santilli says.Avoiding Indoor Mold "Our study demonstrates that a live Christmas tree can be a significant source of mold spores. Therefore, we recommend families with allergies in general and mold allergies in particular not keep a live Christmas tree in their homes for more than a few days at most, and remove it sooner if there are signs of increased allergy symptoms," Santilli says.

Rebecca Gruchalla, MD, PhD, chief of allergy at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, says the relationship between live Christmas trees and a rise in indoor mold spores comes as no surprise, particularly since most Christmas trees are cut well in advance of the holidays and stored in a moist environment before being placed on a lot for sale. Then they're then taken home and placed in water too, she says. Gruchalla notes that artificial trees and ornaments collect dust in storage and, therefore, are another source of allergy irritation.

She suggests taking both live and artificial trees outside and shaking them out before bringing them inside to decorate.

Just when I had it all figured out, a colleage in San Diego provides the following information for your consideration.

Fake Trees are even worse...

Most fake trees, made from non renewable petroleum also eventually wind up in landfills and are clogging mother earth with PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which is being banned by many medical associations and considered poison to environmentalists. That's why you'll see a label on faux Christmas trees cautioning you to avoid inhaling or eating any bits of lead dust that may fall from the "branches." Fake trees cannot be recycled. When they are disposed of in a sanitary landfill, they will not disintegrate, but will remain there forever, taking up increasingly scarce landfill space. When a fake tree catches fire, it puts dangerous toxic fumes into the air. Fake trees are manufactured mainly outside of the United States and often by companies in china that do not observe high environmental standards.

I'm SOOO confused!

Be assured that whatever type of tree you have this season, Partners In Grime will be there for you before and after the holiday season to get you ready and clean you up afterwards.

California man ticketed for cleaning beach

No good deed goes unpunished.

At least that's how Muir Beach resident Sigward Moser felt Friday after he says he was threatened with a Taser gun, forced to the ground and handcuffed by a National Park Service ranger for refusing to stop cleaning up the oily beach beneath his home.

Moser, a 45-year-old communications consultant, said he was forced to sprawl handcuffed on the wet sand for an hour before he was released and given two misdemeanor citations, one for entering an emergency area and another for refusing a lawful order.

Moser's Pacific Way home overlooks Muir Beach, where cleanup crews with 100 professionals in white and yellow protective coveralls were at work yesterday.

But there was no one cleaning up Friday when oily globs the size of bowling balls began washing up on shore from Wednesday's disastrous fuel oil spill.

Moser, a neighborhood liaison on the Muir Beach Disaster Council, went out on the oily beach with an impromptu crew of Buddhist monks in training at the nearby Green Gulch Zen Center.

He said they scooped up 7,000 pounds of solidified oil and put it in plastic bags before park service officials arrived in the afternoon to size up the situation.

Moser said he declined three orders to halt his activities before he was cited.

Park service officials held a conference call on Saturday about the incident with members of the Muir Beach Community Services District.

"They were upset, but we tried to reassure them why trained professionals are needed to do this work," said National Park Service publicist Rich Weideman, citing health hazards and unintended injuries to wildlife by untrained volunteers.

ATTENTION KANSAS CITY AREA RESIDENTS: Put down that sponge and step away from the toilet! You - over there - Stop vacuuming!

OK, so you may not be causing harm to wildlife or in danger of imprisonment, but why not hire the Professionals at Partners In Grime to clean and maintain your home.

The advantages of having your home professionally cleaned:

- More time to do the things you want to do.
- Your home is probably your largest single investment. Protect it by having it deep cleaned and then professionally maintained.
- No need to store potentially dangerous chemicals in your home anymore.
- We'll clean your home in a fraction of the time it would take you.
- Because we use environmentally safe cleaning products, you'll have a healthier home.

SO DON'T TAKE A CHANCE OF GETTING IN TROUBLE WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OR HARMING INNOCENT WILDLIFE, EMAIL OR CALL PARTNERS IN GRIME RIGHT NOW!! 816-444-6060 or info@partnersingrime.com.

Common Toxins Found In Cleaning Products

With the holidays coming, you may be inspired to do some extra cleaning in preparation for the in-laws arrival. Before you reach under the sink you may want to understand the chemicals and products you might encounter. In case you were wondering what lurks in those everyday cleaning products found in the market today, here is a list of toxins you may or may not be aware of.

Ammonia (in many glass cleaners) Can cause headaches.

Formaldehyde (in many different products) Suspected human carcinogen and acts as a strong irritant to eyes, throat, and lungs.

Hydrochloric acid or sodium acid sulfate (in some toilet bowl cleaners) Can burn the skin and cause vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach burns if swallowed.

Nitrobenzene (in some furniture and floor polishes) Can cause vomiting, and death. This toxin is associated with cancer and birth defects.

Petroleum Distillates (in some metal polishes) Short-term exposure can lead to temporary eye clouding and longer exposure can damage the nervous system.

Phenol and cresol (in many disinfectants) Can cause dizziness.

Sodium Hypochlorite (in chlorine bleach) Fumes cause eye and lung irritation. Long term exposure harmful to lungs. If mixed with ammonia, this releases toxic chloramine gas, which may cause asthmatic symptoms, respiratory problems or even death.

butoxyethanol also known as ethylene glycol butyl ether (used as a solvent in carpet cleaners and specialty cleaners) It can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin and may cause blood disorders, as well as liver and kidney damage.

Here's a solution to exposing yourself and your family to this potentially hazardous chemicals: Hire a professional cleaning service to maintain your home and throw those toxic cleaners in the trash. A service such as Partners In Grime will create a healthy home by using environmentally cleaning products and equipment.

Partners In Grime uses products from companies such as:

IPAX Cleanogel, Inc. ipax.com
Portionpac Sustainable Solutions portionpaccorp.com
Core Products coreproductsco.com
Siamons Intl. concrobium.com

Partners In Grime provides free cleaning for cancer patients

Partners In Grime is proud to be a charter member of the Cleaning For A Reason Foundation, the nation’s first non-profit organization dedicated to providing free house cleaning services for women undergoing cancer treatment.

We have always helped women simplify their lives. That is what we do. So being a part of the Cleaning For A Reason Foundation is a natural fit for our company. As a local business we are grateful for the success that we have attained through our many loyal customers. We are proud of the services we provide and proud to be able to help those in need. It is another way that we can reach out to our community.

We are committed to providing the gift of a clean home to women undergoing treatment for cancer through this foundation. When someone knows a woman who is in need of help during this difficult season of her life, please send her to the foundations website at http://www.cleaningforareason.org/ or call us at the office for more information regarding this amazing opportunity for help.

You can help, too. As is true with most nonprofit organizations, we need your support to help as many women in need as time will allow. Each cleaning company member pays a fee to help with the costs of administering this program as well as committing to a number of free cleanings each month. Unfortunately, our supply does not come close to the demand. Each client patient is guaranteed four free cleanings. You can make a huge difference in these women’s lives by helping us to clean more often for more women. You can do this by contributing a small amount each month to Cleaning For A Reason. These funds will be utilized to provide more free cleanings for the patient. The contribution is easy and painless. You choose the amount, from $1 to $1000 per month (or more if you would like) or a one-time donation.

The national Cleaning For A Reason Foundation makes it possible for us to do our part in the way we know best--cleaning homes every day, and making a difference. We hope that you will join us in making a difference in the lives of women receiving cancer treatment.

Welcome to our blog

Welcome to the Partners In Grime Residential Cleaning Service Blog. It is my intent to update this blog regularly with industry related information, comsumer tips and anything else I can think of to say. This is my first attemp at blogging, so hang on! Please keep legs and arms inside the blog at all time during the ride.