Archive for July, 2010

Could cleaning supplies be a cause for breast cancer?

A recent study has linked some cleaning product usage to breast cancer.  The study does not necessarily mean that cleaning products have a direct cause and effect relationship with cancer.

Generally, the cleaning products that may be problematic were air fresheners and products that were used for mold and mildew control.

What is most interesting about the research done is that the as was recognized. For instance, Julia Brody, who performed the study, spoke about how the psychological factors may be influencing those diagnosed with breast cancer.

“When women are diagnosed with breast cancer, they often think about what happened in the past that might have contributed to the disease. As a result, it may be that women with breast cancer more accurately recall their past product use or even over-estimate it. Or, it could also be that experience with breast cancer influences beliefs about its causes. For example, women diagnosed with breast cancer are less likely to believe heredity contributes ‘a lot’, because most are the first in their family to get the disease.”

More research is required to have bias-free data.

It may be the middle of summer, but back to school season is approaching quickly! Don’t forget that you’ll need much more than just the clothes on your back and your books to get through the year.

Don't let your dorm room get this dirty! Get prepared with back to school cleaning supplies

Are you a first time college freshmen? If you’re going to be living away from home for the first time, you may encounter unforeseen disasters and messes. It is easy to become quickly overwhelmed, but with some preparation and cleaning supplies, you will be just fine.

For anyone going back to school away from home, here are some products to stock up on for a successful semester. You’ll be looking and feeling sharp when you’re prepared for any unforeseen mess or chore with these cleaning supplies.

1. Shout Wipes Stain Remover Premoistened, individually wrapped towelettes that instantly reduce the visibility of stains. Don’t leave stains for mom to wash, these handy stain remover wipes will save your favorite shirt from being ruined. Small packages are great for putting in your backpack or purse for students on the go.
2. Lysol Disinfecting Wipes are great for cleaning up when you don’t have running water readily available, like in a dorm room. Stay germ free by using disinfecting cleaning products, so you won’t catch your roommate’s cold. Clean off door handles, desks, and other shared spaces to protect yourself and stay healthy.
3. Bounty Basic Paper Towels An economical choice with the brand name that you trust. Bounty Basic paper towels will come in handy whether you need to clean out the microwave after reheating greasy pizza or soak up spilled drinks on your dorm floor.

What other cleaning supplies are you taking to school with you?

We recently received samples of a new environmentally friendly cleaning product line, called Conserve. Here is a review of two of their green cleaning products.

Conserve cleaning products come as a tablet that dissolves in warm water. They provide multiple tablets for each spray bottle, therefore conserving on plastic that was used to make the bottles. I like this idea because I would rather just reuse a spray bottle than have to purchase another package that included another bottle. It just makes sense to reuse bottles! Each tablet dissolves in 32 oz of warm water, only taking a few minutes.

I tried the glass cleaner at the office– it did a great job of cleaning smudges and handprints off of glass windows. After spraying the glass cleaner there was little to no dripping on the window. Though the scent wasn’t very strong, it was definitely not offensive or chemical-like.

The bathroom cleaner worked well in the sink and also had a pleasant fragrance. It was not as effective for cleaning the bathtub, though I do have an old clawfoot bathtub that stains easily. My general observation was that it worked fine for light duty cleaning, but if you’re looking for a bathroom cleaner with more power, you may want to opt for something else.

Green cleaning products are great for general cleaning to reduce the amount of chemicals released into the air- a benefit especially for sensitive users or for areas that children use, such as schools or daycares.

Check out the selection of eco-friendly cleaning products at CleaningProductsWorld.com for more green cleaning choices.

Is cleaning hotel rooms less often a green choice?

Does cleaning less frequently have more or less impact on the environment?

That is the question raised after 140 Starwood hotels implemented a “green initiative,” offering the choice for hotel guests to forgo daily housekeeping room cleaning. Guests received loyalty points or vouchers in return for participating in the “Make a Green Choice” program.

Last year we covered green hotel standards which included switching to  environmentally friendly cleaning products.

While cleaning with green products may be beneficial to both hotel guests and housekeeping staff, it is hard to determine whether cleaning less will have an improved environmental impact.

Would you choose to have your hotel room cleaned less often? Or would you rather have daily cleanings?

Try Dynamo Free & Clear for sensitive skin

If you or anyone in your family have sensitive skin or eczema, hypoallergenic laundry detergent may be a great addition to your laundry routine. Those with sensitive skin or allergies may have rashes or irritation caused by their laundry detergent which contains fragrances, brighteners, and other unnecessary chemicals.

Regular laundry detergents also cause irritation because they don’t completely rinse out of fabrics. The residue left behind gets onto skin, causing the allergic reaction.

Some laundry detergents are manufactured now without irritating fragrances and scents or perfumes. These dye-free and scent-free laundry detergents are great for those with sensitive skin.

If you’re looking for a better detergent that won’t cause irritation, CleaningProductsWorld.com carries Dynamo Free & Clear and Tide Free, both hypoallergenic liquid laundry detergents without added fragrances.