Friday, May 29, 2009

Homemade Chemical-Free Air Freshner!

This is the ULTIMATE right here...homemade airfreshner!!
Enviropure uses straight pure lime essence as an airfreshner in our customers homes because we obviously do not believe in the use of any chemicals or toxins.
The airfreshner we use is lime juice compressed in a can with air....it contains no aerosol, cfc's or alcohol...it is a natural product...smells AMAZING and is very very fresh!

For those of you at home who are chemically sensitive or eco-conscious here is a really good idea..make your own homemade airfreshner.

Here is how you can do it.

1) Get a spray bottle that has a "mist" nozzle.
2) Choose an essential oil that you like such as lime or vanilla (you can get oils at any health food store)
3) Get some white vinegar. Vinegar neutralizes odours.
4) Put approx 8 ounces of vinegar in your bottle with about 25 drops of your oil. You can add more depending on how strong you want it to be...
5) Shake it up and Spray!!!

*** The vinegar smell will disappear quickly when mixed with the essential oil.

This is a great idea...it really works..its natural and chemical-free and it will leave any room in your home smelling yummy!!!

Let me know how it works!

info@enviropurehome.com

cheers!!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Glass Shower Doors

Here is my Daily cleaning tip for today. How to get Glass shower doors clean and how to keep them clean!
This is one of the most common questions I get daily in my email. People have a hard time with this one and glass shower doors are a challenge to maintain.

One thing I have to say though, and I say this over and over again to any customer of mine is, when it comes to cleaning tubs, tiles and showers...regular maintenance is the key to keeping it look great.
Again...do not ever resort to using TILEX, CLR or products like that because they are very toxic and the fumes can make you sick (you guys all know this anyways right?!)

Here is my recommendation "Enviropure Style"!!!

1) Spray the entire glass door with your enviro-friendly all purpose and let it sit for 1 minute.
2) Use a sponge with a light abrassive side to it and scrub the entire door and then rinse with warm water.
3) Coat the glass with an enviro-friendly cream cleanser (I suggest Ecover Eco-scrub, love it!) Using the sponge, scrub in circles then rinse thoroughly. Note: Eco creams will leave a white residue if not rinsed off properly, so make sure you rinse the glass very well.
4) Lastly, use a glass cleaner with a soft towel to give the glass a nice shine.

So there you go...that should do it! If done this way, on a regular basis..you should have beautiful, clean glass shower doors!

You can get Ecover Eco-scrub at any health food store. I really recommend this product and I use it for all my customers.

Here is a link so you can see what the product is.
http://www.ecomom.com/ecover-cream-scrub-507

Talk to you soon

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

UV-C Light Technology

I get a lot of email from customers interested in the service we offer with uv-c light technology. People are not familiar with what it is or why we use it so I figured I would discuss it and inform you guys about what it is and why we use it in your home.

WHAT IS UVC?
It's a germicidal light that kills bacteria and viruses by destroying microorganisms. Anything that contains DNA will be destroyed by the light.

WHAT DOES IT KILL?
Here are just some of the viruses and bacteria that are found in your home where UV light is effective in getting rid of.
Influenza
Salmonella
Strep
Staph
E.Coli
Fungus
Dustmites

HOW DOES IT WORK?
Based on the research I have put into this before even using it in my customer's homes, here's how it works.
It deactivates the DNA of dustmites and viruses and destroys their ability to multiply and cause disease.
UV light is a natural source so therefore it replaces the harsh chemicals people often use to kill germs and bacteria.

WHY ENVIROPURE USES UV-C LIGHT.
We primarily use uv-light for mattress sanitations because "YOUR BED" is a breeding ground for dustmites and other allergens which can in some cases cause repiratory problems and other illnesses.
Since we clean your home using only the highest quality of cleaners and equipment we offer sanitation with uv-c light as part of a chemical-free way to keep your home a healthier place to live.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
When we bring the light into your home we always ask that you step out of the room when we are using the device just due to the fact that it destroys DNA so therefore it is really bad for your eyes. We always wear protective eye-wear when operating the light and we are trained to use this aparatus very carefully.

I hope this provided some insight and some clarification as to what exactly this tool that we use in your home is.

For any other questions or comments please continue to email me at info@enviropurehome.com

All the best xoxox

Teaching your Kids to be Environmentally Friendly at home.

As a mommy of 2 busy boys aged 6 and 2 and half...my house is not always as organized as I would like it to be!
Having Enviropure in my life has really opened my eyes and made me realize the importance of teaching my kids and other families how to maintain a healthy home and make environmentally conscious decisions.
I thought I would share with you some tips on how to teach your kids and family members how to be environmentally friendly at home.

Recycling
Teaching your kids how to recycle at home is important and this can also be a fun activity! This is something they do learn how to do at school, however, making this a regular routine at home is important.
Show your kids how to separate plastic from paper and aluminum into the proper bins and have the bins placed in your garage so they can have easy and safe access to do this on a daily basis. This can be a fun activity for the whole family!

Energy Saving
Teach your kids to turn off taps while brushing their teeth. Have a cup of water that they can use rather than use the running water from the taps.

Make sure your kids turn off the lights whenever they leave a room. Also teach them to turn off the tv and all other electronics when they are not using them. Always explain to your kids the importance of reducing energy use in the home and how it benefits the environment.

Eco-Friendly products
Introducing eco-friendly products and organic clothing to your children is a great way to show them how to be more enviro-friendly. Instead of using conventional soaps, body lotions, and clothing that contains bleach etc... Make a switch for more eco-friendly products that contain no harsh chemicals or toxins.

Try these products. I love them!
Trukid Bubbly body Wash by Kai Kids
TruKid Silly Shampoo by Kai Kids

Here is the site www.kaikids.com

I also really love the Kleen Kanteen Sippy!

Here is the site www.kleenkanteen.com

Thanks for all your questions and thanks for keeping me on my toes!!

Tina

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Daily Cleaning Tips For May, 2009.

I have been recieving a lot of email lately from customers asking for cleaning tips. Everything from A-Z from all sorts of questions.
So I figured I would start answering people's questions and offer regular cleaning tips.
You guys can continue to email me your questions at info@enviropurehome.com

Here is a question that I have recieved from quite a few people now.

How do I reduce the humidity in my bathroom and the risk of developing a mildew problem in my shower?

Here is my answer. In my professional opinion, everyone should have a proper working ventilation system in their bathroom. Most bathrooms have a vent above the toilet which when turned on draws up the moisture out of the bathroom. If you do not have a working vent in your bathroom or a window that you can keep open during the cooler months then put a fan in your bathroom. After every bath or shower turn it on and keep it running all day. This should help to keep the walls in the bathroom dry and reduce the risk of any mildew problems.

For the shower walls...DO NOT USE TILEX OR ANY OTHER TUB AND TILE PRODUCT because these contain harmful chemicals which are harmful to you and to the environment!!!

This is my recommendation. After every shower wipe down the shower walls..wipe them dry. This will reduce the growth of mildew on your tiles. Yes, I know this is time consuming but being environmentally friendly sometimes requires a little more work, a little more time and a little more elbow grease.

Try it!! Let me know how it works out for you!

Talk to you soon.

Monday, May 25, 2009

GREENWASHING


*GREENWASHING* is a term i have recently become familiar with. Many people have approached me on the issue of green products and whether or not they are in fact truly "green".

Here's the thing...there are so many cleaning products out there being advertised as "green" and they really aren't!!

First let me explain what "greenwashing" means. When companies advertise and sell their products as environmentally friendly, when in fact, it's not true.

So many products are advertised this way and too many consumers are decieved!!

HERE'S HOW TO TELL!!!

1) Check the label!! Too many companies label the product as organic or ntaural but provide no proof, mark or certification.

2) No ingredient list. If the ingredients are not listed on the bottle or package DO NOT BUY IT.

3) Not a certified product. If the product does not have a certification such as a Green Seal logo or Eco label..it most likely is not a True Green Product.


When I first started Enviropure and was doing my research on "green" products, I really had no idea what the differences were and what to look for. My gut was telling me to go with a certified company so that I would not run into any troubles.

We have since the beginning only used GREEN SEAL approved product.

Check out the mark...inform yourself..and go Green today!!
You can email us at info@enviropurehome.com for more information and tips.


Sunday, May 24, 2009

An Interview With Enviropure by EnviroChic

An interview with Tina Mongeon of Enviropure, Ottawa’s # 1 Eco-friendly Cleaning Company.

EnviroChic: Hi Tina, I just adore your environmentally-friendly cleaning business in Ottawa and think you are one smart and savvy business owner. I am so glad to see your business is doing so well.
I’m wondering if you can help me out with some questions on cleaning products? The other day, I received a colourful brochure (from a big box store that I won’t name) with claims to help us (the consumer), have a greener and healthier home using the cleaning products they sell.
They feature disinfecting wipes that come in a fancy recycleable container. The ingredients include N-Alkyl C14, 60%, C16, 30%, C12, 5%, C18, 5% , Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride 0.145% , N-Alkyl C12, 68%, C14, 32% , Dimethyl Ethylbenzyl Ammonium Chloride 0.145% , Other Ingredients 99.710% - what are the other ingredients, I wonder?
The manufacturer says these wipes kill 99.9% of bacteria and disinfects against Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus (Staph), Escherichia coli 0157:H7 (E. Coli), Streptococcus pyogenes. Yikes!
Can you give us your thoughts on using these products? Are they safe for our families? Our homes? Do you use them for your cleaning business or home, or are there safer alternatives?

Enviropure: I think everyone should do their research before deciding to use any green products in their home. A lot of companies claim that their products are “green” but when you read the labels and ingredients in the products they seem to be questionable and rather deceptive. It’s really important that when you are choosing to use green products in your home, that they are in fact certified and carry the green certification label. The only way to make sure that you are using safe products in your home is to carefully read the labels on the products and to “identify” the certification.
Enviropure uses only Green Seal Certified products in our customer’s homes which means that all the products we use have been tested according to science based procedures and have been given the green seal of approval. The whole idea of going “green” is really about making a change in your lifestyle that involves making a better impact on the environment. We combine Green Seal Product along with all natural alternatives in your home in order to make sure that your health and the environment are not being compromised.

EnviroChic: More and more, I am questioning some of the eco-friendly claims out there… I’m seeing many businesses claiming to be part of the “green movement” and I worry about it. Personally, it seems if a business puts the colour green on their products and a few eye-catching eco-friendly key words, they think they will “trick” the most savvy consumer (including myself) into thinking they are doing something great for the environment by purchasing their products. Am I just being paranoid, or do you have the same concerns?

Enviropure: I do have the same concerns. Just because a product has a green label on it and claims to be green, this does NOT mean that it is. Some of these new “green “ products are just as bad as the conventional products. There is a term that I have become familiar with called “greenwashing”. This means that there are companies out there that are trying to advertise and sell their products as “green” by using deceptive facts altering the ingredient list to make it look genuine. This is why, it is very important to read labels and look for the green certification mark on every green product.

EnviroChic: My last two questions concern more of a plug for your business as you absolutely deserve it! In a nutshell, can you please let us know the benefits of having your company come into our homes and clean for us?
Also, Is there any other information/news you’d like to share with us about Enviropure that’s not on your website yet? Plans for the future?

Enviropure: My website actually really explains in detail about who we are, what we offer and what you get with us! We are currently working on new ideas and constantly making changes in order to better serve our clientele. Everyone deserves to come home to a space that is clean, that is healthy and that looks brand new!

EnviroChic: Thanks so much Tina. You are truly inspiring.
All the best from EnviroChic Design
www.envirochic.ca