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The Greenest Cleaning Just Turned Blue!
The next evolution in green cleaning and disinfection...
Maid Brigade is committed to providing our customers with the cleanest, healthiest homes possible. For that reason, we continue to be on the forefront of green cleaning. The science of green cleaning is a constantly advancing process, so we are dedicated to evaluating new technologies and adapting our processes to provide the healthiest, safest and most effective green cleaning available today.
Maid Brigade's new exclusive VapurClean Advantage™ is powerful cleaning and disinfection using the safest cleaning process for your family - one that uses WATER ALONE. VapurClean™ can clean your kitchens, bathrooms, counters, floors, upholstery and every other surface without the use of traditional chemical disinfectants which often include harmful ingredients like carcinogens and hormone disruptors. Our revolutionary VapurClean™ system creates a dry steam vapor which penetrates microscopic pores in surfaces where dirt and germs hide and multiply. VapurClean™ kills dust mites on contact, removes allergens, kills bacteria and removes mold and mildew from deep within your surfaces, so your home remains germ-free longer. It's a healthier, safer, deeper disinfection using nothing but water!
Call today and ask about our special VapurClean Advantage™ services (at participating locations). VapurClean™ provides mildew control including grout and  tile cleaning; allergy relief through dust mite control for mattresses, upholstery, draperies and more; infectious disease control; bathroom and kitchen disinfection; appliance cleaning; seasonal deep cleans and whole home disinfection.
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| Should Organic Food be a Priority?
With "green" being such a buzz word these days, consumers are beginning to realize the health benefits of going green in addition to the positive impact on the environment. Focusing on the health benefits, people are also consuming more organic foods. Organic food, however, can be confusing - all of the different labels and the price premiums. Are they really better for you or are the health advantages a misconception? Is it necessary to eat an entirely organic diet or are there certain conventionally produced foods which are okay to eat?
More and more studies are proving that eating organic food truly is better for you. Shane Heaton, a clinical nutritionist and editor of the newsletter "Organic Food Quality News" conducted a thorough review of the science behind recent research and concludes that organic food is better. Heaton claims, "The artificial fertilization associated with conventional crops produces lush growth by swelling produce with more water. On a pound-for-pound basis, organic food has more "dry matter" (i.e. food). Partly because of this (and for other reasons too), there are higher levels of nutrients in organic produce."1 Some studies suggest there are more vitamins and minerals found in organic produce, but most studies agree that eating organic food decreases the amount of toxins entering your body. Exposure of toxins to children is more harmful than to adults because their little systems are still developing, and their exposure is more concentrated due to their smaller bodies.
If you are on a budget and cannot buy entirely organic, prioritizing your organic food purchases can still help to make a big impact on your family's health. The 12 most pesticide-laden produce products are peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, kale, lettuce, grapes (imported), carrots, and pears according to the Environmental Working Group.2 Baby food is mostly fruit and vegetables and because children are more vulnerable, this should be your number one priority. Your second priority should be organic animal products such as milk, cheese, eggs, poultry and meats. This will limit exposure to antibiotics, growth hormones and pesticides. Last on the priority list is produce that is more naturally produced and requires less chemicals, such as asparagus, avocados, bananas, corn, kiwi, onions, pineapples and sweet peas.3 Making these small changes to your grocery shopping habits will have life-time affects on your family's health.
3. Organic Food: Can We Trust It? Can We Afford It?, 2 Apr. 2009, The Healthy House Institute. 28 June 2009. http://www.healthyhouseinstitute.com/a_1006-Organic_Food_Can_We_Trust_It__Can_We_Afford_It
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| An Unusual Suspect...Your Cell Phone
 Most of us know that cell phones emit radiation, but are there dangers and long-term health effects of cell phone usage? Because regular use of mobile phones is so recent, scientists at The University of Pittsburg Cancer Institute claim there is not conclusive evidence of the long-term health effects. Other scientists suspect there are links to loss of concentration and memory, headaches, nausea, dizziness and brain tumors. Overall, scientists are divided on the issue. However, most agree we should reduce our exposure and the exposure of our kids. The penetration of the electromagnetic fields is estimated to be greater in children because their brains are still developing and their skulls are much thinner than an adult's.
Decreasing one's exposure is easier than it may seem. Each individual cell phone produces radiation with a different SAR, or specific absorption rate. The SAR rating, which measures the strength of the magnetic field that the body absorbs, is published for each phone and can be found online or in the packaging of a new phone. The ratings greatly vary from phone to phone, so be sure to do your homework when shopping for a new cell phone. The lower the SAR value, the lower the radiation levels the phone emits. Another way to decrease your risk and exposure is to purchase a product such as the SAR Shield, a device which adheres to either your cell phone's external antennae or covers the internal antennae and greatly decreases the levels of radiation. According to the web site, an independent lab's test results showed up to an 89% reduction in SAR radiation.1 For more information, visit the SAR Shield web site.
In addition to researching a phone's SAR rating and installing a radiation shield, here is a list of ten precautions you can take, provided by The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, based on advice from an international expert panel.2
1. Do not allow children to use a cell phone except for emergencies. The developing organs of a fetus or child are the most likely to be sensitive to any possible effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields.
2. While communicating using your cell phone, try to keep the cell phone away from the body as much as possible. The amplitude of the electromagnetic field is one fourth the strength at a distance of two inches and fifty times lower at three feet. Whenever possible, use the speaker-phone mode or a wireless Bluetooth headset, which has less than 1/100th of the electromagnetic emission of a normal cell phone. Use of a headset attachment may also reduce exposure.
3. Avoid using your cell phone in places, like a bus, where you can passively expose others to your phone's electromagnetic fields.
4. Avoid carrying your cell phone on your body at all times. Do not keep it near your body at night such as under the pillow or on a bedside table, particularly if pregnant. You can also put it on "flight" or "off-line" mode, which stops electromagnetic emissions.
5. If you must carry your cell phone on you, it is preferable that the keypad is positioned toward your body and the back is positioned toward the outside of your body. Depending on the thickness of the phone this may provide a minimal reduction of exposure.
6. Only use your cell phone to establish contact or for conversations lasting a few minutes as the biological effects are directly related to the duration of exposure. For longer conversations, use a land line with a corded phone, not a cordless phone, which uses electromagnetic emitting technology similar to that of cell phones.
7. Switch sides regularly while communicating on your cell phone to spread out your exposure. Before putting your cell phone to the ear, wait until your correspondent has picked up. This limits the power of the electromagnetic field emitted near your ear and the duration of your exposure.
8. Avoid using your cell phone when the signal is weak or when moving at high speed, such as in a car or train, as this automatically increases power to a maximum as the phone repeatedly attempts to connect to a new relay antenna.
9. When possible, communicate via text messaging rather than making a call, limiting the duration of exposure and the proximity to the body.
10. Choose a device with the lowest SAR possible. SAR ratings of contemporary phones by different manufacturers are available by searching for "SAR ratings cell phones" on the internet.
References:
1. The Case for Precautions in the Use of Cell Phones. 2008. University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. 10 June 2009. http://environmentaloncology.org/node/201#6
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