Guess What? Cleaning is Good For Your Health!

A new study by Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, shows that cooking, cleaning and even washing dishes are associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease. Study author Aron Buchman says that " These results provide support for efforts to encourage physical activity in even very old people who might not be able to participate in formal exercise but can still benefit from a more active lifestyle." There are other health perks related to cleaning and those are:

1.) It Burns Calories- Taking out the vacuum can help you lose those extra pounds and reduce stress. You can burn an average of 250 calories an hour during a cleaning frenzy-even more if you are really moving.

2.) It Reduces Stress- An article published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine stated that 20 minutes of activity-including house work- cuts anxiety and stress by as much as 20 percent. A clean and clutter-free home is a great anxiety reducer- especially if you always have unexpected guests.

3.) It Helps Your Allergies- By purging your home of dust, dust mites and dander you can improve or avoid allergies and hay fever. Some of the best ways to control allergies are by vacuuming frequently, washing your sheets and curtains often, cleaning out your fridge and sink as well a thorough dusting throughout the home.

4.) It Improves Concentration- Do not be bogged down with lots of clutter. A clean and organized home helps you to focus on what is most important which means your concentration is improved. You will feel more optimistic and in control.

5.) It Gives You an Outlet For Your Anger- Cleaning is a productive way to vent when you are angry and lets you avoid from saying things or doing things you shouldn't.

Do You Know What Is In Your Fabric Softener?

Almost everyone today adds chemical fabric softener to their laundry. Print ads tell us that the softener will keep our clothes from being hard, but will also address static cling. Have you ever asked yourself, "What exactly is fabric softener?"

Fabric softener is a combination of chemicals that coat the surface of textiles with a thin layer of lubrication, thus keeping laundry soft and reducing static cling. When fabric softener was first introduced, it was made of a combination of soap and oil or other natural oils. Today, these softeners are made of noxious chemicals masked by a large amount of fragrance.

Here is a partial list of some of the toxic chemicals that can be found in today's softeners:

     * Alpha Terpineol: can cause central nervous damage and respiratory problems
     * Camphor: causes central nervous disorders, and is easily absorbed through the skin
     * Chloroform: a carcinogenic neurotoxin
     * Benzyl Acetate: linked to pancreatic cancer
     * Benzyl Alcohol: respiratory tract irritant
     * Ethyl Acetate: a narcotic on the EPA's "hazardous waste" list
     * Limonene: a known carcinogen that irritates eyes and skin

If you are using liquid softener, you are pouring toxic chemicals into the ocean. Dryer sheets are even worse. When those chemicals are heated, you breathe the chemicals into your lungs. The "fresh from the dryer" smell is toxic!! For an alternative, reach for dryer balls or add a 1/4 cup of baking soda to your wash cycle.

The Truth About Teflon

Is Teflon an additional health hazard in your home? When Teflon-coated pans are heated, within five minutes they reach 750 degrees F. The Enviromental Working Group reports that the degradation of the synthetic polmer (PTFE) leads to a litany of toxic compounds which include highly lethal and corrosive gases as well as a chemical warfare agent known as PFIB. PFIB is ten times more lethal than a chemical warfare agent used in WWWI and WWWII known as phosgene. These toxic compounds do not break down further and linger in your home.

It is a well known fact that PTFE is toxic to birds. It causes the exposed lungs of birds to hemorrhage, to fill up with liquid that leads to suffocation. What are the effects on humans? Teflon toxicity causes a temporary, intense, though not very serious flu-like syndrome. Experts call this polymer fume fever. Since the fever mimics the flu, most doctors do not make the connection to overheated Teflon. In a study that tested the milk of 45 nursing mothers, PTFE residuals were found.

Dupont, aware of the hazards associated with heated Teflon, required workers to wear respirators as early as 1962 in poorly ventilated areas.. During that year, Dupont tested on volunteers Teflon-laced cigarettes. Nine out of the ten volunteers became very ill with flu-like symptoms. Despite these results, Dupont repeatedly denies knowing about any serious Teflon-induced health effects. Both Dupont and the government lack the data needed to know with certainty that Teflon in home cookware is safe.

Fight Pollen the Natural Way

Spring is here and summer is just around the corner. Along with the chirping birds and flowers blooming comes sneezing and wheezing. Instead of reaching for medications to control allergies, try these natural approaches...
1.) As much as you can, keep all doors and windows of your home closed. Turn on your air conditioner and remember that during pollen season, it is important to change the air conditioning filter at least once a month.
2.) As soon as you arrive home, take off your shoes and wash or rinse your hair. Skin and hair hold a lot of pollen and if not removed, can cause you problems while you are sleeping.
3.) Use a vacuum with hepa filtration and buy hepa filters for your air conditioner. Use a dehumidifier which kills pollen spores and other allergens.
4.) Eat foods that contain natural antihistamine properties such as apples, garlic,onions and citrus.
5.) Before pollen season starts, jump start your immune system by ingesting 1 to 2 teaspoons of locally produced bee pollen.
6.) During the peek pollen-producing times, avoid the outdoors. This is usually in the mornings.

Let's Be Friends!

                           Hello and Welcome To The Maids!


We hope that things are going well for you! From the beginning, The Maids has consistently put our fans (aka loyal customers) interests first with each home that we clean. We know that you want a clean home from top to bottom for your family to enjoy. In the age of never-ending impersonal communication, get to know your team in Portland by becoming one of our Facebook fans. As a fan, you will get the scoop on all of what we do. We'll share expert cleaning tips, inside information and news about what is happening. We take pride in the important conversations that take place on our Facebook wall and social media sites and invite you to join in the fun!                                     

                                           See you on the web!!!                                    

Does an Apple A Day Really Keep the Doctor Away?

Did you know that the average apple is sprayed with pesticides seventeen times before it is harvested? Unless your apple is pesticide free, it is not only sufficient to keep the doctor at bay, it is more likely to keep the doctor on call. You may be thinking that the dose is so small that it really does not matter, however it has been found that some toxins are more harmful in smaller doses! In a study by the EPA, it identified more than 55 pesticides that can leave cancer-causing residues on food. And, according to the Natural Resource Defense Council, the use of pesticides has risen more than tenfold since the 1940s. On an average year, 1.2 billion pounds of pesticides are used in agriculture in the United States alone.

While pesticides  kill pests quickly, increasing research shows that they may harm or kill humans slowly. Pesticides are not easily washed off produce and the same is true once ingested. Fat-soluble pesticides are attracted to the fat stores in your body. In fact, even though DDT was banned in Canada and the United States over three decades ago, it is found in 100% of human fat samples tested by the EPA.

The best way to avoid pesticides on your produce is to buy organic food. It is more expensive and perhaps to lower the cost you could get to know the local food growers in your area that offer pesticide free produce. Avoid spraying your house and lawn with insecticide and choose natural alternatives to bug spray. Plant you own garden and grow blueberry bushes so that you may control what you are exposed to!

Spring Clean Your Home Naturally With Lemon!!

It's that time of year again, time to clean your living space. Using harsh chemicals can contaminate your home with toxins, defeating the purpose of all that dusting, washing, scrubbing and polishing. Exposure to these harsh chemicals can also have adverse effects on the health of your family. Some household cleaners can cause mild irritation, and they have also been linked to asthma and cancer. Every year thousands of children are poisoned by ordinary household cleaners. Not only do they make thousands of children ill each year, they also pollute our air and water, pack landfills and contaminate water sources.

Luckily there is an alternative provided by nature that is simple, easy to use and disinfects naturally and that is LEMON! Lemons are natural disinfectants with a wonderful smell that people associate with cleanliness. >You can use a lemon to remove stains from counter tops and cutting boards. Slice a lemon and pour the juice onto the stain. Let the lemon sit for awhile and wipe clean. For granite or marble surfaces try club soda instead. > Dip a sliced lemon in salt and use that to scrub copper-bottomed pots and pans. This trick will also help to dissolve soap and hard water stains in sinks. > Drop a whole lemon into your garbage disposal and turn it on to eliminate odors and bacteria. > You can also use lemon to brighten your whites and give them a fresh smell. Add 1/2 cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle and volia!