5/4/12
Baby Ducks are Hatching!
3/6/12
Magnolia's are so magnificent this time of year!
I go for a power walk early in the mornings on a trail behind my house.
As I come around to the street side I have the pleasure of seeing and photographing flowers and animals in the quiet moments just after sunrise. I will send out pictures and photos of interest as I get them.
Happy Spring from Sunrise Cleaning Service!!
2/24/12
Squeaky Clean Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz Good Times
Squeaky Clean Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz Good Times
When the phone rang at Sunrise Cleaning Service on Market Street, owner Tracy Taylor thought it was just another prospective client. But the longtime Santa Cruz resident was in for a surprise: the woman on the other end of the phone worked for the cable network A&E, and she wanted to enlist Taylor’s help for an upcoming episode of the popular television series “Hoarders.”
“She said she had a house to clean,” recalls Taylor. “Then she told me it was for a show on A&E and I said, ‘Oh, we’ll certainly do that!”
Read more...2/23/12
The Museum of Clean
It highlights more than 3,000 treasures of the past and reveals the progress of cleaning up ourselves and the planet over the centuries. You will find here the tools, machines, appliances, art, posters, and dramatic presentations that add up to a look, feel, hear, and “try-it-out” trip!!
Don Aslett, America’s #1 Cleaning Expert, after more than 58 years in the profession of clean, created this as his lifetime legacy. The museum is located in a beautiful southern Idaho city, Pocatello, and housed in a spacious 80,000-square-foot green building.
2/16/12
Local Cleaning Service, Sunrise Cleaning To Appear on A&E’s Hoarders
episode of Hoarders on A&E.
February 10, 2012, CA: Sunrise Cleaning Services’ Tracy Taylor and several of her employees will appear in an upcoming episode of A&E’s popular and Prime Time Emmy Nominated series, HOARDERS. Taylor and her employees worked during the show in the upcoming episode. They helped purge and clean the residence of a California woman as they documented her struggle to overcome her battle with hoarding.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Hoarding is defined as “The excessive collection of items, along with the inability to discard them. Hoarding often creates such cramped living conditions that homes may be filled to capacity, with only narrow pathways winding through stacks of clutter. Some people also collect animals, keeping dozens or hundreds of pets often in unsanitary conditions. People who hoard often don't see it as a problem, making treatment challenging. But intensive treatment can help people who hoard understand their compulsions and live safer, more enjoyable lives.”
Sunrise Cleaning is no stranger to helping clean homes of people afflicted with this debilitating disorder. “We are happy to be a part of making a difference in people’s lives. Hoarding can be a challenge, and we are pleased to be part of the solution,” said Taylor.
According to the OCD Foundation severe clutter poses several health risks including:
- Developing health problems from mold or pests that live in the clutter.
- Injury or even death when fire fighters can’t enter or control a rapidly spreading fire.
- Being hurt and even killed when items fall on them.
- Living for months and even years without vital services like plumbing, electricity, and heating.
children and pets.
“Working on this project was exciting—bringing in our cleaning expertise and environmentally friendly cleaning products gave us the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life.”
About Sunrise Cleaning Service
Sunrise Cleaning Service offers Residential, Office and Commercial, Rental and New Construction cleaning services in Santa Cruz, California. Sunrise is focused on saving the environment, educating the public about the dangers of household chemicals, and dedicated to providing its clients and the public with the tools to eliminate toxins from their homes. Sunrise offers dedicated professionals with an attitude of excellence who pride themselves on a job well done. Sunrise gives you
the lifestyle you want—and the time to do the things that are important to you, while saving you time, money and effort.
The episode of Hoarders will air this season on A&E. A HOARDERS airs on Monday nights 9PM PST/EST.
For more information on Sunrise Cleaning Service and the services offered please visit www.sunriseclean.com.
For more information on the series, please go to www.aetv.com/HOARDERS
2/1/12
Sunrise Cleaning featured on Hoarders TV show!
Sunrise Cleaning was chosen to be on A&Es hit show Hoarders. Each 60-minute episode of Hoarders, which has been nominated for a 2011 Emmy® for Outstanding Reality Program, is a fascinating look inside the lives of two different people whose inability to part with their belongings is so out of control that they are on the verge of a personal crisis.
Watch for the show date and trailer coming soon!
1/11/12
Essential Oils and Cleaning Products
"It often requires several hundred or even thousands of pounds of raw plant material to produce a single pound of essential oil. For example, it can take 2 – 3 tons of melissa plant material to produce one pound of melissa essential oil. Its extremely low yield explains why it sells for $9,000 to $15,000 per kilo.
Likewise, it takes 5,000 pounds of rose petals to produce approximately one pint of rose oil. It is not difficult to understand why this quality of essential oil is expensive.
The vast majority of oils are produced for the perfume industry, which is only interested in their aromatic qualities, rather than the plants therapeutic benefits.
High pressure, high temperatures, and the use of chemical solvents are used in the distillation process for the perfume industry to produce greater quantities of oil in a shorter time. Some of those solvents are: hexane, di-methylene chloride, and acetone.
To most people, these oils carry a pleasant aroma, but they lack true therapeutic properties. Many of the important chemical constituents necessary to produce therapeutic results are either flashed off with the high heat or are not released from the plant material.
In addition to poor distillation processing an essential oil can be further ruined by being adulterated and diluted down with any number of other substances. While this may be terrific for company profits, it’s horrible for consumer use because those chemicals are absorbed through the skin and through inhalation.
The temperature and pressure levels during steam distillation can enhance or destroy the beneficial healing properties of the essential oil. The operator of the distiller must have a full understanding of the value of essential oils in order to produce quality essential oils. If the pressure or temperature is too high, it may change the molecular structure of the fragrance molecule, altering the chemical constituents. For example, the distilling process for lavender should not exceed three pounds of pressure, and the temperature should not exceed 245° F.
We are indeed fortunate to have superior essential oils from Young Living!"
Sincerely, Emma Schubert
Sunriseclean.com
11/7/11
Thieves Safe Cleaning Products
It is a superior natural alternative to chemicals and is a marvelous cleaning product. The anti-microbial power of Thieves, combined with a non-toxic coconut oil based cleaning solution that is safe for your whole family. This product is very gentle on the skin & safe for children and pets.
Dilute this concentrate as directed on label, to clean dishes, laundry, windows, bathrooms, stains, floors, wood, leather, upholstery, walls everything you can think of.
Professional cleaning services are using Thieves Cleaner and receiving feedback from their clients that allergies are easing in their homes and offices.
Thieves® was created based on research about four thieves in France who protected themselves with cloves, rosemary, and other aromatics while robbing plague victims. This proprietary blend was university-tested and found to be highly effective in supporting the immune system and good health.*
Click here to order Thieves alternative cleaners today!
10/26/11
Just Say No to Plastic
Great Article from Green America's Blog:
...Because once you really start thinking about it, you notice that plastic is EVERYWHERE. As author Susan Freinkel points out in her book Plastic: A Love Story, you probably can’t go five minutes after waking up in the morning without touching something plastic (i.e. alarm clock, glasses, toothbrush, soap dispenser, towel rack, and oh-my-gosh … toilet seat)
(read more...)
Blogger Beth Terry (MyPlasticFreeLife.com) says that the two biggest things people can do to get rid of stupid plastic are to give up bottled water and to bring your own reusable bags to the store. What are your top ways to purge plastic from your life?
...Because once you really start thinking about it, you notice that plastic is EVERYWHERE. As author Susan Freinkel points out in her book Plastic: A Love Story, you probably can’t go five minutes after waking up in the morning without touching something plastic (i.e. alarm clock, glasses, toothbrush, soap dispenser, towel rack, and oh-my-gosh … toilet seat)
(read more...)
Blogger Beth Terry (MyPlasticFreeLife.com) says that the two biggest things people can do to get rid of stupid plastic are to give up bottled water and to bring your own reusable bags to the store. What are your top ways to purge plastic from your life?
10/20/11
Question of the Day
My wife would like to know if it would be possible to use some germ-killing and mold-killing agents like Lysol and Clorox, or it that outside the realm of green cleaning?
Answer:
Yes, I'm afraid those things are very toxic and we don’t use them. If you have things cleaned on a regular basis those mildew prone places should stay in better shape. You never prevent mold you just hold it off and the harsh chemicals have to be reapplied just as often.
A tip for holding the mold at bay a little longer is to rinse your shower/tub with cold water after your shower and squeegee the walls.
Using natural non-toxic products will prolong your life!
9/28/11
Workshops
Sunrise Cleaning Service hosts workshops to educate the public on safe, alternative cleaning products.
Please contact tracy@sunriseclean.com if you would like to host a workshop at your home or place of business.
A Safer Home Environment
| If your household cleaning needs are under control and your concern is for the possible effects of short or long-term exposure to cleaning and other household products, you may benefit from a consultation with the experts at Sunrise Cleaning Service. With only a couple of visits from our knowledgeable staff, you can be well on your way to a healthier lifestyle. You watch what you eat and you take precautions in your everyday lives like insurance, safety gates, smoke detectors. Why not remove the very things that are harming you in a slow, unknowing way? Sunrise Cleaning Service is dedicated on saving the environment and teaching the public about the dangers of household chemicals. We will provide you with the tools to eliminate toxins from your home. |
In the News
THINK CLEAN, THINK GREEN
Law Makes Schools Use 'Environmentally Friendly' Supplies
By Cara Matthews
Journal Albany bureau
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060901/NEWS02/609010346
September 1, 2006
ALBANY > Products with names such as Earth's Choice, Sustainable Earth and Green Knight will fill janitors' closets this fall as schools around the state comply with a new law that requires "environmentally friendly" cleaning supplies.
Concerns about the harmful health effects chemicals can have, especially on children, and a realization that cleaners with reduced amounts of potentially dangerous ingredients are increasingly available, prompted the legislation, which takes effect today.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates human exposure to air pollutants indoors can be two to five times higher than outdoor levels. Some of the culprits are cleaners, waxes and deodorizers. Reducing or eliminating potentially harmful ingredients helps protect the environment and water supply, according to the legislation's sponsors.
The state School Boards Association supports the measure but has had some questions about the law, such as whether the "greener" products would cost more and clean as well as traditional ones, spokesman David Ernst said.
"There are certainly concerns about student health that may be addressed by some of these products," he said. "(For) a lot of these concerns ... the source of the health problem hasn't been pinpointed, but certainly chemicals can be one."
Prices of the environmentally friendly cleaners are comparable to others on the market, said Christine Burling, At least two districts in Dutchess County will have a jump start on other local schools. The Pine Plains school district has been using green and environmentally friendly cleaning supplies for about four years, while the Rhinebeck school district has been using the products for about two years.
"The products are easier on the people who are applying them," said Thomas Garrick, director of operations and maintenance for Pine Plains schools. "It's just healthier on the people who apply them."
Because the prices are so similar, the district didn't need to make too big an adjustment, Garrick said.
Laurie Rich, president of the Rhinebeck school board, is vice president of programs for INFORM, Inc. The nonprofit organization examines the effects of business practices on the environment and on human health.
The Rhinebeck school district made the switch after INFORM performed a free audit of its cleaning supplies. She said the greener cleaning products have an immediate benefit not only to the workers who apply them, but to the entire school population.
"It's well documented that when you clean up the quality of the air we breathe indoors, students' attendance rates go up, attention spans in the classroom improve and students perform better," Rich said.
Greg Decker, custodial supervisor at the Rhinebeck school district, said the green products were comparable in performance.
"The transition was difficult because there are a lot of items out there that we had to try out and we were just trying to hope for the best," Decker said. "We wanted to make sure that the products that were on the market could do the same job."
In some cases, it may take a little longer for the green or environmentally friendlier products to work. For instance, environmentally friendly bathroom disinfectant may take longer to work than traditional bathroom cleaners.
Since bathroom cleaners are designed to kill germs, it's impossible to find a cleaner that is completely green.
Grandfather Clause
Schools don't have to throw away cleaners that aren't on the state's list of approved products for cleaning products, vacuum cleaners and sanitary paper products, she said. They can use them up before buying green ones. The new law applies to buildings and grounds at all public and private elementary and secondary schools.
A number of groups and parents have criticized the regulations, saying they don't go far enough to protect children. The state stands by the guidelines, Burling said.
"They're a living document. As science and technology evolve, we anticipate that we'll be making changes," she said.
The Office of General Services and the state Education Department have to issue a report by June 1 on the law's impact on schools.
The legislation, which passed in 2005, was sponsored by state Sen. Steve Saland, R-Poughkeepsie, and Sen. James Alesi, R-Perinton, Monroe County.
Grassroots Environmental Education, a nonprofit on Long Island, thinks the state should have adopted stricter guidelines, said Patti Wood, executive director. For example, the organization wanted to exclude all products with added fragrances and chemicals that can negatively affect the endocrine system, she said.
"Overall, it didn't go far enough. They missed an opportunity to really protect children, who are uniquely vulnerable to all kinds of environmental exposures," she said.
More Susceptible
Children, especially young ones, are more likely to come into contact with cleaning chemicals, and they are more vulnerable than adults because of their size and age, she said.
The state's list of products notes which ones have added fragrances, and the guidelines recommend reducing the use of those to the extent possible.
Most cleaners on the state's list are certified by Green Seal or Environmental Choice. According to Wood, the standards are not as strict as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Design for the Environment program, which includes information on eco-friendly cleaning products.
A statement on the Office of General Services' Web site said the agency anticipates working with the Design for the Environment program, among others, in updating regulations, but any changes will be based on "solid scientific studies and research."
Potential harmful effects of cleaners, waxes and deodorizers are skin and eye irritation, asthma attacks and neurological effects, Wood said. Some parents have taken their children out of school because of exposure to chemicals there, she said.
"If there is a single ingredient in any cleaning product that will cause an asthmatic attack, it would be the fragrance, and there are a lot of children with asthma in our schools," she said.
Grassroots Environmental Education will provide information to each school about its own recommendations for green cleaning products, Wood said.
New York State United Teachers, the state's largest union, backed the legislation as a good first step toward making schools healthier and safer for children and staff, spokesman Carl Korn said. But the union has a concern similar to that of Wood's group.
"The legislation requires them to use green, healthy products but not the highest rated ones, and that's something that we're going to be working towards in the future," he said.
The Civil Service Employees Association thinks the law is a good one but will require involvement from community members to make sure it is implemented on a local level, spokesman Stephen Madarasz said.
"I think all habits take a long time to change sometimes, so I think a lot of this will involve some grassroots involvement from people and our members," he said.
Journal staff writer Rasheed Oluwa contributed to this report.
Law Makes Schools Use 'Environmentally Friendly' Supplies
By Cara Matthews
Journal Albany bureau
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060901/NEWS02/609010346
September 1, 2006
ALBANY > Products with names such as Earth's Choice, Sustainable Earth and Green Knight will fill janitors' closets this fall as schools around the state comply with a new law that requires "environmentally friendly" cleaning supplies.
Concerns about the harmful health effects chemicals can have, especially on children, and a realization that cleaners with reduced amounts of potentially dangerous ingredients are increasingly available, prompted the legislation, which takes effect today.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates human exposure to air pollutants indoors can be two to five times higher than outdoor levels. Some of the culprits are cleaners, waxes and deodorizers. Reducing or eliminating potentially harmful ingredients helps protect the environment and water supply, according to the legislation's sponsors.
The state School Boards Association supports the measure but has had some questions about the law, such as whether the "greener" products would cost more and clean as well as traditional ones, spokesman David Ernst said.
"There are certainly concerns about student health that may be addressed by some of these products," he said. "(For) a lot of these concerns ... the source of the health problem hasn't been pinpointed, but certainly chemicals can be one."
Prices of the environmentally friendly cleaners are comparable to others on the market, said Christine Burling, At least two districts in Dutchess County will have a jump start on other local schools. The Pine Plains school district has been using green and environmentally friendly cleaning supplies for about four years, while the Rhinebeck school district has been using the products for about two years.
"The products are easier on the people who are applying them," said Thomas Garrick, director of operations and maintenance for Pine Plains schools. "It's just healthier on the people who apply them."
Because the prices are so similar, the district didn't need to make too big an adjustment, Garrick said.
Laurie Rich, president of the Rhinebeck school board, is vice president of programs for INFORM, Inc. The nonprofit organization examines the effects of business practices on the environment and on human health.
The Rhinebeck school district made the switch after INFORM performed a free audit of its cleaning supplies. She said the greener cleaning products have an immediate benefit not only to the workers who apply them, but to the entire school population.
"It's well documented that when you clean up the quality of the air we breathe indoors, students' attendance rates go up, attention spans in the classroom improve and students perform better," Rich said.
Greg Decker, custodial supervisor at the Rhinebeck school district, said the green products were comparable in performance.
"The transition was difficult because there are a lot of items out there that we had to try out and we were just trying to hope for the best," Decker said. "We wanted to make sure that the products that were on the market could do the same job."
In some cases, it may take a little longer for the green or environmentally friendlier products to work. For instance, environmentally friendly bathroom disinfectant may take longer to work than traditional bathroom cleaners.
Since bathroom cleaners are designed to kill germs, it's impossible to find a cleaner that is completely green.
Grandfather Clause
Schools don't have to throw away cleaners that aren't on the state's list of approved products for cleaning products, vacuum cleaners and sanitary paper products, she said. They can use them up before buying green ones. The new law applies to buildings and grounds at all public and private elementary and secondary schools.
A number of groups and parents have criticized the regulations, saying they don't go far enough to protect children. The state stands by the guidelines, Burling said.
"They're a living document. As science and technology evolve, we anticipate that we'll be making changes," she said.
The Office of General Services and the state Education Department have to issue a report by June 1 on the law's impact on schools.
The legislation, which passed in 2005, was sponsored by state Sen. Steve Saland, R-Poughkeepsie, and Sen. James Alesi, R-Perinton, Monroe County.
Grassroots Environmental Education, a nonprofit on Long Island, thinks the state should have adopted stricter guidelines, said Patti Wood, executive director. For example, the organization wanted to exclude all products with added fragrances and chemicals that can negatively affect the endocrine system, she said.
"Overall, it didn't go far enough. They missed an opportunity to really protect children, who are uniquely vulnerable to all kinds of environmental exposures," she said.
More Susceptible
Children, especially young ones, are more likely to come into contact with cleaning chemicals, and they are more vulnerable than adults because of their size and age, she said.
The state's list of products notes which ones have added fragrances, and the guidelines recommend reducing the use of those to the extent possible.
Most cleaners on the state's list are certified by Green Seal or Environmental Choice. According to Wood, the standards are not as strict as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Design for the Environment program, which includes information on eco-friendly cleaning products.
A statement on the Office of General Services' Web site said the agency anticipates working with the Design for the Environment program, among others, in updating regulations, but any changes will be based on "solid scientific studies and research."
Potential harmful effects of cleaners, waxes and deodorizers are skin and eye irritation, asthma attacks and neurological effects, Wood said. Some parents have taken their children out of school because of exposure to chemicals there, she said.
"If there is a single ingredient in any cleaning product that will cause an asthmatic attack, it would be the fragrance, and there are a lot of children with asthma in our schools," she said.
Grassroots Environmental Education will provide information to each school about its own recommendations for green cleaning products, Wood said.
New York State United Teachers, the state's largest union, backed the legislation as a good first step toward making schools healthier and safer for children and staff, spokesman Carl Korn said. But the union has a concern similar to that of Wood's group.
"The legislation requires them to use green, healthy products but not the highest rated ones, and that's something that we're going to be working towards in the future," he said.
The Civil Service Employees Association thinks the law is a good one but will require involvement from community members to make sure it is implemented on a local level, spokesman Stephen Madarasz said.
"I think all habits take a long time to change sometimes, so I think a lot of this will involve some grassroots involvement from people and our members," he said.
Journal staff writer Rasheed Oluwa contributed to this report.
Cleaning Solutions You (and the Earth) Can Live With...
Although most of us don't realize it, the plethora of potentially toxic cleaning solutions living under our sinks could be reduced to a half dozen extremely inexpensive, environmentally-friendly solutions made mostly from ingredients you may already have on hand.
Vinegar and water, long-known to be excellent for cleaning windows, still outshines the dozens of window-washing products on the market, and baking soda and vinegar are ideal for unplugging a sluggish drain.
Most of the cleansers on the market are harsh, abrasive and contain chlorine. Bon Ami, one of those products that has been around for as long as anyone can remember, still outscrubs all of it's chlorine-laden counterparts and is useful on many surfaces.
The following table shows you what common, everyday ingredients can be used as an alternative to your existing products.
Vinegar and water, long-known to be excellent for cleaning windows, still outshines the dozens of window-washing products on the market, and baking soda and vinegar are ideal for unplugging a sluggish drain.
Most of the cleansers on the market are harsh, abrasive and contain chlorine. Bon Ami, one of those products that has been around for as long as anyone can remember, still outscrubs all of it's chlorine-laden counterparts and is useful on many surfaces.
The following table shows you what common, everyday ingredients can be used as an alternative to your existing products.
Hazordous Waste Drop Off Program
HAVE YOU TRIED THE HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE (HHW) DROP-OFF PROGRAM?
The City of Santa Cruz HHW Drop-off site at the Resource Recovery Facility on Dimeo Lane is up and running. This facility offers a safe and convenient place for you to drop off toxic and dangerous materials that you no longer need or want.
Be sure to stop by their 2nd Chance Store. When you bring your products to the HHW facility, they sort through them and offer usable items to the public, free of charge. Pick up some free house paint for your next home improvement project!
Residents may still also drop off their HHW at the Ben Lomond Transfer Station or the Buena Vista Landfill. All three facilities take items such as:
The City of Santa Cruz HHW Facility and the 2nd Chance Store are open 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays only. Please call 831.454.2606 for more information. Or visit their web site:
http://www.dpw.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/hazwaste.htm
The City of Santa Cruz HHW Drop-off site at the Resource Recovery Facility on Dimeo Lane is up and running. This facility offers a safe and convenient place for you to drop off toxic and dangerous materials that you no longer need or want.
Be sure to stop by their 2nd Chance Store. When you bring your products to the HHW facility, they sort through them and offer usable items to the public, free of charge. Pick up some free house paint for your next home improvement project!
Residents may still also drop off their HHW at the Ben Lomond Transfer Station or the Buena Vista Landfill. All three facilities take items such as:
| • Aerosol cans • Cleaning Products • Hobby Products • Fertilizers • Pesticides • Pool Chemicals | • Smoke detectors • Glues • Automotive fluids • Batteries • Paint products • Insect Poisons |
The City of Santa Cruz HHW Facility and the 2nd Chance Store are open 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays only. Please call 831.454.2606 for more information. Or visit their web site:
http://www.dpw.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/hazwaste.htm
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