Publication date: 03/14/2009

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Be green when doing spring cleaning

With the hard winter we have had in Michigan, it doesn't seem like spring will ever get here. But it will arrive on Friday -- regardless of what the weather does. With the change in season comes the annual ritual for many homeowners: spring cleaning.

For most people, spring cleaning means deep cleaning, which involves moving furniture, cleaning carpets, scrubbing floors, washing walls and windows, sanitizing bathrooms and in general getting rid of all the dust and dirt that has accumulated during the winter months. Unfortunately, we often forget that stirring up that dust and using harsh cleaners can wreak havoc on our breathing. If you or a family member has allergies or asthma, spring cleaning can be a serious health issue. Fortunately, there are plenty of products that are environmentally safe and do a great job of cleaning without compromising the indoor air quality.

One of the first things homeowners want to do during spring cleaning is to sanitize.

Because we can finally open the windows and doors to air out the house, we often lean toward those traditional products with bleach- or ammonia-based ingredients to sanitize floors, tubs, showers and sinks. But bleach and ammonia are hard on your breathing and skin, and when mixed together create a poisonous gas. Even the Environmental Protection Agency does not recommend using bleach when cleaning around the home due to its toxic fumes and the health risks involved.

In most cases, using bleach and ammonia isn't really necessary. Today, there are cleaning products on the market that don't have any volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and they also won't require you to wear a mask and rubber gloves to use them.

Products from companies such as Simple Green, (800) 228-0709, www.simplegreen.com, the OxiHome elements from OxiBrands, (800) 745 5186, www.oxibrands.com, and Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day household cleaners, (877) 865-1508, www.mrsmeyers.com, are all biodegradable and environmentally friendly, and they also do a good job of cleaning.

You can also use steam to clean and sanitize floors and appliances. The Shark Portable Steam Cleaners, (800) 798-7398, www.sharkvac.com, and the Haan Steam Mop, (717) 209-7000, www.haanusa.com, both offer steam cleaners that work without using chemicals or cleaning solutions.

Spring is also a good time to clean your carpets to get rid of all the dirt that has accumulated during the winter. If you haven't had your carpets professionally cleaned recently, now would be the time to get it done. Professionals with big truck-mounted cleaners do the best job and certainly do a better job than you can do with a rented carpet-cleaning machine or one of those portable home versions. Some good carpet cleaners are Modernistic, (800) 609-1000; Miracle Carpet Care, (248) 721-6136; and Peak Environment, (888) 670-7325.

If you want to do it yourself, try dry. The Capture Carpet Cleaning Kit, (800) 227-8873, www.captureclean.com, is available at Sears, Lowe's and Home Depot, vacuum-cleaner stores and allergy-control Web sites.

The Host Dry Carpet Cleaning System, (800) 558-9439, www.hostdry.com, uses a special machine to work the cleaning powder into the carpet.

Once you spend the time and effort using environmentally friendly products to give your home a good spring cleaning, it's a good idea to make sure you also improve the indoor air quality of your home year-round.

Even if your carpets have been cleaned recently, it's still important to use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to help filter out the dirt and dust, rather than using a regular vacuum, which actually stirs up the dirt and dust.

Most of the major vacuum manufacturers now have reasonably priced HEPA models. A properly working vacuum will actually work harder instead of making you do all the work. You might want to consider getting a tune-up for your current vacuum before you buy a new one. SAV Vacuum & Sewing Center of Warren, (586) 739-8080, services all brands and models.

You also need to remember that even though spring is almost here, your heat will still be going on at night and in the mornings, and all too soon you will be running your air conditioning. If you haven't had the air ducts professionally cleaned in the past five years or more, now's the time to do so.

Some good local companies that are certified members of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association include: Dalton Environmental, (800) 675-2298; Dusty Ducts, (313) 381-7801; Fresh Air Solutions Inc., (800) 341-4076; Safety King, (800) AIR-DUCT; and VentCorp., (248) 347-9300.

Once that's done, you want to make sure that the air flowing through them is as pure and allergy-free as possible. One product that can help that is the Guardian Air HVAC Cell Advanced Oxidation System from RGF, (800) 842-7771, www.rgf.com. According to RGF, this system uses a PHI cell, which after installation into the air-supply duct in your furnace releases oxidants known as hydro-peroxides throughout the air ducts and rooms for a continuous-purification process that quickly kills new odors or microbials.

This year, plan to do your spring cleaning with green products that are meant to keep your home clean and you breathing easier.

Note: This article was accurate at the date of publication. However, information contained in it may have changed. If you plan to use the information contained herein for any purpose, verification of its continued accuracy is your responsibility.

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