Austin Cleaning Authority

Toxic Avenger: 8 Harmful Chemicals Hiding in Your Household Cleaning Products

October 11, 2011 By Drew Liedeker, Owner 1 Comment

8 toxic chemicals to avoid in household products

Caveat Emptor: Poison

One of the primary reasons to hire a green maid service is experience. While many of our new and existing customers point to convenience, affordability and quality, few are aware that many of the products and processes they’ve been using to clean their homes could be making them sick. I recently came across an outstanding article by Jessie Sholl and have included it here. Knowledge is power and you have a right to know what could be lurking if your household cleaning products. I cannot emphasize this enough: As more and more people demand green products, more and more businesses and manufacturers will try and leverage this trend with false and misleading offerings. Read labels. Demand disclosure. Don’t take for granted that just because a person or product markets itself as “Green” that it is.

While I am always grateful for the opportunity at new business, my chief motivation with this blog is to reach as many people as I can about green, healthy alternatives, processes and products that keep you and your family clean, green, happy and healthy.

We’re here for all of your green house cleaning maid service needs, questions and concerns. Never hesitate to reach out, here by adding a comment or emailing me directly. If you’re interested in a free in-home consultation, call us today at 512.827.8657, or after 7pm, Request a Quote. All in all, we look forward to the opportunity to serve.

Towards saving green and keeping clean, Drew

Turn a New Leaf: A Clean, Organized House in Five Easy Steps (Step Two: Appliances)

October 10, 2011 By Drew Liedeker, Owner Leave a Comment

This is the second post of a five post series covering Fall Cleaning. In step one we covered clothing. In step two we address appliances. (Reminder: Last week we covered 2011 tax incentives and rebates for replacing older, less efficient appliances.) Each step corresponds with one day so you and our family can prepare for Fall using a quick, easy iterative process, one step at a time. This post covers cleaning appliances.

We get this question at least once a month: “Drew, what’s the best and safest way to clean my kitchen appliances without using harsh, store bought chemicals?”

Step Two of the Fall House Cleaning Plan: Appliances

For hundreds of years, white vinegar has been the greenest, safest solution to effectively clean everything from windows and floors to oven vents and dishwaters. For this reason we’re advising our readers to use it. It’s effective on all fronts.

To speed the cleaning process, spray down the insides of the dishwasher, the stove, the microwave and the fridge with non-diluted white vinegar, all at the same time. Wipe down the inside of the fridge and freezer while the vinegar works on the other appliances. Fill all of the soap and rinse sections on the dishwasher with vinegar, turn it on to the longest setting, then move to the outside of the fridge. Wipe clean, then vacuum the coils. Wipe down the outside of the dishwasher, then stove.

Check the oven-if the grease has softened, wipe it out. Any hard, burned-on residue should be covered with baking soda; add a spray of vinegar and the chemical reaction will work on the more troublesome areas. The fizzing action will work on the residue. Close the oven, vacuum under the top of the range if it is able to be opened. Wipe clean. Vacuum the back of the stove and all electrical connections-but do not touch. Finish scrubbing the oven.

Look for Fall House Cleaning steps 3-5 in the coming days.

In the meantime, we’re here for all of your green house cleaning maid service needs. Call us today at 512.827.8657, or after 7pm, Request a Quote. Looking forward to the conversation.

Towards saving green and keeping clean, Drew

How-To: Clean Out Your Refrigerator (casasugar.com)
How-To: Clean Your Fireplace (casasugar.com)
Delightful autumn and an all-natural cleaning tip for you! (aliciaroseat.wordpress.com)
10 Cleaning Tips (indubitablybrazen.wordpress.com)
Comprehensive How To: Cleaning Your AppliancesPost Roundup (apartmenttherapy.com)

Filed Under: Blog, Digital Mailbag: Ask the Green House Cleaning Expert, Green House Cleaning Tips, Green Tips, House Organization and Productivity, Household Maintenance, Make Your House a Home Tagged With: baking soda, Cleanliness, Dishwasher, DIY cleaning process, Home appliance, maid service, Oven, Refrigerator, Sodium bicarbonate, Vacuum, white vinegar

Making Your House a Home: Qualify for Home Improvement Tax Credits

October 4, 2011 By Drew Liedeker, Owner 1 Comment

Save Money and Save the Planet

While The Cleaning Authority is arguably Austin’s best residential maid service offering comprehensive green cleaning, we like to keep our customers and community up-to-date on on all-things-home improvement, especially when it involves saving money and saving the planet.

The federal government, in concert with many local and state governments and utilities, is offering extensive rebates and tax credits for home improvement and home owners that replace household inefficiencies.

These rebates and credits are not guaranteed to be around in 2012 and expire on December 31, 2011. So while haste makes waste, ignore that cliche and hurry up into savings!

The dollar amount listed below is the credit offered for qualifying energy efficient products. For more information about how to qualify, visit http://www.energysavers.gov.

Turn a New Leaf: A Clean, Organized House in Five Easy Steps (Step One: Clothing)

October 3, 2011 By Drew Liedeker, Owner 1 Comment

It’s that time of year again: With the kids back to school, cooler temperatures offering welcome relief from 100+ temps in Central Texas, and daylight savings sending families indoors more during evening hours, a Fall house cleaning and organizational plan is in order.

This is the first post of a five post series. Each step corresponds with one day so you and our family can prepare for Fall using a quick, easy interation process, one step at a time.

Step One of the Fall House Cleaning Plan: Clothing

Room by room, take inventory of clothing in dressers and closets. First, go through clothing that no longer fits or is unwanted. Place those in bags marked accordingly. (Given the recent fires and community need for clothing donations, there is a ready-made home for these articles.) Now your children’s clothing can be organized into outfits. One outfit hung on a hanger, with a small net or cloth bag to hold a pair of underwear or socks. It’s not necessary to organize by day; this is a great opportunity for kids to choose their own outfit and with everything in one place, the mad dash to find the kids something to wear every morning is a thing of the past. For kids that are required to wear a uniform to school, establish a cleaning cycle, and make sure that your child always has two uniforms to wear at any given time. Keep play, sports and weekend clothing separate. This is a great process for adult closets, too. Humans, children especially, thrive in established, expected processes… some of the world’s most recognizable geniuses even take this a step further and wore the same thing every day.

Place anything that does not fit or clothing that is unwanted into a laundry bag. This laundry bag will hold all the clothing from all of the closets that will not be used any longer. (If needed, carry two.) After all outfits have been hung, place accessories and shoes into small bins on closet shelves or on top of dressers. This keeps them handy for children to choose their own. (Look for our upcoming video on properly storing shoes and accessories in recycled plastic bins; there is a right way and a wrong way.) Pack away summer clothing as the weather turns cooler. Keep a few out for warmer days. Vacuum away any dust or spider webs that might be lurking in corners. Consider replacing the light bulb with an LED bulb to save energy, save money and to avoid an incandescent bulb going out during an early morning (this will save you time and presents a great opportunity to talk to the kids about lighting).

Look for Fall House Cleaning steps 2-5 in the coming days.

In the meantime, we’re here for all of your green house cleaning maid service needs. Call us today at 512.827.8657, or after 7pm, Request a Quote. I welcome your thoughts and feedback…. learning from others is what it’s all about. Looking forward to the conversation.

Towards saving green and keeping clean, Drew

Do You Rotate Seasonal Clothes? (casasugar.com)
5 Expert Bedroom Storage Ideas (chictip.com)
5 Simple Steps To Organize Your Child’s Room (monicaricci.net)
Strip Down for Fall! (your closet that is) (whiteelephantstyle.wordpress.com)
Room Deco and Organization (sitwalklieandrise.wordpress.com)

Filed Under: Blog, Green House Cleaning Tips, House Organization and Productivity, Household Maintenance, Make Your House a Home, Recycling Tagged With: Children, Clothing, house cleaning, maid service, organization, productivity, Recycling, save time, time management, Used and Secondhand

Fire and Insurance: A Guide to Understanding Your Home Owners Fire Policy

September 8, 2011 By Drew Liedeker, Owner 1 Comment

Plan for the Worst Before it Happens*

Thousands of homes have been affected or completely destroyed by wildfires in Texas this year. The Labor Day Weekend wildfires across Central Texas have raised many questions about fire insurance policies, coverage and the mitigation of risk/loss. Our friends and residential real estate professionals at The Good Life Team have created a video tutorial to address these questions. Even if you are one of the lucky home owners that escaped damage or loss, this is great information.

In this video, Jack Miller of the Good Life Team interviews insurance expert and home owner advocate, Gena Caudle. You will learn:

Policy Distinctions: “All Perils” or “Named Perils” Policy (“All Perils” Policy is all inclusive coverage; “Named Perils” Policy specifically lists event-disasters that you’re covered under.)
Mitigating Loss: Chronicle a Photographic/Video Record of your belongings; store in firebox or off-property.
Mitigating Risk: Understanding your responsibility to ensure coverage in the case of event-disaster is critical. Coverage does not always guarantee a claim. Read your policy. While every policy enjoins different responsibilities, it is a good idea to know exactly what steps are necessary to guarantee you have done everything in your power to mitigate risk.
Understanding Your Coverage Ceiling: “I’ve got coverage; is it enough?” Determining if you have a replacement cost policy or an actual cash value policy. The “Nine Multiplier” Rule of Thumb.
Navigating a Claim: My Home is Damaged or Destroyed by Fire, What do I do now? Get to know your insurance agent; know who they are! Call your agent. You’ve invested in coverage and now is your agent’s oportunity to provide service. Of course, not all agents are created equal so when considering coverage, determine what companies and agents are most focused on you and your family’s needs, not just your money.

We are including this information to raise awareness. Should you have immediate questions, please post them in the comments below and we will either answer them directly or get you get you the contact information to find an answer.

You are not alone; we’re here for all of your green house cleaning maid service needs. Call us today at 512.827.8657, or after 7pm, Request a Quote. In the meantime, I absolutely welcome your thoughts and feedback…. learning from others is what it’s all about. Looking forward to the conversation.

Towards saving green and keeping clean,

Drew

* Photograph courtesy of Austin American-Statesman, Jay Janner / AP

Covering Your Assets with Homeowners Insurance (boldrealestategroup.wordpress.com)
Matthew Dornic: Flood Insurance Lapse Puts Home Owners, Housing at Risk (huffingtonpost.com)
Insurance Wisdom for Your Home and Vehicles (couponshoebox.com)
Do You Have Enough Insurance to Rebuild Your Home? (eastsiderealestatebuzz.com)
An Insurance Primer (moneymanager.com)
Homeowners Insurance: Getting The Right Insurance Coverage (massrealestatenews.com)

Filed Under: Blog, Community and Social Good, Digital Mailbag: Ask the Green House Cleaning Expert, House Organization and Productivity, Household Maintenance, Make Your House a Home Tagged With: #centraltxfires, Austin Texas, fire insurance, Gena Caudle, insurance coverage, mitigating loss, organization, planning, risk, The Good Life Team

Save Green on Clean Winner: The Singer Family

June 27, 2011 By Drew Liedeker, Owner 2 Comments

The Singer Family Accept Their Prize: Unlimited Car Washes from Genie Car Wash for One Year!

After over 1,300 entries, Thom Singer, wife Sara and “two highly-spirited girls” won The Cleaning Authority, Austin’s first “Save Green on Clean” promotion in conjunction with H2O and Genie Car Wash and Detail. Thom and family will enjoy a year of free car washes from Genie! Upon the random selection and hearing the news, Thom was ecstatic:

“When I tell the girls, they are going to be thrilled; as a professional speaker, the road takes its toll on the family vehicle. We’ve never won anything like this. Thanks to The Cleaning Authority, Austin, H2O and Genie Car Wash, Austin. This prize will definitely be put to good use!”

In an effort to boost cross-promotion with local businesses adamant about “saving green” on cleaning products and services, The Cleaning Authority, Austin’s intent is to drive awareness for local businesses. Every dollar spent locally helps Austin thrive by allowing entrepreneurs to support additional team members and economic development. As arguably Austin’s best maid service, we’re proud to call Austin home and do everything we can to ensure Austin stays on top.

Be on the look out for future promotions and opportunities to save money, meet new local businesses, and get to know our friends and partners. After all, life is too short to clean your own stuff!

Our last campaign was so successful we’ve decided to extend the promotion into a second round. Simply click on the banner below, enter your email address, share the good word about our business, and be entered to win a year of free car washes for one year, in addition to receiving $5 off any car wash or detail at H2O or Genie Car Wash. You’ll also receive $30 off your initial green maid service.

Filed Under: Blog, Community and Social Good Tagged With: austin, discount, Genie Car Wash, H2O hand car wash and detail, house cleaning, local business, maid service, promotions, specials, Thom Singer, winner

The Digital Mailbag: Hiring a Green Maid Service Checklist

June 17, 2011 By Drew Liedeker, Owner Leave a Comment

Answers to Your Question About All Things Green Cleaning

Every Friday The Cleaning Authority, Austin answers your questions about all things green cleaning from around the interwebs. If your question is selected, prospects receive $20 off your initial cleaning with us; current customers, you receive a free refrigerator cleaning. So keep those questions coming, Austin!

Our first question comes to us via twitter from Cynthia Fedor: “…What questions should I ask when hiring a green a maid service?”

"It's not easy bein' green" - Kermit the Frog

Cynthia, thanks for your question and we’re glad you asked!

Over the last few years the “green”craze has reached a fever pitch. This is great for the industry, great for the community and great for long-term sustainability. But like many trends and positive change, some unscrupulous individuals and businesses invariably market their products and services to take advantage of the trend while failing to deliver on the service’s promise. In the industry we call this “green washing.” Unfortunately, this unethical practice hurts the rest of us trying to improve the industry.

The Cleaning Authority’s green cleaning commitment and detail clean rotation system are the two primary reasons I became an owner. But enough about me already!

Below are questions to ask that will help you verify the cleaning service soliciting your business is using accepted green cleaning practices and not green washing.

The Bonafide Green House Cleaning Service Checklist

Are you bonded and insured?
Do you provide all of the cleaning solutions to clean my home with every scheduled clean?
Does Green Cleaning of the entire house come with your service or are certain areas and green cleaning services considered add-on’s and/or not green cleaned?
Do you use house cleaning products that are certified by an independent organization such as Green Seal? Follow-up(s): Are the cleaning solutions you use safe for people and pets? Can you show me labels of the cleaning solutions you use?
What kind of vacuums do you use? Follow-up: Do you use HEPA filtration to reduce allergens and other respiratory irritants by up to 99.9%?
Do you use house cleaning techniques and procedures that reduce cross contamination across surfaces, including color coded micro-fiber mops and cleaning cloths?
Do you have a green house cleaning training program that teaches the benefits and importance of green cleaning? Follow-up(s):Do you supervise and coach your employees to constantly improve performance? Do you have a quality assurance manager that inspects green cleaning services and the quality of the service delivered?
Do you have any questions for me about my lifestyle, preferences or my home? (It is absolutely crucial to open dialog with your chosen green cleaning company. After years of experience, the number one challenge for small businesses is delivering to the expectation of its customers. Your home is where most days begin and most days end… your maid service should be conscious of this and address your needs in order to ensure a long, healthy, mutually beneficial relationship.)

Should a house cleaning service soliciting your business answer any of the questions above in the negative, I highly suggest you move on to the next company. Thanks again for your question Cynthia and we look forward to supporting you and yours in the future. Keep those questions coming… Knowledge is power and it provides us with the opportunity to learn more to be better.

Towards saving green and keeping clean, Drew

Innovation and diffusion of clean/green technology: Can patent commons help? (chimalaya.org)
Green clean: Healthy cleaning products straight from the pantry ()
Discover The Joys Of Having A Maid. (mydecorarticles.com)
How-To: Be Green When You Clean (casasugar.com)

Filed Under: Blog, Digital Mailbag: Ask the Green House Cleaning Expert, House Organization and Productivity, Household Maintenance, Make Your House a Home Tagged With: checklist, cleaning for pets and people, green maid service, Green Seal Products, greenwashing, How to, professional

Memories Matter Most: Why to Hire a Professional House Cleaning Service this Summer

June 16, 2011 By Drew Liedeker, Owner Leave a Comment

Would you rather be doing this, or Cleaning the House?

Life is too short to clean your own home

The Dog Days of Summer

To clean or not to clean, that is the question. Summer is typically the slowest season for professional house cleaning and maid services; numbers drop off significantly.

This phenomenon has always confounded me–I prefer to spend less time on household chores and more time enjoying my family and my interests. Am I so different than my customers?

Since Eileen and I became the owners of The Cleaning Authority, Austin, I’ve researched studies that attempt to answer my questions, in an effort to provide a better service: Why do customers terminate service on the cusp of summer and what can I do as a service provider to help them maximize their time doing things they love?