Quick Tips

Shine a Shower
Men are resourceful when it comes to cleaning products. “Wipe your shower walls with car wax to prevent soap scum from building up,” says Steve McQueen, a Merry Maids cleaner in Roswell, Georgia. “But you shouldn’t do it too frequently. Once a year does the trick.”

Make Glass Gleam
Forget paper towels. There’s a reason guys at the gas station use squeegees. “They’re the best tool for windows, mirrors, tile and shower doors,” says Steve Zeitler, cofounder of the Citra Solv natural cleaning products company. One to try: OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Squeegee ($12.99)

Unclog a Drain
A few bucks is all it takes to fix this problem. “A $7 tool called the Drain Claw  removes hair from the drain with a simple push-and-twist movement,” says Lou Manfredini, host of the national TV show House Smarts. Bonus: no harsh chemicals down your drain.

And don’t forget, if you’re looking to sweep your Valentine off their feet, give Teresa’s a call!

Check out our Sweep Them Off Their Feet Special!

866.744.4021

Love is in the air

It’s February, and everyone has love on their mind. This year, how about showing some love for your environment, and your neighbors too? 

A Drop At A Time

It feels like it never really left, but spring, the REAL spring, is on the way, and with it is going to come skyrocketing water usage. Now is the perfect time to get those last few indoor home upgrades before the really nice weather comes. So consider replacing shower heads with low-flow versions, replacing any washers in dripping sinks and changing out old 3.5 gallon toilets with 1.6 gallon models. A family of 4 will save an average of 11,000 gallons of water a year just by changing out their toilet!

Another great way to conserve water this summer is to install a rain barrel or two around your property. Rain barrels come in many looks and styles, and install easily under gutter downspouts and that water can be used for gardening chores come summer instead of letting the hose run. The water you save will show you love your environment, and the money you save can be used on things you, and your family, will love!

Share The Wealth

It’s still a tough economy, and most of us feel like we don’t have much to give, but, in fact, almost all of us have something to give that’s priceless. We can give the opportunity to survive to thousands of our friends and neighbors by doing something as simple as getting your cheek swabbed. This February, show your love for your community by contacting the New York Blood Center’s bone marrow program. Bone marrow transplants can often be the last hope for patients with leukemia, aplastic anemia and other fatal blood diseases. Potential bone marrow donors first enter the NMDP, a network of transplant centers, donor centers, collection centers and recruitment groups assisting in the facilitation of patient transplants all across the world, by doing a cheek swab that is used for HLA (human leukocyte antigen) testing. If a volunteer’s HLA type is a preliminary match for a patient, he/she is contacted for additional testing, a physical examination and counseling. If all is satisfactory and the donor still wants to donate his/her bone marrow or blood stem cells, a donation procedure of bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells may be scheduled. This is an absolutely amazing way to help out your neighbors without spending a penny, and by bringing your family along to get swabbed, you’re setting a fantastic example for your children about concern for their neighbors and the power of community.

For information about donor locations and more on the procedure, please contact the New York Blood Center at 1-800-NY-BLOOD ext# 2.

Make Every Minute Count
“When men clean, they want to get in and get out as fast as possible,” says Kevin Ward. That’s why they’ll have the dishwasher going and the clothes washing while they’re cleaning the rest of the house. Make that part of your game plan too. “When you’re done, everything is done,” says Steve Parker, a former restaurant cleaning business owner in Wallingford, Connecticut.

Add an Incentive
What man would turn down the promise of a beer? Not my husband. Of all the chores he does, the one he despises most is cleaning the pool. To stay motivated, he sets a cold beer at the opposite end of the pool. Here’s a similar tip to get you moving when you’re cleaning: Turn on music in the room you’ll finish in, not the one you start in, says Parker. “It will ‘lead’ you to your endpoint faster.”

And don’t forget, if you’re looking to sweep your Valentine off their feet, give Teresa’s a call!

Check out our Sweep Them Off Their Feet Special!

866.744.4021

Today, I stumbled across an interesting study. In 2007, The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine published an article named The Use of Household Cleaning Sprays and Adult Asthma.  I was amazed by their conclusions -

Conclusions: Frequent use of common household cleaning sprays may be an important risk factor for adult asthma.

It really made me stop and think.  All the times I grabbed that spray bottle and got down to cleaning and didn’t feel well after the fact.  What have I been exposed to?  What have I exposed my family to?  And the worst offenders are so basic in so many homes, we don’t even think about it!

• cleaning sprays
• air fresheners
• furniture cleaners
• glass cleaners

What can you do?  There are options!  Steam cleaning, vapor technology, HEPA filters, microfiber cloths are just a few examples of ways to avoid using these products.  Here at Teresa’s Family Cleaning, we are inspiring you to make a change for your health, well being and piece of mind.   Check out The Year of Home Detox to find out more!

Welcome to our mini-series getting ready for Valentine’s Day!

Gather Your Gear
Men love checklists, from making sure everything’s turned off in the house before your vacation to detailing all the essentials they’ll need to go fishing. Do the same when it comes to cleaning: Pull together the tools you’ll need in a carryall tray, a bucket or a bib-style cleaning apron. “This way your supplies are in one place and ready to go when you’re ready to clean,” says Jeff Campbell, author of Speed Cleaning.

Plan Your Attack
“Men like to have a clear action plan and they don’t waver from it,” says Kevin Ward, co-owner of Teresa’s Family Cleaning in Rocky Point, New York. They like to know how they’re going to do something before they even begin. Follow their lead: Once you decide what you’re going to clean and how you’ll do it, stick to that strategy. It will help you stay focused and finish faster.

And don’t forget, if you’re looking to sweep your Valentine off their feet, give Teresa’s a call!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Sweep-Your-Valentine-Off-Their-Feet-Special.html?soid=1102133208437&aid=ntHyM7GaTDs

866.744.4021

It’s important that everyone recognize the dangers of ice.  Here are helpful hints  to avoid falls when it’s slippery outside!

• Wear boots or shoes with grip soles. Avoid walking in shoes that have smooth surfaces, which increase the risk of slipping.
• Walk thoughtfully. Be alert for black ice. Avoid the temptation to run to catch a bus or beat traffic when crossing a street.
• Your arms help keep you balanced, so keep hands out of pockets, avoid carrying heavy loads – they may cause you to become off balance.
• Walk “small.” Avoid a marching posture. Look to see ahead of where you are about to step. When you step on icy areas, take short, shuffling steps, curl your toes under and walk as flatfooted as possible.
• Remove snow immediately before it becomes packed or turns to ice. Keep your porch stoops, steps, walks and driveways free of ice by frequently applying ice melt or kitty litter. This is the best way to prevent formation of dangerous ice patches. Using a potassium-based melter instead of salt will prevent damage to concrete, grass and other vegetation or to carpets and floors should you track in some.

Keep safe out there!

Long Island Businesswoman to Receive Prestigious Business Award

Teresa Ward, Owner of Teresa’s Family Cleaning, has been chosen to receive The Long Island Center for Business & Professional Women’s 2012 Achievers Award in Business.

Rocky Point, NY Tuesday, January 17, 2012- The Long Island Center for Business & Professional Women has made expediting the advancement of professional women across Long Island by providing scholarships, leadership awards, educational forums and business support networks, their goal.  Each year, the organization honors a select number of women that they feel serve the community as examples of leadership to the community. This year, Teresa Ward,  President and owner of Teresa’s Family Cleaning is among their chosen winners.

Past recipients of the Achievers’ Award include Sandra Day O’Connor, the Honorable Carolyn McCarthy, Lucille Roberts, Patti LuPone, Sally Ride, and others.

The award ceremony will take place on Tuesday, May 8, at the Inn at Fox Hollow in Woodbury, New York and is open to the public.

The Friend’s Reception was held on the evening of November 30th at the Watermill Inn, in Smithtown, NY.

For additional information regarding Teresa’s Family Cleaning, their services or charitable donations, please contact Teresa’s Family Cleaning.

Contact:

Teresa’s Family Cleaning

631 744 4021

www.teresasfamilycleaning.com

The National Academy of Science reports that up to 95 percent of the chemicals used to make fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum, including known toxins capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders, and allergic reactions. Many of these chemicals are derived from benzene one of the most carcinogenic chemicals known to man.

Our noses may fool us into thinking that a particular scent is the smell of clean, but we need to adjust our perspective!  One of the cleanest scents I can think of is going outside after a fresh spring rain.  What makes the air smell so great?  Positive ions!

Our chemical free cleaning method is based on the cleaning power of water – steam and positively charged ions in water!  For more information, please go to www.TheYearofHomeDetox.com.

When cleaning, don’t forget that you have all sorts of things around your home that are great cleaners!

1) Q-tips - gunk around your sink?  Detailed silver need shining? Jewlery looking dingy?  Keyboard on your computer gross?  Q-tips can help you get them clean easily and quickly!

2) Club Soda - fill a spray bottle with club soda and a splash of lemon juice and you have a handy stain fighter!

3) Salt - Salt can be mixed with vinegar to create a good general purpose cleaner. Don’t use it on waxed surfaces, marble or linoleum because the vinegar may be too strong for the surface and cause damage. This vinegar and salt mix can be used for general cleaning around the house.

4) Vinegar - An amazing multi use cleaner you can use all around the house – You can do everything from counter tops to tubs (depending on the surface) with this wonder cleaner!

5) Baking Soda - Let’s not forget one of our favorites!  In fact, you can click here: http://www.teresasfamilycleaning.com/house-cleaning/uses-for-baking-soda/ to see a great blog post on just this!

Do you have any other favorites?  Let us know!

Why should you start getting chemical free cleanings?  There are so many reasons.  The health of yourself, your family, and your pets is our personal favorite.  If you would like more details, please check out our new page - TheYearOfHomeDetox.com.

2012 – The Year of Home Detox.