Are your cleaning products making you sick? Time to go natural
Did you know there are five times more pollutants inside a home than outside? This is just one reason that keeping a home sparkling clean is part of any good housekeeper’s to-do list. And it is particularly important when a household member is subject to allergies or suffers from asthma.
However, while a clean home can reduce allergens, there is a hidden danger. Many commercial cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that are potential irritants and can trigger allergy-like symptoms.
Alexandre Belanger is one of those with severe allergies and a sensitivity to various chemicals. His mother, Tina Mongeon — a nurse and personal support worker — set out to help him and other people affected by various chemicals and scented goods and find a safer way to clean.
Her research led her to a group of natural botanical products, whose manufacturers had a child with allergy problems similar to those afflicting her son. That discovery was the first step to founding Enviropure Home Services in 2006.
Health and wellness were the reason for the initial startup of Enviropure’s professional cleaning services and remain key for the company that has been named Ottawa’s premier cleaning business for nine consecutive years.
Mongeon has appeared on local news channels to talk about the original green clean method for house cleaning and what a healthy clean really means. She has also led cleaning courses for clients and was invited as a guest speaker to teach her ‘art of clean’ system and talk about entrepreneurship to students at Algonquin college.
Her cleaning classes, said Richard Sticklee, Enviropure’s vice president of operations and Mongeon’s husband, attracted many people with problems in dealing with house and carpet cleaning and mildew or hoarding issues. The popularity of the course and the validity of the solutions offered, led to the company’s fast growth.
“The business just boomed from there and grew at an amazing rate,” said Sticklee, emphasizing that Enviropure team members demonstrate the difference between “looking clean and a professional clean” in every job they do. Because the focus is always on keeping the family home healthy, each cleaning method uses “environmentally friendly ingredients that contribute to the overall health of the home and the environment.”
Enviropure cleaning methods and products “act as a barrier to protect the home from the harsh chemicals and toxins found in traditional cleaning supplies,” he explained, adding that through its in-house instructional program, the company ensures that every member of staff is fully conversant with the Enviropure professional cleaning standard.
“We teach our people how to clean properly,” he said. “They are highly skilled and highly trained and fully understand the difference between disinfecting and sanitizing. Our home-cleaning services help reduce allergens in the house, get rid of harmful bacteria and increase overall health.”
“We are setting a new standard in the cleaning industry,” agreed Mongeon. “The EPCS Enviropure Professional Cleaning Standard sets us apart from all other companies.”
At this point, Enviropure Home Services regularly completes 170 or more jobs a month, with the work ranging from weekly, bi-weekly and monthly assignments to one-time cleaning, move-in/ move-out cleaning packages and asthma and allergy deepcleaning services.
“We use only botanical products, that is, they are all plant-based and natural, so they are safe for children and pets,” Sticklee emphasized, noting that all divisions of Enviropure are certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification.
The IICRC is a member of the American National Standards Institute. As a standard-setting body, the non-profit organization for the inspection, cleaning and restoration industries works in partnership with regional and international trade associates.
Deep cleaning with natural products, Enviropure Home Services style, helps to keep clients’ homes safe as the company wages war on dirt, pollutants, mold and clutter without using any chemicals or allergens. The watchword is to be mindful of preserving the health and safety of every member of their client’s families in every facet of the cleaning process.
“It all started with taking care of things naturally, then using all those expert professional procedures, tying them to everything else we do and getting certification for each of them,” said Sticklee. “If we think we can do it naturally, we prove we can through certification. Then we teach others how to do it our way.”
And, he added, “Our prices are very competitive. Basically, our clients get Mercedes service for Chevrolet prices and they can be sure their home is healthy and completely clean.”
For further information on Enviropure Home Services, visit www.enviropurehome. com or call 613 513-7873.