The All Clean Extra

Carpet Cleaning Scam

2008-07-29T10:33:00.000-07:00

(Belleville Intelligencer) – July 17, 2008 -- The man police believe is behind a carpet-cleaning scam in Belleville was pepper-sprayed and arrested, Wednesday. Earlier in the week, police issued a warning about the scheme after receiving close to a dozen complaints from city homeowners. In the scam, the man appeared at the front door of homes, ostensibly to give a price on cleaning carpets but police said he was really after money and bank and credit cards. During his ‘estimate’, he would walk around the interior of the home, on the lookout for cash, credit cards or valuables. If left alone, he would rummage through drawers and snatch up anything he could find before leaving, police said. Officers on patrol in the city’s east end Wednesday located a suspect shortly before 5 p.m. When approached, police said he provided a false name and had to be pepper-sprayed when he struggled with officers during his arrest. A 39-year-old Belleville man is facing a long list of charges including several counts of break, enter and theft, (im)personation and resisting arrest. At the scene, officers seized a stolen credit card. While the man is due for a bail hearing today in Belleville — at which time police will release his name — detectives assigned to the case are continuing to investigate

Employee Newsletter

2008-07-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

June & July 2008
Employee of the Month
May - Sonia Herrera
June - Juana Rodriguez
The criteria listed below are important for employee of the month.* 100 % attendance for previous month* Positive attitude* Willingness to help cover open assignments* Always wearing uniform and badge* Janitorial closet and equipment in clean and organized condition* Employed longer than 90 days* No accidents or safety violations
Each employee of the month will receive a $25.00 gift certificate and a chance to win “employee of the year”
Sonia and Juana have been employed with All Clean Services since February of this year working in the Janitorial Department. This mother and daughter team go above and beyond what is expected. Whenever they are called at the last minute to fill in for someone, they are always willing and ready to go help out whether it is at night or on the weekend. A few months back they helped work at the College putting in full days and then going out to do their regular clients at night. If their schedule needs to be changed to accommodate others, they have no problem with it. This team is a great asset to the Janitorial Department and we appreciate them very much. Thank you for all of your hard work.

BIRTHDAYSHappy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to:Bernie Hering 6/2 Lynne Hassing 6/6Juana Rodriguez 6/24Jannet Alvarado 7/4Yadira Garcia 7/9 Leroy Hering 7/27
ID NumberDid you know that hidden somewhere in this newsletter is an employee number. If you spot your ID number, you need to let Melissa know by the time that is stated. Just call the office and we will have your prize waiting for you.
Drug TestingThis is a reminder that each month one employee is drawn at random by Palmer Investigatives to do a random drug test. In May, James Lowe was chosen and in June, Lisa Ward was chosen. All results were negative - Way to go! Our No Drug Policy is for the safety of our clients as well as the safety of our employees. Thank you to everyone for making All Clean Services a safe place to work.
AnniversariesJune:Gay Vaglio “3” yearsDeanna Gerard “2” yearsLinda Smith “2”yearsJuly:Susan Wennerholm “10” years “WOW”Yadira Garcia “1”year
JULY 4thThe office will be closed on this day and most jobs will be closed. BUT MAKE SURE TO CHECK WITH YOUR SUPERVISOR TO SEE IF ANY OF YOUR ACCOUNTS WILL BE OPEN AND NEED TO BE CLEANED.
Supply Sign - out PolicyEffective immediately, there are some changes regarding the way you will get supplies. You will need to fill out a Supply request form for anything that you will need. Then your supervisor or any office staff will be able to fill your order. Janitorial employees need to give your supervisor at least 1 week notice if you are running out of something and need it. When you come into the office on Pay Day and you plan on getting supplies, please make sure you have enough time set aside in case there are others before you that are placing orders, or picking up orders. If your identification number is twelveeightyfour let Melissa know to receive your prize.
Caution!!
When you are at an account and need to plug something in, please make sure you are not disconnecting any computers. Try to find an outlet that has nothing in it, I realize this is not always an option but if there is one available, please use it.
Using Insect Repellents Safely
Mosquitoes, biting flies, and ticks can be annoying and sometimes pose a serious risk to public health. In certain areas of the U.S., mosquitoes can transmit diseases like equine and St. Louis encephalitis. Biting flies can inflict a painful bite that can persist for days, swell, and become infected. Ticks can transmit serious diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. When properly used, insect repellents can discourage biting insects from landing on treated skin or clothing.
Using Insect Repellents Safely
The EPA recommends the following precautions when using insect repellents:
Repellents should be applied only to exposed skin and/or clothing (as directed on the product label). Do not use under clothing.
Never use repellents over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
Don't apply to eyes and mouth, and apply sparingly around ears. When using sprays do not spray directly onto face; spray on hands first and then apply to face.
Do not allow children to handle this products, and do not apply to children's hands. When using on children, apply to your own hands and then put it on the child.
Do not spray in enclosed areas. Avoid breathing a repellent spray, and do not use it near food.
Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing. Heavy application and saturation is unnecessary for effectiveness; if biting insects do not respond to a thin film of repellent, apply a bit more.
After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water or bathe. This is particularly important when repellents are used repeatedly in a day or on consecutive days. Also, wash treated clothing before wearing it again.
If you suspect that you or your child are reacting to an insect repellent, discontinue use, wash treated skin and then call your local poison control center. If/when you go to a doctor, take the repellent with you.
WelcomeThis month we have no new employees to welcome but want to THANK all of YOU, our employees, for doing such a great job. The managers and supervisors greatly appreciate it.

Green Clean Schools Act

2008-05-01T08:40:00.001-07:00

Outlining Illinois Green Clean Schools Act
By CleanLink Editorial Staff
Back in Februrary, the Green Clean Schools Act was passed by the U.S. Senate (see article), making Illinois the second state in the country — New York was the first — to potentially require the use of green-certified cleaning prouducts in all state schools. Earlier this month, the bill sailed through the House to become a law that would require schools to implement more green cleaning practices.
Come May 9th, all schools in the state must comply with the "Guidelies ." These Guidelines are designed to give Illinois schools clear direction in purchasing and using green cleaning products as well as implementing a green cleaning program, as required by the Act.
For specific information and a breakdown of the Guidelines, click here.Click here to read about the Illinois Green Schools Workshop. To read more from the local perspective, click here for reports from SaukValley.com in Dixon, Ill.

Educating Consumers on Green

2008-05-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

Educating Consumers on Green
By CleanLink Editorial Staff
As seen in The Los Angeles Times. Consumers seeking a greener clean can start by looking for labels that list all ingredients (not just active ingredients). A few certifying organizations put their stamp of approval on products that meet their own eco-friendly criteria. The organizations — and the standards for products bearing their logo:EcoLogo: Doesn't contain alkylphenol exothylates or glycol ethers, chemicals that cause cancer or harm the reproductive system, or ingredients that can deplete the Earth's ozone layer.Green Seal: Doesn't contain chemicals that cause cancer, harm the reproductive system, irritate the skin or eyes, or persist in the environment. Can contain only a limited amount of phosphates. Packaging must contain recycled materials and be recyclable.Design for the Environment: Was developed in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency to contain less polluting ingredients. Detergents, for example, can't contain nonylphenol ethoxylates

Supprt Green Initiatives

2008-05-01T08:35:00.000-07:00

Survey: Consumers Will Pay To Support Green Initiatives
By CleanLink Editorial Staff
The results of a newly released survey commissioned by SCA and conducted by Harris Interactive® show that at a time when consumer spending has dropped in many categories, Americans are willing to pay 17 to 19 percent more for environmentally friendly products and services. “The results of this study demonstrate that American consumer interest in the environment is more than just lip service or a passing inclination,” said Don Lewis, SCA Tissue North America President. “Consumers also showed a high level of knowledge about what constitutes green business products and a desire to support those businesses that practice environmental stewardship æ a fact that carries important implications for our industry,” Lewis added.Nearly half of those surveyed (48 percent) said they make an effort to support businesses that use green products and/or environmentally friendly practices.The survey also found that consumers have a surprisingly high ability to identify the elements that make a restroom green. • energy-efficient light fixtures, identified by 85 percent• low-flow toilets, 79 percent• toilet paper/tissue made of recycled materials, 78 percent• hands-free water faucets/soap dispensers with sensors, 67 percent • hands-free towel dispensers with sensors, 48 percentOverall, 47 percent of those surveyed said they are willing to pay more for environmentally friendly products. Specifically:• 64 percent said they would be willing to pay more for a hybrid car.• 63 percent indicated they would spend more for organic, fair trade, or locally sourced food.• 62 percent said they would dig deeper into their wallets for greenorganic cleaning supplies. • 57 percent of those surveyed said they would pay the additional costs for products made from recycled materials.Respondents said they were willing to spend an average of 17-19 percent more for each of these green products.The study was conducted April 10-14, 2008, via a six-question online omnibus poll interviewing a nationwide sample of 2,511 U.S. adults aged 18 years and over. Data was weighted to generate a representative sample of the total U.S. adult population by age, gender and region.

Carpet Aggravates Allergies

2008-03-17T13:32:00.001-07:00

Truth or Myth: Carpet Aggravates Allergies
Vancouver, WA, March 13, 2008 --(PR.com)-- When the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) recently surveyed 1,155 U.S. homeowners about their sentiments toward home health and flooring, it found that 75 percent believed carpet to be the least effective floor covering when it comes to reducing conditions that aggravate allergies.According to the IICRC’s “You’d Be Floored” survey, one-third (33 percent) of respondents said that someone in their household suffers from indoor allergies. With allergy season fast approaching, the IICRC addresses a common misperception about carpet and allergies. Is the common belief that carpet aggravates allergies a fact or fiction?“Homeowners, specifically, are often misled into believing that carpet itself aggravates allergies,” said IICRC technical advisor Jeff Bishop.Bishop explains that scientific studies demonstrate that just the opposite is true: “In addition to insulating, absorbing sound, and preventing slips and falls and associated injuries, carpet actually traps airborne allergens that can easily be vacuumed out, whereas other flooring allows irritants to be stirred up by normal traffic or sweeping and released into the breathing zone,” said Bishop. “It is airborne dust, not carpet, which is the culprit that triggers allergies.”The “You’d Be Floored” survey also revealed that a majority -- eight out of 10 U.S. homeowners (81 percent) -- feel that their family’s health is directly related to the cleanliness of their floors. Among households with allergy sufferers, half (50 percent) agree that the type of flooring in the home can contribute to allergic reactions.Additionally, three out of four homeowners surveyed (77 percent) vacuum their floors at least once per week. Those with children are more likely to vacuum several times per week - 47 percent among those with children and 32 percent among those without. When it comes to restorative cleaning, nearly half the homeowners surveyed (49 percent) “deep clean” their carpet at least every six months, with 39 percent hiring a professional carpet cleaning service. While nearly half of those surveyed (45 percent) “deep clean” other hard surfaces in their home at least every six months, only seven percent hire a professional.To ensure an effective reduction of allergens in the home, the IICRC recommends that homeowners increase vacuuming frequency and hire professional certified cleaners.“To maintain the appearance of floor coverings, all flooring – not only carpet -- should be professionally cleaned to preserve finishes and durability, and to improve indoor air quality for family members,” said Bishop.Complete survey findings may be viewed at www.CertifiedCleaners.org.Additional Key Findings:• Carpet is the most common floor covering in U.S. homes. The majority of U.S. homeowners use carpet in bedrooms (80 percent), living rooms (65 percent), offices/dens (68 percent) and family rooms (63 percent).• The majority (52 percent) of survey participants indicated the primary advantage of carpet is that it’s comfortable. Forty-one percent say the biggest drawback is that it shows soil.• Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of U.S. homeowners have rugs in their homes.• Among homeowners who replaced their carpet, 49 percent did so because of wear while four in 10 (38 percent) replaced carpet due to soiling and staining issues.• Half of U.S. homeowners (50 percent) say it’s extremely or very important to hire a professional cleaning service that is certified by a professional organization.###About the IICRCThe Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) is an ANSI-accredited non-profit certifying body for the flooring inspection, floor covering and specialized fabric cleaning and disaster restoration industries. Organized in 1972, the IICRC currently represents more than 5,200 Certified Firms and more than 48,200 Certified Technicians in 30 countries. The IICRC, with participation from the entire industry, sets standards for inspection, cleaning and disaster restoration. IICRC does not own schools, employ instructors, produce training materials, or promote specific product brands, cleaning methods or systems. It approves schools and instructors that meet the criteria established by the IICRC. IICRC also serves as a consumer referral source for Certified Firms and Inspectors. Please visit www.certifiedcleaners.org or www.iicrc.org for more information.

29 Ways to conserve and save

2008-02-18T09:12:00.000-08:00

29 Ways to Conserve & Save
Quick, cheap and easy ways to cut your electricity and water use while also cutting your expenses.
By Jane Bennett Clark, Senior Associate Editor
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, October 2007
Still stalling on going green? Procrastinate no longer. We give you 29 ideas for saving energy and water around your home that involve little or no installation and barely a bump in your routine. Individually, they cost less than $100. Collectively, they can save hundreds of dollars a year in household energy bills, thousands of gallons of water and thousands of pounds of carbon-dioxide emissions. You have every reason to follow these tips and not a single reason to ignore them.
Get cracking, folks.
13 Ways to Trim Energy UseHelp the environment and lower your electricity bill with these smart moves.
16 Ways to Stop Wasting WaterWith a few twists of the wrist, you can save water and money.
How Green Are You?Take our quiz.
How we calculated the savings
Many of these calculations rely on figures provided by Jeffrey Langholz and Kelly Turner in You Can Prevent Global Warming (and Save Money!) (Andrew McMeel, $11), updated to reflect an average electricity price per kilowatt-hour of 10.6 cents, the recent national residential average. Because unheated water costs less than a cent per gallon, we focus on conservation over cost.

Shopping guide to ECO friendly products

2008-02-18T09:05:00.001-08:00

A Shopping Guide to Eco-Friendly Products
From appliances to home decorating, we tell you what to buy and where to find it.
By Pat Mertz Esswein, Associate EditorBy Pat Mertz Esswein, Associate EditorAmy Esbenshade Hebert
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, October 2007
Browse the aisles of a supermarket, department store or home-improvement center for eco-friendly products, and you might conclude that the greening of America had stalled at the starting gate. Even Home Depot, which introduced its Eco Options program last summer to identify products that meet its criteria for environmental friendliness, had few Eco Options signs at stores we visited, and stickering of individual products was nearly nonexistent.
Buying with the environment in mind will get easier as manufacturers adopt greener practices and offer greener products. But for now, save gas and aggravation by shopping on the Internet. We've included Web sites for the products recommended in this story, or go to http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/. A number of large cities also have green home centers, such as Amicus, near Washington, D.C.; Natural Built Home, in Minneapolis; and the Green Home Center, in San Francisco.
APPLIANCES
Problem: The average home annually creates twice the greenhouse emissions of the average car. The biggest culprits? Furnaces and air conditioners, which account for about half of the typical family's energy costs. Other appliances are responsible for another third of utility bills.
Better choices: Energy Star appliances generally use up to 50% less energy than products that meet only federal minimum standards (standards for water heaters are in development). Look for the yellow Energy Star label in stores, or check www.energystar.gov. For example, Energy StarPrated clothes washers and dishwashers use at least 30% less energy than standard models, and they save water, too. For a large-capacity, high-efficiency front-loading washer, check out the Kenmore HE5t ($1,300) and the Bosch Nexxt 500 Series ($1,099). In the ultra-efficient-dishwasher category, the Bosch Evolution 800 Series, introduced this summer, greatly exceeds the federal minimum standard for energy efficiency (it uses 60% less), but it's pricey (in stainless steel, $1,549).
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new WaterSense program has begun certifying high-efficiency toilets that use only 1.3 gallons of water or less per flush. Replace a toilet made between 1980 and 1994 and you could save as much as $90 a year. We recommend the Kohler Cimarron EcoSmart toilet ($338 and up) or the Toto Aquia ($395). Both are dual-flush models that let you choose a lower or higher water flow as needed.
Trade-off: Some appliances cost more up front, but you'll recoup the extra cost in energy savings within five years.
Comments: Deciding what to replace first depends on your region's climate and your lifestyle. For example, if you live in a harsh, northern climate and your natural-gas furnace is 15 years old, you'll see big savings from a new model that achieves at least 90% efficiency, such as the Carrier Infinity 96. Such high-efficiency furnaces typically cost from $1,300 to $1,700, depending on size, or up to $4,000 installed (because of the need to upgrade vents and ductwork). You'll pay $1,000 more than you would for an 80%-efficient model, but you'll save about $32 per $100 of annual fuel costs when you replace, say, a 20-year-old, 65%-efficient model with a 95%-efficient one.
Another easy target is the beer fridge in the basement. Energy Star models, such as the Frigidaire FRT21HS6D ($599), use 40% less energy than conventional ones sold in 2001. Replacing a ten-year-old model with a new, high-efficiency fridge saves an average of $100 annually in energy costs.
BUILDING PRODUCTS
Problem: As the world's appetite for wood and agricultural land grows, we're consuming forests faster than they can grow or than we can replace them. Deforestation (of about 27,000 square miles annually) and poor forestry management cause erosion, diminish air and water quality, and leave fewer trees to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Better choices: The gold standard for responsible forest management is certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (www.fsc.org). Ask your builder or contractor to use lumber with the FSC stamp (a checkmark and a tree). Or consider cellular PVC lumber, made from recycled plastic. For decking and other low-load uses (such as fences and railings), try composite lumber, such as Trex (www.trex.com). It's made from waste wood and recycled plastic, and it doesn't have to be painted or sealed.
Trade-offs: Because of supply-chain issues, FSC-certified lumber may be hard to find, and it will cost up to 15% more than a noncertified equivalent. Composite decking costs about the same as high-end redwood and cedar. Although most composite lumber is "UV stabilized" to stand up to sunlight, colors will fade a bit over time. Plus, critics wonder how this hybrid material will be recycled.
Comments: Three useful guides are www.toolbase.org, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's PATH program (Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing), www.builditgreen.org (click on "green resources" and "fact sheets") and the GreenSpec Directory (www.buildinggreen.com; $89).

LAWN CARE
Problem: The EPA estimates that a gasoline-powered mower can produce as much pollution in an hour as 11 cars and that a riding mower can spew as much pollution as 34 cars. Plus, mowers often leak fuel. Pesticides that are used to fend off weeds may be carcinogenic, cause reproductive and developmental problems, and contaminate groundwater.
Better choices: Electric mowers use less energy than gas models, but they're impractical for large yards. The EPA has proposed new emissions standards that will take effect in 2011 or 2012; the final rules are likely to mirror California's current standards. In its ratings for lawn mowers this past spring, Consumers Union (www.greenerchoices.org) rated the John Deere X304 ($3,500) best for gas-powered riding mowers, and the Honda HRX217HXA ($800) topped the list of self-propelled mowers.
To keep your lawn weed-free, consider an Integrated Pest Management approach. IPM advocates using the solution that poses the least risk to health and the environment first. (For more on IPM, visit www.epa.gov/pesticides/controlling/garden.htm. At EPA's site, you can also read about biopesticides.) If you use a lawn service, find one that practices IPM. For example, Green Shield Certified (www.greenshieldcertified.org) recommends professionals who agree to avoid the use of chemicals unless absolutely necessary.
Trade-off: Sacrifice chemicals and you'll sacrifice lawn nirvana, too. If you decide to approach your lawn with a chemicals-as-a-last-resort mind-set, you could end up with a healthier lawn in the long run, but you'll need the patience to revisit problems (and pull weeds).
Comments: Use your mower's mulcher. That not only reduces your yard's need for fertilizers but also keeps clippings from heading to the landfill. Another option is to compost those clippings.
HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS
Problem: Laundry detergents, general-purpose cleaners and other products may contain nonylphenol ethoxylates, or NPEs, which can break down into a form that's toxic to aquatic life. Phosphates, found in dishwasher detergents, promote harmful algae growth. Petroleum-based cleaners, which make up a majority of the market, use up a nonrenewable resource.
Better choices: Companies don't have to reveal their secret formulas and may list slightly altered chemicals under other names. Look for cleaners that have survived tough scrutiny, such as Ipax's Green Unikleen multipurpose cleaner (www.ipax.com). Unikleen is a Green Seal-certified cleaner (www.greenseal.org), which means it's biodegradable, plus it contains no carcinogens and isn't toxic to humans or aquatic life. Green Seal has approved few consumer cleaners so far, but it will add more to the list by year's end. For cleaners free of NPEs, phosphates, chlorine and other problem chemicals, also try the Ecover (www.ecover.com), Seventh Generation (www.seventhgen.com) and BioKleen (www.biokleenhome.com) brands.
The EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) seal has less-stringent requirements, so more products meet its standards. A chemical's effectiveness is key; if alternative products don't work as well, a risky chemical may still be used. Several products in the Method line of cleaners (www.methodhome.com) that are sold at Target stores are DfE-recognized. To qualify for the Home Depot Eco Options line, products must be DfE-recognized.
Trade-off: Most grocers, except some organic specialty markets, do not stock green-certified cleaners, and you may pay more than for conventional cleaners. But as more certified products enter the market, prices should come down.
Comments: EPA is starting a voluntary program that encourages companies to use safer alternatives to ingredients known as surfactants, such as NPEs. Some companies, such as Procter & Gamble and Unilever, have stopped using them altogether. And remember that the absence of a chemical smell doesn't mean a product can't do the job.

HOME DECORATING
Problem: Many things in your home are made with adhesives, solvents or finishes that emit volatile organic compounds, or VOCs (the big offender in adhesives is urea formaldehyde). VOCs contribute to smog outdoors and may be highly concentrated indoors, aggravating allergies and respiratory ailments.
Better choices: Most paints and stains, including some oil-based ones, already have low VOC content, per federal standards that are becoming more stringent. VOC-free paints, such as Yolo Colorhouse paints (www.yolocolorhouse.com), cost about the same as conventional manufacturers' premium paints ($39.95 per gallon).
For cabinetry and furniture, look for products constructed with solid-wood panels or engineered wood (particleboard or medium-density fiberboard) made with low- or no-VOC finishes and water-based adhesives. Woods should come from reclaimed or sustainable sources and preferably be FSC-certified. One recommendation for cabinets is Neil Kelly Cabinets (www.neilkellycabinets.com). Ikea, which claims it is committed to the environment, uses at least some FSC woods (www.ikea.com).
Cisco Brothers (www.ciscobrothers.com) uses only FSC woods in its upholstered furniture, sold primarily through small design shops and retailers. The Q Collection (www.qcollection.com), available through interior designers, offers high-end, environmentally friendly furniture and fabrics.
Trade-offs: Residential furniture is just starting to go green, so your choices may be limited. Plus, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confers organic certification only on cotton and wool fibers, not fabric (standards are coming). Textiles made from natural fibers or dyed with natural pigments may be treated with toxic substances, such as heavy metals or fire retardants.Comments: For an alternative to petroleum-based countertops, such as Corian,consider IceStone (www.icestone.biz; $90 to $140 per square foot). It's made from concrete and recycled glass, and you can use it for countertops, backsplashes or floor tiles. Or check out PaperStone (www.paperstoneproducts.com), made of 100% recycled, FSC- certified paper and water-based resins. Cost: $33 to $61 per square foot.

How to End Global Warming

2008-02-18T08:51:00.000-08:00

GOING LONG
How to End Global Warming
We can do much to stanch carbon emissions without establishing a maze of price controls and regulations, says columnist Jeremy Siegel.
By Jeremy J. Siegel, Contributing Editor
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, October 2007

The mere mention of global warming raises the temperature level of political discourse. On one side, many conservatives concede that the earth is getting warmer, but they do not believe that human activity is necessarily the cause -- and even if it is, they argue, there's little we can do about it. On the other side, some environmentalists believe that radical measures are called for -- measures that could grind economic growth to a halt.

Unfortunately, all the heated rhetoric obscures some viable, middle-of-the-road approaches. I strongly believe in the power of free markets, and I think we can use free-market solutions to attack global warming without imposing an undue burden on the world economy.

Key facts
I believe that global warming is real, that it stems mostly from the increase in greenhouse gases and that it does pose a long-term threat. The basic facts are well known. The world is pumping about 8 billion tons of carbon emissions from fossil fuels into the atmosphere each year, up nearly 500% from 1950. That number is likely to double by mid century if nothing is done to curtail emissions.

Global warming is expected to accentuate climatic extremes. Some areas of the world, particularly those in the far north, may benefit as the length of growing seasons increases. But warming is likely to bring excessive rain to some regions and drought to others. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) expects an increase in the frequency of major cyclonic storms, such as the intense hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast in 2005.

In my opinion, the most costly consequence of global warming is the possibility of rising ocean levels caused by melting ice and the expansion of warming water. Sea levels would rise by 23 feet if all of Greenland's ice sheet melted, and another 230 feet if all of Antarctica's ice melted. The latter scenario would submerge more than half the world's population. The IPCC predicts that sea levels will rise only 7 inches to 2 feet by the end of this century, although it is said the figure could be much greater, depending on ice-flow dynamics and other factors. But even modest melting could trigger climate changes that would make many of the world's largest cities uninhabitable and dramatically reduce the world's arable land.

Many believe that any attempt to curtail carbon emissions will sharply reduce economic growth and cause severe economic hardships. I disagree.

For starters, one study has shown that just by using today's technologies, it would be possible to reduce emissions by several billion tons per year without doing much harm to world economic output. This could be accomplished by increasing the amount of electricity produced at nuclear-power plants, doubling the fuel efficiency of automobiles and using more-energy-efficient technologies in buildings.

Consider the energy-efficiency improvements in California, which has the toughest environmental laws in the country. On a per-person basis, Californians use about one-third less energy than the average American and emit only about half as much carbon dioxide. Yes, energy prices are high in California, but no one I know would call the state impoverished because of its energy-saving initiatives.

Economic solution
The best way to conserve energy and slow global warming is to raise the price of carbon emissions. And the best way to do that, in my view, is to use the European Union's "cap and trade" system. The government sets the maximum amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that may be emitted, then establishes a market that allows businesses and individuals to buy and sell rights to produce the emissions. The price the market sets for these rights gives consumers and producers clear signals about how to conserve.

Once the proper price is put on greenhouse emissions, it should be the market -- not the government -- that picks the most efficient way to avoid them. (For this reason, I object to the Bush administration's plans to stimulate the production of ethanol, which may require as much energy to produce as it saves. This approach is simply a giveaway to special interests.)

We can take other actions to raise the price of carbon emissions, moves that would also have the effect of reducing our dependence on foreign oil. A tax on imported oil, matched by an across-the-board decrease in other taxes, would accomplish both of these goals without raising taxes overall.

And we shouldn't underestimate voluntary efforts by citizens to cut carbon emissions. The public surprised the "experts" 30 years ago when it embraced recycling. Global warming has caught the public's attention even more than recycling did a generation earlier.

Some prophets of doom warn that it may already be too late to stop the warming process. Even if the world can stabilize -- or reduce -- the amount of carbon emissions, some observers think the current levels of carbon dioxide are so high that the earth will continue to warm. Unfortunately, the pessimists could be right. The heating of the soil and tundra increases the activity of microorganisms, which further increases CO2 and methane emissions. Furthermore, as the oceans warm, they absorb less CO2, and the melting of the ice caps reduces the earth's reflective properties, which ward off some of the sun's rays. Ironically, as we reduce the amount of particulate matter in the atmosphere (also known as air pollution), we also increase the sun's power to warm the earth.

New realities
If we are already past the point of no return, then we will have to prepare ourselves for climatological and geographical changes that will adversely affect the world's economy. But we should continue to take measures to reduce global warming, even as we learn how to adapt to the new realities on land, in the seas and in the air. We can do much to stanch carbon emissions without establishing a maze of price controls and regulations.

Making a determined effort to reduce greenhouse emissions is a sensible insurance policy no matter the outcome. If we prevent warming, we will all be winners. If we can delay the warming process, then we will have more time to adapt to climate change. If our efforts go for naught and extreme weather changes occur anyway, future generations will at least know that we didn't just sit on our hands. The most damning action is to do nothing.

Columnist Jeremy J. Siegel is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and author of Stocks for the Long Run and The Future for Investors.

GREENER CLEANERS

2008-01-25T12:17:00.000-08:00

Greener Cleaners
Consumer demand for environmentally friendly cleaning products has changed the game for chemical suppliers
Michael McCoy
THIS MONTH, Clorox, a company almost synonymous with the environmental bad actor chlorine, is going national with what might seem like an unlikely product line: a family of natural cleaners sold under the Earth-friendly name Green Works.

That a consumer products giant like Clorox would venture into the market for so-called green cleaning products says a lot about how much the home care industry has changed in the past two years. Once solely the province of fringe players, green or sustainable cleaners are attracting the interest of big corporations in America and elsewhere. In such products, companies see both a growing market and a way to burnish their environmental credentials.

STAIN buster In addition to being environmentally sound, cleaning products must clean.This new interest is proving to be a wake-up call to chemical companies that supply the cleaning products industry. Simply providing ingredients that are safe and effective-long the chemical industry's primary goal-may not be enough anymore to satisfy customers who want to market their products as green.

"The suppliers that are going to be in the lead in coming up with ways for customers to formulate products with evident sustainability benefits" will be the winners, observes Ernie Rosenberg, president of the Soap & Detergent Association (SDA), the main trade group for the U.S. cleaning products industry.

Products such as Clorox's that contain natural or naturally derived ingredients are just one way in which cleaning product makers are trying to respond to the clamor for environmentally friendly products.

On a second front, they are reducing packaging and avoiding certain ingredients at the behest of retailers. In 2006, for example, Wal-Mart Stores asked vendors to stop sending it products that contain three suspect chemicals, including alkylphenol ethoxylate (APE) surfactants, and it has pledged to extend the list to 20 "chemicals of concern." Similarly, the consumer products maker SC Johnson ranks its raw materials by toxicity and tries to avoid those that don't measure up.

A third response is to develop products that generate less carbon dioxide during manufacturing and use and thus have a lower environmental footprint. An early entrant in this game from firms such as Procter & Gamble, Henkel, and Unilever is the new generation of concentrated laundry detergents now being rolled out. As marketers like to point out, they require less packaging material and can be shipped with fewer CO2-emitting trucks.

Much of the burden of meeting the environmental goals of cleaning product companies falls on the chemical companies that supply them. They are feverishly working to come up with new ingredients that are both environmentally friendly and keep cleaners performing in the way that consumers have come to expect.

Ironically for cleaning product makers, just as they are striving to improve the environmental profile of their wares, they are being more closely scrutinized by activists and government regulators. Media-savvy activists have learned how to garner press attention with reports on toxic ingredients that put retailers and consumer product makers on the defensive. The government, meanwhile, is taking a closer look at the environmental claims made by retailers. On Jan. 8, the Federal Trade Commission held the first of a planned series of hearings in preparation for an update of its environmental marketing guidelines, known as the Green Guides.

FOR THEIR PART, chemical companies say they are overwhelmed by retailers, consumer product makers, governments, environmental certification organizations, and activists that all mean different things when they use terms such as green, natural, and sustainable.

Andrew Douglass, market innovation director for home and personal care at the Novecare division of specialty chemicals maker Rhodia, notes the dizzying array of U.S. and European organizations seeking to certify consumer products for environmental acceptability. The list includes EcoCert, Eco-Label, EcoLogo, Green Seal, GreenGuard, CleanGredients, Nordic Swan, the Environmental Protection Agency's Design for the Environment program, and more.

According to Douglass, it's hard for Rhodia or any other company to keep up with the changing requirements of so many certification organizations, all of which are vying to become the gold standard. "My job as innovation director is to think about what green will mean in five years' time," he says. "What's clear to me is that it's very fast moving and not particularly designed. We are being buffeted by the rules."

Moreover, while certification firms rank products on biodegradability, toxicity, sensitization, and other easily measurable parameters, they typically haven't established ground rules for what constitutes a natural or naturally derived ingredient. Yet chemical makers say "natural" is what many of their customers are clamoring for these days.

"The big issue with sustainability and green today is that there are no unifying definitions," says Frank Fusiak, North American marketing director for International Specialty Products' performance chemicals unit. "That puts a lot of strain on the chemical supplier."

While the cleaning product marketers such as P&G and Unilever have their own definitions of environmental terms, David Del Guercio, director of Evonik Industries' household care business in North America, notes that "some companies don't have a definition and are asking us for our definition." He says Evonik is developing an ingredient dossier that will categorize its products in terms of their natural content so customers can make decisions about what works in their formulas.

An added complication is that environmental standards vary from region to region. "What is green chemistry in Brazil may be totally different in the U.S. or China," points out Carlos Silva Lopes, global marketing director for Dow Chemical's new fabric and surface care business. Launched last fall, the business offers a service called rapid formulation development that, according to Lopes, can help cleaning industry customers quickly respond to changing government and retailer demands.

Suzanne Thompson, vice president of R&D for Clorox's cleaning division, says her company noted the lack of industry-wide definitions—plus the public's perception of Clorox as a bleach maker—and responded with a set of strict environmental standards for its new cleaners. "We decided that because we are Clorox we had to set a higher bar for ourselves," she says.

Among the company's stipulations was that more than 99% of its ingredients be natural and based on plants or minerals. In addition, they must be biodegradable, nontoxic to fish, and formulated without animal testing. Green Works' toilet bowl cleaner, for example, contains lactic acid, citric acid, alkyl polyglucoside (APG) surfactants, and lemon oil. "It's not that easy to find ingredients," Thompson says. "The industry is still young."

Indeed, according to Clorox, natural products represent less than 1% of the total cleaning category. Jessica Buttimer, marketing director for the Green Works line, says growth has been limited by consumers' concerns over product performance and price. "Many natural cleaners are double the price of traditional brands but in the end do not clean well," she says.

TEST TAKER Evonik chemist Eunjoo Kim uses a static meter to evaluate towel softness.In entering the green cleaning products category, Clorox will be going up against niche players such as Method Home and Seventh Generation that, although smaller corporations, are well-entrenched and attract a loyal clientele. Seventh Generation, for example, enjoyed 28% growth in 2006 and is approaching $100 million in annual sales.

SDA's Rosenberg, for one, sees an interesting battle brewing. "It will be a challenge for the green companies," he says. "They had a niche to themselves to a large degree, and now they're going to have to compete with some of the most competent marketing companies in the world."

Interestingly, rather than knock the new competition, Martin H. Wolf, Seventh Generation's director of product and environmental technology, offers kudos to Clorox for Green Works. "We've always said we want to make the world a better place," he says, "and if we've created a path for others to follow, then we're succeeding." Seventh Generation's challenge, he adds, is to stay ahead of the competition technologically and environmentally.

Even among purveyors of natural products, Wolf's firm does seem to offer strong credentials. Both Seventh Generation and Clorox use APGs as surfactants in their hard-surface cleaners, and Wolf acknowledges that the products are similarly effective. But unlike Green Works' spray cleaner, Seventh Generation's product does not contain synthetic dyes or ethanol, a volatile organic compound.

Creating an effective hard-surface cleaner is relatively easy for corporate R&D chemists. The chemistry challenges are greater with products such as laundry and automatic dishwasher detergents that must clean highly soiled fabrics and surfaces without the assistance of elbow grease.

Formulating a laundry or autodish product that is effective and economical, yet environmentally benign, requires tough choices. For example, because APGs are fairly expensive, Seventh Generation has turned to palm or coconut oil-based detergent alcohols that have been modified with ethylene oxide and other petrochemicals. In the industry, such products are known as naturally derived. And in its autodish line, the company uses sodium polyacrylate, a dispersing and antispotting agent that is synthetic and doesn't biodegrade.

Wolf says the company is not happy with this state of affairs. It is investigating surfactants such as the inorganically modified sodium cocosulfate as a way of reducing the petrochemical content of its detergents. It's also taking a new look at APGs, which, being made from coconut oil-based alcohol and glucose, are entirely from renewable resources. "We're starting to think that it may be worth the price as part of differentiation and to make our products more sustainable," he says.

In the autodish arena, Seventh Generation has been testing carboxymethylinulin, a novel dispersing agent that is based on the chicory root. Acquired last year by Thermphos, the product was developed by chemical maker Solutia and the Dutch food ingredients company Cosun. Wolf says his company anticipates incorporating carboxymethylinulin into its autodish products later this year.

Although the big cleaning products companies are aware that some consumers want natural ingredients, for the most part, they haven't made the leap into that market niche.

IN ADDITION TO Clorox, an exception is Henkel's Dial subsidiary in the U.S., which recently launched a version of its budget-priced Purex detergent that is billed as containing 100% naturally derived cleaning ingredients and natural fragrance extracts. The closest P&G comes is in versions of its Tide laundry detergent called Pure Essentials, which contains baking soda or citrus extracts but doesn't otherwise seem particularly natural.

Thomas Müller-Kirschbaum, senior vice president for R&D, technology, and supply chain with Henkel's laundry and home care business, says his company uses environmentally sound ingredients in all its products. He notes that Henkel was one of the first to drop poorly biodegrading branched alkylbenzene and APE surfactants, and that it has worked to get the share of surfactants based on renewable raw materials in its detergents and cleaning products up to 36%.

Yet Henkel isn't willing to sacrifice performance for the sake of natural ingredients, particularly with its premium brands. The company learned the hard way in the early 1990s, Müller-Kirschbaum recalls, when it launched a version of its Persil laundry detergent containing APGs and a fatty acid sulfate, both renewable surfactants. "It was environmentally sound, but it was a compromise performance-wise and it didn't do well," he says.

CHEMICAL COMPANIES that supply the cleaning industry are trying to come up with new ingredients that allow their customers to market high-performance products that also can make environmental claims. "It's clearly the major driver for any specialty chemical supplier supplying this market today, mainly driven by both Wal-Mart and Home Depot," declares ISP's Fusiak.

Fusiak says ISP stumbled into one opportunity in 1999 when it acquired a business that extracts alginates from seaweed. The main market for alginates is the food industry, but Fusiak says customers in the home and fabric care industry are becoming interested in them as natural ingredients that can sequester metals, provide gelling, and control flow properties.

Dow, a company traditionally associated with surfactants and other cleaning product ingredients based on synthetic chemistry, has been emphasizing its use of raw materials that come from renewable resources.

For example, Dow is one of the world's largest producers of propylene glycol, which is often used to thicken household and personal care products. Last year, the company launched a new version of propylene glycol that is derived from natural glycerin instead of synthetic propylene oxide.

More recently, Dow came out with the Ecosurf line of surfactants, which is based on natural alcohols, mostly from palm kernel oil, that have been chemically modified. It is also debuting a new chelating agent, hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid that, unlike competing chelants such as organophosphonates, is biodegradable.

"There is definitely a trend to green chemistry or naturally sourced ingredients," says Lopes, the Dow marketing director. "Our customers' customers—the consumers—are looking for products that are easy to use, more convenient, and also environmentally sustainable."

WET RUN Henkel technicians put fabrics through the motions at the firm's Düsseldorf, Germany, labs.Formulation chemists at cleaning product companies no doubt enjoy testing exotic new ingredients that come from renewable raw materials such as seaweed, chicory roots, or palm trees. Yet the unglamorous truth is that they spend more of their time assessing traditional synthetic ingredients and making difficult trade-offs involving chemical safety and product efficacy.

This decision-making is playing out now at Seventh Generation, where Wolf has been engaged in a quest for a better preservative for its cleaners. It began when a retailer approached the company with claims from a competitor that its products contain formaldehyde. Wolf was dubious but conducted his own tests and found that they did indeed carry trace amounts of formaldehyde. Further analysis determined that the formaldehyde was being released by preservatives, some added by surfactant suppliers and some by Seventh Generation itself.

The company directed its surfactant suppliers to switch to Rohm and Haas's Kathon CG, an isothiazolinone preservative that doesn't release formaldehyde. However, soon after the company made the switch in its own finished products, it began receiving reports of a bad smell, a sign that the preservative wasn't working well. The company subsequently switched back to its original preservative, a hydroxyethyl triazine known as Surcide-P.

Wolf points out that the levels of formaldehyde in Seventh Generation's products are less than what occurs naturally in many fruits. But he also knows that his products are bought by consumers who bristle at any amount of a chemical such as formaldehyde.

Thus, Seventh Generation has been working since mid-2006 to come up with a new preservative. Its partners in the effort are EPA's Design for the Environment team and McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC), a consulting firm that works to reengineer products through what it calls cradle-to-cradle design.

James Ewell, director of projects at MBDC, acknowledges the fundamental challenge of coming up with an environmentally friendly version of a product meant to kill organisms that live in a harsh environment. As part of their work for Seventh Generation, Ewell and colleagues vetted the traditional preservatives used in food and drugs to determine whether they are effective in cleaning products. Many times they weren't, he says.

In addition, they investigated some interesting nontraditional options. One is to instill cleaners with beneficial microbes that suppress unwanted ones. Another is to build microbial protection into product containers with elemental silver technology being offered by the start-up company Agion Technologies. MBDC is preparing a request for proposals that will be sent to potential preservative suppliers.

Ewell cautions that cleaning product formulas are moving targets and that well-intentioned ingredient changes can have unexpected consequences. For example, adding sugar-containing APGs increases a product's renewable content but also introduces a new food source for bacteria, in turn necessitating higher preservative loading. "As much as people in the sustainability community want to talk about win-win situations," he says, "you are often confronted with trade-offs."

Whereas it was a competitor that launched Seventh Generation into action, in other cases, governments or activist groups can be the catalysts for ingredient changes.

Notably, an initiative started by the State of Washington to remove phosphates from autodish detergents is on the verge of going nationwide. Phosphates are versatile ingredients that provide hard-water neutralization, redeposition prevention, and buffering. They were part of laundry detergent formulas for decades until the 1990s, when concerns about phosphorus-induced eutrophication in lakes and rivers led to a series of state-level bans.

Bowing to new pressure from Washington and other states, SDA has now agreed to support the removal of phosphates from autodish products by mid-2010. An exception, Rosenberg says, will be detergents used in industrial and institutional settings, where, the association believes, phosphates are critical to achieving adequate cleaning.

Last summer, meanwhile, the activist group Women's Voices for the Earth released a report called Household Hazards, which examined chemicals in common household cleaning products. It singled out monoethanolamine, quaternary ammonium compounds, glycol ethers, APEs, and phthalates as cleaning product ingredients that are linked to asthma or reproductive harm. At the end of the report was a list of products containing the chemicals of concern.

Whether or not in response to such outside pressure, big corporations are paying attention to their ingredient slates. The British household products maker Reckitt Benckiser, for example, detailed an ingredient removal program in its latest sustainability report. The firm said it had dropped APEs, monoethylene glycol ethers (except phenoxyethanol), and formaldehyde from all but one of its products by the end of 2006.

Ironically, manufacturers of targeted chemicals are often also the firms offering replacements. Dow, for example, is a prominent APE supplier, yet it pitches its new Ecosurf surfactants as alternatives to APEs. Likewise, Lopes says, Dow's new chelating agent is a potential replacement for phosphates or for nitrilotriacetic acid, another chelant marketed by the company. Banned in the U.S., NTA is still used in Europe but is being scrutinized by regulators there, he notes.

Rhodia, also an APE producer, markets a replacement called Rhodoclean, a surfactant that links ethylene or propylene oxide to β-pinene extracted from pine oil. In addition to having a renewable component, Douglass notes, Rhodoclean requires no companion foam control agent as do APEs and alcohol ethoxylate surfactants.

Lopes contends that Dow is moving as quickly as it can to upgrade the environmental profile of its products. "We are allocating our R&D dollars toward more sustainable chemistry," he says. "It's a journey in that direction. But from one day to another can you change totally to natural-sourced materials? The answer is, not really."

AS CHEMICAL MAKERS adjust, they stress that their customers also must be willing to invest time and money to make environmentally sound ingredient changes. For example, one of Evonik's main offerings to the cleaning products industry is cationic surfactants for fabric softeners. They are produced via chemical modification of animal fat, which is a renewable ingredient, albeit not the kind that is normally promoted on a product label.

Del Guercio points out that these cationic surfactants have traditionally been dissolved in ethanol or isopropanol. Evonik could reduce solvent use, but this would change the product form and require Evonik and its customers to invest in new transportation and handling equipment. So far, Del Guercio says, no such project has been launched.

Likewise, this year Evonik expects to launch two amphoteric/cationic surfactant blends that it says can replace APEs in many of the industrial cleaners where APEs are typically used. The firm also offers fatty amine ethoxylates that even exceed APE performance in some uses. However, Del Guercio concedes that the new products will cost customers more.

"Companies will have to bite the bullet and look at higher cost raw materials that will fit into their formulations," he says. Some industrial cleaning product companies, such as JohnsonDiversey, have already committed to remove APEs.

Even more knotty than navigating the trade-off between cost and greenness of individual ingredients is assessing a consumer product's overall sustainability, including its so-called carbon footprint. At Henkel, Müller-Kirschbaum says his company has already made most of the easy formulation decisions, removing ingredients such as poorly biodegrading surfactants, bioaccumulating nitromusk fragrances, and hazardous dyestuffs.

CO2 busters More concentrated detergent formulas leave smaller environmental footprints.Today, the decisions are more difficult and can require a full analysis of a product's life cycle. For example, last year Henkel reformulated its Persil laundry detergent in Europe to commemorate the brand's 100th anniversary. One new ingredient in the powdered detergent is a polymer developed in collaboration with the specialty chemicals maker Clariant. According to Henkel, the polymer helps remove stubborn grease stains even at low wash temperatures.

Müller-Kirschbaum acknowledges that the polymer is a polyester that is neither natural nor biodegradable; however, it is nontoxic to aquatic organisms and can be easily removed from wastewater by adsorption. More important, he says, the polymer allows Henkel to promote Persil as effective at lower wash temperatures. If consumers take Henkel up on its proposition, the result will be less heating of wash water, less energy used in the home, and fewer tons of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.

"Even if the material that helps make this happen is not biodegradable, it improves our total sustainability and thus is a step in the right direction," Müller-Kirschbaum asserts. "If I could use a renewable material that is readily biodegradable, then I would, but that is not always possible."

Müller-Kirschbaum's reasoning reflects a growing recognition by consumer goods firms that their products contribute to global warming. These days, their corporate environmental reports emphasize efforts to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted during the manufacture, and even the use, of their products.

In October, P&G announced new five-year sustainability goals that include 10% reductions in CO2 emissions, energy and water consumption, and waste per unit of production. The firm sees the new compact versions of its Tide, Cheer, Gain, Era, and Dreft laundry detergents as part of the plan. Smaller bottles use less fuel and warehouse space and reduce the amount of packaging by 22-43%, P&G says.

A month later, Reckitt Benckiser announced it would take a new tack in environmental improvement by tackling what it calls total carbon footprint, the amount of carbon dioxide emissions inherent not just in company factories but in ingredients, packaging, and consumer use and disposal. The company's goal is to reduce its total carbon footprint by 20% per unit of production by 2020.

Edward Butt, Reckitt's vice president for sustainability, says the company's approach is unique in the packaged goods industry and the only one that makes sense. Reckitt estimates that consumer use of its products, particularly when involving dishwashers and washing machines, accounts for 50-70% of the associated carbon emissions. Emissions related to the production of ingredients and packaging materials are 30-40%, while those due to product manufacturing are only 2-6%.

THE IMPACT of changes in consumer habits can be substantial. If 50% of European households lowered their dishwasher temperatures by 10° to 50-55 °C, Reckitt estimates 338,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalents would be saved every year, equal to the emissions of almost 100,000 midsized cars. Thanks to earlier energy-savings initiatives, Butt says, the firm's autodish detergents are already capable of working at the lower temperatures.

In contrast, Butt admits that Reckitt has only started to consider the carbon footprint of the ingredients it buys. Although he acknowledges he could shrink the footprint by switching from synthetic ingredients to ones made from renewable resources, he cautions that consumers would balk if quality were compromised in the process. "For consumers, performance is most important, followed by value. Other attributes, including environmental impact, are third," he says.

Like Henkel's Müller-Kirschbaum, Butt is adamant about maintaining the performance of Reckitt's products throughout any environmental improvement exercises. After all, Henkel and Reckitt are mass marketers that target the middle chunk of any country's population—people who aren't necessarily out to save the world.

Not an inspiring market, perhaps, but one, Butt says, that gives his company the opportunity to do more good. "There will always be a small part of the consumer landscape that is the green consumer," he says. "What's important is not moving just a few green consumers but moving all consumers in the right direction."

Hiring a “Service Provider” Consumer Checklist

2007-07-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

There is far more than price to consider when hiring a service provider for your family, home or business. Poor service, untrained employees, not getting what you paid for, accidents on the job… these are all worries that you may have when hiring a service. Use this checklist, and be “in the know” when hiring a cleaning company, handyman, carpet cleaner, lawn care service, window cleaner, auto detailer or any other kind of commercial or residential service provider.

□ Get Multiple Bids – Contact at least three companies and compare service offerings. Resist the dangerous urge to only look at price.

□ Licensing – All providers that you might hire should have a valid business license. In addition, some professions are required in some locations to hold special licensing or certifications. If a license is required, verify with your local contractors license board to verify validity. All Clean Services, Inc. is fully licensed to do business in the state of Arizona.

□ Bonding and Dishonesty Insurance – Bonding and dishonesty insurance are very similar, and they are a basic insurance policy ensuring reimbursement for dishonest employees when they are caught, tried and convicted. Without these 3 things the policy does not often pay. Companies may choose to invest in a more comprehensive insurance policy than just bonding type policies. Find out the details of their assurance package. All Clean is bonded for theft up to $5,000.00

□ Insurance – Can the company provide proof of adequate insurance to perform work for you? Pre-Employment Screening of Applicants – What kind of pre-employment screening of applicants does your provider do? If the service that you are hiring for requires private access to your home or commercial facility, you may feel more confident if you understand how the company checks out their employees. All Clean utilizes a 7 level screening process which includes a national criminal history, finger printing, social security #/ address verification, drug screening, work history and DMV check.

□ Staff Training – What kind of training is What their policy does not cover may wind up as your financial obligation, so be sure that the company is well protected. All Clean is covered with $2,000,000 of general liability insurance.

□ Employees or Sub-Contractor’s – Does the company hire employees or sub-contractors? This may not sound important, but it really can be. Businesses that use sub-contractors instead of hiring employees may have legal limitations over the amount of care and control they can have over the work being performed, insurance, worker’s compensation, training, and more. All Clean primarily uses employees.

□ Services Provided – Does the company provide the services that you want, and can they make expert recommendations on the services that you may need, but aren’t quite sure about? Service providers should be able to give you a good idea of what to expect from their service before hiring them. We offer window, carpet and hard surface floor care as well as complete janitorial and residential cleaning services.

□ Equipment and Products – What kind of products and equipment will the company provide, and what will you need to provide? Do they have green product options? Will you need to store anything? Does the company use any specialty equipment that may save time and be more efficient? All Clean uses primarily “green seal certified” cleaning products. We provide all cleaning equipment and can also provide janitorial supplies.

□ References and Testimonials – Can the company provide you with references or credible testimonials that verify the quality of their work? Please contact us for a list of testimonials from known and trusted sources. associations and certifications may indicate that the company has had to agree to a certain code of ethics, meet a minimum number of training hours, or be educated on the latest technical news in their industry. All Clean is certified thru IICRC and BSCAI.

□ Pricing – Do you understand the pricing for the work? Will it be by the job, by the hour, discounts for increased frequency, referral incentives, etc.? All are legitimate ways to charge, but you need to understand what the terms entail, including whether payment is due provided for the company’s staff? How many hours? Formal or informal? Evaluation or testing of learned knowledge? One-time, or on-going training? All Clean staff must undergo an intensive 40 hr training as well as attend ongoing mandatory monthly trainings.

□ Written Agreement – Is there a written agreement between you and the service provider so that you can both be sure that you understand what you can expect? Is there a long term commitment, or can you start and stop your service at any time? To end a contract with All Clean we simply ask for a 30 day written notice. You can also start or stop your service at any time.

□ Warranty of Service – Does the company warranty their service and / or products, and if so, what are the steps necessary? We offer 3 money back guarantees for Value, Satisfaction and Service.

□ Associations or Certifications – Does the company belong to any trade associations, consumer groups or have they become certified or received training in their trade? Different at the time of the service, in payments, invoiced or other means. Most of our work is priced by the job with Net 10 terms.

□ Rapport and Professionalism – Choose a company that you can work with. Many services that you hire are likely to be long term relationships. When there are miscommunicat-ions, or bumps in the road, are you confident that you can work with these people? Do you have a reliable and available contact to discuss details with as the work is going on? All Clean assigns account managers to each account and contacts and inspects our clients monthly.

□ Worker’s Environment – Consumers often report poor attitudes from staff as one of the number one complaints of services. Avoid that by asking about the longevity and satisfaction level of the staff for the company that you are hiring. All Cleans’ “Winners Circle” incentive programs help us attract and retain great staff.

Earth-friendly Solvents Gain Popularity

2007-05-24T08:43:00.000-07:00

A recent article by Ken Helder entitled “Green Cleaning” at The Daily Courier highlighted on the unique offering of All Clean Services business: environmentally safe products and procedures. When Ken Celebucki, president of All Clean Services Inc. in Chino Valley, originally began offering “green cleaning” 13 years ago, people thought it was odd.

Today All Clean Services’ environmental focus is not just notable, it’s being admired by households and businesses alike. The Daily Courier pointed out that although the idea of “going green” has not completely caught on yet, many businesses are recognizing the importance of it and like the idea. The article went on to explain that owner, Ken Celebucki bad experiences with toxic chemicals during his youth when his brother went to the hospital to get his stomach pumped after he swallowed a popular cleaning product. This inspired him to avoid chemicals in his cleaning business, which has about 40 employees.

To prove the safety of his products owner Ken Celebucki sprayed a product that contains hydrogen peroxide into his mouth! (He washed his mouth out afterward.) explained to The Daily Courier that All Clean uses cloths that are reusable, and micro-fiber mops, which come with a squirt bottle. "So, instead of filling up an 8-gallon bucket with water and chemicals, we can mop the same amount of space with a quart of water," Celebucki said. "We try to look at the whole picture, the whole impact on the environment."

To read the full article online, go to
http://prescottdailycourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=63&SubSectionID=103&ArticleID=43975&TM=45929.2

Create A Green Policy for Your Own Company

2007-05-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

Earth Day seems to have made a bigger splash this year and with the recent report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Individuals, and businesses, are doing more than ever to minimize their impact on the environment.

At All Clean, making every day an Earth Day is important to us. Because we have a strong commitment to green cleaning, we want to share how companies around the nation are going green and how you can too.

Throughout the nation, companies large and small are creating a Green Policy and spreading the word on the benefits of going green. Here are some examples:

Here are some ideas on how your company can create a Green Policy and contribute:

Why I Work at All Clean

2007-05-04T09:01:00.000-07:00

“The hours and raises, pay and people I work with are what I like best.”
“Everyone (here) is fun to work with.”
“I would refer my friends to work here so they can make money and have fun working with good people.”
“The flexible schedule, the location of the office and the team work are why I’m here.”
“…I have been treated well and everyone is easy to work with.”
“Very nice and happy going people and customers.”
“I enjoy the people.”
“Nothing would cause me to leave as of now.”
“Because it’s a nice place to work and you meet a lot of really nice people.”
“I like working with people who enjoy their job and do a good job.”
“The flexibility of hours and good pay are important to me.”
“The good pay & flexible hours, good environment, the people I work with, incentives and being able to be home with my kids are what keeps me here.”
“I enjoy working with the people here. The hours are very flexible and management is friendly and understandable.”
“I work for All Clean Services because it’s a “fun job” and you get good pay and raises every 3 months.”
I find this is a god company to work for. The people are very friendly..the hours are flexible and it’s a nice place to work.”
“I work here because of the extra money, flexibility and the people here are great to work with.”
“An atom bomb would have to go off to cause me to leave.”
“ It’s a fun place to work.”
“ I like it here because of the honesty and fairness I receive from the employees.”

Kick Off Earth Day with Cleaning Tips

2007-04-20T09:38:00.000-07:00

All Clean Services is kicking off Earth Day with some friendly tips on how to “clean green” in honor of Earth Day. Earth Day is quickly approaching, April 22nd and All Clean wants to inspire people to “go green” with their cleaning routines to make a positive impact on the environment.

“This Earth Day people around the world will celebrate by planting a tree or cleaning a neighborhood park,” says Ken Celebucki, President and Owner of All Clean Services. “While these are important projects, we want to offer ideas to homeowners for making every day an Earth Day and preserve our environment by using cleaning methods that are earth friendly.”

Here are a few suggestions from All Clean Services:

Windows – Clean windows and mirrors with a non-toxic, safe alternative. For example, a solution of 1 cup rubbing alcohol, 1 cup water and 1 tablespoon vinegar makes a great window cleaner and consists of products you already have in your home.
Pets – Use tea tree oil for ticks and fleas. Works great on people too, as a safe, natural mosquito repellent.
Shower – Use natural shower cleaner that won’t hurt your lungs or body when you clean or shower. Mix lemon juice with vinegar and or baking soda to make a cleaning paste for your bathroom or shower.
Land - Support our environment by practicing the three R’s with dealing with trash: reduce, reuse and recycle.
Work and Home – Request that your cleaning service use natural products, or switch to a service that does. All Clean uses environmentally safe products and equipment.

In the spirit of Earth Day, All Clean is offering its new customers a special “Go Green Earth Day Special” of $35 off their first cleaning.

All Clean Services reminds homeowners to “think green” during National Cleaning Week.

2007-03-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

Spring is here, winter is fading away, and it is time to get into the spirit of Spring Cleaning. To mark this age-old tradition, Spring Cleaning National Cleaning Week is this week: March 25 – 31.

All Clean Services kicks off National Cleaning Week with a few hints to keeping the environment clean as well. “Many people think about harsh chemicals and cleaning aids when they envision Spring Cleaning, but that does not need to be the case,” says Ken Celebucki, President and Owner of All Clean Services. “During this year’s National Cleaning Week we want homeowners to put the “Spring” back into Spring Cleaning by using non-toxic, safe and natural cleaning products.

All Clean Services offers these quick tips to “clean green” this Spring:

Oven – Clean ovens and other surfaces that have contact with food with non-toxic, safe alternatives. For example, a solution of ¼ cup baking soda, ½ cup vinegar, and 1 gallon of water is great for cleaning grease on appliances.
Children – Get rid of all poisonous cleaning products and start using natural products today.
Air – Use citrus based air fresheners, which freshen the air naturally. Lemon is an especially great scent to welcome in Spring.
Carpet – Use a carpet cleaning company that specializes in safe, non-toxic cleaning.
Work and Home – Request that your cleaning service use natural products, or switch to a service that does.

In the spirit of National Cleaning Week, All Clean is offering its new customers a special “Get Acquainted Offer” of $20 off their first cleaning. For existing customers, they are also providing a special $10 off their fourth cleaning. All Clean uses environmentally safe products and equipment.

Feng Shui – A Calm Home

2007-03-10T09:02:00.000-08:00

In this day in age, we are busy, busy, busy with kids, work and the family as a whole and it is sometimes difficult to bring our positive energy through because it takes more time. And who has that! We’d like to suggest a simple and meaningful solution to this troublesome setback. The Ancient Chinese have used Feng Shui (pronounced FUNG-schway) for thousands of years to explore their surroundings to create harmonious energy. The goal of Feng Shui is to produce and enhance space that is favorable in bringing the flow of good energy leaving you to feel more energetic, creative and balanced. Thereby, increasing the potential for social and financial success and personal harmony. Many books are available to help you with ideas on how to Feng Shui your home. Here are a couple of ideas:

People tend to feel uncomfortable--even unsafe--when their view is blocked, so be sure all of the seats in a room allow guests to see who is coming and going.

Clutter is an obstruction in life force (or ch’i), so find a place for everything to feel more peace in your rooms.

Bring more life into your family room and living areas with mirrors or crystals.