Carpet Cleaning Scam

(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

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

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

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

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

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

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.