Environmental Sustainability

A commitment to making ECO conscious choices concerning the environment is important to us. All recommendations for use of sustainable, renewable and earth friendly products will be our first choice. We encourage our customers to follow our simple guidelines and make a better tomorrow together.

Power Saving Conservation

• Turn it off! Unless showing your home for an open house, get in the habit of
  turning lights and appliances off when not in use.
• Use compact florescent light bulbs.
• Buy energy efficient appliances. This is not just good for the environment .
  it saves you lots of money in energy costs.
  

Reduce Waste

• When de-cluttering your home, recycle your things buy having garage sales
  and/or donating to a local charity.
• For storage and packing buy reusable and refillable containers or ones that can be recycled.
  
• Use your newspaper to wrap your moving items and then recycle when done. Bubble wrap is fun for popping but isn’t very friendly.
• Dispose of hazardous waste properly. Check your city bylaws.
• Microfiber cloths are great for cleaning and can be washed and reused
  (Works great on glass).
  

Quality & Durability

• Longer-lasting and better-functioning products will have to be replaced less frequently, reducing the impacts of producing replacements.
• Renewable and sustainable materials for renovations are always the smart choice.
  Check with your local building supplier for more information about these products.

Use Natural Cleaning Products

• Avoid harsh chemicals and detergents. Eco friendly household products are becoming
  more and more readily available in most stores now.
  
• Many items that you may already have in your home are great natural cleaners.
  

White Vinegar:

• Get rid of mildew, dust, and stale odours by wiping down walls with undiluted white
  distilled vinegar on a cloth or a sponge mop.
  
• Clean up pet accidents by first blotting up the area and then adding a white distilled vinegar-and-water solution. Blot until it is almost dry. Then sprinkle baking soda over the area and let it dry. Vacuum up the residue next day.
  
• Clean shower door tracks by filling them with white distilled vinegar and letting it sit for a few hours. Pour hot water into the tracks and wash and scrub away the scum with a toothbrush.
  
• To clean a scummy showerhead, pour 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup white distilled
  vinegar into a sandwich bag and tie it around the showerhead. Let this set for an hour
  after the bubbling has stopped. Remove bag and then turn on the water.
  
• Clean and deodorize a drain by pouring in 1 cup baking soda, then one cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let this sit for 5 minutes or so, and then run hot water down the drain.
  

• Make your own scouring cleanser by combining 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon
  liquid detergent. Add just enough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture.
  
• Sprinkle baking soda on your carpet before vacuuming to eliminate food and pet odours.
  
• After emptying the garbage, sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom of the garbage
  can; this will neutralize the food odours.
  
• Refrigerator odours. Use baking soda dissolved in water to clean and freshen the inside
  of your refrigerator.

Olive Oil:

• Polish furniture to give it that extra shine: Try 3 parts water with 1 part olive oil;
  or 2 parts olive oil with 1 part lemon juice. It should leave your furniture shiny and clean.
  
• Get rid of the creaks in doors and hinges: Use a few drops of olive oil for lubrication.
  
• To Clean Stainless: Use equal parts olive oil and white vinegar, mix well and apply with a soft cloth and rub over surface. Try to go with the grain. Use dry cloth to polish.

Hydrogen Peroxide:

• Bathroom Mould: Mould on bathroom tile grout is a common problem and is a health concern.
  Mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with 2 parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas with mould. Wait at least 1 hour before rinsing or using the shower.

Commercial Cleaners:

• Available at Home Depot, prices start $5.00
• Greenworks Cleaning Products (by Clorox): Are available at most grocery/household stores
• Murphys Oil Soap: Used for over 100 years, is available at most stores household stores
  
• Any type of green products on market can be very effective when used properly; effective
  in eliminating odours. They are also leave no scents behind, leaving your home fresh and clean smelling.

Mr. Clean Eraser:

Works like a dream on flat non-glossy surfaces that need cleaning. Dirt and stains that would have taken scrubbing and or repainting disappeared in moments. Do not use on high gloss or shiny surfaces, wood or panneling.