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The Deal with Dust

12/10/2015

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The dust that gathers inside your home on your shelves, pictures, and furniture has nothing to do with poor housekeeping. Dust is a naturally occurring and consistently gathering mass of particles that come from human and animal skin, textile fibers, soil and pollen. Dust also harbors dust mites, which are tiny arachnids whose presence in a living space is frequently linked with asthma. It is important not to let dust get out of control, both for health and peace of mind reasons.

Some homes and buildings truly are dustier than others. There are a few reasons for this, including:
  1. Unsealed cracks in windows and doors that allow more particles from outside to enter the home.
  2. Unsealed cracks in air ducts that pull dusty air from areas like basements or attics and deposit them through vents into other spaces.
  3. Loss of lint through unsealed cracks in clothes dryer vents (this can be a big one!)
  4. Having pets that shed a lot of fur and dander.
  5. Using a low quality vacuum cleaner that lacks a HEPA filter.
  6. Having a lot of books, magazines, or newspapers in the home. These break down over time and produce a lot of dust!
  7. Dust and soil buildup in air duct systems that need to be cleaned professionally.
  8. Outdoor shoes are worn in the home instead of indoor shoes.
  9. Having a lot of fabrics like blankets and pillows in the house. These give off fluff!
  10. Old or very worn carpet will also generate extra dust. Replace it if you can!

Reach out to Oso Clean to help you keep your dust under control!

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Darn It - I Caught A Cold!

12/7/2015

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There are many ways to survive those nasty cold bugs, but this is what I do to get through:
  1. Accept that the cold might go on for 5-21 days. If symptoms are getting worse - not better or holding - after 14 days that is usually when I assume the virus has mutated into something else and I should go see the doctor.
  2. Drink lots of warm fluids. My prefered comfort tea when I am suffering from the cold is Gypsy Cold Care by Traditional Medicinals. This tea is like a huge internal hug when you are feeling sick. Check the label before enjoying, just in case your body doesn’t agree with the herbs involved. Chicken broth and warm water are good too. Add a little local honey for an extra boost to your immune system.
  3. Rest and relax as much as possible. Go to bed early, sleep in a bit later, and nap if possible and needed. It is so important to listen to your body! Sometimes laying down makes the symptoms worse, so simply reducing vigorous activity helps too.
  4. Eat good, healthy foods - especially soups and chili. Homemade and hot really is the best for you. I take advantage of our local co-op as much as possible for seasonal, organic produce. The hot, hot peppers that my husband grows in the garden are stored in my freezer for these winter months. Nothing like a hot paper lantern at 420,000 on the scoville scale to kick out a cold virus! (Jalapenos are 2500).
  5. Cough syrups and cold medications aren’t really my thing. But when the aches and pains get really bad, I take an ibuprofen tablet as needed. No need to be super tough! In fact it’s better to be extra nice to yourself. Remember, this too shall pass. :)

Stay healthy this season!
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Recommended cleaning and disinfection practices to prevent the spread of the cold and flu

12/3/2015

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  1. Just clean. Simple cleaning is incredibly effective in reducing cold, flu, and other viruses. Cleaning removes soil, dirt, and other impurities that harbor germs and viruses like the flu and the common cold. Routine cleaning at home and at the office plays a crucial role in reducing the spread of the cold and flu. Remember, cleaning and disinfecting are not the same thing. Cleaning is often one step to disinfect a surface, which kills the germs.
  2. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. The flu virus can survive and possibly infect a person for 2 - 8 hours after contacting a surface. Ideally, frequently touched surfaces in the home and office are cleaned and disinfected daily and even more often when there is an outbreak. Immediately clean and disinfect surfaces that are visibly soiled with body fluids (vomit, urine, etc.) or blood. Follow precautions set forth in the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard.
  3. Keep with the cleaning and disinfecting routine. Cold and flu viruses are relatively weak and basic cleaning processes are sufficient to kill them. It is not necessary to close the facility and do a special deep clean after an outbreak has occurred-in fact, frequent and heavy cleaning processes may cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throats, and skin and aggravate asthma.
  4. Clean and disinfect correctly. Always follow the label directions on cleaning products and disinfectants. Most disinfecting products require the surface to be cleaned first as dirt, soil and grime harbor germs that need to be removed prior to disinfecting. The disinfectant kills any remaining viruses after the germ harboring solids are wiped away. Note that there is also a dwell time that is required to allow the disinfectant to properly kill the viruses.
  5. Select the right products. Choose EPA registered products with label claims that indicate that the product kills the cold and flu. If the surface isn’t visibly dirty, you may opt to choose a product that will clean and disinfect the surface. Check the label for the proper dwell time.
  6. Use the products safely! Read the labels and understand any potential hazards associated with the products. If the chemicals require gloves, eye protection, or masks, use them. Never mix chemicals - mixing chemicals could cause serious injury or death. Make sure that the individuals who are using the cleaning products have been educated in how to use the products safely and effectively.

Stay healthy this season!

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Cleaning and Hygiene reduce transmission of the common cold and flu

12/2/2015

1 Comment

 
Do you know how the common cold and influenza are spread? Usually, these illnesses are passed through infectious droplets that are produced when people cough, sneeze, or even talk. The comparatively large infectious droplets are carried via relatively small sprays (aerosols) through the air and come into contact with other people. These droplets can only travel a short range, so infected people should remain at least 6’ away from others when possible.

The cold and flu are also spread when infected people touch objects like doorknobs, elevator buttons, handrails, and other frequently touched surfaces. These surfaces are then contaminated with viruses and may infect another person who touches the same object and then transfers the infected material from the hands to the eyes, nose or mouth. This is why it is crucial to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces effectively and often.

Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces in your home and office significantly decreases the number of germs and viruses on those surfaces, effectively reducing the risk and transmission of the cold and flu from person to person. Routine cleaning removes the soil and dirt that harbors the germs, while disinfecting kills the remaining environmental pathogens.

Reach out to Oso Clean to find out more about keeping a healthy indoor environment at your home and office by instituting a regular and effective cleaning program.
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Health and economic drivers of cold and flu prevention

12/1/2015

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Increasingly, companies are integrating a more holistic approach to defend employee and building occupant health against cold and flu viruses through effective cleaning methods and encouraging proper hand hygiene. It has been proven that comparatively small investments in cleaning systems and hygiene education produce exponential gains in profits and productivity.

Colds, flu, tummy bugs, and illnesses such as these are the most common reason for employee absences. Sickness can quickly and easily spread across a school or workplace resulting in significant absenteeism, resulting in potentially huge costs to businesses. In the US alone, the average number of sick days per employee per year is 7.7 days. This health-related lost productive time (LPT) equates to $225.8 billion per year in losses to employers. Additionally, sick time is unplanned and negatively affects the business as a whole by decreasing overall the production/output rate up to 54% as well as up to a 39% drop in sales and customer service.

Every year in the US, the common flu is the cause for 3.1 million hospitalized days and 31.4 million outpatient visits, accounting for the lost productivity of the patients (not to mention how awful it is to have the flu!). Further, the estimated total annual economic burden in the US imposed by the flu is close to $87 billion, of which $16 billion is lost productivity and earnings and the remaining $10 billion is spent on direct medical costs associated with influenza alone.

The common cold is probably the most common illness shared among human beings. Adults have an average of 2-3 colds every year resulting in an estimated cost of lost productivity that approaches $25 billion per year in the US. Of this, $16.6 billion is attributed to on the job productivity loss and $8 billion to absenteeism (extended absence from the workplace).

The above context really helps shed light on the value of clean. A comparatively small investment in an effective cleaning and hygiene program will help avoid or significantly reduce the health and economic impacts of seasonal flu and the common cold. Contact Oso Clean to learn more about eliminating germs and disease in your home and office through an effective cleaning program.
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  • Oso Clean - Cleaning Services
    • Commercial
  • About Oso Clean
  • Employment
    • Commercial Cleaner
  • Contact