Is It Clean? Is It Too Clean?

But decades later we still haven't won our war on germs. In fact, in many ways the germs are winning the battle.

Is It Clean? Is It Too Clean? - (By BeiBei): "Is it clean? Is it too clean?" Those are also questions that I ask myself many times every day. When I was little, the one question concerning sanitary conditions was, "Is it clean?" If the answer was "No", then we used water, soap, laundry powder or teeth cleaning powder. When I was three or four years old, my mother bought this fancy new item called shampoo paste. I even remember it was a brand called the Seagull. It was so new and expensive that I took a picture holding the bottle, smiling while scratching my head.

Then there came liquid shampoo that looked just like beer and even foamed too! Then toothpaste that tasted rather sweet but I still hated to use. And then soap that was so fragrant you would want to take a bite. I don't quite remember how old I was when dish detergent came into our household. Maybe it wasn't necessary since there wasn't much grease in the diet back then anyway.

Was it all of a sudden that the sanitary issue became so serious? There came shampoos of all colours and tastes, yes, as a kid I tasted the shampoo that smelled so delicious. There was dish detergent that could make your dishes squeak and shine. And then came shower gels and facial cleansers.

When I went to the States things got really complicated. There was soap, yes, I knew that. But liquid soap? Hmm…There was Windex. What's that for? For cleaning the window, making the glass so clean that poor birds would fly right into it and slide down from a concussion. There was bleach, oh, so pungent! My mother dissolved a pair of her jeans while trying to make it cleaner.

Someday, someone decided that all of these and a whole lot more were not making our world clean enough. There were little bugs you couldn't see. There were germs everywhere. There were viruses and other dangerous things that we must fight, fight, fight!

Then one day, the word "anti-bacterial" came flashing onto the stage. Bling~ Bling~ Flash~ Flash! We can now be saved, from all the bad germs! Anti-bacterial soap. Anti-bacterial wipes. Anti-bacterial detergent. Anti-bacterial mouthwash. The list goes on.

But decades later we still haven't won our war on germs. In fact, in many ways the germs are winning the battle.

In an article by microbiologist and science writer Jason Tetro, he said most germs are not interested in us humans and the majority of them are beneficial. Only a very small portion of germs is harmful and we only come in contact with a dozen of those. Yet, we've declared a full war on germs, a war that we can't seem to win.

But germs are tiny, why can't we win the war?

Tetro explained that germs can evolve about once every 20 minutes while human beings evolve about every 20 years. They have the power to change and change and they change fast! Every measure we take, every new cleaning product that we create, will eventually make them stronger. Besides, germs can live anywhere! You can clean your hands, steam your bottles and boil your food. But can you sanitize your whole house, your whole office, every nook and cranny? The worse thing is, while we are trying to kill off the bad germs, more of the good ones die along the way. Sigh!

This is not the only indication that our war on germs is coming back to bite us instead. Have you noticed the increase in cases of allergies, asthma and eczema in today's world?

Allergies were rare when I was a kid, but nowadays, it seems like everybody is allergic to something. When I went to the States, I learned that some people would swell up and die from eating a peanut! I've even heard of cases where some kids are allergic to things like eggs, rice and even water! I have to admit that I start my days with a stuffy nose and about a dozen sneezes, not knowing exactly what I'm allergic to. What is wrong with us?

One explanation is the hygiene hypothesis. It says that we've learned to clean our environment and ourselves so thoroughly that our immune system is left idle. But our immune systems were born fighters. They don't want to sit there doing nothing and grow fat, so they start attacking harmless substances, such as pollen and dust.

Many studies have shown that children who grew up with older siblings, who are always bringing home free germs to smear over their younger siblings, and children who have early exposure to pets or live in the rural area, have lower cases of developing allergies and asthma.

In my own family, the person who is the clean freak can get severe stomach pains from drinking a bottle of spring water that's been left open for just one day. But the person who would come home and sit on her bed without changing into indoor clothing (which freaks me out) can eat a rotten apple and not have any issues.

I myself am somewhere stuck in the middle. Yes, I want to live in a perfectly clean world. I can't stand the thought of bringing germs back home from the subway or putting money directly in my pockets. But the question "Is it too clean?" rings in my head more and more often now. I've learned to pull my hand back from the bottles with the word "anti-bacterial" on it. But yes, I still wash my hands and change my cloth the moment I get home.

I tell myself that in the relatively safe environment that I live in, soap and water would be sanitary enough. I've also realized that the action of cleaning is more important than the product. It's the "running" in running water and the "rubbing" in washing our hands that carry away most of the germs. So don't idolize the fancy products. Most of them were created to make money, not to make our world a better place. If you really want to kill off germs, here is a tip from the experts: Instead of using harsh chemicals, use the most natural disinfectant, steam. Simple, clean and almost for free.

But really, my point is, let's not get overly anxious about germs. Most of them have been our neighbors and friends for as long as we've existed. Instead of turning all of them into enemies, let them play with our immune systems so they stay weak and we grow strong.

It can all be summed up by that old Chinese saying: Some germs a day will keep the doctors away!

Cleaning without making use of any detergents or soaps may be time consuming for most of the time.

Washing and cleaning products market - global industry size, growth, share analysis and outlook to 2020 outlined in new market research report: Washing and cleaning products are the substances generally liquid, powder, sprays or granules which are used to remove dirt, including dust, stains, bad smells and clutter on surfaces. Cleaning agents are normally in the form of acidic, alkaline or neutral depending on the use.

The acidic washing agents are mostly used for cleaning deposits such as scaling. The active ingredients are usually strong mineral acids and chelates. 

Alkaline washing and cleaning products consist of strong bases like sodium hydroxide as it dissolves oil, grease, fats and proteins based deposits. Whereas, neutral washing products are those whose pH value is neutral and are made from different ionic compound which are used to clean different types of dirt.

Washing and cleaning products are used in wide range of applications such as Sanitation & Janitorial Cleaning Products, Industrial Cleaners, Kitchen & Catering Cleaning Agents, Food & Dairy Processing Cleaners, Laundry Agents, pulp & paper, chemical processing, agrochemicals and others. Soaps and detergents have become a necessary product in our daily lives. 

End-users include various industries such as manufacturing units, food & lodging, building service contractors, food & drinks processing units, retail, healthcare and others commercial facilities. However, the needs and requirement for cleaning products used by these industries differ vastly. 

Products, which are used by building contractors, include those products which are used for cleaning soiled floors, carpets, restrooms, window glasses and furniture. The global demand for washing and cleaning products in the market is driven by rise in population and increasing usage norms impacted as it is by greater concern for hygiene. Cleaning without making use of any detergents or soaps may be time consuming for most of the time. 

Therefore, products, which make the task easy, quickly and to a high standard, are favorable. However, consumers are more likely to pay for such products. 

Raising awareness of personal hygiene, increased focus on communal hygiene and growing concern over the spread of infectious disease are some of the other factors which are driving the market for washing and cleaning products. Increasing concern about ensuring the safety, social and self-actualization needs by enabling safe food storage, sterilizing household surfaces and controlling garbage in a hygienic manner are also driving the washing and cleaning market at some extent.

In less developed countries, price becomes the major factor as consumers have less money to spend. Therefore, manufacturers of cleaning products must work on this aspect in order to succeed in the washing and cleaning product market. 

Strict government regulations about use of cleaning agents as many of them consist of certain chemicals which affect the environment in one form or the other. These are some of the factors which are hampering the growth of washing and cleaning products market to some extent.

Introduction of new, innovative and technologically advanced products, efficient research and development activities and development of product to meet the needs of the consumer are some of the growth opportunities which is likely to drive this market in the year to come. Improved lifestyle and tip from cleaning experts are some of the trends contributing the growth of this market.

Asia Pacific is the largest market for washing and cleaning products attributed to a large population of the emerging countries such as China and India. It is then followed by North America and Europe. 

Asia Pacific is also the fastest growing region for washing and cleaning products market owing to the rising population of this region. Moreover, rising leaving standard, growing disposable income of the consumer of this region has contributed to the overall growth of the washing and cleaning products market.

Some of the major companies operating in washing and cleaning products market include Henkel KGaA, Colgate-Palmolive Company, Procter & Gamble Co., Reckitt Benckiser Plc, The Clorox Company, Church & Dwight, The Dial Corporation and Unilever N.V. 

Spring Window Cleaning News

Spring is in the air and for many people that means it’s time for spring cleaning. Cleaning companies are able to capitalize on the annual ritual by pushing their products through advertising campaigns. This is only natural, says advertisers and those in the cleaning industry. “Advertising that appeals to the wants and needs of the consumer is generally very effective in generating sales and profits,” says James W, Kroeger, an assistant professor in South University’s College of Business.

That appeal encourages companies like Simple Green to employ marketing and advertising strategies around spring cleaning. Denise Dochnahl, marketing specialist for Simple Green, says the company generally does a combination of print, cable television, and radio advertising in conjunction with spring cleaning each year. “Simple Green does do a ‘push’ in consumer advertising during the spring because spring cleaning is somewhat of a nationally recognized ritual, especially when winters are harsh and leave behind a myriad of messes,” she says.

Marketing Spring Cleaning: Stephanie Bane, director of account planning at Smith Brothers Agency, a marketing firm in Pittsburgh, agrees that spring cleaning is a good advertising event. “The ritual of spring cleaning is satisfying and fun,” she says. “It’s the one time of year that projects like cleaning, organizing, and doing repairs around the house don’t feel like chores – they feel like a fresh start. Spring cleaning is an inherently positive experience and provides good associations for many products, brands, and retailers. Bane says that in addition to cleaning-related products or brands, advertising for spring cleaning can also be effective for service-oriented businesses like dry cleaning, carpet cleaning, and window washing.

Kroeger includes even more types of businesses in his list of who should use spring cleaning as an advertising hook. “A large variety of businesses can and should take advantage of this time of renewal in attracting consumers eager for a change,” he says. “All companies focused on interior decorating services and supplies have an advantage this time of year, including firms offering paints and supplies, wall coverings, window treatments, flooring, cabinetry, and furniture. Carpet cleaning and window cleaning will be a priority. After a long, hard winter, attention will be focused on roofing, siding, and gutters, and general home improvements. Garden centers, landscaping services, and do-it-yourself stores see a dramatic upsurge in business with spring events.”

Spring cleaning is a good advertising event for Simple Green, Dochnahl says, adding that print advertisements with coupons tend to generate a lot of purchases in the spring. Television and radio ads also drive traffic to the product website during that time of year, she says. “People are getting out and starting to think in terms of cleaning up the home and the outdoor living areas for spring and summer, which means they’re buying cleaning products for those jobs, especially if they live somewhere that winter has ‘left its mark,’” Dochnahl says.

Spring Cleaning and Money: Spring is also a time of year when consumers have more disposable income because of lower utility bills and income tax refund checks, Kroeger points out. That translates to more consumer dollars available to spend on spring cleaning products and services. “Spring is a natural time of rebirth and renewal for all of nature, and consumers are no exception,” he adds. “Knowledgeable advertisers can take advantage of this fact by targeting consumers who have endured months of drab, dreary, and cold weather, and are in a mindset to be more active in sprucing up their homes, cars, and yards.” And as Bane points out, sometimes that sprucing up can turn into a larger project, meaning even more consumer money being put into the economy. “Every small project around the house turns to be bigger – and more expensive – than you think it is going to be,” she explains. “Even something as simple as organizing a closet can lead to a lot of money spent on things like dry cleaning and storage products.”

Spring Cleaning Goes Digital:  Because of the success that Simple Green and other cleaning-related companies and products see through spring cleaning advertising campaigns, the trend is generally expected to continue. However, like so many other things, this trend, too, will probably go digital. “The primary change will be a continuing increase in the trend of utilizing digital media for advertising,” Kroeger predicts. “As we continue to see a dramatic increase in technology with the advent of iPods, iPads, Blackberries, ‘smart’ phones, etc., daily newspapers as we now know them will evolve to a digital subscription-based format.” Dochnahl says Simple Green already utilizes e-mail blasts and newsletters as part of its advertising campaigns. For Simple Green, if the advertising is working, there is no reason to change it. “For us, the trend will remain constant, with our marketing and advertising continuing to be predominantly targeted toward the spring cleaning movement,” she says.

A stillborn baby was miraculously brought back to life after being frozen for 3 days. Little Ella Anderson had been dead for 25 minutes after she was starved of oxygen in the womb. Medics managed to revive her but feared Ella could still die or suffer severe brain damage. She was whisked 30 miles away to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, and placed in a cooling blanket. The pioneering procedure protects against brain damage by forcing the organ to repair itself. Ella's temperature plummeted from 37C to 33.5C. After 72 hours it was slowly raised by half a degree at a time. Dad Jason Anderson, 33, of Werrington, Peterborough, said: "When we went to see her in the hospital she was wired up to every machine and tube imaginable. "I laid my hand on her head and she was ice cold to the touch." The treatment worked and the youngster was allowed home just 11 days later. Now nine-months-old Ella has stunned doctors with her incredible progress. She still needs physiotherapy but scans have shown no abnormalities on her brain. Mum Rachel Claxton, 32, and window cleaner Jason have started a Facebook campaign to raise money for the unique procedure.

Customer Service Award: The Customer Service Award, which honors an employee or owner of a member business, who exemplifies high standards by giving priority attention to every customer, client or guest, went to Dean Behan of Behan Window Cleaning. "Nominated for this award unanimously by the board of directors, Dean exemplifies high standards and is consistently giving his time and energy to fulfill his customer's requests, even when it is not expected of him," Bemis said of Behan. Chamber officials also noted Behan's customer service does not stop with his own business but carries over to the children he teaches snowboarding and skiing at Mount McSauba.

"Dean has earned a reputation as one of the most requested snowboard and skiing instructors at the recreational facility. Not only do the children enjoy their lessons but the parents and staff alike cannot say enough wonderful things about what an asset he is to the program." Bemis said Behan's peers describe him as a hard working, positive individual who cares deeply not only for his customers but for everyone in his community, this is what makes his service so outstanding. "He is not concerned about profit margins or business capital, but about forming a relationship with his customers."

Christian a rock of the community: Christian Mathieson spent three days and two nights on the kilometre-high El Capitan vertical rock formation in California's Yosemite National Park and has also tackled the intimidating "India" route on Victoria's Mt Arapiles. His love of rock climbing remains undiminished, but these days he is content to make a business from training others to scale those heights. Mr Mathieson, 36, owns the Lactic Factory in Abbotsford, Australia's first indoor training facility for bouldering, the rock climbing equivalent of sprinting. He opened the facility six years ago, exhausting himself working as a high-rise window cleaner by day while running the climb centre at night until the business was on a sufficiently solid foundation to be run as a full-time job. With 250sq m of timber climbing walls set at a range of angles, including overhangs, the centre is used to build climbers' fitness, with some spending as long as four hours on gruelling training sessions.

On the day of the big quake, engineering experts from Auckland were in Christchurch preparing to give a seminar. The subject: making older brick buildings more earthquake-resistant so walls and parapets might not fall down and kill people.

The efforts of water trucks to dampen the roads are futile. Dust masks are now another essential in Christchurch's arsenal. People don't complain about their own plight when they know that in the CBD people lie dead. Outside, local Dale Finch is dropping his chimney rubble off at the corner.  He doesn't expect to keep his job: he's a window cleaner on high rise buildings in the CBD.

Mexican Dirt Causes Muddy Rain In South Texas: SAN ANTONIO - As people made their way to their vehicles Tuesday afternoon, they noticed what might just be a car wash owner's dream. A large dust storm in Mexico made it's way into the atmosphere and mixed with the showers focused over South Texas, causing rain mixed with dirt and creating a mud shower. Many San Antonians were unfamiliar with the meteorlogical oddity. "As long as I've been living in San Antonio, I've never seen this before," Edward Jarmon said.

Rainstorm leaves dirty surprise in Missouri: Clay Frisbie wondered why his windshield wouldn't get clean during Monday morning's rain. When the wipers kept sending smudges across his windshield, Frisbie realized the raindrops themselves were dirty. That's just what the National Weather Service called an unusual weather event: dirty rain. The brown film could prove to be a boon to Frisbie, whose Class Glass Cleaning specializes in window washing. "We probably will get some calls," Frisbie said. "It's the first time I've seen this happen in a long time." While Frisbie was anticipating calls from people wanting clean windows, other businesses rushed to rid themselves of the grime.

Social Media marketing specialist, Charly Caldwell (pictured) presented along with Jason Evers to more than 300 people at the International Window Cleaners Association (IWCA) Convention and Trade Show last weekend. The topic of the presentation was “How to Network Effectively”, providing useful resources and suggestions for effective networking, both in person and through social media online. “Speaking to this group was a wonderful opportunity,” said Charly Caldwell, Founder and President of Internet Services Group of Florida. “We were able to educate 300 to 400 companies from around the United States, and provide them with valuable strategies that will allow them to extend their personality and networking efforts online. Through the proper use of Social Media and other online resources, these business professionals will now be able to translate their networking into the creation of new business.”

In the kick-off keynote session, Jason Evers of Coastline Window Cleaning discussed the value of effective networking, how to network more effectively, and how to make it more comfortable for everyone. Charly Caldwell, of Internet Services Group of Florida, LLC (ISG), followed up with a presentation entitled “Create Business Now with Social Media”. In Caldwell’s presentation, he provided an in-depth look at the latest social media avenues that are currently available, and explained how this type of networking can used as a valuable tool to create new business. He also discussed strategies for ranking in Google and other search engines, along with various other no cost online techniques that will help generate business.

The business of the environment: All of those efforts, she said, are about doing the right thing — not about how many customers might be attracted to green-friendly businesses. “For me, it's my conscience, the future of my children and other people.” Still, Yoder said, it is a goal of certification to make it more in vogue to be the business with the “certified green” sticker on the window. Kristi Wamstad-Evans, the City of Omaha's sustainability coordinator and a Green Omaha Coalition board member, said many consumers are beginning to take companies' environmental records into account when they decide where and what to buy. She said it's important to have standards in place so people know what a company means when it claims to be green. “People are taking more personal responsibility, and that affects where they spend their dollars,” she said. “Having a decal up on the window basically certifies that the business is not just green-washing, that they're accountable to some third party.”

The tale of the cat that fell 10 stories and survived: Daniel Sansone, 21, let his father’s two cats, Kitty and Socks out onto the balcony of their 10th floor apartment near O’Hare Airport one afternoon last weekend, as was their habit. The cats like it out there, and the Sansones didn’t see any harm. When Daniel looked out a few minutes later, however, Socks was nowhere to be seen. Daniel made a more thorough search of the balcony, then of the apartment itself, hoping the answer wasn’t what he feared.  “I started freaking out,” he said. His father, Charles, 49, just home from the hospital and recuperating in bed, noticed his son’s agitated state and asked what was wrong. “I think the cat went over the balcony,” Daniel said. As a matter of cat, the cat had gone over the balcony — and fallen approximately 90 feet to the ground. But let’s end the suspense right here, because as you can see in the accompanying photo, Socks is just fine.

Actually, though, it happens all the time, with cats surviving falls from even greater heights. It happens so often that veterinarians long ago gave the phenomenon a name, High-Rise Syndrome. Back in 2009, a New York cat named Lucky fell 26 stories and survived, that particular incident gaining more notoriety than most because it was photographed by a window-washing crew that happened to be working across the street. There were also news stories in 2007 about a cat in Northbrook that survived an 18-story fall with some broken bones. Dr. David Gomsky of West Loop Veterinary Care said one downtown emergency clinic where he previously worked sees 50 to 75 cases of High-Rise Syndrome in a year, sometimes as many as three in a single weekend when the weather turns warm. The highest fall that anyone there could remember a Chicago cat surviving was 22 stories. That cat had the good fortune of landing on an awning, which helped break the fall. Some of these cats fell off balconies and others tumbled from windows or rooftop decks. While the cats who make it to veterinarians tend to survive, they are often the worse for wear with head trauma or lung damage.

TOP DRAWER: A listing of the honourable, noteworthy, new & what's ahead for business people in Columbia - Ben Appleton, commercial manager of Shepherd’s Co. of Fulton, won two medals at the International Window Cleaning Association Convention and Trade Show in St. Pete Beach, Fla. Appleton won a silver medal in the window speed cleaning competition and a bronze medal in the speed and quality competition. More than 30 contestants from five countries participated in the contest.

BidSlot℠ is a service that arranges meetings between service providers and potential customers.  A single slot represents 3 bids total, so a 2 Slot™ package represents 6 bid appointments, a 5 Slot™ is 15 bids, and the great value 10 Slot™ is 30 bid appointments set for you.  Every BidSlot℠ is personalized for your company.  Your unique business service offerings make your company special in its own way, and BidSlot℠ designs a marketing program to represent your company in the best possible way to your market. BidSlot℠ Marketing is not a typical lead generating firm.  We do not supply you with “tire kicker” leads that will only waste your time and energy.  Each bid you get is a potential customer that is interested in your services.  All you have to do is pitch your service or perform your demo, and close the deal.

World's Germiest Places: Is it your Building? We in the professional cleaning industry hear about germs every day. But have you ever wondered about the "germiest" places in the world? The Forensic Science Technician, an organization that promotes the teaching of forensic sciences, has compiled a list of the 50 germiest places in the world some of which are everyday locations, while others are a little less common. The top 10 germiest everyday places include:

1. Portable toilets 2. Kitchen sinks 3. Door handles 4. Underwear 5. Purses and handbags 6. Hotel linens and towels 7. Computer keyboards 8. Communal office equipment/workstations 9. Cell phones; and 10. Kitchen sponges.

Some of the more unusual germiest spots include:

1. The Blarney Stone in Ireland, kissed by thousands of tourists each year

2. Baku, Azerbaijan, considered the world's germiest/dirtiest city

3. Oscar Wilde's grave in Paris, which tourists traditionally kiss

4. Airplane bathrooms

5. Health care facilities and nursing homes

6. Vacuum cleaner bags

7. Beds (beds are practically Petri dishes, according to the report)

8. Murder/suicide scenes

9. Automatic teller machines; and 10. Money.

"There is not much our industry can do about cleaning up the Blarney Stone," says Matt Morrison, Communications Manager for Kaivac, developers of the No-Touch Cleaning system. "But there is a lot we can do to hygienically clean and sanitize toilets, door handles, and other surfaces." For instance, to clean high-touch surfaces, Morrison encourages cleaning professionals to use flat-surface cleaning systems that combines microfiber, a window squeegee and chemical injection technologies. Additionally, he advises using the new generation of microfiber "smart towels" that can be folded into quadrants, allowing a fresh section to be used for each cleaning task.

Terry "Turbo" Burrows becomes World Champion again! Cadbury is the official treat provider of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. To celebrate, we want to help the Nation re-capture their playful spirit and get everybody to play more; so we invented Spots v Stripes, the biggest, funnest game ever! In the run up to London 2012 we're asking you all to pick a side and join in the fun. This month, we’re breaking records, Guinness World Records! EddPlant v Terry Turbo: Cadbury World Record Tea Making: Get Racing! Cadbury Spots v Stripes has launched Race Season and created 9 new Guinness World Records for everyday things like Tea-making and Mouse Scrolling. In this round, Terry Turbo, the world's fastest window cleaner competes with musical youtube star EddPlant in an attempt to attempt to break the record for the world's fastest tea making.

Business briefs: Post-storm site still a useful tool - A database of reputable companies sparked by contractor scams in the wake of Hurricane Charley has evolved to include all sorts of professions, from accountants and outdoor lighting to home security and feng shui consulting. The Quality Service Pros directory, at qualityservicepros.com, has a mission to educate consumers on how to hire smart, said founder Jason Evers, president of Coastline Window Cleaning Inc. The database features companies that have provided proof of licensing and insurance and passed a screening process. A networking group focused on competent, honest business practice has grown out of the database. Members offer training seminars on business administration, customer service and quality management topics. The cost for local companies to join the directory is $99 per month. Download a free guide, "Ten Things You Must Know Before Hiring a Contractor" here.