Holiday Tips For Better Health

 The holidays are almost here and soon the family will be coming over to spend time together. To help I have provided a short article written

health writer Tara Parker-Pope. Some of these ideas are not new, but put together, they can make a big difference in your weight, fitness level, and mental health.

  Eat together at the table: People consume more when eating in front of the TV. And foods eaten “on the go” are generally higher in calories.

 Play with kids for at least 20 minutes a day. Ride a bike, jump rope, play touch football or soccer. Visit www.caloriecontrol.org/exercalc.html to find calories burned in various sports.

 Focus on favorite foods. Instead of trying to give up your favorites, eat smaller portions or switch to lower-fat versions. 

 Eat soup. “Volume” foods like soup leave you feeling full on fewer calories. 

 Eat at home. Restaurant food has more fat, calories, and sodium.

The part about increasing mental health is having your carpets and upholstery cleaned for the holidays. Having a clean home for the holidays provides peace of mind. Imagine sitting on some freshly cleaned sofas and chairs. You will feel better throughout the holidays.

The trick is to not wait to long before scheduling your favorite carpet cleaner. During the holiday times they become very busy because their previous clients pre-book almost all of their clean availability.

If you need help with your upholstery cleaning needs, please give us a call at 503-922-4875 / 360-901-8686 or visit: www.seanscarpetcare.com

upholstery cleaning Portland

Does Teflon in Carpet Cleaning Protector Really Cause Cancer

Something I found interesting, since many carpet protectors contain teflon and that most new carpet comes with protector installed at the factory.

Teflon has not been found to cause cancer. Perfluotooctanoic Acid (PFOA), a chemical used in the synthesis of Teflon, has been labeled a “likely carcinogen” by a panel advising the Environmental Protection Agency, but Teflon pans do not emit PFOA when used properly.

Teflon cookware might emit a small amount of PFOA when it’s heated to extreme temperatures – for example, when a Teflon frying pan has been left empty on a heated burner for an extended period. Even then, it has not been established that overheated Teflon produces a dangerous amount of PFOA. Still, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to dispose of a Teflon pan that has been left empty on a heated burner.

Approximately 95% of the population has some amount of PFOA in their bloodstream – but most of this PFOA likely comes from stain- and water-repelling treatments used on carpets and on fabrics. Grease-resistant food packaging, such as the microwave popcorn bags and cardboard fast food boxes, also might contain small amounts of PFOA.

The fact that PFOA is in our bodies does not mean that we are all going to die from PFO-related cancers. Individuals who have worked in factories producing PFOA, and perhaps some people who live in neighboring areas, seem to have the highest levels of PFOA. – Ronald Melnick, PhD, senior toxologist with NIEHS

If you need help with your carpet cleaning Portland or have questions regarding your carpet, please give me a call at 503-922-4875 / 360-901-8686 or visit my website at: www.seanscarpetcare.com

Oxygen Cleaners, As Seen On TV Are Safe For Cleaning Everything, Right?

Many of the popular oxygen cleaners that are available in stores and seen on TV seem like miracle stain removers. The question is, "Are the safe on every type of fabric?"

The answer is, "No".

In the carpet cleaning industry professional carpet cleaners use specialized cleaners that add or remove oxygen to hide stains everyday. The thing to understand is that these type of stain removers are not suitable for every type of fabric. On some types of carpet and upholstery fibers oxygen cleaners can remove color or ruin the fabric or carpet.

The Truth!

Cleaners that add oxygen or remove oxygen to remove (hide) stains are actually bleaches!!! Yes, it's true. Many red removers are actually known as reducers and hide the stain by removing an oxygen molecule. Usually stain removers that have oxygen in the name add an oxygen molecule to remove (hide) the stain.

Warning!

Natural fibers need special care when cleaning. It is never a good idea to use oxygen cleaners on natural fibers. Using oxygen cleaners on natural fibers will usually pull the color out of the carpet.

Side note: Did you know...One way professional carpet cleaners verify wether the fabric they are about to clean is wool or not is by using bleach. This is true! Wool dissolves in bleach.

With upholstery spot cleaning be careful. Upholstery is usually made with a blend of natural and synthetic fibers, so it is important to be careful with oxygen when trying to clean upholstery. If you are not sure what your upholstery is made from then, please call a professional portland upholstery cleaner.

If you need help with your upholstery or carpet cleaning needs then please give us a call at 503-922-4875 or 360-901-8686 or visit my website at: www.seanscarpetcare.com