Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/94702
A Carpet Conundrum The problem: Professional shampoo-based cleaning makes carpets and upholstery look great—for a short while. But the process can also coat your carpet fibers in a residue that actually attracts dust. Carpet cleanings can also leave behind chemicals that can be harmful to your health. The solution: Soap-free carpet cleaning. Companies such as Zerorez Madison Carpet Cleaning use empowered water—which is electrolyzed and oxidized—to loosen dirt and then eliminate bac- teria and pathogens. After debris is removed, carpets dry quickly without leaving behind a residue, which makes it safer for homes with pets and children. Toxic Cleaning Products The problem: Cleaning products leave our home glistening, but many also leave resi- due and trace chemicals in the air that can be harmful, according to Kris Koenig, CEO of Natura Clean. In fact, Wisconsin Poison Center has cited cleaning products as the third most common cause of poisoning in children ages 5 and younger. The solution: Go natural. Enlist the help of local, all-natural cleaning services such as Natura Clean, and buy non-toxic products for your home. Or consider whipping up safe products on your own. A paste made from three parts baking soda and one part liquid soap cleans sinks, bathtubs, stovetops and other surfaces. Garages too Close to Home The problem: No one wants to sit in a car that feels like an ice cube, so we warm them up in the garage. The problem? When the garage is attached, dangerous gas- es can leak into the house. Studies have shown auto emissions and gasoline can release carbon monoxide and benzene—a known carcinogen—into your home. The solution: Prevention and protection. Move your car outside if you warm it up. Equip home entryways with leak-proof weather stripping to prevent benzene from getting inside, and consider moving gasoline canisters and motor-powered lawn equipment to an external shed. The Wisconsin Division of Public Health also recommends installing a carbon monoxide detector in the garage. Sneaky Gases The problem: No one can see (or even smell) it coming: dangerous levels of radon and carbon monoxide that creep into the home. Radon—which is created by a natural breakdown of uranium in the environment and is a known carcinogen—enters through basement walls and floors. In fact, 40 percent of homes in Dane County contain unsafe levels of radon. Carbon monoxide, one of the most common causes of fatal poi- soning, creeps in through stoves, furnaces, fireplaces and more. The solution: An inexpensive mail-in kit available at hardware stores can measure radon levels. If yours are high, install a mitigation system to vent radon outdoors. As for carbon monoxide, state laws require detectors on every floor of your home. But carbon monoxide poisoning can happen in minutes, so make sure your detectors work at all times! December 2012 bravamagazine.com 57