BANISH TOXINS FROM YOUR HOME The carpet in your home, where kids and pets frequently hang out, is like a giant air filter; it traps dust and dirt, and this filter does need to be cleaned from time to time. One surprising concern is that the chemicals you use to clean your carpet affects the quality of air you breathe. It’s in constant use and needs to be regularly cleaned to maintain its appearance, protect your investment and your family’s health, so do it wisely. Magic Clean Plus is owned and operated by the father-and-son team of Dave and Mike Pawson, in Ann Arbor. Dave says, “We decided to get into the carpet cleaning business because of the lack of truly healthy and effective carpet cleaning systems in the Washtenaw and Lenawee County areas. We formulated our cleaning process to overcome all the pitfalls of the outdated, traditional steam cleaner.” Dave says, “Chemicals such as chlorine, silicone, phenols and glycol ether are just some of the common chemicals that are known to be carcinogens, harmful even when the chemicals dry up. Others are known to have critical effects on the central nervous system, kidneys, liver and blood. We avoid all of these by going organic.” Cleaning carpet organically is one of the best and easiest ways to reduce chemicals in your home, and Magic Clean Plus is dedicated to providing the cleanest, healthiest home possible. For that reason, their cleaning solution is 100 percent organic, made straight from citrus fruits, with no chemicals or detergents added, making them safe for even children and pets. The Magic Clean Plus residue-free process is a technology that cleans and deodorizes carpets more easily and effectively than soaking them with water and chemicals and then trying to vacuum all the moisture, chemicals and dirt back out, leaving residue behind. This kind of thorough cleaning also keeps carpets from getting dirty as quickly again afterward. Magic Clean Plus uses about 85 percent less water than traditional steam cleaning, greatly reducing drying time to one or two hours. Mike says, “When your carpet is soaking wet for longer than a couple of hours, it presents a good environment for mold or diseases to grow.” Ailments such as headaches, stuffy nose, muscle pains, dizziness, rashes, nosebleeds, fevers, chills, anorexia, shortness of breath, hearing loss, itchy eyes, fatigue and asthma are all symptoms of indoor air contamination. One EPA study showed that the air in our homes is four to 10 times more toxic than outdoor air. According to Mike, “More and more people are starting to realize the importance of going green, and manufacturers are investing in products that are environmentally friendly. We don’t only save the Earth by supporting and using these products, but we help others and protect our own health, as well.”