The GoVacuum Blog

By Michele Kadison

I’ve been doing some research on dust mites after my cousin came down with serious allergies apparently due to a proliferation of microorganisms in her home.  We all have mites and pathogens nesting in our furnishings, actually, but often their effect is not that obvious.

The truth is that the average dust mite lives for 80 days and produces approximately 1,000 allergenic waste products that can cause asthma and other similar irritations.  Up to 2 million mites can live in our mattresses and other soft furnishings, feeding on our dead skin cells.  It is a frightening picture, isn’t it?

In addition to dust mites, soft furnishings attract all sorts of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens such as the influenza virus, E coli, Staphylococcus Aureus, and Candida.  Spraying with anti-bacterial products is not that effective for removing pathogens or dust mites, and even the highest end vacuum cleaner will not successfully get rid of them.

But… there is one solution and that is a brilliant new antibacterial vacuum that functions with a UV-C light, which is a germicidal light that damages the DNA of mites and pathogens at close range.  The unit comes with a vibrating pad that loosens dust mites from their territory, whereby they are then stricken by the UV-C ray and then sucked up by a vacuum that moves everything through an anti-allergenic filter.

The Earlex RayCop kills 99.9% of the microorganisms that live in our mattresses and other furnishings.  It comes with two settings:  one that vibrates and the other that does not, which is great for use on harder surfaces where it is not necessary for loosening mites and other debris from their homes.  The unit weighs only 5 lbs and has a sleek design, making it easy to hold and operate.

So, if you want to keep your home dust mite and bacteria free, do what I just did, and that is purchase yourself an essential tool that will keep you and your family microorganism free.

By Michele Kadison
I am a newcomer to the idea of steam cleaning, and now that I’ve done some research, it seems like this is the best way to go…. not just in terms of cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing the house , but also in terms of helping maintain the health of our families and the environment.

Steam cleaning involves vaporized water that is heated to over 200 degrees F and applied to surfaces via appropriate attachments.  The steam heat weakens the bonds between the surfaces and the dirt or stains that linger there.  Because all hard surfaces are in reality porous, the steam is able to dislodge embedded elements, killing microorganisms and sanitizing the area naturally.  With the heat creating an almost moisture-free cleaning agent, any type of surface can be wiped, rubbed, or scrubbed as needed, depending on the attachment tool you use.

Looking a lot like a conventional vacuum cleaner, a home steam cleaner is lightweight and easy to maneuver.  Units come in canister, upright, or hand-held models and include a wide range of attachment tools that make cleaning almost any surface a breeze.  You can use a steam cleaner on large surface areas such as tile floors and countertops, as well as on carpeting, upholstery, window screens, mirrors, car interiors, baked-on grills, toys, and everything in between, including removing dry cleaning solvent from clothing.  Steam cleaners are also highly effective in getting rid of animal smells, with no toxic substances that could potentially harm your pets.

Because the only ingredient used in a steam cleaner is water, you are able to do a complete cleaning without a single chemical.  Allergy free, this natural sanitizer banishes toxic residue, with nothing else but water washing down your drain into the communal water supply.

With better results than any other form of cleansing, steam cleaning your home eliminates bacteria, mildew, mold, viruses, toxins, and any other element that can cause infections, irritations, or allergies.  Allergens such as mites, pollen, and other microscopic pests are immediately killed once the surfaces on which they lodge are hit with steam heat.  This is the same for pathogens like E. Coli and salmonella, making a steam heat unit especially effective on kitchen surfaces.

I’ve looked at two steam heat cleaners, which are excellent choices once you decide to change your cleaning habits.

The Environmate Steam Cleaner T730A comes with a refillable built-in water tank with a light indicator to alert you when the water level is low.  This unit is great for tough chores and is made with a 1450 W heating system inside a stainless steel tank.  Included is an eleven-piece accessory kit, which means you have enough tools to clean the whole house.  The unit comes with a power switch on the handle, a pressure gauge for regulating power, and an automatic shut-off system for when the water level is too low for efficient cleaning.

The Lady Bug T2200S has a continuous water refill system and professional-grade cleaning tools.  This unit is made with an EPA-certified TANCS system, (Thermal Accelerated Nano Crystal Sanitation) that helps improve air quality as it removes chemical residues from the environment.  The system functions by heating nano-crystals in tap water, whereby they are activated to blast the cell membranes of microorganisms when initiated by heat.  This fast-acting disinfection is, according to Nelson Labs of Utah, ” thousands of times better than any directly applied water disinfecting system using chemicals.”

Though the initial investment when buying a home steam cleaning unit may be high, it evens out in the long run, and then some.  You won’t ever have to spend money on cleaning supplies again, which includes buckets, rubber gloves, disinfectants, polishers, glass cleaners, oven sprays, and the like.

By Michele Kadison

 One of the top vacuum cleaners that does the job in both professional and domestic settings is the Lindhaus HealthCare Pro Hepa upright model.  Versitile and lightweight, it cleans both carpeting and hard wood areas, with a low noise level.

The Lindhaus HealthCare Pro allows you to choose between either a HEPA filter or an active carbon cartridge, depending on your needs.  With a HEPA filter, you are able to remove particles at up to 99.97% efficiency, which is great during allergy season or after you’ve done your dusting and want to eliminate excess floating particles.  Using a carbon active cartridge allows you to remove odors and gasses that may be lingering in the immediate environment.  Because of the vacuums advanced exhaust technology, all carbon dust emitted from the exaust system is purified as it comes out of the motorized brushes, eliminating further contamination of your surroundings.  Containing an electrostatic micro-filter, which is used in hospitals to ensure that the air is biologically sound, the HealthCare Pro is ideal for maintaining optimum health requirements.

This Lindhaus vacuum cleaner comes with two motors, a 12 or 14″ power head base, standard on-board tools, an automatic shut-off feature, and the ability to adjust the machine to a comfortable working height.

By Michele Kadison

Oreck , one of the leading companies in the vacuum cleaner industry, has been working with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund on a campaign called Clean for the Cure, helping to find a cure for cancer. By donating $25.00 from each purchase of the Oreck XL Upright Model U3671, consumers can rest assured that they are also doing their part in helping women fight and hopefully win against breast cancer.

Since Oreck got on board in July 2009, $1.3 million has been raised by selling the pink Special Edition vacuum cleaner in conjunction with the Susan G. Koman Fund.  Started by Susan’s sister, Nancy G. Brinker as a testimony to Susan’s fight against cancer and her vigilance in helping other women in the same condition, the fund has seen a $1.5 billion investment since its inception in 1982.  It is now considered the largest grassroots network of activists and survivors with contributions from a wide spectrum of supporters, sponsors, and partners such as Oreck.

The Oreck XL Upright Model U3671 is frontrunner in the new wave of vacuum cleaners on the market.  With its MicroSweep technology, it is able to move from thick carpeting to bare floors with equal efficiency as it adjusts to each surface.  It comes with dual-edge side brushes that effectively clean edges such as moldings and baseboards, with antimicrobial protection embedded in the roller brush bristles to handle the miniscule particles that can contribute to allergies and disease. Its additional IntellaShield technology fights odors, mold, mildew, and bacteria, even when the vacuum is turned off!  A powerful hypo-allergenic filtration system eliminates 99.9% of allergens to assure that your home is as free as it can be of irritants.

The Oreck XL comes with a dirt-search lighting system that illuminates debris, a disposable bag attachment dock with a “Saniseal” that traps dirt and dust inside, and an inner bag that traps odors.  It boasts an ergonomically designed handle that keeps you from having to bend or twist your wrist uncomfortably during use, which has been recommended by the Arthritis Foundation as being especially helpful to those who suffer from arthritis.  At a mere 9 lbs, the vacuum cleaner is easy to maneuver, especially with its 30-foot power that allows for a long range of movement.

Along with all of the exceptional attributes mentioned above, the Oreck XL U3671 comes with a five-year warranty and its guarantee that you are doing your part in helping find a cure for cancer.  Need I say more?

 By Michele Kadison

Ok, ok, so I can’t stop talking about these robotic vacuums!  Its just hard to get over the fact that I don’t have to do it myself anymore… that I can have my own personal cleaning device to do all the work more thoroughly than I ever could.

I’ve just checked out the Roomba vacuum, which is a state of the art cleaning “angel”invented by the geniuses at IRobot.  This is the future looking us square in the face saying, rest… relax… enjoy life… let me do the work!

The Roomba is made with patented technology that makes this state-of-the-art vacuum cleaner one of the best around.  Picking up hair, dirt, and debris from any type of surface, the Roomba comes with a special anti-tangle technology that allows it to vacuum even fringed rugs and electrical cords.  Imagine all that dust accumulating in that fringe and around those cords… effortlessly and finally gone!  The Roomba includes a spinning brush that cleans corners, edges, and along walls, and also incorporates two counter-rotating brushes that whip away large debris.  Because it is so compact, the unit easily glides underneath furniture, going where any man or woman might fear to tread.  And to top it off, the Roomba has an infrared sensor that keeps it from falling off stairs and ledges along with two sensors designed to direct the vacuum cleaner towards especially dirty areas in a room.

And just when you think you’re jaw can’t drop any further, here’s the best part: the Roomba has 15 sounds that speak to you, advising you on the tasks it has accomplished and are about to do like “done,” “back up,” and “found charger.”  Found charger just threw me for a loop because this means that the unit goes back home on its own to recharge once the battery is low.  Some of the newest Roomba models are now created to clean up to four rooms on a single charge, making this mighty household appliance a true force.

The Roomba has a memory.  It will remember the layout of a room for all cleaning moments to come.  Newer models even allow you to program the unit to turn on every day at a specific time so that you can return home to immaculately clean floors.  There is even a special ‘pet series’ which is specifically designed to pick up hair balls, dander, and any other type of pet debris.

This time saving wonder is not expensive, and well worth looking into if, like me, you would rather delegate floor cleaning to something that is infinitely more talented at it than you can ever be!

Some people like to vacuum the house, some people don’t.  But the inevitable truth is that vacuuming is really the only way to get the dust and dirt cleaned up without having to revert to the broom and dustpan, which has never been ideal.

For people like me who can’t always find the time to keep my home as clean as I like, a remote control vacuum can really become a woman’s or man’s best friend.

In my mind, a remote control vacuum is a gift from the cleaning gods.  It automatically maps and navigates a room, sweeps it and cleans it, and automatically turns off when it is finished.  It has an input jack that allows it to recharge a sensor detector to mine the fields where stairs and drop offs are concerned, a bagless dust box, an excellent filter system, and wheels that stay in contact with the floor, no matter what the surface. Additionally, most will shut down automatically if they stall or become jammed. And oh, I forgot to mention, remote vacuum cleaners are wireless.  Who could ask for more?

One of the best remote control vacuum cleaners I’ve come across is the CleanMate 365 QQ-2, which runs for 60 minutes on a single charge and then returns to home base for recharging.  After the charge is complete, there it goes, back to cleaning until the job is done.  The CleanMate is made in a very manageable compact size.  It comes with bristles and a flexible blade with beater bars that allows it to be used on almost any surface, including hard wood, tile, and ceramic floors as well as long pile or loop pile carpeting.  It also includes an ultraviolet light accessory that both deodorizes and kills household bacteria, which is especially great if you have pets or kids, or both.   And if this isn’t enough, it costs no more than a high-end conventional vacuum cleaner.

When you don’t have the time to vacuum your home, when you feel lazy but still want the house to be spotless, a remote vacuum cleaner will become your saving grace, your favorite appliance, and a purchase you will never regret.  Take it from me… I’m hooked!

By Michele Kadison
Ten year old Gregory Evans has been in the news lately for his obsession with vacuum cleaners. Collecting them since he was three years old, Gregory is by now a vacuum cleaner expert, taking them apart, fixing them, and understanding what makes each model tick. He can even tell what type of vacuum is being used by the way it sounds!

Dream analogy equates vacuum cleaners with the lungs as they are devices that work with air. So if we want to go deeper to understand Gregory’s passion, maybe it starts with an unconscious passion for life!

But Gregory is not alone in this passion for the vacuum cleaner. Stan Kann was a frequent guest on the Johnny Carson show, presenting his wide array of antique vacuum cleaners that he began collecting as a child. There are many sites devoted to people who have a strong attachment to vacuum cleaners, which I found by reading Charles Richard Lester’s site at http://www.137.com/sweepers/.

For those of you who may still be in the closet about your own vacuum cleaner obsessions, you can join the Vacuum Cleaners Club at http://www.vaccc.com/ or visit the Cyberspace Vacuum Cleaner Museum at http://www.137.com/museum/.

Maybe this little boy from Illinois is on to something bigger than just a quirky passion. Breathing life into a cleaner world is, after all, a pretty wonderful way to use your time.

by Michele Kadison
We all realize how important it is to breathe clean air, whether it be outdoors or in.  When it comes to our homes, which are our sanctuaries, clean air is essential. If you have pets, allergies, asthma, or are adverse to constant cleaning, a little help from some effective resources can make all the difference to your sense of well-being.
The most natural way to improve air quality is incorporating houseplants into your décor.  These lovely living air purifiers help to absorb many airborne pollutants such as smoke, carpet residue, and fumes from commercial cleaning supplies (if you still are using them!)  According to a study made by NASA, houseplants are ideal for filtering out toxins such as benzene and formaldehyde.  Because plants undergo photosynthesis even in low light conditions, they are constantly cleaning the air around them.

Besides filtering your air, plants play a big part in enhancing the look of your home as well as helping to lift the spirits of everyone in your household.  Even if your thumb refuses to go green, there are many plants that can grow quite easily with just a minimum of care.

Here is a list of my favorites for some of you non-gardening types:

•    Tillandsia: doesn’t need soil to grow as it feeds on the air.  Once a week immerse the plant in water or give it a thorough misting and you’re done.
•    Ivy: an extremely low maintenance plant that is great for softening the look of hard edges in hour home or for making a topiary.
•    Kentia Palm:  grows up to 12 feet indoors, so is great for homes with high ceilings.
•    Dracaena: comes in a wide range of colors including light green, dark green, and green and white stripes.
•    Rubber Plant: has lush, thick, dark green leaves that remind you of a verdant jungle.
•    Bamboo:  needs no soil and looks great when placed in big vase full of water.
•    Cactus: place it near bright sunlight and water once a week or less.
•    Philodendron: lovely trailing plants that endure with very little care.
•    African violets: with their soft fuzzy leaves and beautiful flower clusters, they are wonderful additions for brightening your home.
Whatever type of plants you choose, follow the directions on the tags that are attached when you buy them and you will have thriving natural air fresheners working 24/7.

Along with houseplants, actual air purifying units are excellent choices for cleaning up airborne toxins, no matter how miniscule.  Choosing a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter will keep your home free of harmful irritants.

Some of the best commercial air purifying units include ionizers that help boost their performance or come with charcoal or carbon filters to help control household odors.

By combining houseplants with a good commercial air purifying system you are guaranteeing that your home will maintain the best air quality possible.  What a great guarantee to give your loved ones.

by Michele Kadison

In my constant search for eco-friendly products, I’ve recently come upon EZ Bagz, a great product that makes filling my kitchen trash can an actual pleasure. The bags come nested inside each other, with one bag containing the other eleven. Rather than removing a bag and then finding another and having to bend down to put it in, all you have to do with these is pull out the filled bag and voila! another is already in place. There are just too many times where I unconsciously throw kitchen scraps in a bag-less trash can having forgotten to refill it. Now this becomes impossible as there is always a fresh bag waiting its turn.

But that’s not the best part. EZ Bagz are 100% oxo-biodegradable, which means that they breakdown totally, leaving no harmful residue. Whether they are tossed in a landfill or elsewhere, these bags just disappear completely. I’ve noticed that they are also much more resistant to punctures than other plastic garbage bags and because they are made with a non-toxic polymer, they are not affected by moisture. Their strength and resistance means that they are very unlikely to tear or to leak, which means no slick spills on the kitchen floor once they are out of the can.

EZ Bagz have won a “product of the year” award from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Show, which is a testament to their brilliant design and construction.

Statistics claim that every six months the planet could be covered in plastic bags due to human use. This is an appalling fact that we need to attend to. As for me, I’m now doing my part by purchasing EZ Bagz for my trash cans and taking a re-usable bag for all of my grocery purchases. EZ Bagz for kitchen use are large enough to fit into a 13 gallon round or rectangular bin, which makes them extremely practical. And as if this wasn’t all excellent news, EZ Bagz are not at all expensive, despite their evolutionary construction.

By Michele Kadison

Keeping your home clear of dust, insect debris, mold, pet dander, and hair is best done with a good vacuum cleaner.  There is no limit to the visible and invisible dirt particles that can infest a home, causing potential allergies and illness as we inhale them.   By vacuuming on a regular basis, you can keep your home relatively free of irritants that can affect the respiratory system as well as eyes, nose, and skin.

Choosing the right vacuum is a must, but there are also ways that you can bolster the power of your cleaning regimen.  Here are a few tips on how to keep your home in the cleanest condition possible on a daily basis.

Use a doormat outside and inside the front door.
As we come in from outside, we are tracking in enormous quantities of dirt and dust.  Wipe your shoes and boots on these mats before taking them off.  Be sure to vacuum and wash these mats often.

Take your shoes off!
There is no reason to walk around the intimacy of your home in shoes that have been all over the streets and the great outdoors.  Place a bench or chair near your front door to make taking footwear off easy.  A special area nearby for keeping shoes and boots orderly is also a good idea.

Check your vacuum cleaner filter and bag often.
Check your filter to make sure it is clean.  If it is the washable type, wash it often.  If not, change it according to the manufacturer’s recommendation.  If your vacuum cleaner has a bag, change it as soon as it is full.  Checking, cleaning, and replacing should all be done outdoors if possible.

Wear a dust mask.
If you are dust-sensitive, wear a mask while vacuuming or cleaning your home in any manner.  Anyone in your family with an allergy to dust or suffering from asthma should be out of the house while vacuuming is being done.  Protect your pets by letting them outside while you vacuum.

Buy A HEPA Filter Vacuum Cleaner.
HEPA filter vacuum cleaners are excellent units for ensuring that even the most minute particles are taken out of the air. The Miele S4780 Orion makes an excellent choice with its 1200-watt performance and its quiet motor.  With its powerful filtration system, the Miele S4780 Orion is known for an efficiency in retaining particulates of up to 99.97%.