building maintenance

here's a quote about Green cleaning:
"A building service contractor (BSC) that positions himself as a provider of Green cleaning services can gain a valuable competitive edge". (BSCAI Service Magazine Dec 2006)

Wow...2006! Now we are almost in 2011, and only a small percentage of the contractors in the building service industry take the time to even try some of the excellent Eco Safe products like the ones that we sell at Wash Safe Canada. What a missed opportunity! The old chemical blast and forget mentality still washes tons of toxins into the water supply yet only a few municipalities address the practice with legislation! Come on boys and girls...its not our earth, we just rent if for awhile.

World Water Day 2010

"Chemical contamination is threatening our lakes and rivers with severe impacts on human life and bio diversity. Activists around the world marked World Water Day 2010 by highlighting the growing presence of industrial hazardous chemicals in the world's water supplies".
( full story found in Greenpeace News)

They are singing our song and if you have read "about us" on our website you will see that this concern is exactly the reason why we got into this business in the first place...scary stuff!

Canada Post

What is it about this organization that makes then so inaccurate. We are often being called by our customers asking where their order is and this is after as long as 2 weeks or more. Canada Post touts a service that is about 3 or 4 working days, but as yet has not once met their stated goal! Then in several cases the containers were mangled and broken.

This is so damaging for a small company that depends on electronic orders being delivered on time in one piece!

children's book website now up

The website for the sing along books is now live www.singalongbooks.ca
You can see the books, hear a bit of the songs and buy on line. Have a look...it is great!

WAY TO GO's #1

You know everyonce in awhile I run into companies and people who really give a damn about not using chemical toxic products, and when I do from now on I am going to mention them.

Last month we had our "toy" (1989 MBenz 560 sl) detailed as we put it away for the winter. I searched the net and found AJ'S Home and Auto Detailing http://www.ajsmobilebc.com/ AJ and his lovely wife bring their custom van to your door, and detail your car right in your own driveway! Not only that but if it is raining they erect a tent over your car and do the job no matter what the weather. The reason I mention AJ is that they use nothing but eco safe products in a business rife with cleaners that are composed of chemicals that I can't even pronounce...that takes a lot of effort and a lot of research, and that is why I give them the first big "WAY TO GO" AJ!!!

WESTERN CANADA COMES CLEAN!

Wash Safe Canada announces an agreement with Coast Distributors of Nanaimo and Kelowna for Western Canadian distribution of Wash Safe's line of environmentally safe cleaning products, primarily for moss, algae and mildew removal.

The Western Canadian building supply industry through Coast Distributors, will now have access to this great line-up of safe cleaning solutions from Wash Safe:

* Roof cleaners that remove moss, algae, and mildew without harming the shingles
* Deck cleaners that clean cedar, redwood, or other woods and a new product for the cleaning of the always difficult composite decks.
* Siding cleaners for cedar, vinyl, or aluminum on houses or RV's
*Cleaners to safely remove moss fron driveways, sidewalks, or pool decks
*Products to remove dirt, road grime, and organic growth from boats, and boating equipment, stables, and kennels, all without harming your pets, gardens, children or nearby lakes, rivers, streams or wells.

For additional information on this release, please contact Douglas von Dersch or Brett Hay of Wash Safe Canada at 1 877 388 6070 (toll free), or 604 988 6070 (local) or Brad McCluskie of Coast Distributors at 250 714 5541.

Roof moss contamination by neighbors mossy roof

I had an interesting call from the owner of one of the asphalt roof houses cleaned recently with Roof Wash. Her neighbor's roof is heavily covered with roof moss and she was wondering if she should pressure him to clean it as his moss could hasten the spread of moss to her newly cleaned surface.

My answer was as follows..."I hate to say it but the beautiful oceanside/mountain environment (Lion's Bay, British Columbia) you live in is "moss heaven". The culprit is something called "Goeocapsa Magma", that can spread from one infected roof to another by the release of airborne spores into the wind, allowing this hardy moss to rapidly tranfer to your roof.

The problem is, in Lion's Bay there are so many other sources of moss around your house, trees, ground cover, shady roofs, indeed, like the whole Pacific Northwest, that blaming it soley on your neighbor's roof is futile.

There is a remedy for prevention however. You have taken the first step by cleaning all the fallen pine needles and tree debris off the shingles. Then when you laid up a layer of Roof Wash, you have effectively stopped any current damage to your roof by a moss and algae buildup. The Roof Wash has effectively distroyed the roots and spores of the moss and algae present on the asphalt, and will prevent regrowth for some months ahead.

Considering the environment where you live, you may need to re spray the roof with Roof Wash more often than some of the other houses in more open areas. I would suggest that if you make a spring and fall Roof Wash treatment as part of your normal house maintenance, there will no danger of long term damage to the shingles from moss and algae."

Mold & Mildew Stains on Composite decking

Mold & Mildew Stained Composites

Mold & Mildew growth and the stains that result are considered an act of nature. Most composite manufacturers clearly disclose in their product literature that mold and mildew staining can be an issue. Unfortunately most composite owners do not read this literature before purchasing an expensive composite deck, dock or fence.

Some composite owners actually believe claims that composites are absolutely NO MAINTENANCE. Unfortunately these composite owners don't find out that mold can stain their composite until it shows up. They often have no idea what it is.

Wash Safe Canada's Composite Deck Wash can safely and effectively deal with these stains with no environmental hazards!!

green cleaning for marinas and boaters

I just had a conversation from a customer of our company, Wash Safe Canada, that lives in the Muskokas north of Toronto. She was commenting on our products and how the marine eco system there is so sensitive to toxins and how pleased she was to find our non toxic cleaning products not only for the roof of her cottage but for the cleaning of her wooden docks, and her boat.
This refrain should be carried all across Canada and not just for freshwater applications. BC has started a "Clean Marine" program to encourage marinas to moniter, and promote the use of non toxic products that may find their way into the marine environment causing all sorts of nasty results.

I have to find a way to get the word out there to the boaters and their suppliers that there ARE alternatives for cleaning that do not cause any negative repercussions when used in and around our waters. Any ideas?

great new product

Just read about a natural bug repellent that comes in a "towelette" form www.lafreshgroup.com Their eco philosophy matches ours at Wash Safe Canada perfectly! Would make a neat giveaway to our customers given that as the article in the Van. Sun states that just before dusk is "the rush hour for mosquitos"! No info on their web as to distribution other than web purchase though.

Eco Safe moss cleaners: Early morning moss thoughts

Eco Safe moss cleaners: Early morning moss thoughts

Early morning moss thoughts

So, the new webmaster said "I've got good news and bad news. The good news is that there is no one in Canada that has an Eco Safe moss and algae cleaning product as good as yours...the bad news is that no one knows you exist". Got to figure that one out!

green moss, algae,mildew and mold cleaning, roof cleaning, eco safe roof cleaning,: How to clean roof moss

green moss, algae,mildew and mold cleaning, roof cleaning, eco safe roof cleaning,: How to clean roof moss

ahhh fall is in the air

Just had an e mail from a roofing cleaning contractor who said she (yes, she) is getting a lot of calls now that the 'big wet"has started, IT APPEARS THAT PEOPLE THOUGHT THEIR MOSS WAS DEAD AND THEIR PROBLEM JUST WENT AWAY WHEN THE SUMMER CAME, HOWEVER AS SOON AS WE GET THE RAIN AGAIN MOSS REARS ITS FUZZY LITTLE GREEN HEAD AND FLOURISHES ONCE AGAIN.

Sorry had the caps on...

So, all you need is a couple of rainy days and you can use Wash Safe's Roof Wash to get rid of those damn little critters...(moss that is)

Good luck all,

Cheers,

Doug

roof moss problem continued

Anyway after searching extensively I found a company in Cape Cod that manufacturers an environmentally friendly moss, algae cleaner that will not harm my well groundwater or the river. I ordered some, then though to ask if they had a distributor here in BC that I could buy from. Big John the owner (and mad scientist) said they ship to Canada but have no Canadian representation. To make a long story longer, My partner Brett and I now have the distribution rights for Wash Safe products in Canada and New Zealand (Brett is a Kiwi...sheep beware).


Sooo, we are now deep in the process of trying to turn the minds of fellow Canadians from considering toxic moss, algae, mildew and mold cleaners as the only solution by offerring our Wash Safe products as an alternative (http://www.wash-safe-canada.com/).

By the way, the active ingredient is good old Hydrogen Peroxide, but more about that later!

Cheers,

Doug

Using Painters Wash to To clean walls, windows, and countertops
Just put some Painters Wash into a spray bottle. Spray it on and wipe it off as you would with other household cleaners.
Hydrogen peroxide is generally anti-bacterial and anti-viral, so it makes sense to use it as a household cleaner. However, it does take time to work, so the short amount of contact time in cleaning counters and windows probably won't kill all the tiny pathogens in your house. On the other hand, it's a step in that direction, and if you want to really sanitize something, you can leave the Painters Wash for a longer time.
I’ve only started using Painters Wash recently for most of my general housecleaning. I’m impressed with what a good job it does on mirrors. It seems that the more ways I use hydrogen peroxide for cleaning, the more ways I want to try....
For more information or to purchase Wash-Safe Products go to http://www.wash-safe-canada.com

How to clean roof moss

I have a country home in Courtenay BC on Vancouver Island...read "Rain Rain Rain Forest". This last Nov and Jan seemed like perma rain, certainly worse than I remember and I have lived in BC since 1980. To make a long story longer, I noticed a rampant growth of heavy lumpy moss on my roof, driveway stones, and walkways, and I set out to find how to get rid of it. As we are on a fish bearing river, I felt very strongly about using any chemicals that could negatively impact the river or the ground water that might affect our a well system. I'll continue telling about my findings later in case anyone else has the same problem.