Aaron Newport

It was the summer of 2010 and everyone was anxiously awaiting the release of Toy Story 3; it was a simpler time. Apple launched its state-of-the-art virtual chat app FaceTime, which initially required a WiFi signal for use. From that point on, grandparents everywhere would ask, “Is this thing on?” and frustratingly attempt to unmute themselves. Once again, thanks to technology, our world was forever changed. Fast forward nearly a decade, leading up to 2020, our video chat capabilities had vastly improved and our application options seemed limitless. The digitization of our work environment was already in full swing. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, that adoption was thrown into warp speed with businesses scrambling to adapt to a socially-distant world. These video chat applications came in clutch. Working from home was the “new normal” and traveling to clients for in-person meetings was limited to essential business. Most companies implemented virtual meetings and learned how to conduct “business as usual” remotely, using whatever technology necessary to accomplish their day-to-day tasks. Microsoft Teams, various Google Apps, Zoom, and any other number of applications that allowed employees to interact with each other and share working projects became an integral part of how workplaces operate. A key ingredient to GreenEarth Cleaning’s success has always been our expert technical team. The pandemic posed a big challenge to continue to provide a high level of support to Members of the GreenEarth Network all over the world. Video support was not unheard of for us, but it was not the primary medium for providing assistance either. Virtual Visits are the “new normal” for our technical team, and our Affiliates are finding great value in them. Our team has mastered the experience to provide our Members with the same level of technical guidance and support that we’ve maintained throughout the years. As our world is changing at an even more rapid pace than ever before, business models are forced to pivot to a new way of thinking. This means different things for different companies, but for us, it’s shifted our focus to online workshop sessions and Virtual Visits—the bridge between a voice-only phone call and an in-person visit. To all GreenEarth Affiliates, make sure to save your spot on the calendar. Simply call our main office at 816-926-0895 or email techncial@greenearthcleaning.com.

If your initial thought is, “Wait, I thought dry cleaning was for clothes. You can dry clean my household?” The short answer is, yes, we absolutely can dry clean your household. And you’re not alone; we’re met with surprising intrigue often when discussing the topic. Whether it be linens, comforters, curtains, tablecloths, patio furniture—the list is endless really. If you can bring the fabric in, your local GreenEarth cleaner can professionally clean and sanitize it for you. The all-encompassing term known in the dry cleaning world is “household items.” In fact, some GreenEarth cleaners even practice on-site interior cleaning with larger furniture that is not necessarily mobile. Many of you veteran dry cleaning customers are well aware of the services your favorite GreenEarth cleaner provides. Hopefully, you’re also aware your GreenEarth cleaner is using a gentle, environmentally non-toxic, odorless cleaning system that will not only leave your fabrics clean but also fresh and rejuvenated without the concern of toxic chemicals entering your home. But did you know almost all GreenEarth cleaners are practicing social-distancing efforts to provide an extra measure of cleanliness and most importantly, comfort, which is paramount during these uncomfortable times, especially when it comes to your family? In many situations, complimentary contactless pick-up and delivery is available. Other cleaners have a drive-thru, drop-box, or locker systems that allow you to remain at a safe distance. Where these options are not available, you can typically park and call for curbside service. Cleaning household items on a regular schedule is important to prevent odors and bugs like clothes moths from entering your home. Equally as important, it also improves the air quality of the space you and your family spend the most time. And let’s be honest, fresh linens and curtains create an unmatched sense of tranquility. Regardless of “current times,” sending your household items, especially those in high traffic areas, to be professionally cleaned frequently can protect the health of you and your family. Now with concerns around germs at an all-time high, maintaining a clean and sanitary environment is more important than ever. In between cleanings at your local GreenEarth cleaner, there are some things you can do yourself at home, like fluffing your pillows daily, vacuuming your interior textiles with the handheld nozzle attachment to remove dust, and most importantly, regularly inspecting your household items for clothes moths, mildew, sun fading, etc.

If you’ve been unfortunate enough to experience clothes moths, you’ll want to read this article. If you haven’t experienced clothes moths, but enjoy wearing wool, fur, silk, leather, or any other animal fibers, you’ll want to read this article. Clothes moths are pests that feed exclusively on animal fibers and can destroy your favorite garments. At GreenEarth Cleaning, as a leader in the garment care industry, we receive all sorts of questions related to caring for clothes. Clothes moths are a concern that has been brought to our attention countless times—and for good reason. These things are nasty. Taking a proactive approach to warding off clothes moths is always the best course of action. Simply monitoring your garments is key. It’s so easy to let a drawer full of wool sweaters sit boxed in for a year, but that is a recipe for disaster. You really need to be taking them out to inspect and clean at least three times per year, even if you haven’t worn them. Dry cleaning them using a GreenEarth cleaner is the best way to care for them safely. Other ways you can help prevent clothes moths would be to periodically clean your home in areas that aren’t easy to clean and oftentimes do not get cleaned, like under heavy furniture and along baseboards and cracks. Also storing your off-season clothes in airtight containers will prevent infestations. What to do if it’s too late and you’ve already discovered an infestation? Remove everything from the infested area, place all clothes in a tightly tied bag, and take them to your nearest GreenEarth cleaner. Next, you will need to thoroughly clean out the infested area with a vacuum. Throw the vacuum bag away. If there are rugs or carpet in the infested area, that will need to be cleaned professionally as well. Clothes moths are nasty and probably a bit scary. But there is no need to panic. With the help of a GreenEarth cleaner, you can remove them and have your closet back to normal in no time. This may seem like we’re just pushing GreenEarth cleaners, but it’s simply the truth. Dry cleaning has been researched and learned to be the best way to not only remove moths but bed bugs, mold, and other pathogens like bacteria and viruses. GreenEarth is also gentle on garments and will not damage delicate fabrics like wool and silk. Not to mention, it’s is the only environmentally non-toxic, odorless, allergen-free dry cleaning method available. thewirecutter.com ipm.ucanr.edu entomology.ca.uky.edu

With less than three weeks under my belt as part of the GreenEarth Team, I stepped foot onto the Clean Show floor for the first time bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. And man, I have to be honest, I was blown away. Let’s just say, that is not what your customer envisions when they hear the words “dry cleaning.” It is quite the spectacle, and what an exciting introduction into the industry! Digital marketing is a world I understood, but I was eager to learn everything I could about dry cleaning to better serve our Affiliates as well as the GreenEarth Brand as a whole. Lucky for me, I was surrounded by the incredible team at GreenEarth to show me the ropes. Over the last four years and some months, I’ve learned invaluable lessons from not only our team here but also our Affiliates around the globe. As I grew to understand the work and passion that has gone into building the brand that is GreenEarth Cleaning over the last 20 years and how much that brand means to our Affiliates and their customers, my own passion for the brand grew. I can recall discovering some misinformation on Wikipedia in my first couple of months and entering into a “wikiwar” with one of their content managers. My blood was boiling and I could feel the steam rolling out of my ears. That might be the moment when I realized this was a brand I really cared about and felt compelled to do my part in its continued growth. Preventing toxic chemicals entering the environment, reducing landfill waste, and eliminating air pollution are goals GreenEarth Cleaning set out to achieve 20 years ago. Sharing the desire to minimize our carbon footprint has been the key ingredient in building our brand, not only in the garment care industry but also in the garment manufacturing industry, the commercial real estate industry, and especially in our efforts marketing to the dry cleaning customer—the end user. We are seeing more and more care labels recommending GreenEarth, more and more landlords accepting GreenEarth as the only dry cleaning option on their properties, and more and more customers searching for cleaners near them using GreenEarth on our Store Locator. We’re accomplishing this recognition through social media, PR, digital ad campaigns, philanthropic efforts to support organizations like Bridging The Gap, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Water.Org, and most importantly, our Affiliate Network. Over 2,000 dry cleaners around the world using GreenEarth to effectively clean all types of garments and fabrics in a way that is safe for them, their employees, and their customers kind of says it all. Long story short, my experience in marketing and digital advertising led me to GreenEarth, and I couldn’t have planned it better myself. I get to work with an amazing team of people, the best dry cleaners in the world, and do what I love to do. When the product speaks for itself, it makes the marketing guy’s job a lot easier!

I’m usually stuffing my face with turkey and mashed potatoes, then watching football while I lie on the couch in a food coma during Thanksgiving, but this year I had the pleasure of experiencing a bit of Portuguese culture over the extended break. And what an interesting and thought-provoking culture it is! The city of Lisbon is riddled with artists and storytellers, all sharing the tragic memories of their past and warning of future catastrophes we can all see slowly occurring right before our eyes. A cry to save the ocean was loud and clear at the Museum of Art, Architecture, & Technology (MAAT). As attendees to MAAT enter the breathtaking, futuristic building, the installation that immediately grabs their undivided attention is titled “Over Flow,” a work created by Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata. Most spectators’ initial thought is undoubtedly “Why is there a pile of garbage in the art museum?” But as those onlookers continue to gaze upon the installation, they start to recognize its intricate placement and repetitive nuances. Rounding the corner, down the ramp, beneath the net of garbage, the shadows create an underwater-like environment; sunken boats rest on the lower level, below a net of rubbish and unacceptable truth. One immediately realizes the powerful message behind the work. Kawamata worked in collaboration for over a year with a large network of local organizations and volunteers, gathering trash from around the beaches of Lisbon and assembling the piece of art square by square in a strategically thought-out pattern, to help create this awe-inspiring, truly immersive installation. “Over Flow” raises awareness to an ongoing problem, which could result in catastrophe. The only thing I could think while standing engulfed in the artist-created seascape of garbage was “We can do better; we have to do better.” I think Kawamata accomplished his mission. The post Save the Ocean Through Art appeared first on GreenEarth Cleaning.

Tailgating is one of America’s favorite pastimes and rightfully so! Tailgating brings communities together, encourages outdoor activity, and it’s just plain fun. There is one draw back, however; some of our tailgating traditions are simply horrible for the environment. Not to fret, there are steps tailgaters can take which will allow for full enjoyment of those weekend parking lot shenanigans, yet still honor dedication to a minimal carbon footprint. Follow these simple steps and achieve the ever so coveted Green Star Tailgater status. Be like Aaron Rodgers, produce zero garbage After every game, several thousand plastic cups, plates, utensils, etc., create a sea of trash.  Ditch the disposable products; it’s really not that hard. No one is asking anyone to pull out his or her finest china. Go and get some cheap, reusable, unbreakable dishes from literally ANY department store. Designate the set “tailgating supplies” and continue to use them every time a tailgating shindig comes up. It’ll save a lot of money in the long run too. Recycle beer cans, like the Patriots recycle players Of course it’s tough to avoid beer cans and/or bottles while tailgating. There will be beer; yes, there will be lots of beer. Save what must be thrown away in a trash bag and drop them off at the local recycling plant, or for most cities in the U.S., just leave it out near the sidewalk. Tailgaters can successfully party garbage free by using reusable products and recycling the rest. Challenge accepted? Pick food choices carefully, like Richard Sherman picks passes! Tailgaters have more sustainable food options than Kansas City Chiefs’ QB, Patrick Mahomes, has on Sunday. Purchase food in bulk to reduce the amount of packaging. Chip in with those tailgating accomplices–buy food in large quantities to save some green while going green. Make food from home, again using reusable containers for transporting–NO GARBAGE! Only buy food from stores sold in packaging that can be recycled, like paper. Root for the home team and buy local! Buying local supports the local economy and reduces emissions and packaging needed for transporting products from a greater distance. Lastly, propane is SO MUCH better than charcoal for grilling, is this really still a debate? Seriously, use propane. Take Jerome Bettis Take the bus! Reducing the number of vehicles on the road reduces congestion and air pollution, optimizing lung capacity, so fans can cheer on their team for all 4 quarters. Realizing, some tailgaters have a lot to carry with them, in which case, carpooling is another environmentally conscious option. Certainly the crew can optimize car space and minimize the number of cars. Now go earn that Green Star Tailgater status! The post It’s tailgating time! But can we keep it green? appeared first on GreenEarth Cleaning.