In September 2009, I was introduced to the GTC cleaning products by a colleague. I was initially interested in the product line because of the non-chemical aspect of the products, but very early on, my interest became much closer to home.
My daughter, who has turned three in January, 2010, began in early 2008 to suffer from a very severe case of contact dermatitis on her upper and lower arms and legs, and occasionally her stomach area. She was just barely a year old. It was in the beginning just raised bumps, but as time went on, it became red and she complained when we touched her that it was painful. We worried that perhaps it was something in our home causing the problem, mold or dust for example, so we relocated.
We had taken her to three different physicians and one dermatologist seeking a remedy. After trying nine separate topical creams, and two internal medicines, the problem was not only continuing, it was getting worse.
My husband and I had by this time purchased every item that was ecologically friendly, chemical free, green, and labeled 'clear' to clean our home and our laundry, but the problem persisted. These products were generally very expensive, and as the problem persisted, a complete waste of time and money.
As a former registered nurse who did a two year rotation at UCDMC in Sacramento, California at the pediatric oncology ward, I was very aware that many childhood illnesses and symptoms are environmental, and the consensus amongst pediatric professionals is that chemicals in our environment are harmful to our children. I was at this point very worried about my daughter’s health, and extremely frustrated by my inability to find a solution.
Then I was told about the GTC products by my colleague at my new job, and I decided that purchasing the products couldn't hurt. I began doing all of my cleaning with GTC products, which clean very well, and contain no harmful or toxic ingredients, and that did make me feel better, but the dermatitis did not improve. Then I began using the GTC liquid laundry detergent, and the change was dramatic! Within two weeks of using the product, my daughter’s arms and legs were noticeably clearer, though the bumps were still evident. After two months, unless you ran your hand over her skin, it was not detectable.
I am very happy to say that five months after beginning the use of this product, the problem has almost completely vanished. After two years of doctor's offices, medicine and concern for our daughter's health, the only trace of her skin problems is a rough patch on one arm, which is disappearing more and more every day.
Any parent knows that the health of your children is paramount, and if you had told me that changing the way we clean our house and our laundry would have such an effect on our peace of mind, I would never have believed it. Nonetheless, that has been the case, and I recommend GTC products to every family who has any concerns regarding the chemicals and carcinogens that we are all exposed to daily.
I will continue to use GTC products and feel secure in the knowledge that at least in my own home, I can protect my family from harmful chemicals, and that my home is now truly 'green'.
Regards,
Carlos, Rebecca and Salome Surrey Verde
Surrey, British Columbia
Giggles Play Station is a 22,000 sq. foot funcenter in which children can play games, adventure through the two-story jungle gym and jump up and down in our “bounce house.” Keeping our facility clean is of utmost importance to us and as a result, we have developed a reputation as “the cleanest kid’s place around.”
“It is our goal to make sure our customers can enjoy a sanitary environment, but it is even more important for them to know that the cleaning products we use are non-toxic and not harming to children’s health. After a long search for the right cleaning products, we came across Greening the Cleaning® from The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology®. We were fascinated by their dedication to protecting children’s health and the research they do to find the best cleansers possible. Now, when customers compliment us on our clean facility, we proudly tell them all about the Greening the Cleaning® cleansers we use.”
Ray Bonacci, Owner
Giggles Play Station
“We’ve come to the conclusion there’s no reason not to do this. We are getting the same results in terms of cleanliness and were getting the same results in terms of infection control. We really feel we’re protecting our patients, visitors, physicians and the community much more by doing this. It makes eminent sense to do this.”
Ron Bianchi, Corporate Senior Vice President
St. Vincent’s Medical Center
“We recently implemented the Greening the Cleaning® program starting with the General Purpose, Glass and Basin Tub & Tile Cleaner at our facility. Not only did our staff and associates find the products to work as well if not better than the other products we were using, but we actually saved money on our overall cleaning chemicals. We are also very happy that the profits from our purchases go to helping kids with cancer.”
Larry Landes, President
Renewal by Anderson Windows, Cranford, NJ