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Santa
Clara , CA - Eco-Care is the newest housecleaning
cooperative launched by the non-profit group WAGES (Women's Action
to Gain Economic Security), which provides training and support
to enable minority and low-income women to start their own "ecologically
sound" housecleaning businesses. The Morgan Hill co-op, which
opened its doors for business in April, was "green" from
the start - as all WAGES cooperatives only use "least-toxic"
cleaning products and methods. The founding vision of Eco-Care's
owners is "To protect our health and that of our clients and
to educate customers about the benefits of environmentally safe
cleaning." Examples of environmentally safe cleaning products
used include baking soda, white vinegar, and vegetable-based soaps.
Co-owner Bertha Naranjo used to clean houses for a living on her
own and was frequently sick. Using Eco-Care's safer cleaners, she
says "Now I feel great!" Other steps the women-owned coop
took to achieve Green Business certification include using recycled
paper and soy-based printing on all promotional collateral, recycling
product bottles and other materials, using remanufactured inkjet
cartridges, reducing water use in office facilities, and employing
the power management features on their Energy Star office equipment.
"The Green Business Program has been a great opportunity for
Eco-Care - the benefits far outweigh the effort that Eco-Care put
in to get certified," says Patricia Romero, Eco-Care's business
manager. Customers appreciate their practices too. "Eco-Care
is the best! I think it's great that they are a cooperative, and
while it may be trendy to bill yourself as being ecologically friendly,
Eco-Care really is!" Eco-Care serves the South County area.
For more information or a free estimate, call (408) 778-8445.
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