The Eco+Logical Soirée is a new and exciting way for modern parents to connect with top-notch, eco-conscious companies.

You are invited to attend the FREE soirée on May 19, 2012. Drop by anytime from 6-9pm at the New Birth Company 9209 West 110th Street, Building 36 Corporate Woods, Overland Park, KS.

You’ll have the opportunity to learn more about the mission behind some of the best products and services Kansas City has to offer while enjoying the company of other moms like you and The Soft Landing Team.

A Fun Gathering with a Purpose

• Enjoy a laid back evening with local wine tasting by Rowe Ridge Vineyard (featuring Kansas grapes – who knew?) and hor d’oeurves provided by The Freedom Chef and The Local Pig (we’ll have organic Earth Mama tea for pregnant mama too!)
• Schmooze with other amazing moms while you soak in the relaxing atmosphere of the New Birth Company
• Connect with high quality, mission-driven companies offering products and services for your family
• Live music by a local violinist

And you won’t want to miss the amazing Grand Prize Giveaway worth over $1,000!

• A hand-painted portrait by Pamela Williams, Fine Artist (a $650 value)
• Carpet cleaning for 6 areas and a hallway from Voorhies Cleaning Systems (a $250 value)
• A tutu basket featuring fairy wands, crowns and bows – all handmade by local moms from the Mommy Shop (a $100 value)
• A baby proofing consultation from Itsabelly (a $99 value)

Steam Extraction vs. Dry Carpet Cleaning

This is a guest post by Rusty Simpson

One of the first things to think about when hiring a carpet cleaner is whether to use a company with a steam extraction system or a dry carpet cleaner.  A common carpet-cleaning misconception is that it could be “bad” to put moisture into your carpet during cleaning.

This idea that it is bad to use moisture when cleaning carpet comes from people who have experienced poorly trained carpet cleaners who leave the carpet too wet.  This is why it is important to hire a company with IICRC certified technicians who will use a low-moisture, deep steam extraction system, which is the ONLY system recommended by Mohawk and Shaw Industries (the nation’s leading carpet manufacturers).  Look for a company that uses a truck-mount system, rather than a portable unit that they bring inside with them. The truck-mount systems usually use a HEPA filter and are healthier for your family as they extract and immediately remove the pollutants from your home.

Dry Carpet Cleaning usually uses a foam or cleaning granules. When using the foam, they must use rotating brushes to remove the foam which can be harmful to your carpet fibers, making them wear and ultimately look dirty faster.  Also, many of the vacuums used to extract the foam are not strong enough which can lead to residue being left behind.  The idea of using the cleaning granules is that the granules break down and absorb dirt and oils, then they are vacuumed away. Unfortunately, this does not kill harmful dustmites or bacteria that the deep steam extraction can kill.

Deep steam extraction is the only method that “deep cleans” your carpet, and the ONLY way to successfully remove harmful dustmites, toxins, dirt and other materials that sit in your carpet, without leaving residues behind. If you have already used dry cleaning methods in the past, don’t worry.  A legit IICRC certified company with a Deep Steam Extraction unit should be able to remove residues left behind by other cleanings, as well as the other pollutants.  Remember, look for the truck-mounted system!

Rusty and Jen Simspon are the owners of Rusty’s Carpet Cleaning & Restoration.  They can be reached at  913.710.1344 and www.rccr.biz