ECONOMICS & enterprise A
ECONOMICS & enterprise A Kinder, Gentler Cleaner BY JOVAN KASSAB Josephine Elizabeth Fermanian Shows off, Germs BeGone PHOTO BY BRAD ZIEGLER Today’ s modern home is loaded with toxic and polluting substances designed to make domestic life easier. The cost of these commercial, chemical-based products can be high — long-term health concerns for the family, and environmental pollution caused by their manufacture and disposal. Josephine Elizabeth Fermanian of Commerce Township hated cleaning with commercial products, but rather than suffer silently, she set about developing an alternative. “ I had a hard time breathing from all the cleaning chemicals so I started looking for different alternatives,” said the wife and mother of a toddler. After stumbling upon old Victorian recipes for getting rid of germs without chemicals, she did her research and three years later Germs Begone was born. “ I got it tested [at the University of Michigan, Dearborn] and it did as well as Clorox and Lysol,” Fermanian said. The U.S. National Center for Health Statistics says in the United States, one in three people suffer from allergies, asthma, sinusitis or bronchitis. Treatment for these conditions should include reducing synthetic chemicals in the home environment. “ We are cleaning constantly,” Fermanian said. “ We are taking in toxic fumes ... people often forget they go into our lungs.” Many people don’ t realize that household cleaners fall under the Hazardous Products Act, which dates back to the mid-1960s. The Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations regulate them and labels are required to provide hazard symbols like “ poison” and “ flammable.” Dr. Virginia Salares is an indoor air quality expert featured in a CBC Marketplace article on household cleaners. She was asked what is in some of the products being marketed to young families. One product looked at — Lysol Anti-bacterial Action Spray, which lists ethanol 79 percent. “ Not just any ethanol,” Salares said. “ It’ s denatured ethanol” — meaning poisoned to make it undrinkable. Fermanian, the president and CEO of Germs Begone, said the product is a safe and friendly alternative to most commercial household cleaners. It is made with only natural essential oils and aromatherapy lavender. The product, which comes in an 8- or 24-ounce sprayer or gallon, can be used on countertops, doorknobs, faucets, most appliances, toys, highchairs, infant-toddler car seats, diaper changing stations and the like. “ My mother-in-law uses it on her granite countertops and swears it beats the alternative. It is so safe that you can use it on your hands or your child’ s as a sanitizer,” Fermanian said, adding that many customers have come to find the product also works well at taking out tough stains. Germs Begone has a sibling — Odors Begone. “ The feedback is phenomenal. People always come back to buy more,” Fermanian said. She noted that many consumers and retailers aren’ t used to all-natural products. “ We need to be healthier,” she said. “ That is the most important.” Germs Begone is sold at Hiller’ s Market of Ann Arbor, Long Lake Market of Bloomfield Hills, Zerbos Health Foods of Livonia and Water to Go of Commerce Township. It can also be ordered at www.germsbegone.com. BE AN ACTIVE PART OF THE chaldean community THE CHALDEAN NEWS Please mail the subscription form, along with a check made payable to: The Chaldean News Attn: Subscriptions 30095 Northwestern Highway, Suite 102 Farmington Hills, MI 48334 SUBSCRIPTIONS 12-Month subscription DUES (MICHIGAN) (OUT OF STATE) I wish to subscribe to the Chaldean News for 12 issues Please fill in your name and address below: Name _________________________________________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________________________________________ City ______________________________________ State _____ Zip _____________________ Phone ______________________________ E-mail ________________________________ www.chaldeannews.com Phone: 248-932-3100 or FAX: 248-932-9161 28 CHALDEAN NEWS APRIL 2006
APRIL 2006 CHALDEAN NEWS 29
