Today we’re excited to introduce you to Jennifer Helms & Lisa Solomon. Jennifer and Lisa are cofounders or Cleerlife and toxic-free living experts and educators and are also content partners. Content partners help Voyage in so many ways from spreading the word about the work that we do, sponsoring our mission and collaborating with us on content like this. Check out our conversation with Jennifer and Lisa below.
Jennifer and Lisa, we are so exciting to be chatting again and think there is so much we and our audience can learn for you about living in a safe, healthier way. For folks who might have missed our earlier conversations, can you please start by just briefly introducing yourselves?
We are Jennifer and Lisa and we created Cleerlife in 2016 to help people detox their homes from toxic chemicals. We left our careers of 20+ years to start this company because we were passionate about helping others create safer, healthier homes and businesses. Most people WANT to make better choices but it’s so overwhelming, that most give up. We love working with our amazing clients to help them learn how to remove the toxic chemicals that are lurking in their homes and workplaces, with zero judgement from us. With our services, we give personalized recommendations for safe swaps that actually work! We also have a studio in Preston Hollow and an e-commerce site where you can shop our curated selection of clean products. And we are thrilled to have recently launched our own line of hand-crafted safe products for home + body!
Alright so let’s dive into some questions our audience might have. For example, what kinds of things in my home or business are toxic?
The #1 source of toxins in our homes come from our cleaning products. Mainstream cleaning products such as cleaning sprays, mop liquids, and laundry detergents are filled with chemicals that are known to contribute to disease. The mists and particles from these products are regularly inhaled into our lungs and bloodstream and can cause problems from eye irritation to cancer. In fact, the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine published a study in 2018 finding that regularly using mainstream housecleaning products can be as bad for us as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. That is just one of hundreds of shocking statistics!
Another category of products filled with toxic chemicals is personal care products like shampoo, soaps and makeup. The chemicals in these products soak into our skin and bloodstream and build up over time. The U.S. government has very little oversight when it comes to the ingredients in these products. In fact, whereas the European Union bans 1300 chemicals in cosmetics alone, the U.S. bans only 11. To top it all off, manufacturers are not required to be transparent about the ingredients they use! Part of our mission is to support companies that are working to get new laws in place to change this.
How do I figure out if the products I am using are safe?
This is a tricky question and the burden of figuring this out is on you as the consumer. This question is exactly what inspired us to create Cleerlife. Don’t assume just because something is labeled “green” or has natural imagery that it is safe – companies are “greenwashing” their labels and ads to make their products look safe when they are anything but. You must first read the ingredient list and follow all directions carefully. Choose products with reduced amounts of VOCs, fragrances, irritants and flammable ingredients. Unfortunately, comprehending ingredient lists can be really challenging. So, we recommend using the Environmental Working Group’s “Guide to Healthy Cleaning” which gives safety ratings to more than 2500 cleaning products. The EWG also has an app called EWG’s Healthy Living, which rates personal care products.
We take the guesswork out of this dilemma. In our store and on our website, we partner with the leading companies in green cleaning and personal care products so you do not have to figure this out for yourself. We are committed to selling brands who not only develop safer products using the highest quality ingredients, but who serve the greater good by giving back to the world. We love working with clients all over the country through virtual and in-home appointments where we discuss your product needs to determine the best safe swaps for your home or business.
Are green products really safer or just a gimmick?
Real green products really are safer. Plant-based and non-toxic ingredients do exist and do work. There are some really innovative companies out there today that are combining the power of plants with the latest technologies to create high-end, high-performing products for cleaning and personal care. There is no question that these products expose us to fewer carcinogens and make our homes, workspaces and lives healthier. Our clients see the results quickly too.
I know Cleerlife sells products that are toxin-free. What is your best selling product for the home? For the body?
Our best selling home product is our microfiber cleaning cloth from a Norwegian company called Norwex. High quality microfiber like Norwex’s microfiber is extremely fine and has been proven to remove bacteria using just water – no chemicals. A study by the EPA found that this type of microfiber removes up to 98% of bacteria and 93% of viruses from a surface using only water. Cotton, on the other hand, removes only 30% of bacteria and 23% of viruses. Our clients LOVE these Norwex cloths – called EnviroCloths – and we sell tons of them! And, by using these cloths you save a fortune on paper towels and it’s better for the planet!
Our best selling products for the body are our skin care products. American women put 168 chemicals on their bodies each day – many of which come from skin care products that are often applied twice a day. Right now, our top seller happens to be the leader in clean beauty and innovation – Beautycounter. We are thrilled to be able to partner with them and offer their product lines to our clients. Beautycounter has hired some of the best beauty industry chemists and professionals to develop clean skin care lines that are as luxurious and effective as the high-end beauty brands. Just last year they released a fabulous anti-aging line called Countertime with their own non-toxic version of retinol. Our clients absolutely love it! And, so do we! This is the line we both use every day!
What is your most popular service and what does it include?
Our most popular service is our CleerHome service which includes a full detox of a client’s everyday household cleaning products. We do these appointments virtually and in-person. It is super-easy and takes all the guesswork out of figuring out which cleaning products are safe and actually work. We meet with each client to assess his/her needs and preferences and his/her current cleaning tools. Then we create a customized recommendation list of safe, effective products that meet each family’s needs. Once a client decides to make the swap, we take care of everything – from ordering the products to delivery, to teaching the client or cleaning staff how to use them most effectively. We also handle all reorders of items such as detergents, soaps, etc.
Your website says, “everything is customizable.” What does that mean?
We meet every client where he/she is on his/her journey and this is a no judgment zone! Quite often, this is one of the biggest concerns of our clients. They are terrified of being judged. And, they are usually most afraid that we are going to make them give up their favorite lipstick or lotion. We passionately believe that small changes make huge impacts, so we start with the products you are willing to swap out. We are here to customize and walk your detox journey with you at the pace you are most comfortable. To do this, we work with each client individually and take into consideration his/her lifestyle, budget, family makeup, size of home, etc. We want to be sure that you will use and enjoy the recommendations and products we offer. We also offer individual and group opportunities for training and coaching as you move through your detox journey!
Finally, please let us know how our readers can connect with you and learn more.
To learn more about our services and products, check out our website at www.cleerlife.com.
We are also on Facebook and Instagram at @cleerlife
You can reach us personally anytime at 1-833-CLR-LIFE (257-5433) or at info@cleerlife.com
