"Simply the best!  I don't know what else to say!!"

Jonathan B., Brookline

Important information you should know...

Traditional carpet cleaning uses an assortment of chemicals, some of which may irritate people and pets, and cause havoc in the environment.  We, at Lily's, are not interested in discrediting other services, but think you should know some information, to make your own choices...

The active ingredient found in most rug, carpet and furniture shampoos is percholorethylene.  Perc, as it's commonly known, is a solvent, also used as the primary cleaner in the drycleaning industry.  Perc has been linked to numerous health and environmental problems.  It has been documented in air, soil, and sediments and has been found in at least 771 of the 1,430 current or former superfund sites in the United States (ATSDR 1995).  It is listed as a Hazardous Air Pollutant under the Clean Air Act, and is regulated by the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund).  Perc is a neurotoxin, a liver and kidney toxin, and is possibly a developmental and reproductive toxin.  The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified perc as a probable carcinogen in 1995 and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that perc be handled as a human carcinogen. 

Rug, carpet and furniture cleaners may also contain naphthalene which can cause headaches, confusion, nausea and vomiting, excessive sweating, and urinary irritation.  It is also suspected of causing cancer in humans.  Ethanol and ammonia are also common ingredients in these products.

In the last few years, the dangers of carpet cleaners received a lot of publicity when John Travolta's son who was only 15 months, was hospitalized after inhaling fumes from carpet cleaning solutions.  He was diagnosed with a relatively rare disease called Kawasaki syndrome, a serious rash condition contracted generally by children.  Some studies have suggested a link between carpet cleaners and Kawasaki disease, although the evidence is not conclusive. 

We believe that it is better to be safe than sorry.  We have found a way to clean carpets and furniture without the need for harsh chemicals.  Based on research into alternatives to perc in the drycleaning industry conducted for a Masters thesis, we reverted to the old fashioned way of cleaning with soap, water and elbow grease.  The good news is that our process cleans as effectively, if not more so, and is cheaper than traditional cleaning methods as there are no chemical costs.  The added advantage is that it will not damage your health or the environment.  And that's very important to us as we know it is to you.

Lily