Business name: Organic Housekeepers

Phone: (970) 376-8941

Web site: www.organichousekeepers.com

Owner: Tim Szurgot (Pictured is Grieta Kinens)

Date business opened: August 2007 in Summit County

Keeping you in touch with the changing face of Summit County business.

<b>Q</b> <i>What type of business do you operate — what do you sell, or what service do you provide?</i>

<b>A</b> Born in the mountains of Vail, Organic Housekeepers is a cleaning company that uses nontoxic, natural and organic cleaning products. You won’t find harmful chemicals like bleach and ammonia in our cleaning caddies.

We clean homes, businesses, vacation and short-term rentals. We also do post-construction jobs. We wash windows, and we’ll even do your linens and help you set up a recycling program.

We will stock your home and office with the same earth-friendly supplies we’ve come to trust and love, including biodegradable trash bags, dish-washing soap and laundry detergent.

<b>Q</b> <i>Where are you from, and why did you decide to open your business in Summit County?</i>

<b>A</b> For the last seven years, my wife, Cassie, and I have lived in Eagle-Vail. Our love of skiing and the mountains brought us to the Vail Valley.

We chose Summit County for our second office because people who live in the mountains typically care about the environment and the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle. We share and supports these priorities. That’s why we use cleaners free of petroleum- and synthetic-based chemicals.

<b>Q</b> <i>What experience do you have in this field?</i>

<b>A</b> At age 8, my mother put a vacuum in one hand and a dollar bill in the other and told me to clean the living room and my passion for cleaning stuck. Some people might call it “anal retentiveness,” but I like to say “there is a place for everything and everything in its place.”

It was also my mother who introduced me to natural cleaners. Natural cleaners have been part of our household for as long as I can remember.

<b>Q</b> <i>What sets your business apart from other similar businesses?</i>

<b>A</b> Organic Housekeepers is more than a cleaning company, it’s a lifestyle. The biggest difference between Organic Housekeepers and other companies is that we use green cleaning products. We do this because we care about the environment and the health of our workers and clients. Another difference is that I am a very hands-on owner. I speak with clients before and after to make sure Organic Housekeepers is meeting their expectations.

<b>Q</b> <i>What types of customers do you hope to reach in Summit County?</i>

<b>A</b> We hope to reach clients who are pursuing a healthier home and environment. Taking harsh chemicals out of cleaning is one of the easiest ways to do just that.

<b>Q</b> <i>What are your plans for your company’s future?</i>

<b>A</b> Organic Housekeepers hopes to open an Aspen office by next winter. We are also working toward making every part of the cleaning process more sustainable, from running our cars on vegetable oil to using recycled terry cloth for our rags.