Firm keeps carpets, environment clean

Daily Journal of Commerce (Portland, OR), Jan 30, 2004 by Ray Hughey

After the death of his sister, Rebecca, four years ago, Jaym Wolfe considered abandoning the carpet-cleaning trade in which he had worked for more than two decades.

Instead, his sorrow led him in another direction. This past summer, Wolfe founded a new business, TerraClean Eco-effective Carpet Care, which uses cleaning solutions that are nontoxic and environmentally friendly.

Wolfe and his sister grew up in the carpet-cleaning business. As kids in Texas, they tagged after their father and uncle as the two men went about their carpet-cleaning business jobs. As an adult, Rebecca took over the family business, and when she moved to Maryland, she started another carpet cleaning business there.

The health hazards of working with carpet-cleaning chemicals were always in the back of Jaym Wolfe's mind. He had experienced headaches, nausea and cracked skin on his hands and fingers while cleaning carpets - everyone in the business did. It went with the territory.

Then Rebecca died of a brain tumor. Doctors suspected the tumor was related to long-term exposure to chemicals, Wolfe said

Driven by the medical suspicion, Wolfe began researching the health affects of working with the strong chemicals. He found that carpet-cleaning work held more hazards than he had ever dreamed of - so many that he considered getting out of the business.

But his research also introduced him to all of the alternative - and healthy - cleaning methods available.

Everything fell in place when he met another Portland resident, environmental scientist Patricia Uber, and they found a shared passion about environmental matters.

Uber holds a bachelor's degree in crop science from Oregon State University and a master's degree in environmental science and engineering. She has worked as a wetlands specialist, agricultural consultant and taught a Portland Community College basic chemistry class for engineers.

This past summer, Uber and Wolfe launched TerraClean, cleaning carpets, upholstery and drapes exclusively with nontoxic, biodegradable and fumeless cleaning solutions.

They wanted to avoid conventional cleaning systems that use toxic solutions and detergents that stay in carpets, release fumes, and endanger surface and ground water.

Their cleaning system uses products that cause no harm to people, pets or the environment, Uber said. Even the two TerraClean vans are environmentally friendly, running on nonpolluting biodiesel fuel.

Their cleaning solutions are mostly plant-derived mixtures - made from extracts of corn, soybeans and other plants - which break out soils without harming fabrics.

Not only are the sustainable products safer, they also work as well or better than conventional cleaners, Uber said.

You're not comprising effectiveness with safe products, she said.

TerraClean is a start-up company and still growing. So far, it is just Uber, Wolfe and two employees.

They have recruited more than 100 regular customers, mostly residential, and are building their commercial work. They already have contracts with Emerson School, Two Rivers Montessori and Pacific Crest Community School.

They also have received numerous inquiries about franchising, a direction they intend to follow. They're using a branch in Phoenix, Ariz., operated by Uber's brother, as a pilot franchise. The business has been well received there, Uber said.

It seems to have struck a chord locally as well.

Uber and Wolfe are getting calls from people who have put off cleaning their carpets because they have are sensitive to chemicals. Others have waited to have carpets cleaned because they had environmental concerns.

And every now and then, customers say they call TerraClean because they just want to do the right thing, something good for themselves and the earth.

After all those years handling and working with harsh cleaning chemicals, how does Wolfe feel about his work now?

It feels absolutely wonderful, he said. I feel like I'm getting aromatherapy.