It seems a lot of people and places are boasting the vegan label these days, but when we saw an announcement for a vegan house cleaning service, well, let's just say it caught our attention. Chelsi Shedd is a young entrepreneur in Manchester who's putting her passion for protecting the environment, and ability to concoct a mean cleaning solution, to work. Shedd, 20, offers an Earth-friendly home cleaning service that includes using her homemade products, special allergen-reducing vacuum filters, and reusable cloth towels for cleaning and dusting. Shedd took some time to talk about her business:

Green Guide: How did you come up with the idea for your vegan home cleaning business?
Shedd: I came up with the idea from my boyfriend's mom, Christine, who has her own cleaning business. She took me under her wing and taught me proper cleaning techniques. The vegan part came from not seeing many vegan cleaning services. And I clean my apartment with natural products. I just put two and two together, really.

GG: How long have you been doing this?
Shedd: I've been cleaning as work for a couple years now off and on with Christine. I started working on this business in January of this year.

GG: What kinds of cleaners do you use, and what makes them vegan?
Shedd: The cleaners I make are really simple. Made with water, baking soda, tea tree oil, lemon, sometimes vinegar. I sometimes use store-bought cleaners like the brand "Method," which is a natural company.
Both my products and Method products are made from all-natural ingredients, are not tested on animals and have no animal bi-products. That is what makes them vegan.

GG: What would you say are the benefits to using vegan cleaners in the home? What would you tell someone who is skeptical that the cleaners actually work? Do they disinfect?
Shedd: Natural products do the same job as regular cleaners but they are cleaning more than just your home. By using recycled, natural and biodegradable products you are taking steps to helping protect the earth and the life on it. Most cleaners contain a chemical that has an estrogen-like effect (petrochemical) and it is very harmful to humans and animals. I don't think you need to disinfect an entire home because everyone needs to be exposed to some germs to keep healthy. But the disinfectants I use are tea tree oil, which is an antiseptic, and vinegar. Baking soda and lemon are great cleaners but do not disinfect. Grapefruit seed extract, garlic and peppermint oil are disinfectants also.

For more information about Chelsi Shedd's cleaning service, visit wix.com/chelsishedd/green, e-mail chelsishedd@gmail.com or call 995-1498.