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Teacher and Nurse Appreciation

Two of the biggest groups of heroes during this pandemic year have been teachers and nurses. These front-line workers have put their lives on the line for us to ensure that we could stay safe, healthy, and educated. Every year in Early May we celebrate Teacher and Nurse Appreciation. Teacher Appreciation Day is Tuesday, May 4th and Nurse Appreciation Day is Thursday, May 6th.  These days are part of greater Teacher Appreciation Week from May 3-7 and Nurse Appreciation Week is May 6-12. This period is marked with discounts at stores and restaurants for nurses and teachers, presents from students, patients and employers, and a general sense of appreciation that may be missed for the rest of the year (although we should work to change that!).

After the past 14 months, one week doesn’t seem like enough for these two groups of hard-working professionals who do so much for us in our day-to-day lives. Teachers have bent over backward to transition to online learning. In addition to educating our kids, they became tech support, had to find unique ways to continue to engage kids in virtual learning, and were a lifeline through the stress and panic of COVID.  Nurses have provided us with consistent care, whether we were going in for our annual exam, or one of our loved ones was in the ICU with COVID.

All professionals deserve to work in an environment that is safe for them. And today, that means being safe from germs. As we try to emerge from the COVID-pandemic, is there any way to say “I appreciate you” to teachers and nurses better than providing a way to sanitize personal items, tablets, phones, and the air with chemical-free, non-toxic UV-C light?

Connect-UV is proud to offer solutions that can help schools and medical facilities ensure personal safety through UV-C sanitation. After Connect-UV donated to a fundraiser for the Lakewood Ranch High School in Manatee County, Florida, the school decided to gift all 200 of their teachers and staff with a Connect-UV multi-function sanitizing station for Teacher Appreciation Day. These sanitizing stations will ensure that teachers’ masks, keys, phones and other personal items are germ-free as they return to in-person learning.

We are thankful that our education and medical partners recognize the benefits of clean, safe and effective UV-C.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day, Nurses Appreciation Day, Teacher Appreciation Week and Nurses Appreciation Week from all of us at Connect-UV.

5 ways to reduce harmful chemicals

5 Ways to Reduce Toxic Chemicals Around the House

Spring is a celebration of life and renewal. Every year around this time, leaves and flowers return to the trees, bulbs erupt from the soil, grass again becomes green. We begin to come out of our winter hibernation, open the windows, get outside, and enjoy the life around us. The return of warm weather is also the start of the traditional spring-cleaning season.  But why is spring cleaning synonymous with putting on your heavy-duty gloves and scrubbing your house? It should be the perfect opportunity to reduce toxic chemicals!

green cleaning

In addition to its connection to cleaning, spring is also a time to celebrate nature. Earth Day on April 20th, being the most famous celebration. It is a day when people aim to reduce their impact or improve their natural environment. Typically, Earth Day is filled with local clean-up events and opportunities for us to do better. But how to “do better” can be overwhelming. There are so many ways that we can reduce our impact—walk more, find products with less packaging, maybe eat less meat. There’s a good way to tie in your spring cleaning with the goal of doing something good for the earth, and yourself—use fewer chemicals while you clean.

Many cleaning products are toxic. Bleach and ammonia-based products can damage the skin, make eyes and nose burn, and if accidentally mixed, cause a dangerous chlorine gas! And these aren’t the only toxic chemicals in cleaning products. Many multi-purpose cleaners include 2-butoxyethanol, and extended exposure can cause liver and kidney damage. Other heavy-duty cleaners can include formaldehyde, perchloroethylene or sodium hydroxide. These chemicals can cause burning sensation in the throat or skin, damage the nervous system, headaches, insomnia, irritability, and even cause trouble with concentration.

You don’t necessarily need long, extended exposure to feel these impacts.  I’m sure most of us have felt the sting in our nose while using a cleaning product or noticed that our hands feel dry and raw after cleaning. This isn’t your imagination! These products clean, polish, disinfect, and remove stubborn stains with toxic chemicals.

Thankfully, we can reduce harmful chemicals when we clean. There are many natural alternatives that can deliver similar or even better results!

 

Replace Ammonia with Vinegar

vinegar window cleaningVinegar is an acid, with a PH of 2.5 is it very good at removing water and rust spots, making it great for cleaning glass and mirrors. Ammonia is also hailed for its ability to clean glass, however, ammonia is corrosive and needs plenty of ventilation as well as gloves and a mask to use safely.  Meanwhile, vinegar is so mild you can consume it! Although, it helps to flavor your vinegar with other ingredients like oil and spices (in the case of an oil and vinegar salad dressing) to improve the taste.

Nontoxic window and mirror cleaner recipe:

  • 5 parts water
  • 5 parts white vinegar
  • 1 squirt of liquid dish soap or castile soap (optional- helps with stubborn grime)
  • Mix together in a spray bottle
  • Spray and wipe with a reusable cloth

 

Replace Multi-Surface Cleaner with Castile Soap

dr bronners soapCastile soap has long been used for everything from shampoo to floor cleaner. And it still works well at many of these duties. The gentle soap is made from all-natural ingredients such as coconut and hemp oils. Because it doesn’t have harsh surfactants it doesn’t suds up as it cleans, which can make cleaning surfaces like countertops easier than those bubbly toxic cleaners.

What’s more, many of these soaps come in plant-based bottles, and from companies with sustainable missions, such as Dr. Bronner who has been making soap since 1858!

Nontoxic multi-surface cleaner:

  • ¼ cup of Castile soap
  • 1 quart of water
  • 5 drops of your favorite essential oil (lemon or orange for a fresh scent, tea tree for germ-killing)
  • Mix together in a spray or squirt bottle
  • Gently swirl or turn the bottle upside down to fully mix
  • Spray and wipe with a damp cloth (for stubborn grease and grime, let the cleaner sit for a few minutes before wiping up)

 

Replace Drain Cleaner with Baking Soda and Vinegar

sink drainWho remembers making a volcano as a child with these simple ingredients? This natural expansive foaming comes down to the ph differences between baking soda and vinegar. Baking soda is alkaline, with a ph of 8, white vinegar is an acid with a ph of 2.5. Mixed together, the vinegar dissolves the baking soda, creating a powerful cleaning mixture. Baking soda and vinegar is a great way to get stains out of upholstery or carpet or to unclog drains.

Non-Toxic Drain Cleaner

1. Pour boiling water down the clogged drain.

2. Pour a cup of baking soda into the drain followed by 1 cup of vinegar.

3. Cover the drain to keep in the reaction and wait 5-10 minutes.

4. Uncover and pour more hot water down the drain.

If the drain is still slow, repeat the method until it drains correctly. You can also add dish soap to the boiling water for better grease dissolving power if you need more oomph than just baking soda and vinegar can provide.

 

Replace Clorox Wipes with UV-C

Multi Function sanitizing stationWhile our bleachy Clorox wipes may claim to kill 99% of germs and bacteria, Connect-UV has found this claim to be quite misleading. Using a medical-grade Hygina testing meter, we found that a Clorox wipe really kills more like 40-50% of germs.

What is more, these toxic wipes should not be used on anything that goes near the face or mouth (i.e. pacifiers or masks) and the liquid can damage sensitive electronics such as tablets and phones.

UV-C light or ultraviolet-c light is naturally made by the sun, however, our atmosphere filters most of it out. This powerful shortwave light destroys the DNA of microorganisms such as germs, bacteria, and viruses chemical-free, making it a great way to reduce toxic chemicals!

UV-C light devices, such as the Connect-UV All-In-One Sanitizing Station, uses powerful UV-C lights to kill virtually all germs and bacteria in as little as 59 seconds! The box is big enough to fit cell phones, car keys, masks, makeup brushes, watches, earbuds, jewelry, pacifiers and small toys. Its magnetic sealed lid has an auto-off function, so if you open the box before it is done cleaning the lights will turn off, to protect your eyes, making it safe to use around children.

Additionally, the All-In-One-Sanitizing Station includes an aromatherapy diffuser, allowing you to scent your items with calming lavender or the essential oil of your choice (can you imagine a freshly sanitized eye mask with lavender essential oil to put on before bed? The box also supports wireless charging on newer phones equipped with the technology.

 

Replace Dryer Sheets with Wool Balls

dryer ballsDo you have a pesky rash that just won’t go away? Red bumps or itchy, irritated skin could be a reaction to your laundry cleaning products. There are many natural laundry detergents on the market now that can help soothe your skin. But don’t forget about your dryer sheets! These floral sheets contain many unnatural chemicals to produce their strong smell or provide the anti-cling we all use them for. Thankfully, wool dryer balls are an excellent replacement.

Produced from sheep wool, these balls are sustainable and renewable. The animal’s fluffy wool grows back each year and without sheering, the animals could suffer from overheating or infection. Wool has many helpful uses in our lives, due to its natural water and germ repelling qualities. It is also great at helping clothes dry faster and with less cling. Two to four dryer balls work best for most loads of laundry.

Are you worried that you’ll miss the scent of your favorite dryer sheet? Try putting a few drops of your favorite essential oil on the wool dryer balls before throwing them in. Add lavender on balls when you dry your sheets or pajamas for a relaxing bedtime escape or use grapefruit or orange on your exercise clothes to give you more energy.

 

Not only are these simple solutions non-toxic, they also can save you money over their chemical alternatives, can reduce waste, and leave your home healthier, and happier, with fewer unnatural scents to create headaches or dry your skin. Who knew it could be so easy to reduce toxic chemicals!

What ways have you reduced your chemical use around the house? Share with us on our Facebook page!

Horizons PBS interview Connect UV

Connect-UV Founder Nic Brown on Arizona Horizon

Ted Simons of Arizona Horizon, took time this week to talk to Nic Brown about his company Connect-UV. Nic was inspired by seeing charging stations at Nordstrom years ago. He thought then that there is a market for solutions that charged and sanitized at the same time. After his donation to Notre Dame Prep, PBS wanted to talk to Nic about his idea and his company.

You can watch the full Arizona Horizon interview here.

Nic Brown is a junior at Notre Dame Prep. He noticed how iPhones, tablets and other personal devices were magnets for dirt and germs. Nic thought there had to be a way to keep personal devices clean but without harmful chemicals. His solution was to use UV-C light, a powerful microbe killer. We spoke with Nic about his “Connect UV” concept. 

After learning about how to sanitize using ultra-violet light, Brown’s thoughts went to how the concept could help in combatting COVID-19.

Although sanitizing with UV-C light has been around for years, Brown’s concept helps with personal items. The company, Connect UV, offers two products with UV-C light. One is a sanitizing wireless charger that can sanitize your phone in less than 15 minutes. The other product is catered more to other personal devices like a mask or wallet. According to Brown, he suggests using the device at least every day.

Brown thought of the idea about three years ago. When the pandemic began, the idea was brought to life after realizing everyone was now more conscious of the germs around them.

“We used the pandemic as leverage and that’s how we’ve grown so big today,” Brown said.

nic brown on try it with tess on good morning arizona

Good Morning Arizona Features Connect-UV Charging Carts

Good Morning Arizona on AZ Family Channel 3 recently interviewed Connect-UV Founder Nic Brown on his UV-C company. Tess Rafols “Try It With Tess” interviewed Nic about what it is like to be a teen entrepreneur and his donation of three Connect-UV Charging Carts to his high school.

nic brown on try it with tess on good morning arizona

“When the pandemic hit we all became so uncomfortably aware of just how dirty everything is, in particular our phones.” Nic shared with Tess.

Long before the pandemic, Nic realized that ultra-violet light, particularly UV-C could be used to clean everyday items. When he started his first company, Dr. Shine My Ride, at the age of 13, Nic was looking for new, nontoxic ways to sanitize vehicle interiors. At that point in time, he learned about UV-C, however, the technology was not readily available for applications such as cellphone or vehicle interior sanitation. Instead, Nic chose to sanitize interiors with chemical-free steam.

Later, Nic saw a cell phone charging station at a Nordstrom and it was as if a UV-light bulb went off. What a perfect application for his idea!

“You should be able to clean your phone while it charges, it just makes sense.”

cell phone holder for classroomAs a junior at Notre Dame Prep, Nic knows how connected teens (and everyone else) is with our devices. As part of his everyday routine, Nic drops his phone into a holder upon entering a classroom. This holder (like the one pictured to the left) helps students pay attention in class. Nic also saw this as an excellent opportunity to reduce germs in the classroom.

“I was putting my germ-covered phone in a pocket that had another student’s germ-covered phone in it before me, and so on and so on. It just didn’t seem sanitary or safe.” Nic says.

Nic’s solution is simple and accessible for schools across the United States. The Connect-UV charging carts accomplish the need to separate phones from kids during class, while also providing a concentrated dose of UV-C to kill harmful germs and bacteria on devices. The carts can also be used for tablets, laptops, battery packs, keyboards, pagers used at restaurants, or a variety of other devices that are frequently touched. The short-wavelength UV-C can kill up to 99% of germs and bacteria in as little as five minutes. All chemical-free.

“As a Junior at Notre Dame Prep, I am super fortunate to attend such a great school. I wanted to give back by donating three of our commercial-grade charging carts as well as 50 of our multi-function sanitizing stations to teachers and faculty to help them reopen safely.”

The multi-function sanitizing stations are small enough for home use. They can hold items such as cell phones, masks, keys, and sunglasses, sanitizing these items in as little as 60 seconds!

You can watch Nic’s interview with Tess Rafols here.

Learn more about Connect-UV’s UV-C Sanitizing Charging Carts. Or connect Tom Mitchell at Tom@ConnectUV.com for a custom quote for your business or school’s needs.

Teen entrepreneur’s business busts germs

Nic Brown is only 17 and already owns two businesses.

Even before he turned 17 on Feb. 24, Notre Dame Prep junior Nic Brown could add “entrepreneur” to his early resume.

He already had a car-detailing business and from that has come up with a company that fights germs.

His company, Connect UV sells products that rely on powerful microbe-killing UV-C light.

UV-C light is naturally occurring shortwave light created by the sun, that is filtered by the atmosphere before it can reach the earth. According to the FDA, this powerful light destroys the DNA in microorganisms, including viruses and bacteria, rendering the agents unable to reproduce or infect.

 “I first discovered UV-C light when I was researching cleaning methods for my car detailing company,” Nic said. “When COVID hit, I realized that I was in a position to help solve the problem of harmful germs on day-to-day items. And Connect UV was born.”

The whole idea behind Connect UV is for people to connect, clean and charge. 

“While mobile devices are stored in Connect UV sterilizing charging carts, my hope is that people will connect with each other instead of staring at the phones, and their phones will get sanitized and charged at the same time,” he said.

Nic donated three industrial UV sanitizing carts and 12 desktop units to Notre Dame Prep on his birthday.

“What a great testimony to the faith of our school, that Nic would give back to Notre Dame Prep on his birthday,” said Lisa Johnston, NDP finance director. 

“We also encourage our students to be innovative thinkers and leaders. We are very proud of Nic’s entrepreneurial spirit and our ability to share his hard work with others,” she added.

Notre Dame Prep has taken many safety measures to remain open for in-person learning since Sept. 8.

 “Nic’s generous gift provides us with another means for reducing the spread of viruses,” Johnston said, noting his devices sanitize other items such as keys, masks and glasses.

When Nic entered Notre Dame Prep as a freshman, he was enrolled in the school’s Gonzaga Program for students with academic promise but need a little help acclimating to its rigorous college preparatory curriculum.

 “I was really struggling at first, but the Gonzaga Program and my teachers helped me get caught up and I’m so grateful for that,” he said. 

Now Nic has matriculated into honors and AP classes and has excelled in entrepreneur class and personal finance. 

“Without the Gonzaga Program, I would not be where I am today,” he added. 

 “I’ve always been inspired by great entrepreneurs,” he said. “I’m always thinking of the next thing.”

Connect UV sells products ranging from sanitizing lamps and boxes for home use, to large charging lockers and carts for school and business use. The company’s mission is to allow people to charge, clean and connect safely and easily.

Connect UV Donates Three UV-C Sterilizing Charging Carts to Notre Dame Preparatory High School

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. March 2, 2021 – If COVID has taught us anything this last year, it is just how many germs are around us. Teen entrepreneur Nic Brown, a junior at Notre Dame Prep in Scottsdale, thought there had to be a way to keep personal devices clean without harmful chemicals. His solution—powerful microbe killing UV-C light.

“I first discovered UV-C light when I was researching cleaning methods for my car detailing company,” said Brown, “When COVID hit, I realized that I was in a position to help solve the problem of harmful germs on every day items. And Connect-UV was born.”

The concept behind Connect-UV is for people to connect, clean and charge. “While mobile devices are stored in Connect-UV sterilizing charging carts, my hope is that people will connect with each other instead of staring at the phones, and their phones will get sanitized and charged at the same time,” Brown said. In addition to cell phones and tablets, the units will sanitize other items such as keys, masks, and glasses.

Brown donated three industrial UV-C sanitizing carts and 12 desktop units to his school on Feb. 24, which just happened to be his 17th birthday. 

“What a great testimony to the faith of our school, that Nic would give back to Notre Dame Prep on his birthday,” said Lisa Johnston, NDP finance director. “We also encourage our students to be innovative thinkers and leaders. We are very proud of Nic’s entrepreneurial spirit and our ability to share his hard work with others,” she added.

Notre Dame Prep has taken many safety measures to remain open for in-person learning since Sept. 8, 2020. “We are committed to keeping our staff and students safe during and after the COVID pandemic,” Johnston said. “Nic’s generous gift provides us with another means for reducing the spread of viruses.”

Connect-UV sells products ranging from sanitizing lamps and boxes for home use, to large charging lockers and carts for school and business use. The company’s mission is to allow people to charge, clean and connect safely and easily. “I’ve always been inspired by great entrepreneurs,” he said. “I’m always thinking of the next thing.”

UV-C light is naturally occurring shortwave light created by the sun that is filtered by the atmosphere before it can reach the earth. According to the FDA, this powerful light destroys the DNA in microorganisms, including viruses and bacteria, rendering the agents unable to reproduce or infect. For more information about Connect-UV, visit connectuv.com.

Scottsdale Businesses Raise $2,500, Collect Toys For Children In Need

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On Saturday, Dec 19, three local Scottsdale businesses teamed up for a Holiday Toy Drive to benefit Scottsdale Fire Department’s annual toy and gift collection campaign.

Connect UV, which sells UV light sterilizing products for consumers and businesses, teamed up with spray tan salon Bronzmopoliton and personal trainer Michael Barrett to give away prizes to those who donated to local families and foster children in need.

“The response from the community was amazing,” said 16-year-old Connect UV founder Nic Brown, “A lot of kids will have a brighter holiday thanks to the generosity from the Scottsdale community.”

“I was overwhelmed with the community’s response to our toy drive,” Said Christy George owner or Bronzmopoliton, “It was such an honor to team up with such amazing businesses that share a passion to help make every child’s holiday magical.”

“As a new business owner, I have blessed with an amazing amount of support,” Said Michael Barrett of Body by Barrett, “The toy drive’s success shows how generous Scottsdale is. It made me feel so good to give back and spread the holiday spirit.”

The drive took place at Bronzmopoliton’s location on Frank Lloyd Wright and 101. Scottsdale FD sent a firetruck as part of the event. Donations included sports equipment, bikes, board games and toys. Participants also donated $2,500 to the drive, which will go to purchase gifts and gift cards for the Paiute Neighborhood Center, one of the charities supported by the Scottsdale Fire Department Toy Drive. The first 50 participants received Connect UV face masks, and all participants were entered to win Connect UV products, discounted tanning sessions, and a free personal training session.

For more information on the participating small businesses visit: www.connectuv.com, www.bronzmopolitan.com, Body by Barrett can be followed in Instagram at MichaelBarrett. To learn more about the annual Scottsdale Fire Department Toy Drive and how to donate, visit https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/fire/fire-news/SFD-toy-drive-underway

Connect-UV Leverages JACS Solutions’ Charging Carts to Help Schools Provide Safer, Sterilized Devices to Students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Connect-UV Leverages JACS Solutions’ Charging Carts to Help Schools Provide Safer, Sterilized Devices to Students

Columbia, MD, October 19, 2020 – Connect-UV, a UV-C technology and charging solutions provider, has partnered with JACS Solutions to bring healthy charging solutions to the nations’ schools and businesses. As a Certified JACS Solutions Partner, Connect-UV will make it easier for schools and businesses to purchase and implement UV-sterilizing charging carts, especially at a time when COVID-19 has made the need to frequently and effectivity sterilize personal and shared devices.

JACS Solutions specializes in working with large-scale enterprise customers and producing thousands of devices for a single customer. Smaller organizations sometimes struggle to meet the necessary order quantity to make their projects feasible and cost-effective. By leveraging JACS’ charging cart solutions, Connect-UV can bring JACS’ innovative charging technology to more people at cost that fits most budgets.

“JACS Solutions is excited to welcome Connect-UV into our partner program,” said Rattana Chhay, JACS’ VP of Operations. “We are impressed with Connect-UV’s expertise in the education vertical and their commitment to providing safe learning environment solutions for students and staff.”

The Connect-UV charging cart solution holds 32 devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and even Chromebooks. The built-in UV sterilization feature provides schools and businesses a way to cost-effectively sterilize devices frequently with harmful chemicals. The UV sterilization is just the beginning of the safety features. The charging carts offer electrical surge protection, overload protection, leakage protection, and much more to keep your devices safe. The carts also feature anti-theft doors to make the charging carts the perfect way to securely store devices when not in use.

“We are proud to be a partner with JACS Solutions,” shared Wendy Brown, Connect-UV’s President. “By combining the resources of our two companies, we will be in a strong position to have a positive impact on schools, universities and businesses by providing innovative, custom UV-C light and charging solutions.”

About JACS Solutions
JACS Solutions designs and manufactures custom-built, commercial-grade Android and Windows connected devices, touch displays, and industrial IoT solutions. One million JACS products have been deployed in 55+ countries by leaders in healthcare, transportation, retail, and more. JACS Solutions differentiates itself by providing customized and affordable hardware and device software. Customers gain peace of mind from highly secured, single-purposed devices, and achieve lower cost with long product life cycles. Visit www.jacs-solutions.com.

About Connect-UV
Connect-UV, LLC is a trusted brand providing high-quality, innovative products harnessing the power of UV-C light technology and fast charging solutions. Our mission is to promote a healthier way of staying connected and have a positive impact in the lives of our clients. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, we are a privately held family enterprise with a dedicated specialty focus on education/business solutions as well as direct to consumer products. For more information on our products and services, please visit us at www.connectuv.com.

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