Today we’d like to introduce you to Dowana Barton.
Hi Dowana, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi! I’m Dowana Barton, the owner of Hygienitech Greenville – the only completely dry, chemical-free mattress & upholstery sanitizing business in the Upstate.
As someone who struggles with allergies and asthma, I fully understand the importance of being able to have a clean and allergen-free environment in the home or at work without the use of chemicals or products that can further irritate allergies or cause asthma flare-ups.
When I started Hygienitech Greenville, I wanted to start a business that I felt provided a service that was genuinely useful, something that I really believed in, and something that could in some way help people with asthma and allergies. A business that would be accessible, affordable, and effective in helping to create allergen-free environments where people live, work, and relax.
My first year in business has been amazing, the clients, support networks, and guidance I have found in Greenville have been inspiring.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Having arrived back in Greenville in the Spring of 2021 after living and working abroad for 35 years, initially the idea of making new connections and taking the leap to start a business during Covid was a bit daunting.
Face-to-face (masked) meetings while introducing a new service to the market which hadn’t really been here before, did at times create some very interesting situations. Also, the idea of sanitizing mattresses and upholstery evoked ideas of steam cleaning, chemicals, big vehicles, bulky machinery, inconvenience, and valuable time lost in their home or business, while waiting for items to be cleaned or dry.
The fact is this service creates none of those issues, and this educational element has been I suppose one of the main challenges, but once this has become clear it has proven to be one of the most advantageous. As for obstacles, well major ones, there really haven’t been any and what appeared as small obstacles have in fact evolved into amazing opportunities and rewarding business allies.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Hygienitech Greenville?
Mattress & upholstery sanitizing has been around for many years, but commonly people think of steam cleaning or simply vacuuming a mattress or spraying chemicals on their upholstery to improve the look or smell. But offering a completely dry, chemical-free, non-toxic, quick, and affordable way to fully sanitize mattresses and upholstery seemed to be an unknown option. This is exactly what Hygienitech Greenville does!
We can do this by utilizing a specially designed device that incorporates medical-grade UV-C germicidal light, high-intensity vibration, and incredible suction to kill and extract bacteria, viruses, mildew, odors, dander, dust mites, dust mite feces, and allergy-inducing debris from mattresses and upholstery.
We spend one-third of our lives in bed, yet the mattress is the one item in our homes that we don’t often think about. Mattresses can be some of the most expensive items in our homes, and restful sleep is vital for good health, yet we often give little thought about what may be embedded in them (whether covered or not) and how that can affect our sleep and general health.
Dust, sweat, dead skin, dust mites, dander, and environmental allergens all become embedded in time into our mattresses and upholstery and the particles these produce is what we breathe and can cause many symptoms if you happen to have an allergy to them. Sneezing, coughing, runny nose, itchy eyes, sinus pressure, and itchy skin all can be a response to these allergens.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America – “Dust mites may be the most common trigger of year-round allergies and asthma”
We service a variety of clients across the Upstate from residential homes, short- and long-term rental properties, accommodation providers, and business waiting and reception areas to textile restoration companies and interior designers (anywhere with soft upholstery or mattresses).
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I grew up in Greenville until my mid-teens, my parents were incredibly hard-working, owning a local barber shop, and we were just your average working-class family. Early on my parents tried to drill into us to find work that we love, and you will enjoy going to work every day, but of course, finding a passion in life to pursue as your career sometimes comes later in life and sometimes not at all.
So I spent my 20’s & 30’s working my way up the corporate ladder, traveling through Europe with work and learning far more than I ever anticipated about telecommunications, technology, and marketing. Eventually, I redirected my priorities and moved to New Zealand where I remained in corporate but also quickly became hyper-aware of my own health and wellness.
New Zealand happens to have a high incidence of Asthma, I struggled terribly with my asthma while in London and initially in New Zealand, but this is also where I first became aware of dust mite allergies, pet dander exposure, and indoor allergens generally and the detrimental effect they can have on your health.
Thankfully this was also the first time I was introduced to the idea of professional mattress sanitizing and this later became the driver to start Hygienitech Greenville.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hygienitech-greenville.com
- Instagram: hygienitech_greenville.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hygienitechgreenville
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hygienitech-greenville-greenville-2
