Latest news with #OxiFresh
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Carpet cleaning company says Portland is America's cleanest metro area
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A new study claims Portland is far cleaner than other major metro areas in the nation. Carpet cleaning company has ranked 35 of the biggest cities in the U.S. based on cleanliness, by weighing seven factors: population density, rodents, cockroaches, vandalism, litter, air quality and tap water quality. 'Blind, energetic and sassy': Oregon Coast Aquarium welcomes new seal Based on these metrics, the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro region was the only area to earn an 'A+' grade for cleanliness — making it the No. 1 city overall. Researchers praised the metro area for its waste management services. 'The area has a decades-long history of investing in robust recycling and composting programs, which reduce landfill waste and keep streets free of excess trash,' Oxi Fresh said. 'By contrast, cities that lack effective waste management programs often see garbage accumulate in public spaces, leading to pollution and attracting rodents.' The carpet cleaning company used data from sources like the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Census Bureau's American Housing Survey to compile the report. Here is how the Rose City fared in each category, according to Oxi Fresh. Mountain snowfall to return to Oregon Cascades this weekend: What to know Population density: 375 residents per square mile Rodents: About 9.1% of housing units reported signs of rodents in the past year. Cockroaches: About 0.9% of housing units reported signs of cockroaches in the past year. Vandalism: About 90.3% of homeowners reported there were no damaged or abandoned buildings within a half-block radius. Litter: About 86.2% of homeowners reported there was no litter or trash found outside within a half-block radius. Air quality: There were 280 days in 2024 where the Air Quality Index qualified as 'good' for all pollutants. Tap water quality: About 6.8 contaminants detected in drinking water exceeded the Environmental Working Group's health guidelines. Fellow Pacific Northwest city Seattle trailed behind Portland, as the second-cleanest metro area. Rochester, N.Y., the Detroit area and Minnesota's twin cities rounded out the top five, while Washington, D.C., Houston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and New York landed in the bottom five. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
03-05-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
Map Reveals Where the Cleanest Cities in the U.S. Are
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro area is the cleanest metropolitan area in the United States, new research has shown. A new study, conducted by Oxi Fresh, the carpet cleaning company, evaluated 35 major U.S. metro areas based on seven key indicators of cleanliness, assigning each city an overall grade from A+ to D. The seven factors assessed include population density, rodent and cockroach prevalence, levels of vandalism and litter, air quality, and tap water quality, drawing from U.S. Census Bureau data and other government sources. Each city received a score across these criteria, which were then compiled into a final grade reflecting overall environmental cleanliness and public health standards to determine its ranking. Eric Roy, lead scientist of the consumer product division at Culligan, a water systems treatment company, told Newsweek that "cities in the top 10 [ranking of the study] generally reflect those with more pristine source water, newer infrastructure, and proactive efforts from the municipality to go beyond the federal standards." Stock image: An aerial view over the waterfront area of Portland, Oregon. Stock image: An aerial view over the waterfront area of Portland, Oregon. iStock / Getty Images Plus The Cleanest Metro Areas in the U.S. According to the study, the top ranking of Portland and its surrounding area is no accident. The metro area's consistent investments in sustainable waste management practices and public maintenance have placed it ahead of every other U.S. metro region. "The area has a decades-long history of investing in robust recycling and composting programs, which reduce landfill waste and keep streets free of excess trash," the study said. Seattle, another high-ranking city, was similarly praised for its public investment in sanitation and green spaces. "Seattle, widely regarded as one of the best places to live in the country, is also one of the cleanest cities in the U.S., primarily due to the government's strict dedication to litter cleanup initiatives," the study reported. "Additionally, the city boasts many parks and green spaces, which it invests heavily in maintaining." Minneapolis also earned accolades for its air quality, a key component in the study's evaluation, which was assessed based on the number of days in which the Air Quality Index (AQI) remained at safe levels in the area. "Minneapolis is one of the cities with the cleanest air in the U.S.," the study noted. "In 2021, the city launched a project to monitor air quality throughout the area, aiming to identify problem areas and target those with higher pollution levels more effectively." Meanwhile, cities such as Detroit in Michigan were acknowledged for their improvements despite persistent challenges. "Historically, Detroit, MI, a city with a reputation for high crime, has taken steps to improve its cleanliness by investing in community-led cleanup efforts," the study said. "Today, though it still struggles with some forms of vandalism, it also has some of the cleanest city water in the country." The study reaffirmed the importance of effective urban policy and community engagement in shaping cleaner, healthier environments. "Cities that offer economic opportunities and community engagement programs often have cleaner neighborhoods," the study said. "When public spaces are well-maintained and supported by local initiatives, residents take greater pride in their surroundings." Top 10 Cleanest Metro Areas Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro (OR-WA): Grade A+ Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue (WA): A Rochester (NY): A- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn (MI): B+ Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington (MN-WI): B+ Pittsburgh (PA): B Richmond (VA): B Denver-Aurora-Centennial (CO): B Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler (AZ): B Kansas City (MO-KS): B- Source: A study by Oxi Fresh, which ranked 35 major metro areas in the U.S. based on population density, rodent and cockroach prevalence, vandalism, litter, air quality, and tap water quality, assigning each area a cleanliness grade level ranging from A+ to D. Do you have a travel-related story to share? Let us know via life@ and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Denver a top 10 cleanest metro area despite dirty scores in 2 categories: Study
DENVER (KDVR) — The Denver metro area ranked among the cleanest U.S. cities in a recent study, but the Mile High City was one of the dirtiest in some categories. Carpet cleaning company Oxi Fresh conducted the study on the 35 largest U.S. metro areas and used the most recent data available from the Census Bureau's American Housing Survey and the Environmental Protection Agency, which was collected from 2019 to 2023 Morrison restaurant named best under-the-radar steakhouse in Colorado: Cheapism The study analyzed each metro area's cleanliness across seven main factors: population density, rodents, cockroaches, vandalism, litter, air quality and tap water quality. The Denver-Aurora-Centennial metro area ranked at No. 8 overall and earned a 'B' grade. The Denver metro area's population is not as dense as some cities, and the city had a relatively low rate of things like cockroaches, rodents and vandalism, according to the report. In the Denver metro, 91.9% of homes are free from vandalism or abandoned buildings within half a block. More than half of the cities included in the study had fewer than 90%. Only six cities had fewer signs of cockroaches than Denver, where 2.5% of housing units showed signs of cockroaches being inside over the past 12 months. However, Denver scored among the worst when it comes to air and tap water quality. According to the report, the Denver metro area only had 78 days when air quality was classified as 'Good' for all pollutants in 2024, including CO, NO₂, Ozone, PM10, and PM2.5. Over numerous checks from 2021 to 2023, Denver's tap water had an average of 12.5 contaminants at levels higher than what is considered healthy to drink by the Environmental Working Group. Meanwhile, Detroit recorded an average of 5 contaminants and Baltimore recorded an average of 7. The report shows that 12 cities had more water contaminants than Denver. Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger aircraft, lands at DIA Here are Denver's data points for the key factors in the study: Population density: 360 people per square mile Rodents: 9% of housing units show signs of mice, rats or other rodents inside in the past year Cockroaches: 2.5% of housing units show signs of cockroaches inside in the past year Vandalism: 91.9% of homes do not have vandalism or abandoned buildings within a half-block radius Litter: 88.1% of homes do not have litter, trash or junk on the streets or properties within a half-block radius Air quality: 78 days in 2024 when the Air Quality Index values were classified as 'Good' for all pollutants Tap water quality: 12.5 different types of contaminants exceeding the Environmental Working Group health guidelines were detected in drinking water The cleanest cities were found to be Portland, Seattle and Rochester. At the bottom of the list was New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Houston and Washington, D.C. More information can be found in the full Oxi Fresh report online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
An Arizona city was named among 10 cleanest US cities. Do you agree?
When visitors travel to a new city, how clean a place is or isn't can affect their overall opinion of the area. A new study from Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning ranked the 35 largest metropolitan areas in the United States based on their cleanliness. The results were based on factors such as tap water quality, percentage of pests in the area and the number of days in a year that the air quality was considered good. One of Arizona's largest cities made the list of top 10 cleanest areas, and it might surprise you. Here's which city in the Grand Canyon State ranked ninth overall for cleanliness, and where other U.S. cities placed. Oxi Fresh used seven cleanliness factors to rank each metro area on a scale of most to least clean, represented by a letter grade between A+ and D. The results came from an analysis of the largest U.S. metro areas using the most recent data from the Census Bureau's American Housing Survey. Each metro area could earn up to 100 points for each of the seven factors, which were then totaled to find the cleanliness score and converted to a letter grade. Population density: The number of people per square mile. According to Oxi Fresh, a higher concentration of people can lead to increased pollution, poorer air quality, greater strain on infrastructure and more complicated waste management. Rodents: The percentage of housing units with signs of mice, rats or other rodents inside the home between April 2024 - 2025. Cockroaches: The percentage of housing units with signs of cockroaches inside the home in the past year. Vandalism: The percentage of homes without vandalized or abandoned buildings within a half-block radius. Litter: The percentage of homes without litter, trash or "junk" on the streets or properties within a half-block radius. Air Quality: The number of days in 2024 that the daily Air Quality Index values were classified as "good" (values of 50 AQI or less) for all AQI pollutants: CO, NO2, Ozone, PM10 and PM2.5. Tap Water Quality: The average number of different types of contaminants detected in the metro area's drinking water that exceeded the Environmental Working Group's health guidelines. Another view: Phoenix ranked 6th dirtiest city in US by new study. Here's why Metro Phoenix made Oxi Fresh's list of top 10 cleanest cities in the United States and received a good grade. Here's how Oxi Fresh ranked the Valley: Population density: 348 people per square mile Rodents: 2.1% Cockroaches: 15.5% Vandalism: 93.9% Litter: 89.8% Air quality: 24 days of good AQI index scores in 2024 Tap water quality: 8.5 contaminants Cleanliness grade: B These are the cleanest cities and metropolitan areas in the United States and their cleanliness grades, according to Oxi Fresh. Portland and the surrounding areas of Vancouver and Hillsboro, Oregon: A+ Seattle metropolitan area: A Rochester, New York: A- Detroit, Warren and Dearborn, Michigan: B+ Minneapolis metropolitan area: B+ Pittsburgh: B Richmond, Virginia: B Denver and surrounding area: B Phoenix metropolitan area, including Mesa and Chandler: B Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas: B- Out of the largest metro areas in the U.S., these are the cities that Oxi Fresh determined were the least clean and their cleanliness grades. New York, Newark and Jersey City metro areas, New York/New Jersey, D Los Angeles, Long Beach and Anaheim metro areas, California, D+ Philadelphia, Camden and Wilmington metro areas, Pennsylvania/New Jersey/Delaware/Maryland, D+ Houston, Pasadena and The Woodlands metro areas, Texas, C- Washington, Arlington and Alexandria metro areas, Washington, D.C./Virginia/Maryland/West Virginia, C Chicago, Naperville and Elgin metro areas, Illinois/Indiana, C Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington metro areas, Texas, C Birmingham, Alabama, C Cincinnati, Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana, C+ Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, C+ Health violations: Touching food with bare, unwashed hands among offenses at Phoenix-area restaurant This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Is metro Phoenix clean or dirty? See what new study says
