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Green cleaning for health and a healthy environment

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:34:51 +0100

Green cleaning for health and a healthy environment

Green cleaning for health is one of the latest movements to be accepted among reputable cleaning companies who wish to provide a quality cleaning service, while maintaining an active respect for the protection of the health of the cleaning crew, as well as the other occupants and users of the building. Moreover, green cleaning for health also makes efforts to protect and respect the environment.

While the most direct benefits - the health of both people and the environment - are easy to spot, there are some less-obvious, indirect benefits from green cleaning for health, which are just as attractive. These include the fact that green cleaning makes cleaning professionals much more attractive to many different businesses, organizations, and individuals, who may be seeking a greener alternative to the traditional, more "toxic" cleaning solution. No other cleaning program within the industry is as healthy and environmentally responsible as green cleaning for health.

However, green cleaning for health does carry some responsibility with the name. It isn't just a matter of saying that you respect the environment. Such a cleaning program involves an entire system, based upon - but certainly not limited to - the use of green cleaning products.

In addition to environmentally friendly cleaning products, other actions that are taken by green cleaning for health providers include:

Using an environmentally friendly cleaning system that considers how frequently the floors are vacuumed, swept, mopped, buffed, and refinished.

It also takes into consideration the chemicals and the equipment used for such processes. Furthermore, it looks at the frequency of carpet extraction.
Utilizing a matting system - as much as 90% of all of the dust and dirt that gets into any given building is a result of what is tracked in through the door. Therefore, to reduce the amount "large scale" cleaning to be done, a system of mats in the entryways, which are cleaned and vacuumed regularly, presents a much greener alternative.
Green product use - use products only evaluated by the Green Seal or Canada's comparable Environmental Choice Program".
Utilize cleaning equipment that is technologically advanced - this includes true-HEPA vacuum cleaners, and other such devices, so that impurities are not capable of being sucked into the cleaning device, and then blown out, becoming airborne. Any extractors should be certain to heat the cleaning solution to a minimum of 200ºF, in order to improved the drying time and the efficacy of the cleaning. Any cleaning equipment for hard floors should involve a dust control, or a vacuum system which provides "passive" suction in order to capture any airborne particles that may be swirled up as the machine operates.
Involvement and education - a truly effective green cleaning for health program shouldn't just involve the cleaning staff, but should include everyone using the building. This means that everyone using the facility should know why green cleaning products are being used, and the importance of the green cleaning practices that are being utilized in order to protect their health.

Traditional Cleaning vs. Green Cleaning - Part 1

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:31:16 +0100

Traditional Cleaning vs. Green Cleaning - Part 1

Many cleaning companies have either made the switch to green cleaning or are planning to do so at some point in the future. But it can be tough to imagine just how big of a change it will be and what it will look like when you're practicing green cleaning methods and using green cleaning chemicals.

Here is an example of a traditional cleaning situation, and then what it would look like if you used green cleaning chemicals, tools and methods in the same situation.

Dusting

Traditional Cleaning:
In a traditional cleaning situation you may be using a feather duster to dust surfaces. You may also use a glass cleaning chemical that is alcohol or ammonia based, for wiping smudges from glass surfaces.

The problem with using feather dusters is that the dusts settles back onto the surfaces you just dusted, and it also becomes airborne. While airborne you can breathe in the particles, which can cause respiratory irritation and aggravate existing breathing disorders. You can have some of the same problems if you spray cleaning chemicals such as glass cleaner on surfaces. Trigger sprayers release the chemical as a fine mist, which can cause respiratory irritation.

Green Cleaning:
If you replace your feather duster with a microfiber cloth, the dust will become trapped in the cloth rather than getting spread around and becoming airborne.

If you replace the traditional glass cleaner with an environmentally friendly glass cleaner, you'll be producing fewer harmful vapors. You can also adjust the spray to more of a stream, rather than a mist in order to reduce the vapors released into the air.

Another "greener" method of cleaning is to apply the cleaning chemical to your microfiber cloth rather than spraying the surface. This reduces the amount of vapors released into the air and protects surrounding surfaces from overspray.

As you can see, making simple changes in the products, tools and methods you use to clean will put you on the road to offering green cleaning services.

Next week we'll have another example for you.

How You Can Improve Indoor Air Quality by Switching to Green Cleaning

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:28:44 +0100

How You Can Improve Indoor Air Quality by Switching to Green Cleaning

Did you know the air inside a building is usually 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air and can contain up to 100 times more pollutants than the air that's outside? Poor indoor air quality is a common problem in commercial office buildings, which is why many building owners and managers are requesting green cleaning services from their cleaning contractors.

Indoor air pollution can cause a wide variety of health problems including red, itchy eyes, sneezing, breathing difficulties, and skin rashes. It can even reduce a person's ability to perform mental tasks that require high levels of concentration, memory skills or calculations. What does this mean for your cleaning company?

Switching to green cleaning leads to a healthier work environment for a building's employees, visitors, and janitorial workers. Using green cleaning chemicals and techniques also means that your cleaning employees will not be exposed to as many hazardous chemicals. This means fewer potential problems such as spills and accidents that lead to employees missing work and the resulting higher insurance costs.

Poor indoor air quality comes from various sources, some of which will be beyond your control, such as building design or poor ventilation. But there are many things that a cleaning staff does have control over that can help to improve indoor air quality.

Begin by focusing on entryway mats (inside and outside). Many pollutants including dust, soil, salt, and grease come into buildings on people's shoes. Mats will help to trap and remove dirt before it they carry it through the building. Mats must be vacuumed frequently so they are effective at trapping soil and debris.
Use chemicals properly. Chemicals that are misted onto surfaces are airborne and can be inhaled. Rather than spraying the item you're cleaning, spray a small amount of chemical into the cloth. Better yet, adjust your spray bottles setting to a stream rather than a mist.
Switch to microfibers cloths and flat mops (as opposed to feather dusters and traditional mops) that trap soil instead of spreading it around or making it airborne.
Keep restrooms, kitchens and break rooms properly cleaned. Standing water allows mold, microbes and bacteria to grow. Food that is left out (including crumbs) also attracts bugs and pests.
Vacuum often and with the right equipment. Vacuuming frequently helps to keep dust and soil from spreading around the building and becoming embedded into carpeting. Using vacuums with hepa filters keeps dust and soil from becoming airborne.
When cleaning carpet use efficient equipment and drying methods. Equipment manufacturers are coming out with machines that work more efficiently than in years past, so upgrade your equipment if necessary. Carpets that do not dry thoroughly after cleaning can become a host for moisture problems and mold growth, so be sure to take measures to ensure carpet dries quickly.

A "greener" work environment means a healthier atmosphere for a building's occupants, visitors and janitorial workers. Using green cleaning techniques and chemicals helps to reduce the potential for spills, accidents and potential liability claims that can occur when using more hazardous chemicals. A study done by the EPA at a Washington DC elementary school found that after the cleaning company switched to green cleaning chemicals and procedures, airborne dust inside the building decreased by 52%, volatile organic chemical (VOC) concentrations decreased by 49%, bacteria decreased by 40%, and fungi colony-forming units deceased by 61%.

Today there are green products available for nearly every cleaning application. Green products are not only less toxic than traditional cleaning chemicals, they are just as effective. Most are also biodegradable and free of heavy metals and VOC's (volatile organic compounds). The sooner you make the switch to green cleaning the sooner you'll help to improve the building's indoor air quality as well as the health of building tenants and cleaning employees.

Have You Been "Greenwashed"?

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:26:39 +0100

Have You Been "Greenwashed"?

Increasingly we are being inundated with messages to be eco-friendly and planet aware. However, some companies are making claims that are not exactly representative of the products they are promoting. By meeting only the minimum standards for labeling themselves as "green" or "eco-friendly" some companies are promoting their products as suitable earth-friendly alternatives, when in fact they may not be. This is called "green washing".

Here are a few tips and tricks for you to use to make sure the products you are using are living up to their claims.

Know the terminology

A product labeled as "organic" only has to be 95% organic to use that label. A product that is 100% organic will say "100% organic". "CFC-free" is an often seen catch phrase related to ozone depletion, even though CFC's (Chlorofluorocarbons) were banned over 20 years ago.

Look for certification logos

Stiff penalties for misusing green certification labels go a long way toward making sure that companies can live up to the claims on their cleaning product.

The EcoLogo certification from Canada is the oldest environmental standard and certification program in North America, in effect since 1988. Their website lists over 7000 products that carry their certification emblem. Only products that have met the criteria are allowed to display the EcoLogo.

The Green Seal® label in the United States requires companies to submit their products for evaluation before being allowed to display the seal or have a listing on their site.

Natural doesn't always mean green

Arsenic and formaldehyde are two naturally occurring substances that you wouldn't want in your home or your cleaning products. Be aware that "all natural" products are not necessarily good for you and you must read the labels carefully to see what is actually in the product. Several "natural" ingredients are toxic.

Use the power of the internet

Several sites maintain lists of the products which they certify: www.greenseal.org and www.ecologo.org and several websites have lists of products that make claims that are not 100% accurate. Google the term green-washing for instance and you will find all sorts of sites ready to point the finger at offenders.

Buyer beware should be second nature by now for consumers. But with the explosion of awareness surrounding eco-issues, you must be extra careful to check into the claims being made on your products to ensure the manufacturers are indeed living up to their hype.

Do's and Dont's of Caring for Microfiber Cloths Steve Hanson

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:23:58 +0100

Do's and Dont's of Caring for Microfiber Cloths

How to make sure their microfiber cloths are sanitized after cleaning them. Some people have been washing them in hot water and/or adding bleach to the wash cycle. Many replied that using hot water is not good for the cloth because it breaks down the fiber, and most agreed that adding bleach is never a good idea.

David Holly, co-author of Green Cleaning for Dummies and founder of Green Cleaning University offered this advice on the topic of laundering microfiber cloths:

"You really have no worry about machine washing in hot water - the typical hot water temperature of a home or commercial machine is below the temperature that can harm the fibers of a well made micro fiber cloth.

The two products to avoid are bleach and fabric softener. Bleach WILL damage the fibers. Fabric softener eliminates "static cling" or electrostatic energy - this is a critical part of what makes a micro fiber work. However, if you accidentally use some fabric softener - don't panic - just rewash the cloth(s) and you'll be fine. There is no permanent damage from this.

When washing, use a VERY SMALL amount of detergent. Micro fibers release the soil when washed very easily. Overuse of detergent is at best wasteful and at worst will load the cloth with detergent that remains after drying. A good starting point is 1/2 the amount you would normally use for a comparable size load. As with many chemicals in our business - more is NOT better.

A single cycle is fine for cleaning the cloths. There is no additional benefit from washing for more than one cycle - just wasting water and energy. The nature of the fibers helps prevent mold, mildew or other "nasties" from growing. By the same token, drying is not necessary either. They will air dry very quickly and will not mildew as they dry. If you choose to machine dry - this is where temperature IS an issue. Use a LOW setting. Dryer temps are MUCH higher than wash temps.

Do NOT dry any other cloths, rags, towels or other clothing with your micro fibers if you choose to machine dry them. They will pull all of the lint off these other materials and become so loaded that they may be worthless in the future."

Disinfectants and Green Cleaning: How to Make a Safer Choice

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:20:11 +0100

Disinfectants and Green Cleaning: How to Make a Safer Choice

There is a lot of confusion surrounding the question of using disinfectants and providing green cleaning services. The first thing to keep in mind is that there is no such thing as a safe disinfectant - they are all designed to kill organisms.

As a green cleaning service provider, your goal is to look for opportunities to reduce the use of disinfectants. In many cases, people are using disinfectants in areas where a general purpose cleaner would suffice. If you just need to remove soil from a surface, then use a general purpose cleaner. Disinfectants should only be used in areas of high risk. High risk means there is a possibilty that a disease causing organism could be transferred from an object or surface to a person.

There are manufacturers who sell environmentally friendly disinfectants like Rochester Midland's Envirocare Neutral Disinfectant. What makes these types of cleaners "green", is that they are a less hazardous alternative to conventional disinfectants. In other words, they cause less damage to the surface you're cleaning, they're less corrosive, and they cause less irritation to respiratory systems. They do kill the organisms they're intended to kill, but without killing aquatic life.

So if you're searching for a way to replace your conventional disinfectants and still provide green cleaning services, look for a product manufactured by a reputable company who offers many Green Seal certified or Eco Logo certified products. These companies have done extensive research and development of environmentally friendly products.

Green Cleaning and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:18:29 +0100

Green Cleaning and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

Have you heard the term "green cleaning" but just aren't quite sure what it means to your cleaning business? Green cleaning is no longer the exception, but is growing in popularity and more and more businesses are asking their cleaning contractors to use "green" cleaning products and techniques. Green cleaning is not only better for the environment, but also creates a healthier workplace for employees, students and business visitors.

There is more to green cleaning than buying and environmentally friendly cleaning chemicals. Green cleaning is a whole system of cleaning that not only uses "less" toxic chemicals, but also different types of equipment, such as vacuums with hepa filters, and different techniques that decrease the amount of chemicals needed in the cleaning process.

The articles in our Green Cleaning section will help you to understand the actual process of green cleaning as well as knowing how to choose the best equipment and products to use for green cleaning whether it is in a residential or commercial situation.