Oct

15

What is Green Cleaning?

Green cleaning means the application of a cleaning technique or a cleaner that is environmentally friendly and safe for humans. Green cleaning aims to reduce environmental effects on health and safety than conventional cleaning and use of chemicals.

Reducing Harmful Chemicals

The fundamental principle of green cleaning involves eliminating toxic compound products for cleaning. Most traditional cleaning agents have ammonia, bleaching agents, VOCs and phthalates. These chemicals, if in contact with these, cause eye or airway irritation or lead to more severe diseases if inhaled during cleaning.

These are not used in green cleaning products to provide sustainable cleaning because they contain toxic chemicals and do not dispose of organic matter quickly. The most used substitutes include citric acid, hydrogen peroxide, vegetable soap, wintergreen oil, and enzymes. These have disinfectant and cleaning ability but are not as harmful to health as the other compounds mentioned above.

Improving Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air pollution is rife in schools, offices and homes and thus worsens the quality of air we breathe. This generally occurs mainly due to the evaporation of volatile components in furniture and other materials used in the household, plus the remaining chemicals in cleansers. Headaches, asthma attacks, and chronic lung disease might be the consequences.

Green cleaning improves indoor air quality in a few key ways:

Disposing of cleaning materials that don’t release toxic volatile organic compounds into the air

Washing with water only or using microfiber cloths, mops that pull in and retain more dirt and bacteria without necessarily requiring harsh chemicals

Setting up screening mechanisms and certification programs about the types of products applied to meet strict emissions level

Consequently, the building has better and healthier surroundings for the occupants to enjoy.

Conserving Energy and Water

As mentioned earlier, regular cleaning detergents need a lot of energy and water to produce. It also leads to enormous productions of greenhouse gases and wastewater pollutants.

Green cleaning conserves these natural resources by:

Using plant-based and biodegradable materials that need lower energy input for processing.

Promoting grouped or bulk refilling solutions rather than individual bottles or containers

Producing goods within the country to reduce transport related pollutions

Replacing pure new plastics with packing materials recyled from used ones

Extensive research indicates that green cleaning programs can lower the impact of cleaning by up to 90%.

After Green Certifications and Standards

Credible green cleaning programs and products should complete third-party standards and certifications.

Some of the significant green certification programs include:

EcoLogo: Approves cleaning products used in industries and institutions by such specifications as biodegradability, recycled content, no use of carcinogenic and reproductive toxins and environmentally sound production process.

Green Seal: Conveys certification on the sustainability of products, services, companies, and industrial cleaners and degreasers. Includes carcinogen limits, VOC limits, skin and eye irritation control and concentrated formulations.

EPA Safer Choice: The safer chemical products recognized by the EPA. Contains standards related to protecting both human health and the environment ranging from the pre-production through the disposal stage of a product. Purposes include home and industrial use for cleaners.

USGBC LEED: Existing buildings operations and maintenance also provides credits for its members for using green cleaning materials, equipment, and policies.

Therefore, These certifications give customers confidence that the products conform with third-party defined parameters of green cleaning for health, environment and social justice.

Green cleaning programs and methods

If only we adopt the use of green cleaning products, then we are half way through, a green cleaning program entails the right balance, that is the use of green cleaning products and effective cleaning practices.

It involves:

Proper Staff Training: Educate the custodial staff on the program’s purpose, the appropriate application on the products, and following best practices to enhance clean and minimize the environmental impact.

Effective Cleaning Systems: Inspect the characteristics of the spaces to be cleaned to find out what cleaning systems can provide a satisfying standard of cleanliness relative to that situation. While disinfecting and eradicating every contamination, it is also essential to avoid unnecessary use of chemicals, energy and supplies.

Proper Equipment and Tools: Employ microfiber fabrics, high-efficiency vacuums with HEPA filters, no-touch floor cleansing equipment, and others that eliminate efficiently, do not spill contaminants and use little solution.

Measurement and Reporting: Calculate metrics including a slowdown in energy consumption, more significant water conservation.

Waste Minimization: Employ recycling policies particularly where one is able to implement concentrated chemicals as opposed to packaged ones, was able to implement bulk refill systems, support the use of durable items over disposable ones and work together with suppliers for take-back and reuse programs.

When integrated in these fields, organisations can achieve efficient green cleaning efforts that are healthier, safer and for the environment.