Why Should My Cleaning Company Go Green?

There is growing evidence showing that green cleaning provides benefits not only to cleaning staff, but also to building occupants. Across the country more building owners are switching to green cleaning products and techniques or are asking that their cleaning service provider use environmentally sound cleaning techniques.

What does green cleaning mean? The federal government's Executive Order #1301 defines green products as "environmentally preferable" products and services that "have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose."

What are the benefits of a green cleaning program?

*Building owners that adopt overall green building practices can become certified as a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building. This certification shows that the building's owner has taken a role as an environmental leader. A cleaning company that cannot provide "green" services may soon face strong competition from companies that have taken strides to include environmentally sound practices in their everyday cleaning routines.

*Using environmentally friendly cleaning products is healthier for cleaning staff and building occupants. Studies have shown that building occupants, visitors and janitorial staff experience fewer incidents of skin, eye and respiratory irritation, fewer multiple chemical sensitivities, less severe allergies and decreased headaches and nausea when cleaning contractors use green cleaning products. Healthier employees are happier employees and productivity increases. This also leads to higher employee morale, reduced absenteeism, and higher efficiency.

*Employees and customers are demanding environmentally friendly practices more and more these days. A green cleaning program gives you an edge in marketing your cleaning company.

*Green cleaning helps to improve indoor air quality. Many traditional cleaning products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). When cleaning, these VOC's are released into the air through evaporation and can affect indoor air quality. The use of traditional cleaning products can also contribute to water pollution. Waste water treatment plants typically remove chemicals found in cleaning products, however, inadequately treated water can contain chemicals that are toxic. Using green products lessens or eliminates the chemicals that need to be treated.

*Besides the health aspects of green cleaning, the process provides benefits to the building. Using green products and practices, such as proper chemical storage, use and disposal, lessens the likelihood of fires, spills and explosions. As the products used are less dangerous, if there is a spill or other incident, there is less risk to janitorial workers and other building staff.

*Green cleaning can give a boost to your profits! Green products have become more competitive with its traditional counterparts. Once you factor in the potential hazards, such as burns from a high alkaline cleaner and loss of productivity, you actually save money by using environmentally safe cleaning products. Using energy efficient equipment, such as vacuum cleaners with hepa filters, and focusing on preventive maintenance, will lower expenses and replacement costs.

If you have not incorporated green cleaning products and techniques into your business, now is the time to start. Projecting a "green image" is good for the environment, good for your employees and good for your bottom line.

Steve Hanson is co-founding member of The Janitorial Store (TM), an online community for owners and managers of cleaning companies who want to build a more profitable and successful cleaning business. Visit our website to learn more about our complete line of green cleaning supplies and chemicals. Sign up for Trash Talk: Tip of the Week at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com and receive a Free Gift! Read cleaning success stories from owners of cleaning companies at http://www.cleaning-success.com/

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Home Improvement Projects - Chemical Knowledge

While the vast majority of individuals, think about home construction projects in the contest of bricks and lumber. Most projects involve the use of many products that contain chemicals.

There are two very important considerations when it comes to chemicals in products used for construction. The first concern is the general safety issues that are associated with the use and storage of the products and the second is the concern about chemicals that could have longer negative affects on individuals who suffer from allergies and asthma or have other respiratory problems.

Although common sense may tell us to never mix products that have chemical bases, it happens every day. The most common occurrence of product mixing is with cleaning products. Many cleaning products are chlorine based while just as many are ammonia based. Both are excellent cleaning agents and while it is of the utmost importance that care be taken when using products with either of these base chemicals – safety goggles and rubber gloves as they are toxic unto themselves. Mixing them produces chlorine gas, which is deadly. Mixing chemicals does not always occur by pouring one liquid into another, it can occur by accident or without thought – spilling chemicals on a floor or using one chemical after another are common events. Another common error is to use the same sponge or rag with two different cleaning products. Pouring chemicals down a drain, one after the other will allow the chemicals to mix in the drain trap.

It is almost impossible to undertake a home renovation or home improvement project without the use of a chemically based product. All glues, adhesives, mortar, cement, thin set, caulking, paints, polyurethanes, lacquer, and strippers are based on some chemical composition.

All chemically based products should be treated with a great deal of respect and caution.

Always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions – believe it or not, the manufacturer does know the safest and best way to use and store their product. It is also wise to read and make a note of the health notification on the product. In many cases, once the product is being used the instructions and health information that is on the label is obliterated to a point where it can no longer be read.

Families that have allergies or respiratory problems should be careful about what chemicals may have been used in the manufacture of finished products. Items such as carpets and rugs use adhesives to bond the backing to the fibers. Laminate flooring is the bonding of paper and wood chips under compression using adhesive. The same manufacturing techniques are used to create sheets of plywood, chip, and particleboard, including engineered hardwood. Foam insulation and underlayments, nylon and rayon are all products derived from petroleum. All of the aforementioned products may release small quantities of chemicals into the air throughout their life.

If you are concerned about any product, contact the manufacturer and ask for information on the chemicals used in manufacturer.

For additional information on home improvement and renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Prudehome

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To Clean or Not to Clean!

In my younger (much younger) days, I dabbled in the world of beauty pageants. I did not, however, (much to the chagrin of my husband) win the coveted “Miss Queen of Clean” title. I have two small children, run my own business from home, and do my best to regularly attend the shoe sales at the mall. Keeping a tidy house is just not a huge priority right now. I do however keep a hygienic house. (Well, I wouldn’t advise eating off my kitchen floor – but it’s not unsanitary.)

When I was pregnant with my second baby, my Doctor advised me not to clean house using common household cleaners, as inhalation of the cleaning products could harm my unborn baby. Needless to say, I took his advice extremely seriously. I did not clean house. My husband, Mr. Neat Nick, did. This perturbed me. (Not my husband cleaning house - the “not inhaling fumes from cleaning products” bit.) So began my mission! I spent hours on the internet and in the library. More hours on the telephone with poison control centers and cancer organizations. What I discovered shocked me.

The chemicals and toxins found in common household cleaners have caused the air inside our homes to become five times more contaminated than the air outside, and fifty percent of all illnesses are caused by or aggravated by polluted indoor air. OK, so I can open my doors and windows everyday right? Well maybe not if I am allergic to every tree and grass in Texas – and I hate bugs.

Pound for pound of body weight, children drink more water, eat more food, and breathe more air than do adults. For example, children ages one through five years eat three to four times more food per pound than the average adult American. The air intake of a resting infant is twice that of an adult per pound of body weight. These patterns of increased consumption reflect the rapid metabolism of children. The implication for environmental health is that children will have substantially heavier exposures pound for pound than adults to any toxins that are present in water, food, or air. As a consequence of this biological immaturity, they are less able than adults to deal with toxic chemicals and thus they are more vulnerable to them.

The labels on cleaning products only have to warn of the acute (immediate) harms from ingesting a product, breathing the fumes, or contact with the eyes and skin. They don’t reveal the harms presented by chronic (long term) exposure to the chemicals in these products. Many common household cleaners contain chemicals known to contain carcinogens (cancer causing agents), neurotoxins, and corrosives and/or have been linked to ADD/ADHD autism, allergies, asthma, central nervous system damage and interference, muscle spasms, damage to blood tissue, and reproductive disorders. A well known brand of baby shampoo actually contains formaldehyde. This was a huge shocker for me! (By the way many harmful chemicals like formaldehyde and dioxin or Agent Orange are protected by trade secret names. For example, formaldehyde is called Quaternium 15).

Thirty years ago the major childhood illnesses were chickenpox, measles and mumps. Now they are asthma, ADD/ADHD, Autism Spectrum, and Cancer – most of which have been linked to chemicals in the home.

Each year over 1 million children in the US are accidentally poisoned in their homes. More than 250,000 of these victims are hospitalized. 3000 children will end up in intensive care. Dozens more will die. Thousands of children and adults are permanently disfigured or injured through contact with chemicals in the home each year. The most common substance that poisons children in the US today is a well know brand of liquid dishwashing detergent. So what do we wash our “sippy cups” in?

I had discovered enough! I was on a mission to find a company that sold safe cleaning products. My Husband was delighted. Poor fellow thought I would take over the cleaning again. I found companies and stores that sold non-toxic cleaning products – all at a price. My search continued until I came across a company that sells better, safer products at dollar store prices! I was thrilled, and went to the mall to celebrate! I order once a month, and this company delivers the products right to my door – and, even better – I don’t have to order through a pushy rep – I can call the company direct or order online!

These products work (no elbow grease involved), smell great, and I don’t have to phone poison control if my child drinks the shower cleaner. Another plus is that my allergies have improved! They make a non-toxic product that kills dust mites, so now before I vacuum (around the Polly Pocket accessories and crayons), I spray my carpets with this product. It kills the mites, deodorizes, lifts the dirt and disinfects – all in one fell swoop! (I also spray this product on my pillows and mattresses).

Oh, and by the way, I have taken over the cleaning again. You still should probably not eat breakfast off my kitchen floor, BUT I am confident, that as a responsible parent, I am doing my part to protect my children from household toxics.

Debi will be happy to pass on the information on where to buy safer, non-toxic cleaning products. Email her at debitexas@comcast.net

Debi Nelson, born and raised in South Africa, moved to Dallas 4 years ago and started a Wellness Company which she manages from her home. She is a free lance writer and popular speaker/educator at hospitals, mothers groups, day care facilities, clinics, medical practices, schools and church groups. Debi and her husband have two daughters, aged seven and one, and a puppy called Chelsea!

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Household Cleaning Products: Your Health and the Environment

In the last 30 year the range and choice of cleaning products has soared and the amount of chemicals in use has risen from hundreds to tens of thousands; and yet we still have no clear picture of the long term health effects of some of these chemicals. Allergies appear to have risen alongside the use of these chemicals; many are powerful irritants despite their use in household and cosmetic products. It is also worth mentioning that some common household chemicals have been found in breast milk, and may cross the placenta. Household hygiene is big business and billions of pounds are spent every year persuading you that you need to protect the health and safety of your family through the use of their products, whilst revitalizing and relaxing yourself with their fragrances.

Many (or most) of these products are unnecessary, and contribute hugely to environmental pollution, with millions of disposable ‘easy wipe’ products filling our landfill sites every day. Since when did we become incapable of using a cloth to clean things? If you are addicted to the spray bleach, then read on; here are several simple ways to remove chemicals from your household; they will save you some money and get those arms toned up:

1. You can keep most things in your home perfectly clean using micro fiber cloths (www.enviroproducts.co.uk), which can be reused and washed hundreds of times, and due to their texture, remove dirt and grime without the need for ANY chemicals. Old toothbrushes will reach those difficult places which only the spray bleach seems to get.

2. Buy white distilled vinegar which is a natural disinfectant, and will remove stains and mineral deposits (lemon juice is also fabulous);

• 2-3tbsp in 3L warm water to wash windows, dry with crumpled up newspaper to shine.

• 1 tbsp in a scummy flower vase, fill with warm water, soak for ten or fifteen minutes and rub with a soft cloth before rinsing.

• For dirty floors and laminate mop with 8 tbsp vinegar per 3 liters of hot water.

• For carpet stains, oven cleaning and pet smells use equal amounts of water and vinegar.

3. Your next best friend is Bicarbonate of Soda which you should be able to buy in big boxes from your chemist. This harmless but powerful product can be mixed with water to dissolve grease and loosen dirt, or used as a paste to scrub more stubborn areas.

• Apply a paste of bicarb and water with a damp cloth to stainless steel, leave for five minutes before wiping clean.

• Make a solution to clean the fridge; bicarb also eliminates smells, so leave a little in a pot in the fridge with some lemon juice.

• For everything in the bathroom, make a paste of 2 parts bicarb to one part vinegar of lemon juice, apply with a damp cloth and leave for 10 minutes before wiping clean. For mildew leave for a couple of hours.

• For the toilet, use 8 tbsp in the pan over night, and clean the seat and porcelain with a sprinkle of bicarb on a soft cloth.

• For drains, use soda to hot vinegar 1:4 parts and leave overnight. Your drains will also benefit from the solution you use whilst cleaning.

4. Wooden furniture and floors can be cleaned with natural beeswax which you may be able to source from your local honey supplier or farmers market. Alternatively, use one part olive oil (not your finest) to one part lemon juice; rub in and then shine with a soft dry cloth.

5. Artificial fragrances (including those used in candles) are strongly linked to allergies, skin problems and also possibly cancers. It is easy to swap to using essential oils. Buy an oil burner, and buy quality pure essential oils to fragrance your home; 8 tbsp of bicarb in a bowl with some essential oil added will absorb unpleasant smells. (For essential oils and cosmetics, go to www.nealsyardremedies.com or www.culpeper.co.uk as well as your local chemist or health food store).

6. For washing powder, fabric conditioner and washing up liquid, try Ecover which is available in most decent supermarkets, or alternatively visit your local organic supermarket for a broader range; ours allows you to refill your bottles for extra green Brownie points. It may also be worth changing your usual washing products if you have anyone in the house with asthma, eczema, or other skin sensitivities or problems. If you use a tumble dryer, Dryer Balls from Eco Zone (about £9) will shorten drying time by 25% (saving the leccy) and soften clothes without recourse to chemicals. If you want some fragrance, place a cloth with a little essential oil into the drum.

If you live in the Bristol area why not try out The Better Food Companies Eco Store, selling a large range of products designed to make your home, and the environment a safer and happier place to be (www.betterfood.co.uk). Or for more ideas on cutting the chemicals in your home, visit www.ethicalsuperstore.com. The best thing about this way of living is that children can join in with the cleaning safely, there is nothing dangerous stored in cupboards, you will help anyone in the family with allergies and skin problems, as well as keeping pets safe, and you will be doing a big favour to the planet.

Vikki Scovell BA(hons) PG DIP is a fully qualified Personal Trainer and Fitness Coach. She is a qualified Nutrition Adviser, GP Referred Trainer and runs successful Community and Corporate Exercise classes and events. Vikki is a consultant in Healthy Eating and Exercise initiatives to schools in the independent sector and publishes School and General Healthy Living newsletters. Vikki believes passionately that everyone can make small changes to their lifestyle to ensure that they live happier, longer and healthier lives. She lives in Bristol in the U.K. with her partner Jeremy and two young children Apple and Honey. For enquiries for nutritional advice, personal training, corporate wellness and general enquiries visit http://www.getfitter.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vikki_Scovell

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