| What is Green Cleaning? |
|
Green cleaning can be defined as cleaning to safeguard human health while minimizing the impact on the environment. Its goal is to protect the health of building occupants, visitors, and cleaning personnel, as well as reduce the polluting affects on our air and water. Green cleaning is more than just using green products. The success of a green cleaning program is dependent on numerous other factors. While the selection of products is important, it will have little effect in an otherwise inadequate cleaning regime that leaves facilities dirty and the health of occupants, visitors, and the environment at risk. Green cleaning encompasses a total program including chemicals, procedures, equipment, paper, liners, mops, matting, everything used in an effective cleaning program. Chemicals are the second greatest source of outdoor air pollution in the Los Angeles region. Think of their impact indoors, where they're used. Levels of pollutants can be from 2 to 5 times higher inside than outdoors. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) VOC'S in daily cleaning chemicals can build up for months and years in the enclosed space of office buildings and homes. In the short term, VOC's can cause headaches, dizziness, watery eyes, respiratory problems, rashes, sneezing, and other allergic reactions. In the long term or in very high exposures, many of these chemicals have been linked to nervous system damage, hormone disruption, and cancer. In addition, we are breathing in a mixture of chemicals rather just one exposure at a time. The choice to go green doesn't just look good on paper. Many green manufacturing practices and materials save money and mitigate health risk. Products that reduce energy consumption, for example can deliver savings to organizations for years and years to come. But green building and procurement practices also create healthier places to live and work. It is the smarter and healthier way to clean.
Q & A Benefits of Green cleaning What makes a building sick? |
|
ATTENTION PARENTS Scrubbing nurseries with germ killing products is a common practice among parents worried about microorganisms. Spending money on antibacterial agents may give parents a sense of security and a peace of mind but it is a false security. Using antibacterial products is a bad idea, especially around children - Quoted by Elizabeth Sword, executive director of the Children's Health Environmental Coalition. During their first years, kids have to develop an immune system to fight off the basic colds and flu's. When parents use these products, they kill the good bacteria with the bad bacteria. Germ killing soaps are unnecessary and risky. Most antibacterial's contain pesticides! and sometimes even formaldehyde. More than 200 parents called the injury and illness network for advice on coping with nerve damage after bathing young children with antibacterial soap during the 1990's. Because of this many companies lightened up on the amount of toxins they put in those soap but they are still part of the formula in many antibacterial soaps. Parents can consult these nonprofit and government resources for an array of information and guidance about creating healthy surroundings for children of all ages. See Links- More and more children and adults have developed new allergies and standard cleaning chemicals are known to contain toxins found to cause asthma, allergies, itchy skin, burning eyes, headaches, and fatigue. Many home owners, families pet owners, go green to protect the health of their families. You have the option of having us use certified and environmentally preferable products versus all natural products in your home. The difference are the number of chemicals used , for instance all natural use more vegetable based surfactant. While certified and environmentally preferable products are made by manufacturing companies that make cleaning chemicals that have been certified by third party organizations that make sure that they are safer for human health and the environment while working just as well or better than their standard counterparts. Still undecided? Try them both ways and then decide. |
