When it comes to janitorial services at your facility, those that practice green cleaning know that there is a more earth-friendly way of doing things. Not only is green cleaning safer for the environment, there is less exposure to toxins and harmful chemicals.
There are a few differences to be aware of when focusing on a "greener" way of running your business and the following are just a sample of what makes the difference.
Materials Used for Green Cleaners
Even the very materials used for green cleaning can make a huge difference in how you clean.
For instance, microfiber cloths are more useful than regular cleaning cloths; this is due to their construction. Micro-fiber cloths have fibers that are extremely small and can get to places that traditional cloths cannot such as tiny cracks and crevices. In fact, their fibers are so tiny that they are smaller than a human hair. Another plus is that they have something unique - an electrical charge. This charge allows the cloth to pick up more dust, allergens, dirt, and debris than their counterparts and this charge remains active until the cloth is washed.
Regular mops also have the right kind of fibers to remove more dirt. You probably have seen many places still use them and there's a good reason they're still popular after all of these years.
How Do Green Cleaners Differ When it Comes to Cleaning?
One difference in how green cleaning differs is with the amount of floor shine. You may notice with traditional cleaners that the floor is shiny once you clean it. However, this is somewhat of a false positive, so to speak. The shiny floor does not mean that the area is more clean. In fact, green cleaners do the same job but the ingredients are different. What you find in cleaners with chemicals are components that make a shiny floor but these are not ingredients that are helpful to the environment, nor do they mean that the floor is cleaner.
Another difference you may notice is the scent. While many green cleaners have a subtle, clean scent some people equate the smell of strong cleaners to a more clean area and this is not the case. Whether it is bleach or fragrances, these do not mean that the product is working better, just that it gives off a stronger smell. Many of us grew up around these strong scents and while it may bring back memories of cleaning day, the smell you're used to doesn't equal the best choice.
What About Green Equipment?
According to the California Department of Public Health, green equipment is an optimum choice as well due to its ability to lessen the chances of people being exposed to products that can irritate those with asthma.
Green equipment is frequently asthma-friendly because it effectively removes allergens like dust and mold and uses fewer chemicals that may cause or worsen asthma. Green equipment also requires less water, and is designed to increase productivity and reduce injuries. These technologies can help save schools money in the future on health care costs, and possibly on asthma-related absences.
This equipment includes abrasive floor pads, carpet extractors, floor burnishers, steam cleaning equipment, vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters, and walk-off mats, just to name a few.
Read More: How to GREEN your Pest Control Practices
Green products usually work best when the area is maintained on a regular basis. This lessens the need to do extreme scrubbing. Setting up your regular cleaning in a preventative maintenance scheduler will help guarantee areas are done regulary and nothing is being neglected. This also allows you to confirm when it was cleaned last and by who in case there is ever an issue.
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