Green cleaning practices and eco-friendly cleaning services prioritize the well-being of people, animals, and the environment. They use products that are third-party certified by organizations like Green Seal and Safer Choice to be safe for human health while reducing the amount of waste produced.
Many traditional cleaners release harmful chemicals into the air and water which can negatively affect our ecosystem. Switching to green cleaners can drastically reduce the number of toxins released into our environment. Hire a professional Quality Cleaning service to get started.
Reduces Harmful Chemicals
Many conventional cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that can irritate surfaces, cause allergic reactions, and even create respiratory issues with prolonged exposure. These chemicals are also known to be environmental pollutants and they can enter waterways when cleaning is completed, causing contamination that negatively impacts the environment and human health. Green cleaning practices and eco-friendly cleaning services use natural cleaning products that are free of harsh chemicals, toxins, and synthetic fragrances. This reduces staff exposure to these harmful chemicals, as well as improves indoor air quality, and promotes a more healthy environment for everyone in the building.
Using environmentally friendly products helps to significantly reduce the amount of waste that is generated. This is because the cleaning materials are usually more effective than traditional cleaners, so less of the product is required to achieve desired results. Similarly, many eco-friendly cleaners are multipurpose, reducing the need for separate products for different tasks. Additionally, these products are typically low in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), which are released as harmful fumes, and are often biodegradable.
Green cleaning products are usually regulated by independent agencies so they must meet strict standards for safety, efficacy, and sustainability. These agencies test for things like toxic ingredients, carcinogens, reproductive toxins, irritation potential to skin and eyes, combustibility, and more. They may also require the product to be sourced and manufactured in an environmentally responsible manner, from production through disposal.
Many businesses that adopt green cleaning practices save money by cutting down on the need for traditional cleaning products and cleaning equipment. Surface damage and repairs, labor costs, worker’s compensation claims, and other associated expenses can add up quickly, so it is important to find sustainable cleaning solutions that offer cost savings. Green cleaning products often provide these benefits by reducing the need for costly repairs, surface damage, and re-cleaning, saving both time and money.
The environmental advantages of green cleaning are extensive and significant, but they can also make your business more competitive in the marketplace. Customers value companies that show commitment to the environment and implementing green practices is a great way to demonstrate this commitment. Additionally, green products and services can help your business achieve a certification for your buildings, which is becoming a more common requirement for new commercial construction.
Reduces Waste
Green cleaning practices promote the conservation of resources and the use of sustainable products. By limiting the amount of harsh chemicals used, these strategies can help reduce waste, water usage, and other environmental impacts.
Non-toxic cleaners also help improve indoor air quality. Many traditional cleaning products release volatile organic compounds into the air, which can contribute to poor indoor air quality. However, green cleaners typically don’t emit these harmful substances into the air and are biodegradable. This minimizes the impact of commercial cleaning activities on the environment, promoting a safer and healthier workspace for employees.
Green products are often cheaper than traditional products. This is because they are made from natural ingredients that are generally cheaper than synthetic chemicals. Additionally, most green cleaning products are packaged in recycled materials to further reduce costs. This makes it easier for businesses to switch to green cleaning products without increasing their cleaning costs.
Using environmentally friendly products also helps businesses save money on energy costs. By reducing the amount of electricity and water needed to power cleaning equipment, businesses can significantly cut their energy expenses. Additionally, many green products are made with renewable resources or recycled materials, which can further lower costs and reduce waste.
There are several ways that businesses can go green to save on energy and water usage, including turning off lights and appliances when they’re not in use, using reusable microfiber cloths instead of disposable paper towels, and repairing leaky faucets promptly. Businesses can also install water-saving fixtures and appliances, and collect rainwater to reuse for cleaning purposes.
By implementing these sustainable strategies, businesses can drastically reduce their environmental footprint and create a healthier workplace for employees. In addition, a clean and healthy workspace can improve morale and productivity.
The green cleaning industry is undergoing a significant shift in line with customers’ demand for greener products and greater sustainability from their service providers. This shift is driven by the global movement toward sustainability, which centers around meeting current needs in a way that doesn’t interfere with the ability of future generations to meet their own.
Improves Air Quality
Green cleaning practices use environmentally friendly products that have minimal impact on the environment. They are free of harmful chemicals and are made with biodegradable ingredients that won’t contaminate the water or air. This can significantly reduce the amount of pollution caused by commercial buildings. Green cleaning is a holistic approach that also addresses other environmental impacts like waste, consumption, recycling, and energy usage.
In addition, green cleaning can help to improve indoor air quality in a building. Traditional cleaning products often release harmful toxins into the air when they are used, which can make people sick. The toxins can also stick around in the environment for days, contributing to problems such as asthma, coughing, and headaches. Green cleaning reduces the amount of harmful chemicals in the air and focuses on using natural and biodegradable cleaners to keep buildings clean and healthy for staff, patients, and visitors.
Moreover, some conventional cleaning products are known to make bacteria stronger by increasing their resistance to antibiotics. Green cleaning uses less toxic cleaners that can kill the bacteria, leaving spaces disinfected and clean without making bacteria resistant to future treatments.
Another way that green cleaning improves the environment is by reducing the amount of paper and other products used to clean facilities. The use of microfiber cloths, for example, cuts down on the number of single-use paper towels that need to be thrown away. This can also reduce the use of plastic packaging that ends up in landfills.
While the benefits of green cleaning are clear, implementing it in hospitals can be challenging. Hospital administrators and cleaning staff may resist some of the changes required. This can be addressed by educating staff on the importance of green cleaning, including how it will benefit them personally and professionally.
Additionally, training is an important part of implementing a successful green cleaning program. This can help to educate cleaning staff about the ingredients in green cleaning products, and how they differ from traditional cleaning products. It can also provide information on proper product application, which is important because even products that are safe for the environment can cause harm if they are used incorrectly.
Improves Health
Green cleaning practices help reduce the use of harmful chemicals, which improves air quality and prevents harm to human health. Standard cleaning products are often made of a wide variety of harsh chemicals that can lead to headaches, dizziness, eye irritation, and other issues when inhaled. Some of these chemicals may also be absorbed into the bloodstream, leading to more serious health problems in the long run.
Green commercial cleaning focuses on using naturally occurring substances that break down harmlessly in the environment and do not contain additives or fillers. These products also do not require a lot of water to use and they minimize the amount of paper and other materials used in cleaning. This helps to reduce the amount of natural resources taken from the world and minimizes the harm that is done to our planet.
The main benefit of going green is that it improves the overall indoor air quality in the building, which is a big factor in employee and customer satisfaction. It also improves the safety of employees and customers, as they are not exposed to the dangerous chemicals in many standard cleaning products.
In healthcare settings, green cleaning can be particularly important to patient and staff safety. However, it is important to note that many infection control and environmental services professionals have concerns about moving too quickly to green cleaning. They need solid data that demonstrates the effectiveness of green cleaning procedures.
One way to address this is by focusing on the leadership of green efforts and setting clear goals that can be reached in a reasonable timeframe. It is also helpful to designate leaders who are passionate about sustainability and will actively champion the program.
The other major benefit of green cleaning is that it can contribute to a business’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) score. This is a growing trend, as consumers are looking for companies that support the environment and care about their community. Taking steps toward sustainable practices is a great way to show this and will help businesses to attract more customers.