Green Cleaning

Global climate change has become a matter of increased significance among many companies. As a result, products and activities have started to turn "green." The world of cleaning products is no exception to this trend. "Green cleaning" is a term used to describe the use of cleaning materials that contain environmentally friendly ingredients and chemicals for industrial, manufacturing, and household cleaning. The reason that many people are "going green" is to deal with the human illnesses and environmental damage that result from exposure to and disposal of certain products. Toxic chemicals that can cause personal and environmental damage are eliminated with green cleaning techniques, protecting both the environment and the health of individuals. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits the amount of human exposure and the release of toxic chemicals into the environment, but still allows some of these chemicals to be used. Green cleaning aims to eliminate use of these toxic chemicals entirely. Advancements in chemical technology have made it possible to create equally effective cleaning products without these harsh chemicals.

Green cleaning also includes environmentally friendly manufacturing, packaging and distributing processes for cleaning products. If a product is created in a certain way and it is made of biodegradable material, it can be considered "green."

There are a number of advantages to using green cleaning methods, one of the most important being improved health. Harmful chemicals are found in a wide variety of products used today, including certain foods, clothing, and construction materials. Reducing exposure to these chemicals by using green cleaning reduces health risks. A few examples of the common cleaning agents that can be harmful include all-purpose cleaners, glass cleaners, and bathroom cleaners. All-purpose cleaners may contain ingredients that can cause headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, and can also irritate the eyes, nose, throat and mouth. Glass cleaners irritate the eyes, nose, throat, skin, and can cause coughing and shortness of breath. And some bathroom cleaners can severely irritate the skin, may cause eye damage, in addition to coughing and shortness of breath. Without these harmful ingredients, cleaning agents are safer.

A green cleaning program in a commercial or industrial setting can also create many other benefits. In order to gain the maximum results from a cleaning program, there are a few guidelines that can be followed. The program can use procedures that result in the most effective cleaning results, but also offer the best protection to workers and other occupants of the facility. Proper training of techniques and education of the products to the cleaning staff is also contributes to a successful program. The products that are used are important as well. As ecologically friendly cleaning products become more and more available to consumers, companies can replace traditional, harmful products. If these guidelines are followed, a number of benefits may result. Some health benefits include a reduction in liability from worker safety issues, and the health of building occupants and cleaning staff improves, which can result in fewer sick days. The community may give recognition for reducing pollution and protecting the environment, which can increase business. The morale of employees may increase, resulting in improved productivity and confidence. And by initiating a green cleaning program, one can also gain a sense of satisfaction from helping to make the community and environment a healthier place.