ECO-FRIENDLY, GREEN CLEANING & WHY
Can it be as effective? Is it really that much safer?
YES AND YES! "Green cleaning" provides a doable choice to the tried and true products on the market today.
What is "Eco-Friendly, Green Cleaning" and WHY is it better?
"Green cleaning" can be defined as “effective cleaning that protects health without harming the environment.”
The federal government first defined “green” and “environmentally preferred purchasing” as “…products and services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products and services that serve the same purpose” with Executive Order 13101 in 1998.
This executive order has subsequently been superseded since 2007 by Executive Order 13423, which places additional emphasis on issues of sustainability and also considers product life cycles.
"Green cleaning" is, in essence, cleaning using products and procedures that are safe for the environment and do not emit any pollutants when used. Its keeps such harmful chemicals out of your home and business, such as:
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Formaldehyde...this has actually been found in certain laundry detergents.
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Thiourea
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Perchloroethylene
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Nonylphenol Ethoxylate
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Butoxydiglycol
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DEGBE
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Phthalates...these are often listed as "fragrance"
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Ammonia
With "Green cleaning" and "Green" products you are effectively and actively reducing a significant amount of exposure to many toxins and pollutants. "Green" cleaning products are also better for the environment if you are using something that needs to go down the drain. Remember, what goes into our water and food systems eventually come back to us!
With non-green cleaning products, you get pollutants being released into the air, water and soil, as well as often times invisible, toxic residues leftover after a typical chemical "cleaning". There are a myriad of synthetic compounds in cleaners that are toxic and harmful, and can be released in the air, water sources, onto human bodies, etc. Green cleaning products are made to not pollute and to be better for the environment and for your health.
In summary, implementing "Green Cleaning" effectively:
● Reduces pollution in our water
● Maintains better air quality
● Reduces exposure to allergy-causing substances
● Reduces exposure to pollutants that have been found to cause cancer, neurological disorders, learning disabilities, infertility, hormonal imbalances and more.
Please continue scrolling to find a helpful list of commonly asked FAQS regarding "Green Cleaning".
FAQS
The low down on the Green Scene
IS "GREEN CLEANING" THAT MUCH SAFER FOR MYSELF, MY HOME, MY BUSINESS AND MY FAMILY?
YES! Green cleaning is important not only for the environment and our planet, but for the health of the general public. For the health of yourself, your family, your home, your employees, to your business’ ecological footprint, green cleaning reduces pollutants in the environment. It doesn’t cause the health problems typically caused by non-green cleaning products. As mentioned above, praciting "green cleaning" helps prevent much unwanted exposure to harmful chemicals.
DO "GREEN" CLEANING PRODUCTS WORK AS WELL AS TRADITIONAL ONES?
Experts agree that most of them actually do. Plus, all three major certifying organizations—Green Seal, DfE, and EcoLogo—set performance standards too, which a product must meet in order to be certified. Some green cleaners can disinfect as well. The most common ingredients used in green sanitizing products are hydrogen peroxide, citric acid, and lactic acid and Tea Tree Oil, which are all considered safer antimicrobials.
HOW DO "GREEN" CLEANING PRODUCTS DIFFER FROM TRADITIONAL CLEANING PRODUCTS?
It depends on the product. Generally, it will be safer for human use and it will have a more favorable environmental profile than a “traditional” product because it will be formulated without ingredients that have been demonstrated to have a negative impact on human health and the environment. If it is a disposable paper product or trash bag, it will contain a recommended amount of post-consumer recycled content, or be made from more rapidly renewable materials. If it is a piece of cleaning equipment, it will contribute to better indoor air quality or use less water, and if it is a vacuum cleaner, it will meet filtration requirements set by the Carpet & Rug Institute.
WHAT "GREEN" CLEANING PRODUCTS DO YOU USE?
For our residential, Vacation, Rental or For Sale property accounts: We use a variety of different green cleaning products that you can feel safe about being used in your home or office. Some of these include Seventh Generation, Borax, Baking Soda, Bon Ami, Vinegar, Murphys Hard Wood Oil Soap and Simple Green. We are always testing new green cleaning products as they appear on the market personally.
For commercial/industrial contracts: Depending on what is needed, whether it be hardwood floor cleaner or heavy-duty kitchen degreaser, we will be partnering with a commercial industrial cleaning product manufacturer this year to be able to provide the highest quality products to our commercial clients. We will also be receiving our company-wide certification by Green Seal® soon, the nation’s premier ecolabel and leading certification specialists in the green cleaning industry.
WHAT IS "GREEN WASHING"?
Green Washing applies to the cleaning industry when companies advertise green cleaning services that don't reduce the impact placed on the environment. For example, some companies may place bleach in a recycled container and call it a "green" house cleaner. While containers with recycled-content help the environment, consumers are misled to believe its contents are also environmentally-friendly. Molly Maid believes in an open, honest approach to help you find the right balance between environmentally-safe products and a clean, disinfected home that protects your family from unhealthy germs.
HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY DISINFECT PROPERLY WITH GREEN CLEANING PRODUCTS?
We offer non-acidic, pH balanced cleaners without petroleum, alcohol, ammonia or other chemicals but that still contain antibacterial and antimicrobial qualities.
HOW IS LOOKS LIKE NEW CLEANING SERVICE AN "ECO-FRIENDLY AND GREEN COMPANY" OVERALL? WHAT STEPS TO DO TAKE TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT?
Looks Like New Cleaning Service is committed to upholding the nationwide caliber to what it means to be a “Green” company. We are currently seeking out nationwide certification that all of our employees will be trained on. Our cleaning products are free of ammonia, petroleum and other harmful toxins, some mentioned on this site. We remain committed to always reusing bottles, reducing product waste, reducing company waste every way possible, optimizing routes to increase efficiency on the road, recycling whatever we can while attempting to reduce the amount of trips we take to the recycling center, accepting donated rags, buckets, brooms, etc. that we can make use of; while also helping educate our clients on the importance of green cleaning, recycling and how it affects us locally, as well as globally.
At Looks Like New, we also strive to inspire our local community, as well as, get them involved on a local scale, by means of hosting Ecological Cleanup Events planned to make a direct impact on our community. We also will be hosting educational seminars, focusing on land and trash cleanup with a strong emphasis on recycling, as well as, river and stream cleanup and how water quality can and does affect us all. We are hopeful you will join us for one of our events to come make a difference in your community and on this planet we all call home. Please click on Events to see if we have any upcoming events planned.
