The Truth about Green Cleaning Products

Every time you see your bathroom looks dirty, you begin pulling out all the conventional brushes, sponges, bleaches, sprays and start the scrubbing, you also begin to expose yourself to hundreds of chemicals that have known possible toxic effects.

A lot of safe household cleaning products per se indicates natural or synthetic tags on their products.

Consumers should be cautious of the term natural when used to describe cleaning products.

All of the chemicals used to make the ingredients that go with the cleaning products are found in nature.

Very few chemicals extracted from plants or the earth are used without further processing to obtain ingredients that perform a cleaning function.

Thus, the term being used as what they call natural to describe a final product can be misleading.

Very few chemicals extracted from plants or the earth are used without further processing to obtain ingredients that perform a cleaning function. Thus, the term being used as what they call natural to describe a final product can be misleading.

Green cleaning products claim to offer a safer option for all consumers as well as an earth-friendly effect but admittedly at a higher price.

What would a concerned individual or consumer do?

According to Tom Natan, a chemical engineer with the non-profit National Environmental Trust, the use of any natural cleaning products that work whether green products or conventional synthetic ones in small amounts and with proper ventilation will most likely not have any health effects or minimal effects.

The dilemma comes in when most consumers use more than one cleaning products for the bathroom or kitchen.

There is one for the toilet, one cleaning product for the mirror, perhaps one for the walls and surfaces, another green cleaning recipes or commercial item to clean mildew from tiles and then tons of what they call specialized cleaning options.

Certain chemicals commonly found in commercial and conventional cleaning products feature known or suspected problems for the people that use them and the environment once washed down the drain.

Volatile organic compounds found in these cleaning products and utilized to enhance its performance are believed to impair neurological functions while other chemical products can act as respiratory irritants, carcinogens or reproductive toxins depending on the extent of exposure according to the National Environmental Trust and other environmental groups.

Phosphates in these cleaning products can cause eutrophication of rivers and other bodies of water which can decrease the oxygen and water quality.

Sadly, there is minimal regulation of cleaning chemicals, and there is virtually no labeling requirements to let people know what the impact are when they get exposed to these products and how the earth or environment is affected.

In reality, the lack of solid basis and studies on many chemicals makes it difficult and sometimes confusing for consumers to have a decision in the natural cleaners vs chemical cleaners cycle.

This is the venue where consumers and buyers go to the option of environmentally safe cleaning products for the home and commercial establishments.

A lot of people are gearing towards these products as they provide health benefits of green cleaning products balancing it with the cleaning effects.

Other than the benefits and efficacy, green cleaning products come with some trade-offs. They are more expensive and may require more elbow grease to achieve the same level of visual cleanliness.

Many advocates of these green cleaning products are working on the performance of their items to bring them at par with that of the conventional ones.

They continuously test their products vis-a-vis against top rated conventional brands to make sure they clean comparably and to uplift more on the benefits of using green cleaning products.

The only conventional cleansers that green products can't completely match in terms of strength are those that contain chlorine, such as bleach. In those cases, the green cleaners take a little more scrubbing but can get the job done.

The largely American tendency toward germophobia has partly been fueled by advertising that promotes disinfecting cleaners that eradicate all bacteria in sight as the best way to protect your family from germs.

But you don't really need to kill the bacteria, you just need to get them off your table. In fact, disinfectants could do more harm than good to humans.

Many groups tested one popular disinfectant spray and found that it contained a chemical known to damage the reproductive systems in the offspring of pregnant rats, even in small amounts.

To clean your house, all you really need is some baking soda and vinegar as what many family use in their homes.

For instance, a little vinegar rubbed onto glass with a wad of crumpled newsprint will give you a streak-free shine on window panes. No glass-specific cleanser needed.

Article Source Here: The Truth about Green Cleaning Products

What is Green Cleaning and How It Impacts the Environment?

 

Green cleaning refers to the use of cleaning methods and products that are environmental friendly in nature as it contains ingredients and products that are designed to preserve and create no harm to the human health and environment quality.

These green cleaning products and techniques avoid the use of materials which contain toxic chemicals some of which emit volatile organic compounds which cause respiratory, dermatological and other dreaded conditions.

Green cleaning products may also refer to the all green cleaning described and done or manufactured, packaged and distributed in residential and commercial or industrial. If the manufacturing process is environmental friendly and the products are biodegradable, then the term certified green cleaning products or green may apply.

On this fast paced environment that we are living in, as lives become busier, over-scheduled and more stressful, it is a usual route that we lean towards the latest products in the market that would most likely promise to make annoying chores to be easier.

For example, if one needs a bathroom cleaner, he or she can just grab whichever bathroom cleaner he or she would prefer based on the color of the bottle or the popularity of the actual product.

Little that we verify, what it is in that container that was bought?

Experts say that most of the cleaning products are made up of enormous amount of chemicals which can definitely impact the health of users. As people are being more aware of the impacts and zooming in the market, people begin rethinking what they will be bringing into their homes.

If the manufacturing process is environmentally friendly and the products are biodegradable, then the term “green” or “eco-friendly” may apply. How did green cleaning companies came with the idea of coming up with the green cleaning products?

The biggest impact of cleaning products comes from the chemical content which has not been tested for safety. These pollute streams and rivers and take a long time to disintegrate.

The human impact is another story as these cleaning products have produced a range of unnatural compound synthetic chemicals when exposed to the environment produce components with consequences ranging from mild to severe for terrestrial and aquatic animals, humans and plant life. Some chemicals have been found to alter gene function.

Altered gene function often leads to changes in an organism’s proper development, with negative consequences to animal population resulting from grander upset in ecosystems. Consumer concerns have also been instigated by skin and eye irritation that occur upon contact.

In green cleaning, all products undergo green cleaning certification programs to ensure that all products are safe and would not produce the said effects. The eco friendly cleaning company guarantees to provide alternative methods of cleaning that makes use of environmentally friendly chemistry that can be as effective as the chemicals contained in cleaning products.

All products in the market ensures to live up with the green cleaning certification.

Experts like Leslie Reichert who is the author of “Joy of Green Cleaning,” and Sara Snow, author of “Sara Snow’s Fresh Living,” advocates green cleaning products and share reasons why people should begin the switch to these eco-friendly products.

1. Make sure of achieving Healthier Home – If one goes green, "No longer will there be chemicals absorbed into the skin or breathed in by the person cleaning," according to Reichert. Family members would gain health benefits as they no longer breath in cleaners of harmful effects in the air and sitting on surfaces. Studies were also done and proved that continuous use of non green cleaning spray even just once a week would raise risk of getting and developing asthma. Through the words of Snow on these harmful products, ……"today is the most common chronic illness and the leading cause of school absences due to chronic illness across the country."
2. Establishing purer environment – According to Reichert, when you use many cleaning products, "harmful chemicals are being released into the environment." Changing to greener methods and application of green cleaning tips will help reduce pollution to the waterways and the air and it also minimizes the impact on the ozone depletion and global climate change with fewer smog producing chemicals. Many green products also use recyclable packaging which minimizes waste.
3. Safer Products – Traditional and non-green cleaning products pose risks such as chemical burns to any household owners’ skin and eyes. The best green cleaning services manufacturing green cleaning products develops non-corrosive products and meet strict standards regarding inhalation toxicity, combustibility and skin absorption.
4. Better Air quality – Most people cannot stand the strong stench of chemical odors. Many green cleaning products including store bought and ones you can make at home emits pleasant natural essential oils. Reichert treats these products as her aromatherapy.
5. Less Expensive and more economical - "For home cleaning, vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, etc. can do the trick for pennies on the dollar, compared to buying conventional cleaning products," Snow says. Investing in green products also makes sense for other companies.
6. Fewer anti-bacterial – US Food and Drug Administration as well as American Medical Association promotes the use of antibacterial products such as soaps and detergents versus traditional and non-green cleaning products that produce harmful effects in the hormonal system and thyroid.

Government regulations don't require ingredients to be listed on any cleaning products. This is another reason Reichert is a strong advocate for making your own products at home, so "you know exactly what the ingredients are in your cleaning recipes."

Source Here: What is Green Cleaning and How It Impacts the Environment?

Dissecting the Need for Hiring Home Cleaning Services

Nowadays, families keep a very hectic schedule and are always on the go. Work, school, classes, gatherings and sports all take up the precious hours of the day and the week.

Unfortunately, house cleaning often takes a backseat versus the more enjoyable activities. For some, moving to a new home or office can be both exciting and stressful time for one’s life.

Though there are a lot of things to think about during a move and usually some things are not considered and planned initially.

Deep cleaning is one aspect of the move that needs to be given due consideration. This is the last thing that anybody wants to think about because of the time and energy needed to exert for such a cleaning.

In order to save one from the hassle and tiring effort, it is advisable to seek assistance form a professional house cleaning service to take care of this task for you while dedicating your time and energy on the other tasks needed. Now more than ever, home owners and business owners are opting to hire a cleaning company that can offer weekly or daily cleaning service at reasonable costs.

What to expect from house cleaning service?

The following are what cleaning services generally do as their cleaning routine:

• Thorough cleaning of kitchens and bathrooms
• Vacuuming of the house or office
• Mopping
• Making beds
• Dusting of all surfaces including baseboards and light fixtures

Deep cleaning or the more detailed cleaning is an additional service. Many cleaning companies require new clients to commit to an initial deep cleaning. A deep house cleaning will most likely cost you more than a general house cleaning.

Depending on the resources you have and the budget in place, one can arrange the frequency of cleaning ranging from weekly, every other week, monthly or preferred schedules in variation.

Every week is a usual common choice. One agrees to a trial run for two to four cleanings to test the service and if one is not sure about entering a long term agreement.

On average, the cleaning service rates run from $100 to $150. A deep cleaning service on the other hand is $300 to $400 depending on the size of the home or office.

Prices will change and vary depending on where you live, the scope of work and how often the schedule of the cleaning is.

Most commercial cleaning services rates also changes depending on the scale of work and services availed. Before any estimation of a price happens, a company will send an employee to view the home or office and determine the cleaning needs.

One should ensure to ask what the price includes and what you are expected to provide. Some cleaners supply products and equipment, others don’t.

Below are other questions or professional cleaning checklist:

• Will the same cleaning person or team be sent each time?
• How will you get into the home or office or business establishment?
• What's your policy if something is broken?
• Do you conduct background checks on employees?

What are the benefits of hiring professional house cleaners?

1. Cleaning is done on the schedule that one prefers

• Hiring professional cleaners allows you to set the schedule you want to have your home cleaned on a regular basis. You won’t have to wait to get around to doing these chores yourself. Just tell the cleaners what you want done, and it will be taken care of, quickly and correctly.

2. Professional cleaners bank on their experiences to get the right things done the right way

• One of the vital advantages of having professional cleaners care for your home or business is the ability to utilize the product and the techniques to get things done. One doesn’t need to purchase a wide range of products that may or may not do its part or role. Professional cleaners know what works and will provide the right products for your home’s needs.

3. Allotting time to do other things they would want

• Instead of sacrificing time to do most of the cleaning and arranging of house, hiring a cleaning service tips you to gain more time and have you enjoy experiences and make memories with your loved ones. If you want a little time for your own pursuits, having professional cleaners will free up the time you need to spend on hobbies, classes, educational pursuits or volunteering.

4. Less Fatigue

• Professional cleaners will give you the luxury of time to rest, save the best energy possible so that you can enjoy time off with your family, dedicate your efforts at work and create fun activities with friends instead of spending your energy doing household chores.

5. Consistent Results

• Professional house cleaners will ensure that your home is sparkling clean, week after week, regardless of the other events that are going on in your life. Your home will be cleaned consistently and will be ready for company, unscheduled guests or other spur-of-the-moment activities, regardless of how busy the rest of your life is.

Just make sure to confirm that the home cleaning company is appropriately licensed, insured and bonded. Check its reputation on a trusted online review site and ask for and contact references.

 

 

 

See More Article Here: Dissecting the Need for Hiring Home Cleaning Services

Going Green in Cleaning

You’ve probably might have heard about green cleaning processes, procedures, products and the likes and wondered what the term really is for.  Green cleaning supplies, natural or home made cleaning products that work as well as green cleaning products are now one of the smartest ways to clean your homes and dwellings without the fear of toxic or health hazardous results. These green cleaning products contain environmental friendly ingredients and follow a stringent process to preserve and promote safety of human health and environment quality. It involves green cleaning techniques and products which avoid the use of toxic chemicals, wherein some emit volatile organic compounds causing negative aftermath on respiratory and dermatological issues.

Nowadays, green cleaning services are very popular and would often collate a big market ranging from residential to industrial entities. Though it may sound easier at it may seem to look for such service contractors promoting safe cleaning products for the home, it is still difficult to search for a reliable one.

To help consumers in looking for environmentally friendly cleaning products in the US, EPA or Environmental Protection Agency’s for Safer Choice Program should be present in all of their products. Formerly known as Design for the environment, the EPA has been working for almost a year collecting ideas and discussing new label options for stakeholders and consumers and identifies products that may contain chemical ingredients safer for the consumers and the environment without sacrificing the product quality and efficacy.

To add to the Safer Choice label, there is also a Safer Choice Label for products that are fragrance free and products designed for use in businesses, office buildings, sports venues and schools with green cleaning certification.

Other than looking and ensuring that the green cleaning supplies you will be using are EPA SCP approved, below are 8 tips for green cleaning in your home utilizing store-bought cleaning solutions or homemade cleaners suited for your bathroom, toilet, kitchen and windows:

• Starting off with Green Cleaning Basics

  • Just like what grandma used to work with, these ingredients are completely safe and less costly of course. A good natural cleaning kit includes the following items:
    • Baking soda or Sodium Bicarbonate – it is considered a gritty scrubber and also reacts with acids like lemon and vinegar
    • Borax – it is a known disinfectant that whitens and deodorizes
    • White vinegar – loosens dirt and also a known disinfectant
    • Lemon juice – cuts through grease and a known disinfectant
    • Olive oil – picks up dirt and polishes wooden structure or surfaces
    • Castile soap – all purpose foaming cleaner
    • Washing soda – a caustic cleaner, a stain remover and laundry supplement

  • Make use of commercial products from Green Cleaning company

    • No need for any mixing or measuring and they can definitely do a great job in cutting through grease, removing stains and deodorizes the surrounding which would still require scrubbing and scouring to get surfaces as clean as good quality green commercial preparation.

  • Those that go down the drain

    • Avoid getting clogged drains by placing a strainer to keep hair, food particles and small materials from building up in the drains. Do not pour oil or grease directly through these drains instead, also pour a pot of boiling water to flush fats and grease build up in the linings of the pipelines. You may also use a plunger for unclogging. If that doesn't work, try a combination of 1/2 cup of baking soda, followed by 1/2 cup of white vinegar -- then cover the drain if you can, and let the foaming pressure do its stuff. If all processes don’t work, you may call a local plumber for professional assistance.

  • Eco friendly cleaning service and wood surfaces

    • Other than calling your local Green cleaning certified contractors, there are also some DIY methods you can use especially on wood surfaces. One may use home products such as vinegar and oil. The ratio of vinegar, oil and water will vary depending on the type of wood and the finish you have on top of it. For wood floors, try 1/4 cup of vinegar in 1 gallon of hot water. For wood furniture, start with 1 cup vinegar with 1 teaspoon oil.

  • Green cleaning methods for your windows

    • Clean your windows by adding 1/4 cup of vinegar to 2 or 3 cups of water. Some recipes call for a few drops of liquid detergent, and still others suggest you use only lemon juice added to water. You can use a newspaper to wipe, if newspaper inks don't bother you, or use a clean old cotton rag.

  • Loving my oven

    • Sadly, there aren’t much cleaning materials dedicated for oven and since food are the main users of oven, it is a must to avoid any toxic materials from building up inside these cooking equipment. Experts recommend sprinkling baking soda on the oven, then sprinkling water leaving the oven soaked overnight. The next morning, scrub and scour the surface carefully.

  • Green cleaning in your Bathroom

    • In an enclosed area with not-so-great ventilation and a lot of humidity -- like your bathroom -- green cleaners make a lot of sense. Use baking soda and vinegar as a toilet scrub, and borax gets rave reviews as a tub and tile scrubber.

  • Green Cleaning and fresh air

    • In an enclosed area with not-so-great ventilation and a lot of humidity -- like your bathroom -- green cleaners make a lot of sense. Use baking soda and vinegar as a toilet scrub, and borax gets rave reviews as a tub and tile scrubber.

 

Check out Green Ladies Cleaning at Madison Wisconsin. Your friendly neighborhood green cleaning service:

Post Source Here: Going Green in Cleaning

How to Choose Commercial Cleaning Contractors

There is indeed a strong relevance between work productivity with that of the cleanliness of the job or office environment. According to a study conducted by the US Center for Facilities Research, a lack of cleanliness becomes a distraction while good learning and workable environments are created by focusing on having orderly cleanliness.

Also in a study spearheaded by HLW International LLP, in a study conducted with 400 managers and employees, productivity levels were dependent and are influenced by the cleanliness of the office where they do most of their work in. Office cleaning generates quantifiable results when it talks about employee productivity.

The institution reported a 5% increase in productivity gain which equates to $125,000 in a 100-employee profiled office with average earnings of $25,000.

In support of this mind set of a poor work environment means poor employee output and vice versa, many companies and offices place due amount of consideration in the cleanliness of the work environment as this is also the first thing customers, clients and employees tend to notice.

Many commercial or business cleaning services are contracted to zoom in services ranging from office and contract cleaning, event and window servicing, carpet and kitchen dusting, end of lease and ventilation cleaning etc. Each of the contractors works with independent companies through to national chains.

These include offices, retail premises, buildings, public areas, medical facilities, educational institutions, gymnasiums, hotels, churches, restaurants, bars and small to large scale factories.

As an account manager or company owner weaves through the piles of proposals from different professional commercial cleaners, the default response or action that one does is to filter these most probably on how much the cost will be.

When it comes to forking out the best commercial cleaning contract, cost will be a big factor for the decision making. However, cost is not the only thing that one should consider.

The following will be a list of other factors that a company or a business establishment should consider:

• Reviewing company needs

• • Every office cleaning requirements will be unique to the premises and organization. The cleaning contractor that one will employ should be able to diagnose and carry out a detailed assessment of the organization’s needs and the estimators must accurately price the tasks to ensure value for money and that high standards are being met. Select a service provider who can cover all range of services that one requires from window cleaning to specialist hard floor cleaning.

• Checking cleaning contracts nearby

  • Make sure to visit and inspect the cleanliness of the site and branches within the area and coordinate with the facilities manager to get straight and honest insights. It is also important to have these sites close to your main office so that immediate actions or responses will be applied and deployed in times of need. The contractors would be able to be there quickly and one can be confident at all times. A dedicated account manager will also be readily available to oversee all processes and queries or any issues can be raised and actioned upon in an effective and efficient manner.

• Reviewing researches and testimonials

  • Before committing to any new service providers, a company should be able to know if they are trustworthy and a reliable organization. Ask for client testimonials and check out the portfolio of clients to ensure whether the expectations are consistently met and measure the customer satisfaction. Other than the quality of the service, one would also be able to gauge and verify the contractors’ legal credentials, insurance, certifications and accreditations to operate.

• Scouting the service providers’ staff and crew

  • The staff on the ground in the premises will serve as the face of the organization and each one of them should not only be trained to the highest standard but also act in a professional and business-like manner. A polite, honest and friendly workforce is an indication of a solid management and culture of the organization they belong to.

• Measuring the flexibility and reliability

  • It is important that the cleaning providers would be able to work when you need them even if it is early mornings or evening shifts. They must harmoniously fit in the organization’s work schedules. This is to ensure a smooth running of the business and the details of the work should also be indicated in the contract provided by the account manager.

• Verifying the environmental initiatives in place

  • Cleaning can be a very wasteful and environmentally harmful task if done with no proper consideration. A very important factor that a company or business establishment should consider will be the initiatives they have to protect the environment and reduce waste. Choose an office cleaning contractor who has the passion to of cleaning while protecting the environment and the health of its clients. The organization should make use of the best eco-friendly; green products available so that one can be assured that there will be no trace of any toxic chemicals or hazard pollutants in the office premises.

Eco-cleaning is best for both home and commercial environment. Balancing between getting the right skilled, competent and thorough cleaning contractor with that of using eco-friendly products are the key principles of Green Ladies Cleaning Services.

Green Ladies Cleaning Services uses certified ecologically-responsible cleaning materials on everything as they carry out each task with genuine love and enthusiasm. Clean environment, clean Earth serves as their battle cry.

Read More Here: How to Choose Commercial Cleaning Contractors

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How Ap-peeling is This Eco Idea?

We love to read any news about people embracing eco-cleaning methods.  It’s good for us and it’s good for the planet.  But we have to confess that we were really impressed with the efforts of Jessica Tan Wee Loo, a mom of three from Malaysia.  

Determined that the pulp from juiced fruit shouldn’t go to waste, Jessica started experimenting until she had hit on a formula.  A 3-month fermentation period of the fiber and skin from citrus fruits and pineapples, in a sugar and water solution was the breakthrough that Jessica had been looking for.

Harnessing Enzyme Power!

Harnessing the power of the fruit enzymes was key to creating products that work brilliantly, and have impeccable eco-credentials.  

"Enzyme cleaners are chemical-free, biodegradable and gentle on the hands and the environment.  The cleaners are also natural insect repellents which means they keep ants and cockroaches at bay without harming them."

 

Jessica Tan Wee Loo

Determined to continue with her environmentally sound approach, Jessica asked family and friends to let her have any empty bottles suitable to house the product, rather than buying new ones.

[caption id="attachment_41983" align="aligncenter" width="769"] J Homemade natural Cleaners Products by Jessica Tan[/caption]

New Use for Juice

She also made contact with a company that produces cold-pressed juices and persuaded them to let her have the leftover peel and skins from the juicing process.  

The cleaning products, which Tan distributes from her home in Kuala Lumpur, are proving popular.  Initially sold from a local market, the recycled and repurposed cleaning products are now sold online and delivered nationally.  

With a second enzyme-based scouring paste now available, made from the fermented fruit waste and good old baking soda, Jessica’s creativity and determination to create ethically and environmentally sound products is inspiring.  

 

What Can We do to Help?

Now while we can’t all go back to our kitchens and start knocking up cleaning products from the contents of our fruit bowl, what we can do is allow our conscience to be tweaked a little.  

There’s no need to use most of the chemicals that we do in our homes.  Some are unpleasantly toxic and others downright harmful to the environment.  

When you hire our house cleaning services, you don’t need to worry about what products are being used in your home.  We guarantee that all of the cleaning products we use, on every bit of your house, from the windows to the toilet bowl, have been certified with an A rating with The Environmental Working Group.  

 

Join Our Happy Customers!

Lots of the pollution that we’re exposed to in our day-to-day lives is beyond our control.  But we can make the decision to reduce toxins at home.  Our customers enjoy more free time and a sparklingly clean home with the comforting knowledge that it doesn’t come at any cost to the environment.

 

Over to You!

We’re really excited to hear about people like Jessica Tan Wee Loo, and her inventive approach to eco-cleaning.  It’s heartening to know that all over the world, people are looking for effective and sustainable alternatives to chemical cleaners.  

Have you successfully up-cycled anything to create something useful or fun?  Old tires have made cool swings for kids for generations, and growing herbs in cleaned out tin cans with holes punched in the bottom can look great!  

Hop on over to our Facebook page and share your ideas and photos!  

 

See More Here: How Ap-peeling is This Eco Idea?