Going Green with Cleaning... - Cleaning Talk - Professional Cleaning and Restoration Forum

VirginiaSocial · 08-11-2009, 09:00 PM

The impact of "Going Green" with your cleaning business, whether it's residential or commercial will be significant and the overall positive impact it will have on us all as well as the planet. Cleaning companies (residential or commercial) need to take a proactive role when it comes to making positive environmental changes. Look at some statistics below and the sheer volume that consumers as well as professional/commercial cleaning services use is enormous. Companies need to look at this as a trickle-down effect, if you start at the top with large commercial janitorial/professional cleaning businesses it will trickle-down to the residential level too.

*17,000: the number of petrochemicals available for home use, only 30 percent of which have been tested for exposure to human health and the environment.

*63: the number of synthetic chemical products found in the average American home, translating to roughly 10 gallons of harmful chemicals.

*100: the number of times higher that indoor air pollution levels can be above outdoor air pollution levels, according to US EPA estimates.

*275: the number of active ingredients in antimicrobials that the EPA classifies as pesticides because they are designed to kill microbes.

*5 billion: the number of pounds of chemicals that the institutional cleaning industry uses each year.

*23: the average gallons of chemicals (that's 87 liters) that a janitor uses each year, 25 percent of which are hazardous.

Many commercial cleaning services seem to be adopting a "green" philosophy and are implementing steps and procedures to use "green" enviro-friendly products. One commercial cleaner I noted that has adopted a "green" program is MisterKleen.

Superbpack · 12-02-2009, 05:45 AM

"Green Cleaning" has reached the point that it can simplify your life, in addition to doing neat things for users and for the environment. We took on a JohnsonDiversey hydrogen peroxide based cleaner/sanitizer, AlphaHP; using it with microfiber cloths let us retire four other nightly used chemicals - a neutral all-purpose, a moderately alkeline heavier duty cleaner, glass cleaner and light duty restroom cleaner. In a pinch, it seems to work as a carpet spotter as well. Fewer chemicals to inventory; fewer mistakes possible.

Regards,

J4K · 12-03-2009, 09:28 PM

We use a product like that called Citri San from Dickler Chemical. And we use it clean carpets, works great. http://www.cleanlink.com/productwatc...-Cleaner--3329

Carpet Cleaning · 12-14-2009, 03:15 AM

If you have small children or pets that spend a lot of their time crawling around the floor, consider going green with these chemical free cleaning methods.

1) Consider Getting Rid of Your Carpet All Together
Carpet is sort of icky. It is a breeding ground for dust-mites, mold, and bacteria. Think of it as a sponge for your floor. Plus, before it even enters your home it is composed of and washed with all sorts of unpronouncable chemicals.

2) Prevent Stains From Occuring in the First Place
Make a habit of making your guests remove their shoes before stepping on your carpet. People step in all sorts of grossness before coming indoors. You don't want your baby to crawl all over the dog doodie someone stepped in a few blocks before stepping into your house.

3) Spot Cleaning
Spills are inevitable, and there are lots of green options for taking care of them that involve no chemicals at all. Get to stains as soon as possible and blot them up with a clean, light colored towel (do not scrub, this just damages the carpet and spreads the stain)

Next, apply one part vinegar to two parts water to the affected area and blot. Repeat until the stain is gone. And don't worry, the vinegar smell will disappear when it dries completely

4) Tough Stains
Club Soda works best for red wine stains. Follow the soak and blot procedure listed above.

Baking Soda works best for grease based stains. Cover the spill with baking soda, leave it for 6 hours and then vacuum. Repeat if necessary.

imadam · 12-16-2009, 08:04 PM

it's a shame that green cleaning hasn't reached the uk as much as it has the usa. we can get products which some are great, but there is limited choice at the moment, so if i'm a green cleaner, and my competition is, then we most likely will be using the same stuff. in some ways though this does have it's benefits, it means i'm ahead of the competition for the most part and will be well established before it really takes off here.

NaturLife · 01-11-2010, 04:20 PM

You should try GreenTerpene d-Limonene. Its made from fresh orange peels and nothing else. Stuff works great, turns out it the active ingredient in all citrus cleaners, but without the soap and water.

Last time I checked, they had a 5% off coupon code " cleanit "

GreenTerpene.com

imadam · 01-25-2010, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ash.crug

They have a whole section of green certified products.

what do you mean they? why lie to your customers? what else are you lying about?

imadam · 01-26-2010, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ash.crug

Hey I am not lying....I dont own that company!!

ok sure you don't, yesterday your signature was "my homepage ...", now you have conveniently changed it, and guess what, most of your posts you only do just to link to your website, it's set as your home page in your profile, and it's in your signature now. i wouldn't trust buying from someone like you, or if not your company, i wouldn't trust that one as you're making it appear very bad, just hope they aren't paying for your services and that they dont in future search their company name to find this thread.