Going green might seem complicated, but it’s not. We want to show you how simple it is to adopt eco-friendly products and transition to a green cleaning business. With a little information and planning, you’ll be on the path to making Earth a cleaner place.
Green cleaning involves using environmentally friendly products and practices in your professional cleaning company. What does that entail? The specifics of what qualifies a cleaning product as “green” will vary depending on who you ask, so it’s best to do a little research before making any decisions about what you do or don’t use in your business.
First, identify what cleaning supplies you need. Then, define your goals and objectives for adding green cleaning business practices to your standard methods. Who are you doing this for? Your employees? Your customers? For example, if you’re focusing on customer needs, choosing natural and organic products might make sense, even if they cost more than their conventional counterparts.
What Is Green Cleaning?
Green cleaning, also known as eco-friendly or natural cleaning, is a cleaning method that uses less harsh chemicals and more environmentally friendly products. The goal is to reduce the number of chemicals used in a building and ensure they are safe for people and the environment.
Green cleaning products use natural ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, essential oils, and plant extracts to clean surfaces. These products can be used alone or combined with traditional cleaning supplies.
The idea behind green cleaning is that using fewer chemicals will reduce pollution in the air and water. It’s also good for people because it doesn’t cause irritation or allergies like traditional cleaners.
Green cleaning can be used everywhere — from homes to offices to schools. It’s been popularized by companies such as Method, Selestials, and Seventh Generation, which produce chemical-free cleaning supplies for consumers to use at home.
Why Is Green Cleaning Important and Why Should I Offer It in My Cleaning Business?
Green cleaning is a method of cleaning that allows you to protect the environment while keeping your customers happy. You can do this by using environmentally friendly chemicals and materials and reducing waste and energy use.
- Green cleaning is about making the world better, one cleaning job at a time. The more green cleaning you do, the more positive impact you’ll have on the planet, so educating yourself about this type of cleaning is important.
- Green cleaning is a way to reduce waste and save money. It’s also a great way to set your business apart from the competition.
- Cleaners made with natural ingredients are safe for you, your family, and the environment. They don’t contain toxic chemicals that can cause respiratory or other health problems when inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
- Natural cleaners also have fewer VOCs (volatile organic compounds) than traditional cleaning products. VOCs are chemicals that evaporate into the air and can cause respiratory irritation, headaches, nausea, and eye irritation for anyone who breathes them in regularly. That’s why green cleaning is so important — it helps keep people healthy in their homes and businesses, which makes them more productive at work!
- Using chemicals such as ammonia and bleach can cause serious health problems for employees who work long hours in a building that has been cleaned with these chemicals. This can be especially dangerous if they have asthma or other respiratory conditions such as allergies or sinus problems because they are more sensitive to these chemicals than others who may not experience any health problems.
- If your employees are exposed to harsh chemicals regularly, they may experience side effects such as headaches, skin irritation, and nausea. This could lead to sick days or, even worse, long-term health problems down the road. When you provide green cleaning services, you’ll reduce employee exposure to harsh chemicals, which could mean fewer sick days!
What Are Some Products for Your Eco-Friendly Cleaning Business?
If you’re interested in starting an eco-friendly cleaning business, here are some of the most effective products for your business:
Start by purchasing non-toxic cleaning supplies, like vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and essential oils.
- Natural Oils — These are made from plants like coconut oil, olive oil, and castor oil. They can be used as lubricants, disinfectants, and antibacterial agents when mixed with water or alcohols like vodka or rubbing alcohol. Natural oils work well on wood floors and furniture because they don’t leave behind any residue that could stain or damage surfaces.
- Baking Soda — Baking soda is another great way to clean without using harmful chemicals in your eco-friendly cleaning business. It’s safe for all surfaces, including hardwood floors, windows, and walls!
- White Distilled Vinegar — White distilled vinegar will kill bugs on contact when sprayed directly onto them! It also works great as an all-purpose cleaner, removing stains from fabric and carpeting as well as removing smoke odors from upholstery or drapes by spraying them directly onto the stained area before washing it at home or sending it off to be professionally cleaned by an eco-friendly dry cleaner who offers green cleaning services in your area.
- Essential Oils — Essential oils such as lemon or lavender oil make great disinfectants because they kill bacteria and mold spores without leaving behind harsh chemicals, as bleach does.
- Enzymes — (protein-based enzyme cleaners) break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates left behind by dirt and other organic matter. They’re great at controlling odors and removing stains.
- Soaps (fatty acid soaps) — Soaps are made from plant or animal fats and oils, along with sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide (also known as caustic soda). Biodegradable soaps are often made from coconut oil or palm kernel oil. These soaps clean well but leave an oily residue behind, which may be difficult to rinse away completely.
What Qualifies a Cleaning Product To Be “Green”?
A cleaning product is considered green if it meets the following criteria:
- Third-party organizations have evaluated it to ensure that it meets the standards of environmental stewardship.
- It doesn’t contain harmful ingredients to human health or the environment.
- It is biodegradable.
What Is the Difference Between Standard and Green Cleaning Products?
Standard cleaners are typically made with harsh chemicals that harm humans, animals, and the environment. Some of these products include ammonia, bleach, and acid-based cleaners (such as toilet bowl cleaners). Many people have allergies or asthma, so they may not be able to use traditional cleaning products safely without experiencing some type of reaction. Green cleaners use plant-based ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, or essential oils instead of harsh chemicals. They come in spray bottles or powder form, often in concentrated form, so they’re easy to use in any setting!
Green cleaning practices include using reusable cloth rags instead of paper towels and other disposable materials, recycling waste products from the cleaning process, and recycling used materials like glass bottles and plastic containers. Green cleaners often use renewable energy sources such as solar power to heat water and electricity to power vacuums.
Go Green Today!
Learning about green cleaning products is essential to running an eco-friendly cleaning business. Equally important is protecting your business and eco-friendly products with the best liability insurance. While you work on protecting people and the environment with your services, Insurance Canopy will protect you from accidents that could harm your customers, products, or business.
Together, we can make a big impact on the environment. Make the transition today!
