The Green Cleaning Products E-book

Why Use Green Cleaning Products?

Laura Shapiro
www.BuyGreenCleaningProducts.com
1
Introduction

Why use green cleaning products? That was my question when my two-
year-old son's pediatrician mentioned them to me. My son had eczema and I had
tried lotions and special detergents for his clothes, as well as avoiding certain
foods, but nothing seemed to work. I really didn't believe that the cleaning
products I was using could possibly be causing his discomfort, especially because,
let's face it, as a busy, single mom, I really wasn't using them that often! Who had
time to clean? Also, I had been using these products for years, and so had my
mother, and her mother. And we were all fine.

But I started doing some research. It wasn't hard to find information about
the traditional toxic cleaning products that I'd been using since, well, forever. I
didn't know that these products contained chemicals like 1,4-Dichlorobenzene
(found in room fresheners and home deodorizers) , which, when inhaled, even
briefly can cause irritation of the skin, throat, and eyes. And if you've been
breathing in this chemical for a while, you can suffer liver, skin, and central
nervous system (CNS) damage. A study performed by the National Toxicology
Program (NTP) study reported that 1,4-dichlorobenzene caused kidney tumors
and liver tumors in rats and mice. In an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
study, this chemical was found in the fat of 100% of the people tested.

I learned that certain household and personal care products release

contaminants into the air right away. Others do so gradually over a period of
time, and even storing them in your home is dangerous - that would explain why

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they may harm you even if you aren't using them. Some of these chemicals stay in
the air for up to a year, and can cause dizziness, nausea, allergic reactions,
eye/skin respiratory tract irritations and even cancer (American Lung Association).

I learned that over-exposure to ammonia, found in floor and window

cleaners, can cause death, coma, blindness, lung damage, collapse, and seizures.
Breathing in too much ammonia can cause fluid in the lungs to build up, and
possible lung damage. It can burn your eyes, skin, throat, and lungs. Even just a
little exposure to ammonia can cause coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath,
laryngitis, headaches, fever, nausea, vomiting, pink frothy phlegm, chest pain,
asthma, rapid pulse, and increased blood pressure. If. God forbid, you or your
child swallows ammonia, it will burn your mouth, throat, and stomach, and cause
severe abdominal pain. If it spills on your skin, it can blister or severely burn your
skin, or cause dermatitis. Eye exposure may cause conjunctivitis, corneal irritation
or damage, and temporary or permanent blindness (Toxtown website).

I learned that formaldehyde, found in disinfectants and some cleaners, is

listed as a substance which is "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen"
(Eleventh Report on Carcinogens published by the National Toxicology Program).
And Long-term exposure has been linked to increased cancer of the nose and
throat. If your child, again, God forbid, drinks large amounts of formaldehyde, he
or she could go into a coma or die of respiratory failure. Drinking formaldehyde
can cause convulsions, severe mouth and stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, signs
of shock, vertigo, stupor, and diarrhea. If formaldehyde gets into your eyes, it can
cause permanent damage or loss of vision. Over-exposure to high levels of
formaldehyde can cause fluid build-up in the lungs, acute shortness of breath,

3
bronchitis, and an abnormally quick heart rate. Continuous exposure can also
cause serious allergic reactions and asthma-like symptoms, with coughing,
wheezing, chest tightness, and a decrease in body temperature. Even a little bit of
exposure to formaldehyde can irritate and burn the eyes, nose, throat, and skin.
In women, cause menstrual disorders, and aggravate and already existing asthma
condition.

I learned that asthma cases have tripled in the last 20 years (Consumer
Federation of America). The Canadian Lung Association and the Asthma Society of
Canada identify common household cleaners and cosmetics as triggers. The
higher rate of asthma in women is believed to be due to women's longer
exposure times to household chemicals. (Center for Disease Control) Childhood
asthma has gone up by more than 40% since 1980. Developing cells in children's
bodies are more susceptible to damage, especially for the central nervous system.
Until a child is about 14 months of age, they are not able to fight the biological
and neurological effects of toxic chemicals (Herbert L. Needleman, M.D., Philip J.
Landrigan, M.D., Raising Children Toxic Free).Today, children endure chemical
exposure from the time they are born, that we, the parents, did not have until we
became adults. They have more time than we had to develop environmentally
triggered diseases, with long latency periods, such as cancer (Environmental
Policy and Children's Health, Future of Children).

So, I was searching for the link between toxic cleaning products and
eczema, but at this point, I realized that the problem was actually much more
serious than a little eczema and the potential danger of my son actually coming
into direct contact with these products. I switched over to green cleaning

4
products immediately -- the ones that are Green Seal Certified and therefore,
proven to be green. Needless to say, my son's eczema disappeared for good. And,
since then, I have heard countless stories of how switching to green cleaning
products has positively impacted the lives of so many families, and above all,
children.

The rest of the content in this book is from other green cleaning product
advocates. Some run businesses of that deal with green cleaning products. Some,
like I, just want to share their stories of what green cleaning has done for them in
the hopes that it will help you too.

Laura Shapiro
www.BuyGreenCleaningProducts.com

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 Table of Contents

Green Cleaning for Health and a Healthy Environment Page 7

by Steve Hanson

How to Choose Green Cleaning Products Page 10

By Virginia Stamford

Choosing Green Cleaning Products Page 13

By Markus Skupeika

Green Cleaning of Carpets Page 15

By James (Lee) Senter

Green Cleaning Myths Page 18

By David Gargan

How to Find Genuine Green Cleaning Products Page 20

By Lauren Zwiebel

Why Should I Use Green Cleaning Products? Page 22

By Mose Cagen

What is Green Cleaning? Page 25

By Candice Stone

How Green Cleaning Can Benefit the Environment & Your Health Page 28
By Laura Carey

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Green Cleaning for Health and a Healthy Environment

by Steve Hanson
TheJanitorialStore.com, MyHouseCleaningBiz.com, and Cleaning-Success.com

Green cleaning for health is one of the latest movements to be accepted

among reputable cleaning companies who wish to provide a quality cleaning
service, while maintaining an active respect for the protection of the health of the
cleaning crew, as well as the other occupants and users of the building. Moreover,
green cleaning for health also makes efforts to protect and respect the
environment.

While the most direct benefits - the health of both people and the
environment - are easy to spot, there are some less obvious, indirect benefits
from green cleaning for health, which are just as attractive. These include the fact
that green cleaning makes cleaning professionals much more attractive to many
different businesses, organizations, and individuals, who may be seeking a
greener alternative to the traditional, more "toxic" cleaning solution. No other
cleaning program within the industry is as healthy and environmentally
responsible as green cleaning for health.

However, green cleaning for health does carry some responsibility with the
name. It isn't just a matter of saying that you respect the environment. Such a
cleaning program involves an entire system, based upon - but certainly not limited
to - the use of green cleaning products.

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In addition to environmentally friendly cleaning products, other actions that are
taken by green cleaning for health providers include:

1. Using an environmentally friendly cleaning system that considers how

frequently the floors are vacuumed, swept, mopped, buffed, and refinished. It
also takes into consideration the chemicals and the equipment used for such
processes. Furthermore, it looks at the frequency of carpet extraction.

2. Utilizing a matting system - as much as 90% of all of the dust and dirt that
gets into any given building is a result of what is tracked in through the door.
Therefore, to reduce the amount "large scale" cleaning to be done, a system of
mats in the entryways, which are cleaned and vacuumed regularly, presents a
much greener alternative.

3. Green product use - use products only evaluated by the Green Seal® or
Canada's comparable Environmental Choice Program".

4. Utilize cleaning equipment that is technologically advanced - this includes

true-HEPA vacuum cleaners, and other such devices, so that impurities are not
capable of being sucked into the cleaning device, and then blown out, becoming
airborne. Any extractors should be certain to heat the cleaning solution to a
minimum of 200ºF, in order to improved the drying time and the efficacy of the
cleaning. Any cleaning equipment for hard floors should involve a dust control, or
a vacuum system which provides "passive" suction in order to capture any
airborne particles that may be swirled up as the machine operates.

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 5. Involvement and education - a truly effective green cleaning for health
program shouldn't just involve the cleaning staff, but should include everyone
using the building. This means that everyone using the facility should know why
green cleaning products are being used, and the importance of the green cleaning
practices that are being utilized in order to protect their health.

Steve Hanson is co-founding member of The Janitorial Store (TM), an online

community for owners and managers of cleaning companies who want to build a
more profitable and successful cleaning business. Sign up for Trash Talk: Tip of the
Week at www.www.TheJanitorialStore.com.com and receive a Free Gift!

9
How to Choose Green Cleaning Products

By Virginia Stamford
http://www.maintenance-one.com

Green cleaning stands for cleaning that promotes a healthy environment

for people while being eco-friendly. Green cleaning involves a lot of
considerations, like reviewing the cleaning procedures and equipment the
cleaning company uses, as well as the cleaning products they employ.

It's easy to assess if a cleaning business is using the right vacuums and
dusters for green cleaning, however, it is not so simple to know if the products
they are using are truly green.

Here we give you some tips to help you identify if your office cleaning
service is truly working green:

1. The products they use should be certified by Green Seal, which provides
environmental certification standards for green cleaning products based on
scientific examination.

2. The products should not be toxic for humans or animals, and especially
marine life.

3. The products should be biodegradable, meaning they may be

disintegrated by microbes. The longer it takes to disappear, the more harmful it is.
The products should have a label stating that they are biodegradable.

4. Check if the product is concentrated or ready to use. Ready to use

products contain 90% water, meaning more energy and packaging were used to
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produce them, and extra packaging means extra solid waste. Concentrated
cleaning products use much less water, less packaging, and weigh less,
diminishing the cost of fuel needed to transport the product to the stores.

5. Green cleaning products work perfectly well with cold water. This saves
energy, contrary to products needing hot water, which require much more energy
to work well.

6. Products shouldn't contain chlorine bleach. Residue water containing this

chemical can cause a toxic reaction when in contact with other chemicals.

7. Green products are not made with petroleum. Petroleum is a non-

renewable resource, it is flammable, and can be toxic if it is inhaled. Green
cleaning uses products made from pine oil or citrus, which are renewable
resources.

8. Green products do not come in aerosol. Aerosol bottles are dangerous if

they are perforated, because the spray is out of control and can put people at risk
of over exposure.

9. Products should be pH neutral (7.0), which is safer for both the

environment and people. Alkaline or acidic products may burn your skin.

10. Green cleaning products come in recycled containers. In many cases,

post-consumer materials are used to manufacture the containers and cardboard
boxes.

There are many ways to do things, but there is only ONE right way. If you are truly
committed to green living, you should go all the way and ensure you are making

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the right choices, to the last detail. Ensure that the office cleaning company you
hire is in line with your life philosophy and doing its part to contribute to the
health of the planet and its preservation.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They'll thank you for it.
If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site
(don't forget to mention maintenance-one.com as the original source). Get More
Office Cleaning Tips Here: www.Maintenance-One.com/OfficeCleaning and
www.Maintenance-One.com.

12
Choosing Green Cleaning Products

By Markus Skupeika
www.MyCleaningProducts.com

Most people consider the use of green cleaning products a mere fad and a
trend that would soon go away. This can be quite a hasty conclusion considering
that all the environmental awareness activities that has been duly endorsed by
the media are presenting green cleaning products as instruments of long term
positive environmental effects. Natural cleaning products are not cleaning fads,
they are the best alternatives of household cleaning that is little by little changing
the world.

The people of today, are mostly aware of the various environmental

advantages of green cleaning products. They strongly believe that the use of
natural cleaning products is the start of a cultural overhaul -- a big change people
are taking to veer away from the use of chemicals that are dangerous to man's
health and to the environment. Commercial cleaning products that have been
used for so many years and by so many people are the major culprit to many
modern-day diseases. The harmful chemicals they contain can fill our bodies with
oxygen; lower our immune system and cause other negative body effects. These
diseases are often deadly and can cost a lot in terms of hospitalization and
medication in case they are curable. These commercial cleaning products that are
neither organic nor natural are also quite sluggish to biodegrade which means
that they are bound to stay longer in the environment, lasting for many, many
generations. Their toxicity can cause great harm to the environment by causing
our earth's air, water and soil to become impure.

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 With all these disadvantages, it is then high time for all of us to consider
making the switch to natural cleaning products. Using green cleaning products
have so much more advantages than using commercial ones. They are safe for us,
the people who are using them, and to the Earth, which happens to be the only
planet we can live in. They also happen to be just as good and just as effective as
cleaning our household as all those other, more expensive traditional household
cleaning products.

Using green cleaning products which are natural, non-toxic and

biodegradable also greatly helps in making your place a safer home for your
family. Toxic chemical cleaners got too many side effects to be preferred as the
primary cleaning options. These green cleaning products can also be more
affordable than their commercial counterparts. Most of the ingredients are
derived from nature and are organic. Some of these cleaners can even be made
by yourself. There are so many home-made green cleaning recipes that are very
effective in fighting off common household cleaning problems. From foul odors,
to stubborn stains, window wipers, shiners and a whole lot more - there is
nothing that green cleaning products can't do and can't clean.

So, what else is there to wait? Make the switch to green cleaning products
now for a more comfortable and smarter means of cleaning. Don't wait until you
have already contracted all sorts of diseases, or until our abuses are already
taking their toll to Mother Nature. Make the big switch now before it's too late!

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Green Cleaning of Carpets

By James (Lee) Senter

www.FreshAndClean.ca

The subject of green cleaning can get so complicated and muddled when
you listen to everyone's advertisements. I believe this subject is about cleaning so
I will stick to the actual process of cleaning.

The process of cleaning has four different elements remembered by the

acronym TACT.

The first 'T' stands for time. This is the amount of time a chemical dwells on
the soil it is meant to clean.

The "A" stands for agitation. Agitation is the process that is used to
facilitate the penetration of the water and cleaning chemical to remove or
suspend the soil.

The "C" stands for chemicals. Chemicals are essentially the ingredients we
add to water to allow soil to be suspended from the surface in which it is
attached.

The second "T" stands for temperature. Higher temperatures of cleaning

solutions are known to clean better than cold solutions. Hot water is much more
active than cold water therefore it speeds up the cleaning process.

These are the four factors of cleaning. Whenever you decrease one of these
elements you will have to increase one of the other three elements.

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 Now let’s look at this from the green cleaning point of view. The amount of
time a chemical sits on soil does not hurt a living species if the chemical is not
toxic to that species. However if a process requires a lot of time it may mean
that process used to clean with will use more energy because of that extra time.

Agitation is a mechanical process. Mechanical processes require energy.

Different mechanic processes require different amount of energy. Ideally we
would like to use a process that requires minimal energy. The amount of
mechanical agitation required is going to vary according to the chemicals and
equipment used.

Temperature is a key variable in cleaning, especially carpet cleaning. It is

well known that the hot, hot water created by truck powered hot water
extraction units very popular in carpet cleaning perform far better than most
other methods. Again the kind of chemical used has a direct bearing on the
temperature used or, for that matter, required. A lot of people have great issues
with the pollution generated by truck-powered or truck-mounted units.

What I would like to focus on though is the root of each one of these
elements T-A-C-T. That of course is the chemical. Each element revolves around
the chemistry being used. If you use a nasty chemical you are just plain not green
cleaning.

I believe the toxicity of the chemical being used is what matters the most
when it comes to qualifying to be a green cleaning solution. A lot of companies
state that they are green cleaning just because the chemicals they are using aren't
as toxic as their predecessors. Others say their products are green because they

16
use renewable resources and recyclable materials. Others state simply that they
are organic.

In this day and age there are many different categories of safe, non-toxic,
green cleaning carpet cleaning solutions. There are food based products. There
are botanical cleaning solutions. There are also a variety of carbonated cleaning
solutions. Each one of these classifications have their own attributes.

Not every cleaning solution will clean every category of soil. A great
resource for exploring different green carpet cleaning solutions is
http://www.freshandclean.ca/environmentally_safe_cleaning_solutions.html

James (Lee) Senter has been a well known advocate of green carpet
cleaning for over fifteen years. Lee has tested the effectiveness of green cleaning
solutions for several manufacturers by using these solutions at his carpet cleaning
company Fresh and Clean in Toronto, Ontario. Lee is a respected IICRC Carpet
Cleaning Technician instructor and teaches for distributors across the country and
for large franchise organizations. Visit his website at http://www.freshandclean.ca

Lee has been in the cleaning and restoration business since 1979. Lee owns
a green cleaning service in Toronto called Fresh and Clean and a disaster
restoration company in York Region called Dryit.ca. Lee is a well known advocate
of improving health and safety in our industry and is currently working with the
IICRC Certification Council in trying to find a common ground in health and safety
for our industry worldwide.

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Green Cleaning Myths

By David Gargan
www.knoxclean.com

Myth #1: Green cleaning products are expensive.

Truth: When Eco Friendly cleaning chemicals were first manufactured they
were priced higher than traditional cleaning chemicals. Today the costs of green
products are no more expensive than the cost of traditional cleaning products.
Increased research and production of Eco friendly cleaning products have
decreased the cost of safer cleaning products and supplies. So-green products are
no longer any more expensive than traditional cleaning products.

Myth #2: Green cleaning products and procedures are not as effective as
traditional products and procedures.

Truth: The improvement in Eco friendly cleaning products and supplies has
made them just as effective as traditional cleaning methods. Some products, such
as microfiber cloths, actually clean better than traditional dust cloths that spread
more dust than they pick up.

Myth #3: All I need to do is use green products and I can market my
business as a green cleaning company.

Truth: Green cleaning is much more than using Eco friendly products. It is a
whole system that starts with proper training of employees, implementing
methods to keep soil out of buildings such as adequate matting and reducing the

18
need for chemicals (for example, daily vacuuming so carpet cleaning is not
needed as often).

Myth #4: Companies who offer Eco Friendly cleaning services need to be
certified.

Truth: Although there are certifications available (Green Seal® and LEED),
you are not required to become certified to implement a green cleaning program.
We have a LEED-AP on staff to guide our program.

Myth #5: Only environmentalists are concerned with green cleaning.

Truth: We all have a general interest in protecting our health.

Myth #6: To implement a Eco friendly cleaning program you have to dump
all of your current chemicals and buy new chemicals.

Truth: You can start slowly transitioning from your current system to Eco
friendly cleaning procedures. It is best to start with getting rid of your harshest
chemicals first and gradually switch the rest of your products, equipment and
procedures. It works best to switch one product at a time, so you can evaluate the
results and make sure that the product fulfills your particular needs.

David Gargan is the owner of Eco Clean Carpet Solutions located in

Knoxville, TN. Eco Clean offers carpet, upholstery, tile, area rug and natural stone
cleaning. www.knoxclean.com

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How to Find Genuine Green Cleaning Products

By Lauren Zwiebel
Daimer Industries

A number of green chemicals are available on the market today. A simple

search on the internet would reveal a variety of options on green cleaners.
However, selecting a quality green product is not easy. Blindly selecting a product
without first researching it may result in a loss of time and money. The following
are some tips to select genuine green cleaning products.
Biodegradability: The improved awareness regarding environmental
hazards is certainly one major factor that led to the manufacturing and marketing
of green chemicals. Both manufacturers and consumers realize the threats and
health problems posed by artificial detergents.

However, some green products are green only by name. There is not much
difference between these products and artificial detergents. Therefore, the first
thing customers need to do is make sure they are buying genuine green cleaning
products.

One of the best ways to determine the genuineness of these products is to

check their biodegradability. Genuine green products naturally break down
almost completely in the environment within a month or so. If a product tends to
leave residue that does not bio-degrade, it is not a genuine green product.

Ingredients: Checking the ingredients is a foolproof method to find out

whether a green product is genuine or not. Searching the internet for a list of
banned substances will help you determine this. For example, the website of

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Occupational Safety and Health Administration provides a list of harmful
substances.

Some of the commonly used harmful substances are chlorine, benzene,

volatile organic compounds, and glycol ethers along with many others. True
green products are sourced from plants and vegetables. They do not contain
artificial chemicals that may harm the user or the environment.

The MSDS sheets for green carpet cleaner solutions and all green cleaning
formulas should be available from the supplier. This enables you to see the
ingredients to ensure the formula you are purchasing is truly green.

Effectiveness: One complaint many have about green cleaners concerns

their effectiveness. The early green products were not as efficient as the products
available today. Some of the latest formulas make use of nano-sized particles that
penetrate dirt and grease molecules and break apart the carbon bonds holding
these molecules together. This effectively breaks dirt and grease molecules into
billions of small particles that are emulsified in water and rendered unable to re-
attach to cleaned surface. This green cleaning process found in today's top green
carpet cleaner solutions and other green formulas is often more effective than
harmful, chemically-based detergents.

In short, the ability to find a truly green product relies on the consumers
will. By searching for trusted suppliers, seeking out biodegradability facts, and
requesting MSDS sheets, genuine green chemicals are not difficult to obtain.

Author is associated with Daimer Industries. Green cleaning products can be used
in auto detailing, pressure washers, carpet cleaners and other cleaning machines.

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Why Should I Use Green Cleaning Products?

By Mose Cagen
www.greensweepcleaning.com

These days many people are asking themselves; "Why should I use green
cleaning products?" It may seem like it is just another fad or trend but many
people in the cleaning industry and others involved with the green phenomenon
believe that this is just the beginning of a cultural transformation away from the
chemicals we use in our daily lives. Traditional cleaning agents infect our lungs
with carcinogens, barrage the strength of our immune system, and expose us to
unnecessary physical stress. They are also slow to biodegrade, often remaining
present in the earth's soil and environment for generations. Why then should we
be slaves to the marketing power of the cleaning manufacturers of today who
have made us believe that we need chemicals to clean?
Toxicity: The facts...

A 15 year study in Oregon, comparing women who didn't work outside the
home with women who did, found a 54% higher death rate from cancer in the
women who stayed at home. The study suggested that chronic exposure to
cleaning products played a role. (The Seventh Generation Guide to a Toxin Free
Home)

EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor air
levels of many pollutants may be 2-5 times, and occasionally, more than 100
times higher than outdoor levels. Cleaning products and other household
products are among the culprits (Environmental Protection Agency-EPA).

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 Approximately 85,000 chemicals are in use today. According to the Breast
Cancer Fund, complete toxicological screening data is available for only 7% of
these chemicals, and more than 90% have never been tested for their effects on
human health. (Breast Cancer Fund)

Household cleaning products rank among the most toxic everyday

substances to which people are exposed...most chemical brands are not safe.
Some especially toxic household cleaners include ammonia, chlorine bleach,
aerosol propellants, detergents, petroleum distillates and toluene. Many of these
substances not only harm the skin; they also give off toxic fumes that affect the
person using the product and everyone else. Symptoms from 'the flu' to
headaches have been associated with products we use to clean our furniture,
bathrooms and clothes, as well as air fresheners to keep our bathrooms smelling
pleasant (Raymond Francis, M.Sc., Never Be Sick Again).

Making your home safer for your family.... Use naturally derived,
biodegradable non-toxic cleaning products. These products have proven to clean
just as well if not better than traditional cleaning products without the side
effects associated with the use of toxic chemical cleaners. Some of the major non-
toxic cleaning products which are readily available include: Simple Green, Green
Works, Melaleuca, and even some home made products. Look for a later article
outlining some green cleaning product recipes!

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 Some tips to make your home safer....

1) Open the windows and get plenty of fresh air circulation

2) Be especially wary of antibacterial cleaners, all-purpose cleaners, paints, stains,

aerosol sprays, and air fresheners

3) Instead use all naturally based non-toxic cleaners

4) Fill your home with houseplants to help clean your air

5 ) Avoid the following chemicals: alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs), ammonia,

antibacterials, butyl cellosolve, chlorine bleach, diethanolamine, fragrance,
phosphates, sodium hydroxide, sodium lauryl sulfate

6) Look for products that are biodegradable

7) Manufacturers that give plenty of information on their products Simply by

switching your chemical, toxic cleaning products over to green, biodegradable
products you can easily make your home safer for your family and pets. So what
are you waiting for? Go Green!

Natural Cleaning Company

I own both a green cleaning company and a green cleaning product supply
company. I have done quite a bit of research on the green cleaning industry to
have success in my businesses.

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What is Green Cleaning?

By Candice Stone
Co-founder of Bidmycleaning.com
www.BidMyCleaning.com

There is much talk these days about green cleaning and why we should
make the switch to green cleaning in our homes. Here we provide some insight
into what green cleaning is and how it differs from traditional house cleaning
methods.

Green cleaning is not just about using non-toxic chemical-free cleaning

products but should extend to methods and equipment used. The goal of green
cleaning is to be kinder to the environment, kinder to the individuals doing the
cleaning and kinder to the homeowners.

The first step is to get rid of any cleaning products that contain toxic
chemicals which have identified as carcinogens, endocrine disrupters or known or
suspected reproductive toxins. Some to be on the lookout for are: ethylene glycol
butyl, paradichlorobenzene, silica, bleach and phosphates. Fortunately, products
that do not include there are becoming more widely available from
manufacturers such as Ecover, Nature Clean, and Seventh Generation.

A recommended change to your cleaning method is to avoid using trigger

sprayers to spray these products onto the surfaces you are cleaning. Even if you
use more natural products you can reduce the amount of product you use by
spraying directly on to your cleaning cloth.

25
 Next you should invest in some new cleaning accessories such as a HEPA
filter vacuum cleaner and microfiber dust cloths. These serve to reduce the
amount of dust that is released into the air during cleaning. It is a well known fact
that dust contains many of the environmental toxins that are present in our
homes and should not be inhaled if at all possible. A microfiber cloth will trap the
dust in the cloth rather than moving it from one spot to another or releasing it
into the air. A microfiber mop will be more eco-friendly than a traditional mop
too.

When it comes to cleaning kitchens and bathrooms, this typically requires

disinfecting the various surfaces. However, the most hazardous cleaning products
are corrosive drain cleaners, oven cleaners, and toilet bowl cleaners. Choose
natural disinfectants like hydrogen peroxide and undiluted white or apple cider
vinegar. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University found these to be safe
alternatives for getting rid of Salmonella, Shigella and E. coli bacteria.
Dishwashing liquid is one of the least toxic cleaning products and can be used for
many cleaning jobs beyond just washing dishes.

For those homeowners who prefer to outsource their house cleaning, more
and more are requiring that the maid service they hire offer a green cleaning
service. Even window and carpet cleaning companies are being pushed to look at
green alternatives to their traditional cleaning products, methods and equipment.

To find the best prices on house cleaning visit Bidmycleaning, the new
simple way to find and schedule house cleaning services. Bidmycleaning is the
first online marketplace for house cleaning services where you can get instant
bids from pre-screened local service providers, read customer reviews and

26
schedule online immediately. 100% satisfaction guarantee and secure online
payment after completion of the cleaning appointment. Maid service, window
cleaning and carpet cleaning.

Find green cleaning by selecting to view bids from eco-friendly

service providers only. Bidmycleaning.com is the first service from
BidMyAtoZ.com-Service Made Simple

Candice Stone is a co-founder of Bidmycleaning.com, recently profiled as one of

'America's Most Promising Startups' by BusinessWeek.com. She writes for
Bidmycleaning Banter on the cleaning industry and eco-friendly cleaning and
living.

27
How Green Cleaning Can Benefit the Environment and Your Health

By Laura Carey
Director of First Class Cleaning & Maintenance Limited
www.essexcleaningservice.co.uk

If you would like a meticulously clean, fresh-smelling living or workspace

with no over-bearing cover-up fragrances or heavy chemical smells - just a fresh,
clean smell - then green cleaning could be just the thing you need.

Employing green tactics to clean your home or office aims to establish a

hygienic, healthy and fresh-smelling living or workspace that creates a sense of
wellbeing.

Green cleaning has many benefits, the main ones being:

1. Helping to minimize health problems and allergies

2. Helping to reduce environmental damage

Minimizing Health Problems and Allergies

For people with health problems such as asthma and eczema, green cleaning can
really help make a difference.

Asthma symptoms can be aggravated through contact with various

allergen-containing products such as air fresheners.

A common cause of eczema is contact with household cleaning products like

detergents. Eliminating these types of chemical-based products from the

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household cleaning program and replacing them with natural alternatives spells
good news for asthmatics and eczema sufferers.

There are other health issues linked with some of the chemical cleaners
currently on the market, particularly those used in dry cleaning or carpet
cleansing. Symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and fatigue and even more
shockingly liver and kidney damage, have been associated with certain cleaning
chemicals for some time.

Reducing Environmental Damage

Think environmental damage and what usually springs to mind is industrial toxins
being pumped into the air and waterways. However, the fact is that more damage
is done to the environment by domestic pollutants than industrial toxins!

Green cleaning aims to reduce the damage caused to the environment by

replacing chemical cleaners like chlorine bleaches and products containing
colouring agents with natural alternatives.

If you decide to employ the services of a green cleaning company for your
home or workspace, then check with them that their products are:

* Made from natural, plant-derived ingredients

* Chemical and CFC-free

* Hypoallergenic

* Made from ingredients taken from renewable resources

* Free from animal derivatives

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 * Not tested on animals

* Packaged in recyclable containers

* Biodegradable

* Used as part of their standard domestic and commercial cleaning processes at

no extra cost to our customers

The benefits of green cleaning are far more widespread than most people
think and for businesses they reach even further, helping them to maintain their
environmental responsibility and promote the good name of their company.

If you want to do your bit for the environment, and at the same time
promote wellbeing in your living or workspace, then try green cleaning!

Laura Carey is the director of First Class Cleaning & Maintenance Limited, a
Romford-based green cleaning company offering environmentally friendly
domestic and commercial cleaning services throughout Essex and London. For
more information visit http://www.essexcleaningservice.co.uk

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 THANK YOU FOR READING!

www.BuyGreenCleaningProducts.com

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