Jul 23 2008
Background
Green Cleaning Defined
Benefits
Air Quality
Biodegradability and Recycling
Green Cleaning Equipment
Background
Green cleaning products and the idea of green cleaning is becoming increasingly popular as the environmental movement becomes firmly entrenched in the mainstream - but what exactly is green cleaning.
Green Cleaning Defined
Green cleaning is uses a combination of products, practices and equipment to clean effectively while protecting both the environment and the health of people in that environment. Of course this is achieved while also achieving and maintaining a satisfactory standard of disinfection and cleanliness.
Benefits
The benefit of green cleaning is the improved health and safety of both humans and the surrounding environment. Green cleaning can also be more efficient and can offer cost savings as the quantities of chemicals required in the cleaning process are generally reduced.
Air Quality
Green cleaning products and chemicals replace toxic chemicals that may have been used in the past. These toxic products may have been high in irritants, dangerous compunds or volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Such toxic chemicals can remain in the local environment for some time after use. This is important for cleaning inside homes, offices and other buildings like hospitals and schools as those chemicals can have a significant impact on the building's indoor air quality.
Biodegradability and Recycling
Green chemicals are biodegrable and are provided in recyclable containers. Many come in a highly concentrated for to reduce packaging and the adverse environmental effects of transporting the product from its place of manufacture.
Green Cleaning Equipment
The green cleaning movement has alo given rise to changes in equipment used for cleaning. Vacuum cleaners may now come equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters that trap small particles that would either be left behind by conventional vacuum cleaners or worse, lifted and spread into the air. By remove these tiny particles the air quality in the building is also improved. Cleaning cloths and mops are also integral to the green cleaning movement. Some cloths are manufactured from polyester microfibers that attract and capture dust particles by static charge. Other cloths are made from fabrics that facilitate cleaning with water alone and don't require the use of any supplementary cleaning products or chemicals.
Source: AZoCleantech