Spring Cleaning: Using Natural Cleaners for Your Home

According to the EPA, of the nearly three thousand top selling chemicals in the U.S., only 7 percent have a full set of basic toxicity information. Most of the chemicals that are used in conventional cleaners have known carcinogens that are harmful to your family and pets. Not to mention the cleaners and chemicals that get into our potable water supply.

With your spring cleaning, try to use natural cleaners for your home. There are some great natural home cleaning products such as Method, Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyers found at your local natural food or hardware stores. The EPA also has a great guide on purchasing green cleaning products.

You can also try to make your own cleaners, and here are a few websites and articles that have some good information;

• In Natural Home and Garden, they had a great article, Naturally Clean Home,  that provided receipts and ingredients to create your own natural cleaners. Good, clear and simple directions.

• Earth Easy, Non Toxic Home Cleaning offers a recipe for almost every cleaner you would ever need.

Green Office Cleaning

Most offices have a janitorial or custodial vendor who cleans offices. It is important to have your vendors support your organizations sustainability program.To encourage ‘green’ cleaning ask your vendor for the following;

• Use green cleaning supplies. Make sure cleaning supplies are non-toxic and eco-friendly. Seventh Generation and All Green have a great line of cleaning products.
  
• Turn off lights. Ask your janitorial staff to turn off all lights upon leaving the building. This supports accountability with this simple energy saving action.
• Provide recycling and waste data. In order to improve recycling and waste management it is important to get data from your janitorial staff on the usage of receptacles along with rate of recycling. Make sure your janitorial staff is managing waste responsibly.