What Is Green Cleaning and Why Is It Important?
A clean home — it’s a busy mother’s dream.
And if a mom can get a clean home with safe and effective green cleaning products, that would be a dream come true.
But are there cleaning services that offer green cleaning, and what is green cleaning anyway? And does it even matter?
Find out what green cleaning is all about in this article and why it could make a huge difference in your home and environment.
Table of Contents
What Is the Meaning of Green Cleaning?
Green cleaning can mean different things to different people. But most would agree that green cleaning is the type of cleaning done with products that don’t contain toxins and chemicals.
Truly green cleaning happens when you use very basic cleaners like vinegar or baking soda.
But there are also many products on the market that are considered green because they don’t contain ingredients like …
Phosphates
Chlorine; or
Artificial fragrances and colors
… and may be biodegradable or eco-friendly.
Why Is Green Cleaning Important?
Green cleaning is important for our well-being as well as that of our planet.
Green cleaning makes sense for humans because:
It reduces hazardous chemicals that can cause health problems like cancer.
It improves the air quality in the home.
It helps those with allergies by lessening substances that may cause allergies.
Green cleaning is a good idea for the planet because:
It decreases the amount of pollution in our water.
It increases air quality and lessens air pollution.
It can help with the planet’s climate change and the effects of ozone reduction.
Green cleaning is important to us at Tidy Up! Portland. We strive to clean your home with the safest and greenest products available. If green cleaning is important to you, Tidy Up! Portland may be just the cleaning team you’re looking for.
5 Reasons You Need to Use Green Cleaning Products
You may already agree that green cleaning is important for your home and for our environment. But specifically, what does green cleaning offer to you, your family, and your home?
Let’s take a look at five reasons that may convince you to go all green when it comes to cleaning.
#1: For the Environment
Water and air pollution are a big deal — both causing numerous deaths each year.
Non-green cleaning products exacerbate the water pollution problem by releasing different types of pollutants into our rivers and streams.
Many cleaning products contain volatile organic compounds (VOC) that can affect the quality of the air in our homes and pollute the air outdoors.
Not only that, many non-green cleaners are housed in containers that are not biodegradable or recyclable, which means they may end up in landfills.
Green cleaning products help our environment because they are made of non-hazardous materials that keep our air and water supply clean. And if they are packaged in biodegradable materials, that’s another bonus for the planet.
#2: For Your Home
We’ve already mentioned the benefits of green cleaning regarding the air we breathe. And your home should be one place where you don’t have to worry about the quality of your air.
Using green cleaning products means not inhaling harmful fumes created by harsh chemicals. And it also means that those same chemicals will not cause skin injuries or irritations for you or your family.
Green cleaning is not only good for the people in your home, but it’s also good for the items in your home.
Harsh cleaners can damage surfaces like:
Countertops
Tubs; and
Wood surfaces
Using green substances on those surfaces will not only get them clean, but they will also lengthen the life of those surfaces and keep them looking pristine.
#3: For Your Family
If you’re a mom, you have two main concerns for your family:
Their health; and
Their safety
Choosing to clean the green way can help ease your mind when it comes to the welfare of those most precious to you.
Cleaning with green products can reduce health issues like:
Asthma
Coughing
Allergies
Sneezing
Eye and skin irritations
When you improve the air quality of your home, many of these concerns disappear and everyone can breathe easier.
#4: For Your Pets
And just as green cleaning is a good idea for your family, using clean products can also be a benefit for your furry four-legged family members.
Pets can get into everything! But the effects of getting into the baking soda or vinegar will be much less serious than getting into the bleach or chemically-loaded toilet bowl cleaner.
And pets breathe the same air we do, so when our air quality is better with green products, your pets are breathing better, too.
#5: For Your Wallet
Most of us buy a different type of cleaner for each room or item we’re cleaning.
We buy things like:
Toilet bowl cleaner
Window cleaner
Non-abrasive cleaner for the kitchen sink
Cleaning oils or soaps for your wood surfaces
Floor cleaner
Stove glass top cleaner
All those products add up and can leave a huge dent in your wallet.
Many, if not all of the surfaces and fixtures in your home, can be cleaned with simple products like vinegar and baking soda — and they’re super inexpensive.
But if you choose to purchase green cleaning products from the store, chances are you’ll still end up spending less than you would on conventional products.
According to a study done by Chris Geiger, Ph.D., “The prices for green product concentrates were equivalent or even lower than prices for conventional products.”
Often, green cleaning concentrates last longer than conventional cleaners, and cleaning implements — like microfiber cloths — have a much longer usable life than other non-green options.
Tidy Up Portland! delivers a clean home at an affordable price using green, eco-friendly cleaning products.
How Do You Know if a Cleaning Product Is “Green”?
Cleaning product manufacturers can be sneaky — and maybe not completely forthright —when they label their products as green. What is green cleaning, and what products qualify as green?
Labels like …
Natural
Non-toxic and
Environmentally friendly
… don’t necessarily mean they are green.
To make sure you’re getting a legit green product, read the label carefully. Look for the Safer Choice label or the Design for the Environment (DfE) label.
Several online resources can be helpful when determining if particular cleaning products are clean.
Consider the following when vetting your products:
What Are Examples of Green Cleaning Products?
Green cleaning supplies are easier to find than you might think — and most of them are products that you likely already have in your home.
Try some of these green cleaning products on your next cleaning day:
Vinegar
Baking Soda
Tea tree oil
Castile soap
Rubbing alcohol
Hydrogen peroxide
Lemon
Cornstarch
How to Switch to Green Cleaning Products
For many of us, change is difficult. But when it comes to switching to green cleaning products, the discomfort that comes with trying something new will be worth it.
Switching can be easy if you follow these steps:
Take an inventory of the cleaning products you currently use.
Check the products you’ve gathered to see if any of them are already considered “green” cleaners.
Keep the green cleaners you already have on hand, and find substitutes for the rest.
Try This, Not That
Ready for the green cleaning switch, but not sure where to start?
Try substituting these common cleaners with green or eco-friendly alternatives:
| Instead of this: | Try this: |
|---|---|
Why Choose a House Cleaner Who Uses Green Cleaning Products
The main reason most people choose a cleaning service is simply that they want clean homes, but often run short on the …
Time
Energy
Desire; or
Ability
… to get the job done right.
People may choose a home cleaning service for different reasons.
Maybe you:
Want more time for other activities.
Have high expectations for cleaning standards.
Desire to have a thoroughly cleaned home.
Simply don’t like cleaning.
Have a busy lifestyle.
But why hire a service that focuses on using green cleaning products?
Because you:
Want to care for the environment
Value the safety and health of your family
Want to increase the air quality of your home
Understand green cleaning can be more affordable
Tidy Up Portland! Offers Green Cleaning at a Reasonable Price
If green cleaning is a must for you, but you need some help to get the cleaning done, Tidy Up Portland! may be just what you’re looking for.
We make it our priority to clean your space with cleaning supplies that are:
Natural
Eco-friendly
Non-toxic; and
Green
Additionally, we aim to keep our usage of disposable products to a minimum.
We offer exceptional cleaning and an affordable rate — and booking is easy with our online booking portal.
Make an appointment today and get a green clean with Tidy Up Portland!
