GREEN CLEANING
What is Green Cleaning?
Green cleaning can be defined as a method of cleaning that uses environmentally friendly products and practices. This includes using products made from natural ingredients, organically and sustainably resourced, that have minimal impact on the environment.
Why?
Mainly to help reduce pollution (air quality), conserve resources (like our water supply), keep the balance of the ecosystem, and protect human health (exposure to chemicals and toxins can potentially cause irreparable harm.)
At Dallas Maids, we’re committed to providing a clean and healthy environment for our clients while also minimizing our impact on the planet. We’ve expanded our services to include the use of eco-friendly cleaning products. These products we’ve started to integrate are made from natural ingredients and are safe for both people and the environment. By choosing to incorporate green cleaning practices, we’re looking to not only preserve and improve the health of our team, but also take a step towards a more sustainable future.
Simply select "Green Cleaning" under "Select Extras" on our online booking page.
Benefits of Green Cleaning
While there are many big scale benefits to green cleaning, here are some of the ways in which it directly impacts our everyday lives:
- Improves indoor air quality: Green cleaning products are less likely to contain harmful chemicals that can irritate the respiratory system eliminating indoor pollution.
- Reduces health risks: Exposure to toxic chemicals can have a negative impact on health, especially for people with allergies or sensitivities. The use of natural ingredients reduces the changes or allergies and irritation, but it is still important to read the labels since some natural fragrances are also considered allergens in places like the EU.
- Environmental protection: Green cleaning products are less likely to harm the environment, since they’re sustainably resourced, are packaged in recycled or reusable materials and also contain little to no volatile organic chemicals that can pollute the environment, our water supplies and our air.
- Cost savings: while it is true that green products aren’t often cheaper than traditional products, they’re known to last longer since you need less product to get the same results. Also there are many DIY recipes for natural cleaners that will replace the buying of some products.
Green cleaning products
Things to look for in a product to know they’re green:
–No phosphates
–No chlorine
–No artificial fragrances
–No artificial colors
-Biodegradable or recyclable packaging (for example: you buy the container once and then can get product refills.)
-Organically grown ingredients using sustainable farming practices.
Green cleaning can mean that you only use natural cleaning ingredients or that you use commercial “green” products that have been certified by the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and have the safer choice label or have been certified by the USDA (U.S Department of Agriculture) and have the USDA Organic label on their packaging.
Reading the fine print is important. Some green cleaning products may certify that they are fair trade (meet specific environmental and labor standards) by their own companies, and some others may contain additives or harmful chemicals, but donate some of their profits to environmental causes. So to have some peace of mind is better if we always check the ingredients before buying.
GREEN PRODUCTS WE USE
These are the green, eco-friendly products we are currently using at Dallas Maids.
| Name | Use | Green Quality |
|---|---|---|
| White Vinegar | Remover of mineral and wax build up, deodorizer | Natural Ingredient |
| PUMIE Scouring Stick | Multipurpose scourer | 100% pumice stone |
| 7th Generation Toilet Cleaner | Toilet cleaner | EPA safer choice and USDA approved |
| Method All Purpose | All purpose cleaner | Plant based ingredients, zero waste certified factory |
| Method Degreaser | Degreaser | Plant based ingredients, zero waste certified factory |
| Method Shower | Dissolves and prevents soap build up in showers, tile, fixtures, glass and tubs | Plant based ingredients, zero waste certified factory |
There are some products (Foca laundry detergent, Bar Keepers Friend cleaner, Polycare wood floor cleaner and Arm & Hammer Pet Fresh Carpet Odor Eliminator), that are biodegradable, non-toxic or have mostly natural ingredients, that also have additives and cannot be added to the list.
Eco-friendly practices when cleaning
Recycle Cleaning Supplies
If you have any empty plastic bottles left from your traditional cleaning supplies, you might be able to take them to recycling or you can reuse them! You can use the bottles, after rinsing off any left overs of the chemicals they used to contain, to store your natural cleaning mixtures or any green product refills.
Cleaning Tools
Using reusable cleaning tools like microfiber and cotton cloths, natural or reusable synthetic sponges, scrub brushes made from natural materials (brisels, coconut fibers…), feather dusters and mops with reusable heads will help reduce waste and the environmental impact that disposable tools have.
Water Conservation
Conserving water is about not being wasteful, while we do need water to clean, there are methods to ensure we use only the necessary amount. You can use a bucket and mop instead of running water and change the water once it is too muddy. Also make sure you have no leaky faucets or any water losses in your home, as small as they might be, in the long run they amount to a significant water waste.
Have you ever noticed how much of our world is synthetic?
That’s not a dig – it’s actually quite amazing. Our ancestors did it first with bronze, iron, and steel. These were all human creations that advanced our world. And within the past 100 years there’s been so many more. Rubber, plastic, bleach. You name it, and we seem to have at least tried to make it.
Synthetics are a good thing. We don’t see many cars these days rolling around on stone or wooden wheels. That’s because our synthetic discoveries are often more efficient and safer for the tasks at hand. But there’s also a line we each establish for ourselves. For some folks that means organic food free of pesticides. For others it’s preferring cotton-based clothing over polyester. For others, it’s the cleaning products we use or want to be used in our homes.
At Dallas Maids’ we are grateful for all the marvelous synthetic creations mankind has to offer. We also understand that too much of a good thing can in fact, be a bad thing. That’s why we are happy to offer Green Cleaning. It is a well-established way of cleaning our homes in a more eco-friendly and natural way. Less manmade chemicals and more naturally occurring cleaning. Same great clean. And at no extra cost.
We also know that sometimes you may want the full force of synthetic, manmade, germ-busting, odor-killing cleaners. We still have those too. We aren’t ditching one option for another. We are offering both. If you want Green Cleaning though, just say the word and we’ll make the switch.
If you want to know more about what we’re doing to integrate Green Cleaning into our services