Why Green Cleaning Is More Important Now Than Ever

Even before the global health crisis, the use of green cleaning products has been advocated time and again by conservationists and environmentalists. However, with the increased use of powerful disinfectants in the past months, pushing for green cleaning becomes more important than ever. In this article, we’ll explore why shifting to green options are beneficial for all. The use of green cleaning disinfection products offers the following benefits:

Green Cleaning Promotes Healthy Homes and Offices

Maintaining clean homes and workspaces with the right products helps promote better health for ourselves and our loved ones. Cleaning things like stains, debris, and dirt not only helps to maintain the environment surrounding you, it can actually help you to feel healthy. The removal of grease in the kitchen or other bodily fluids like saliva or urine from your surfaces will ensure you are not overly exposed to harmful bacteria or other substances.

A thorough cleaning process is also critical in removing any residual products from the previous disinfection and cleaning regimen you employed.

Green Cleaning is Good for the Environment

A green cleaning product is less toxic to the environment. According to Green Cleaning DFW, disinfectants do their job by removing bacteria, viruses, and other germs through a chemical process. This means that it does leave residue during the process. When you use a green-certified product, there’s an assurance that you’re not introducing more toxins to the environment other than the disinfectants.

Green Products for New Users

Many new users often learn the hard way about how to use these products. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there was a 40% increase in the number of calls about inappropriate exposures to cleaners and disinfectants in poison centers from March 2020, around the same time the coronavirus crisis began. Of all the reports, most of the calls were due to exposure to cleaners and disinfectants, with inhalation being the main route.

Green Cleaning poses Fewer Health Risks

Generally, green products do not use hazardous chemicals in their formulations. This can make them safer to use, particularly for individuals with weakened immune systems or critical health conditions. People with skin sensitivities can also use green cleaning products without having to worry whether they would have a flare-up from exposure. Many harmful and irritating chemicals are found in most over the counter “name brand” cleaning products.

How to Choose Green Cleaning Products

The Clean Water Action recommends looking for the following when searching for green cleaning products:

• Use of a biodegradable container
• Non-toxic ingredients
• Recyclable and bulk packaging/use of recyclable materials for packaging
• Free from phosphate
• Use of natural fragrances
• Absence of chlorine, hypochlorite, or dyes
• Full disclosure of all active and inactive chemical formulations

While green cleaning products may generally have non-toxic ingredients, there are certain levels of certifications. This means that it’s still important to practice reasonable precautions when storing and using these products. Ensure children and pets do not have access to them.

Potential Health Effects of Name Brand Cleaning Products

Not only are name brand cleaning products hard on the wallet, the use of strong bleaches and other toxic chemicals in cleaning products may lead to the following health issues:

• Difficulty of breathing
• Asthma and its exacerbation
• Throat and eye irritation
• Headaches
• Skin rashes

Prolonged and frequent exposure can also have the following effects:

• Poisoning
• Chemical burns
• Congenital disabilities
• Increased risk for cancer

It remains a fact that taking control of our health is important. However, we have also learned that if we don’t, we can see the impacts it may have on others. While we want to be freed from the deadly effects of the pandemic, we must ensure the very products sold to protect us aren’t also the ones slowly harming us.

Some green cleaning products are more expensive than your traditional cleaners, but you can also leverage the ideas from the products to create your own cleaners for less. In any case green product are definitely worth it for your health and well-being. If you’re up for it, you can make your homemade cleaning products!