Being green has been a buzzword for a large part of the last decade. The term continues to be debated as to how and when it should be used. My take is that being green is more a state of mind/operation than it is a threshold that one can cross. Said another way, one can continue to improve how they impact the world, but will probably never reach a point of having zero impact.
flickr credit: zsoul
What’s in Your Cleaner?
We are regularly asked if our products are green. That’s always a tough question to answer. Many customers state a preference to reduce their impact on the environment but don’t want it at the expense of a sanitary house cleaning. Here’s how we handle it at The Maids.
flickr credit: Frederick Md Publicity
Healthy Touch Cleaning System
Most residential cleaning services have a system that they follow to ensure that their cleaning professionals deliver the highest quality clean. I’ve seen 49 point processes, custom designed work orders and everything in between. Our 22 stepcleaning system is our starting point to help define what customers believe to be a thorough cleaning.
Non-Toxic Biodegradable Cleaning Products
The products used by your home cleaning service are critical. This is a case where less is more. Any product applied needs to be taken up as areas are cleaned. Our typical products are:
- Non-toxic to protect the residents of the home we are cleaning, and
- Biodegradable to reduce our environmental impact
We do have products with strong chemicals that are used rarely and in extreme situations – they are not part of our regularly scheduled home cleaning service.
flickr credit: exfordy
Fresh Cleaning Materials
It is important to consider the supplies provided by your cleaning service. Paper towels can be expensive and wasteful. We use micro fiber cleaning cloths. Micro fibers have been shown to be gentle on household objects, excellent at removing dust and buildup, and easy to clean. One should also consider the rotation of the cleaning cloths. Our practice is that cleaning cloths are taken out of use once dirty and they are not rotated from home to home or from the bathroom to other parts of the house.
Take another look at how your home is being cleaned. Are the practices in line with what you want in terms of residue left in your home and impact to the environment while providing a thorough and sanitary cleaning?