Do Green Cleaning Products Matter?

Over the last decade or so, there has been an increasing amount of interest in eco-friendly goods and services. These “green”-minded ideas reflect an ever-growing awareness about humanity’s impact on the environment. More and more, people are committed to acting in an earth-responsible manner, and because of that more companies are offering green alternatives to make this possible.

Some of these alternatives, such as using biodegradable packaging instead of plastic, make an obvious difference. Others are more questionable and require research and answers to know if they are really worth seeking out.

One group of alternative products that people question is that of green cleaning products. Because some traditional cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that can harm people, animals, and the environment, it seems like it would make sense to try and find alternatives that are safer and more environmentally-friendly to use. But do these green cleaning products make a difference? Or is it just marketing? Here’s what you should know:

What is a “Green” Product?

The first thing we should do is define what it is that makes a product “green,” because that is a term that gets thrown around a lot more than it should. There is no actual, legal definition for this term, which means that any company can slap it on a label and fool unsuspecting customers.

Typically, though, when a company labels a product as green, it usually means one of a handful of things:

● The product is made from chemicals that are less harmful to the environment.

● The product is made from non-toxic chemicals that will not harm people or animals that come into contact with it.

● The product is made from more natural substances such as plant-based sources.

● The product is made from resources that are sustainably produced.

When it comes to cleaning products, most people assume “green” means that the chemicals in the product are non-toxic and environmentally-friendly.

Do “Green” Cleaning Products Work?

Now that we know what we mean when we use the term “green,” the next question to ask is whether or not these greener products actually do the job. This is a difficult question to answer without more context, because of the sheer number of products out there. Just like traditional products, some are going to be better than others, and some are going to be worse – and it is impossible to test every single product that is available on the market today.

The good news, though, is that we really don’t have to do that; there have been enough studies out there that have tested hundreds and hundreds of different products, and through these tests, many effective cleaners have been identified. So, without going into specific products, we can say yes, these greener products can be as effective as regular products. You might accidentally buy a green cleaning product that doesn’t work as well, but you run the same risk any time you buy a new product, no matter what type of product it is.

How Can We Know Which Products To Buy?

If you are interested in making the switch to a greener cleaning product, then you have to buy a product that actually delivers on two promises: first, it has to live up to the “green” label and be environmentally friendly and non-toxic. Second, it has to actually work. If your new product fails to live up to either of these goals then you have wasted your money, unfortunately.

To help with the first goal, we’ve compiled a shortlist of things you might want to look out for. While any company can label any product as “green” due to a lack of government regulations regarding the name, there are a number of concerned organizations out there that have taken it upon themselves to help identify those products that actually deserve the title. When shopping for green cleaners, be on the lookout for the following:

● Green Seal is an independently-run nonprofit organization that identifies products that meet a tough standard of health and environmental standards. Products that pass are given Green Seal’s checkmark of approval.

● EWG has compiled a list of thousands of cleaners and ingredients that have been tested for toxicity. This list is not a green-minded list, per se, but rather a list made for safety. Check this list to see whether the products you are intending to use are considered safe or not.

● The EPA – which is a government agency, it should be noted – has also compiled a list of products that are considered safe and non-toxic. While

While only one of these organizations actually makes it a point to measure a product based on its friendliness with the environment, checking all three of these lists should be a crucial step in determining whether a product is not only green but also safe for you to use.

That’s how you can determine whether a product meets the first question. As for the second question of whether or not the chosen product actually works? Well, the only way to answer that is to test it yourself.

Allied Facility Care’s Commitment too Green

At Allied Facility Care, we are committed to cleaning your place of business in the safest, most environmentally-friendly way possible. That’s why we are pleased to offer green cleaning services to our clients. With these services, you can rest assured that you are getting a cleaner, safer, more eco-conscious clean while still receiving the thorough cleaning that you’ve come to expect from Allied Facility Care.

If you would like to know more about how our green cleaning services can work for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.