Cleaning Chemicals
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Cleaning Chemicals
So what makes a cleaner a green product? Many traditional cleaners including glass, all-purpose, carpet extraction and washroom cleaners are known to have a variety of health and environmental problems associated with them. And although there is no such thing as zero risk (everything has some potential to cause harm), green products reduce the potential for harm to take place compared to traditional products used for the same purpose. For example, a common cleaner may contain 2-butoxyethanol (butyl), which is a very effective solvent but among other concerns is suspected of being a developmental, endocrine, and reproductive toxicant as it passes through the skin and enters the body.
Note: Look for chemicals in concentrate form. Concentrate products have clear advantages over their ready-to-use counterparts. They reduce environmental impacts by reduction in packaging material, transportation impacts and disposal impacts. Concentrates also isolate the user from the chemical through portion control systems, which will reduce potential impact to cleaning staff and building occupants.
Floor Care
Zinc - who know that such a simple element would cause such a stir in the floor care industry. Most traditional floor finishes contain zinc which is used to crosslink the polymer making it more durable and chemical resistant. Also floor strippers contain ingredients such as 2-butoxyethanol, ammonia, sodium hydroxide and akylphenol ethoxylate sufactants all of which are known to cause health and environmental problems.
Advise
Choosing the right floor care program is a delicate balance. It is important evaluate the performance of each product. Below are some factors to evaluate potential products and systems:
- Eliminating the use of heavy metals (such as zinc), phthalates, and solvents whenever possible
- Matching the least-caustic stripper that effectively removes the chosen finish
- Desired appearance level (gloss vs. mat)
- The ability of the finish to deliver needed gloss level with fewer coats, for instance building gloss with three or four coats verse seven or eight
- Identifying a finish that will maintain its appearance in the traffic experienced in your facility with minimal or no burnishing
- Application methods, daily maintenance requirements and "ease of use" must fit within the capabilities and resources of your staff
Disinfectants and Sanitizers
The idea of green disinfectants and sanitizers has polarized our industry. How can a disinfectant be classifed or certified as "safe" when the specific design of the product is to kill living things or prevent them from reproducing? The simple answer is that it can not be. Some disinfectants and sanitizers are better for the environment and the health of the building occupants but the idea of this category of products being "safe" is unrealistic. Below is a breakdown of the spectrum of disinfectants and sanitizers.
Sodium hypochlorite or chlorine bleach is extremely effective against harmful organisms, but it's also a know respiratory irritant, burns eyes and skin and if accidentally mixed with other common cleaning products will produce a poisonous gas. If you are using chlorine bleach, a greener alternative is a comparable performing disinfectant/sanitizer, approved by he EPA that kills the target organisms, but does so without being a respiratory irritant, corrosive to eyes or skin, or one that does not produce a poisonous gas upon mixing with other agents.
Phenol-based disinfectants are still commonm, especially as part of OSHA's Blood Borne Pathogen Standard. Phenols are suspected of being a developmental, reproductive, respiratory and major organ toxicant. If you are using a phenol-based disinfectant, a greener alternative would be a comparable performing product approved by the EPA and effective against HIV-1 and Hepatitis B (HBV) but with reduced impacts on health and the environment.
Quat-based disinfectants have reduced health impacts compared to bleach and phenols, although the may cause asthma. Quats are also considered to be toxic to aquatic life. If you are using a quat-based disinfectant, a greener alternative would be a comparable performing disinfectant with a lower pH and VOC levels.
Hydrogen peroxide-based sanitizers have an improved health and environmental profile compared to most other disinfectants and sanitizers. However, these products are typically sanitizers and not disinfectants and may not be appropriate in high-risk applications. They may be preferable in many general applications where a sanitizer would be preferable compared to a detergent-based cleaner, such as surfaces that are frequently touched or as an added safeguard around occupants with diminished immune systems.
Hand Soap
The EPA states that washing your hands regularly is the single most effective way to prevent sickness. That bears repeating, the EPA states that washing your hands regularly is the single most effective way to prevent sickness. Below are some tips to create a more green hand washing experience.
- Lather well without requiring excessive application. Consider the newer foaming soaps that deliver equivalent lather with 50 percent less product dispensed
- Not irritate the user's skin
- Have little or no fragrance or dye
- Utilize dispensers that are easily filled. If a soap comes with a replaceable pouch, it should be made of plastic with high recycled content. If the dispenser is refillable, it should be easy to remove for celaning between refills.
- Touch-Free if possible
- Not contain sanitizing or antimicrobial agents except as a preservative in the soap or where specifically required by health code or other regulations, such as in food-preparation areas or acute health care settings.
Why shouldn't hand soap contain antimicrobial agents? After all, if we're so concerned about human health, why wouldn't we want to use hand sanitizers as much as possible? Research has found little evidence that health is further protected by using an anitmicrobial hand soap compared to traditional soap and water. But that is not to say there isn't a time and place for sanitizers. When washing hands with soap and water is inconvenient or impossible, sanitizers is a good alternative. When looking for sanitizers, look for a water-based alternative verse the more common alcohol based sanitizer. Water-based alternatives are gentle on the skin and nonharmful to floors and equally effective at killing harmful organisms.
