CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE MATERIALS

Considerations for Greener Cleaning and Maintenance:

Select durable finish materials that do not require frequent stripping, waxing, or oiling (such as colored concrete, true linoleum, and cork.) Consider whether a high-gloss shine is necessary.

Select biodegradeable, non-toxic cleansers. Other positive features to look for include neutral pH, vegetable-based surfactants (if any), and concentrates.

Read labels - Select cleansers, waxes, and oils with few or no harmful ingredients.

Look for products that are not required to be labeled as toxic or highly toxic, poisonous, harmful or fatal if swallowed, corrosive, flammable, explosive, volatile, causing cancer or reproductive harm, or require “adequate ventilation” or safety equipment. If the manufacturer recommends such substances, inquire if anything else will do the job, or consider substituting a material with lower maintenance requirements.

For commercial and institutional cleaning and maintenance, consider selecting products that are certified by a third party as non-toxic and/or biodegradable, or listed by a government agency as environmentally preferable.

Third party certifiers of cleaning products include:

• Green Seal
• Scientific Certification Systems (SCS)

Government lists of environmentally preferable cleaning products include:

• US EPA Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program
• General Services Agency
• CIWMB Recycled Content Product Directory

For floors that require stripping, minimize the amount of stripper concentrate used, and always wear appropriate safety gear. Reduce stripping frequency by:

• Place mats at all building entrances and clean them regularly.
• Dust mop and/or vacuum frequently, and wet mop with a liquid cleaner.
• Refinish only areas where the finish surface is wearing.

When using materials that are hazardous:

• Purchase only the amount needed.
• The Santa Cruz County Second Chance Store sorts and distributes leftover household hazardous materials for free. Call (831) 454-2606 for information.
• Take all recommended safety precautions. Goggles, gloves, and respirators are all far more pleasant than injury and less expensive than health care.
• Dispose of the remainder and containers properly.
  Call (831) 454-2606 for information about household hazardous waste disposal in Santa Cruz County, or go to www.dpw.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/hazwaste.htm

Summary: Implications of Cleaning Supply Selection

Environmentally preferable cleaning methods and products can reduce indoor air pollution and solid/liquid waste generation. Safe cleansers are among the easiest to find and most competitively priced green materials.

Improper use and disposal of many common cleaning and maintenance products contributes to indoor air contamination, water pollution, and toxic waste. At home, cleaning products are the most common cause of poisoning; nearly one million children are exposed to harmful household chemicals and medicines each year. Vapors and solids from cleansers can be more difficult to disperse indoors than outdoors. As a result, concentrations of toxic chemicals are commonly far higher inside the home or office than outdoors.

Biodegradability is a key factor for surfactants, the active ingredients in cleaners. Ingredients that break down slowly or incompletely pose greater risks to the environment. Even low surfactant concentrations in runoff can increase the ability of harmful chemicals to penetrate plant and animal tissues. Generally, petroleum-derived surfactants break down more slowly than vegetable oil-derived fatty acids. Some materials are even resistant to municipal sewage treatment. Look for terms such as “readily biodegradeable” on product labels.

Select durable finish materials that do not require frequent stripping, waxing, or oiling, particularly options that can be cleaned satisfactorily with simple, nontoxic, biodegradeable cleansers. Linoleum, for example, can be quite aesthetically pleasing with a matte finish. Simple homemade biodegradeable cleaners such as baking soda and water clean many materials remarkably well, allowing one to use “stronger” options when truly necessary.

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