Schools are bound to be a place where dirt and germs gather in high numbers. With many children inhabiting the same area the majority of the day, every day, they manage to get things dirty. A clean learning environment can contribute to less absences, both among students and teachers, as fewer bacteria will be spreading. To improve the health of all the people in the school, as well as the environment, your schools cleaning company could benefit from considering implementing green cleaning.

Supplies

What essentially makes green cleaning green are the supplies. Using supplies containing toxic chemicals can cause dermatological and respiratory conditions, apart from being harmful to the environment. As many children already suffer from asthma, using cleaning supplies free from toxic chemicals can make it easier for these children to breathe at school. It can also help prevent other children from getting asthma, as they don't need to be exposed to unnecessary toxins. Products without toxic chemicals should be labelled to be biodegradable. As eco-friendly cleaning supplies are becoming more and more common, many companies sell them in bulk, making it easier and cheaper for your commercial cleaning company to obtain. Using products like these can also benefit the health of those are doing the cleaning.

Equipment

For environmentally sustainable cleaning equipment, you should use vacuums that are adapted for high-efficiency filters that catch even the smallest particles of dust. Microfiber cloths should be used for the same purpose, as they can also be washed many times for a minimal amount of waste. This also helps with preventing respiratory conditions. Another area you should look into to make your cleaning green is the usage of paper. Using recycled paper with a low amount of toxins is better for the environment than ordinary paper, but you should consider looking into your usage of paper in general. Cutting back on using paper leads to less waste materials while cleaning and makes it friendlier to the environment.

Procedures

Make sure you use environmentally friendly procedures when cleaning, like minimising the use of disinfectants. Focus on spraying only the surfaces that are touched the most. Also use furniture and metal polishes as little as possible, and when you do, only use the liquid on the cloth and not on the actual surface of what's being cleaned. This can prevent spreading of hazardous substances in the air, as the polish will reside mainly on the cloth and not on the item being cleaned.