Green Cleaning Solutions for Schools

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All across the nation, school officials have made the decision to only use certified green cleaning supplies when sanitizing their buildings.  This decision is primarily based on research that suggests that green cleaning provides children with a safer learning environment.  By reducing or eliminating the use of industrial strength cleaners in schools, we can create a cleaner and healthier environment for our children.

Most American children spend the majority of their day inside of a school building.  These facilities tend to be densely populated and have constant traffic in and out.  Keeping that space clean and sanitized is important to reduce germ exposure and to create an inviting atmosphere for all who enter.  However, the use of harsh or dangerous chemicals can put the health of the students and staff at risk.

Because children eat more food, drink more water, and breathe more air than adults, they are at a greater risk for toxic chemical exposure. Children play closer to the ground where toxic chemicals are stored and used.  They tend to engage in more hand-to-mouth activity than adults as well.  Their rapidly growing systems are sensitive and less able to detoxify or process toxins.

Industrial cleaning agents and room deodorizers used in many schools can negatively affect the health of children, especially those with chronic conditions.  These harsh chemicals contribute to the poor air quality of some schools, which can cause students to experience headaches, nausea and worsening health issues.  In order to minimize these risks, it is crucial that a commercial cleaning company use safe, green cleaning products when working around this sensitive population.  Reducing their exposure to toxins will allow our children to learn in a school that is both safe and healthy.

Green cleaning programs are designed to promote health without harming the environment.  Commercial cleaning companies that work within schools should use environmentally friendly cleaning products and equipment that promote health and safety.  All products and equipment used have to pass strict performance tests to be deemed "green."  The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) is a leader in setting forth very strict requirements that must be met before a product is labeled green.  Not all commercial cleaning companies follow these guidelines so do your research before hiring.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that as many as half of all students and staff in schools may be exposed to polluted indoor air, lead, asbestos, chemical fumes, pesticides, molds and other toxins.  Reducing that number has become a mission of many school systems around our country.  As awareness grows, more and more school systems are employing commercial cleaning companies that are experienced at implementing green cleaning practices.

The cost of implementing a green cleaning policy in the schools is often no more expensive than using traditional cleaning practices.  With environmentally friendly products becoming more readily available, the cost of these products has decreased in recent years.  Most will agree that the reduction in absenteeism within the schools due to illnesses associated with poor air quality is well worth any additional costs that may occur.

The health of our children is one of the most important reasons that we should attempt to make our schools healthier and cleaner.  Whether you are most concerned with our children's safety or the impact we have on our environment, employing the assistance of a commercial cleaning company that has a policy of green cleaning practices will benefit us all in the long run.
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