Green Cleaning Facts That Every Portland Resident Must Know

Cleaning and maintenance of commercial and residential facilities has to be done on a regular basis, and cleaning products are bought regularly for this use. Cleaning is necessary to remove dust, allergens, and infectious agents so that the occupants of the building do not suffer from health issues. The right choice for the environment and occupants of the building is to use environment friendly cleaning products and get a green cleaning.

Being a Portland resident, you already are in a metropolis that is prone to high air and water pollution levels, and cleaning products can add additional health and environmental concerns. The chemicals in cleaning products can cause health issues associated with eye, skin, or respiratory irritations. Furthermore, some commercial cleaning products are even classified as hazardous, which makes their handling, storage, and disposal a major concern for all. This means that whenever you buy cleaning products for your residents or commercial set ups, you must do so keeping in mind pollution prevention and reducing the quantity and hazards of materials used.

* The Impact of Cleaning Chemicals on the Environment And People’s Health

How are these chemicals in cleaning products released into the environment? These chemicals escape into the environment every time they are used. Some of the volatile chemicals get absorbed in the air, while the others get rinsed down into water bodies in the surrounding area. Even those who perform cleaning services can be exposed to concentrated cleaning products, and that is why clear and precise guidelines need to be issued regarding their storage and usage. This can come in handy while preventing exposure to concentrated cleaning product during handling and use.

Certain ingredients that make up these chemical cleaners cause severe or minor allergies to the people exposed to them. That is why some occupants of a building complain of skin and eye irritation after the cleaning of a facility. These chemicals are the main cause of toxicity in aquatic species in waters receiving these untreated wastes. Alkylphenol ethoxylate, a common surfactant ingredient in cleaners, has been observed to function as an "endocrine disrupter." This means it causes harmful effects to the reproductive systems of animals and wildlife that are exposed to the waste polluted by this ingredient.

Cleaning chemicals have phosphorus or nitrogen, which can lead to nutrient loading in water bodies. This has a straight impact on water quality.

The VOC, as in the volatile organic compounds in cleaning products, are the main culprits behind polluting the indoor air quality. They also contribute to smog formation in the air.

* The Benefits of Choosing Green Cleaning Products:

What does a green cleaning product have that makes it okay to use around people and the environment? Here are the positive attributes that make green cleaning products a must -- biodegradability, low toxicity, low volatile organic compound (VOC) content, reduced packaging and low life cycle energy use. These are the main benefits that come with green cleaning and the results are minimal harmful impact on building occupants, improved indoor air quality, and reduction in air and water pollution. All these benefits are added to the sparkling clean and hygienic interiors of your residence or facility post cleaning.

Another benefit of green products is that they have reusable, reduced, or recyclable packaging and cut down on packaging waste. All these benefits must be remembered when you need cleaning services, specifically services focused on commercial janitorial Portland residents must make the right choice in cleaning products to ensure that their city remains healthy and clean for generations to come!

ServiceMaster Solutions has been providing janitorial services to the residents in Portland since 1983. They are known for providing healthy and efficient green cleaning services.