There are many benefits to Being Green Cleaning Certified but the most important one to me is having a better understanding of how chemicals hurt the environment. We have been taught that to clean and disinfect you have to use chemical based products if you want to kill germs. When you look under the average kitchen counter you will find many cleaning products with warning labels mentioning avoid contact with skin and keep out of reach of children. in an effort to kill germs we are using products that are dangerous to children and should not come into direct contact with skin.

As a parent and grandparent I want any and everything they touch to be sanitized and disinfected but I also need it to be safe to use around my little ones. Having the opportunity to get first hand information and training is a way for me to ensure my children grandchildren little by will undo the harm my generation has done. A chance to leave the planet better off than we found it. The greatest gift I can leave to my future offspring is the knowledge to replace harsh chemical with all natural green products.

Imagine a world where there are no poison control numbers on the items you use to clean your family's items. Imagine the earth healing itself because people stop using chemical that that drain into the ocean. A world that calls out change, real change that is evident in the air quality. That day is possible but only through educating people on alternative products that give the same or better results.

The following us from the New York Green Clean Program and list the many benefits of being Green Clean:

Health and Well Being

• Reduces exposure to toxic chemicals
• May reduce incidence of asthma attacks caused by dust and chemical allergens
• Improves indoor air quality by reducing airborne dust and chemical gases

Safety

• Improves training programs by stressing safety
• Provides/recommends safer handling of chemicals using automatic dilution dispensers
• Improves control of chemical inventory and storage locations
• Improves maintenance of powered cleaning equipment

Cleaning Efficiency

• Reduces amount of dirt/soil entering the building by using appropriately sized walk off mats
• Improves training on cleaning procedures, which increases efficiency
• Improves cleaning processes and systems
• Promotes increased productivity and learning
• Reduces frequency of labor-intensive tasks like refinishing floors by using less intensive cleaning and maintenance activities more often
• Financial
• Reduces chemical consumption and the number of cleaning chemicals needed
• Reduces injuries to custodial staff and Worker's Compensation Claims
• Promotes a healthier environment for teachers and children (lowering sick days and absenteeism)
• Promotes better inventory management of chemicals and equipment, resulting in more efficient and better-planned procurement of goods

Community

• Provides a sense of community among facility stakeholders
• Provides recognition of the efforts of the custodial staff as well as other stakeholders
• Encourages the facility occupants to play a role in the success of the program and increases the sense of facility ownership by all stakeholders
• Environmental and Sustainable
• Lowers environmental impact/footprint of the facility
• Augments other environmental efforts such as improving indoor air quality, reducing energy usage, and recycling

So as you can see being green clean certified and finding alternative products benefits the whole world.