Cleaning is essential to keep our homes, schools, and workplaces healthy. However, we must be mindful cleaning can have harmful effects on people the environment we live in. This is because some cleaning products include harmful chemicals. Even though some products are advertised as “green” products, some contain ingredients that can cause problems to our health and can cause damage to our environment. In addition, some cleaning products can be highly flammable or corrosive. To reduce exposure and risk your health, make sure you read the labels of your cleaning products, and be able to identify the harmful ingredients. Below are some examples of chemicals that can harm our planet and health.

As discussed previously, cleaning is important to our health, but we must be vigilant on which ones we use. Not all cleaning chemicals are safe for us and our environment. For example, some disinfectant cleaners and hand disinfectants include the ingredient of Benzalkonium chloride. This chemical is biologically active and can help the creation of new strains of bacteria that can harm our health. In addition, some spray cleaners and abrasive cleaners use ingredients such as Butyl cellosolve. This toxic synthetic solvent can irritate mucous membranes and can cause damage to the liver, kidney and to our nervous system. Another ingredient that is most widely poplar that has disastrous results on our health is chlorine. Poising from chlorine is one of the most common mistakes in US households. Furthermore, some cleaning chemicals include artificial fragrances to provide a pleasant smell in the areas that they are applied. However, few know that artificial fragrances are made from petroleum. These fragrances do not dissolve in our environment and have toxic affects on fish and mammals.

The list goes can go on and on, but I wanted to bring attention to the disastrous effects of ignoring cleaning chemicals. Always remember, when you go to the supermarket or to your current cleaning distributor to pick up supplies, check the labels. Make sure that the cleaning chemicals you purchase do not carry any harmful ingredients that might impair your health or harm our environment. After all, we put a great effort to clean our homes and workplaces for our own health, we should equally put the same effort to keep our planet clean.

IJCSA is an organization in the cleaning industry that is based on four core values: to promote professionalism, ethics, education, and training on cleaning. These core values are passed down to their members. When you’re working with a member of the IJCSA you know that you are dealing with professionals who are trained in Green Cleaning, properly trained in the latest cleaning trends, and their customer service is a match to no other.

New customers are disheartened with their current cleaning service because they are not professionals, they don’t practice ethics, their employees are not educated nor trained. On top of that, many non-members do not practice a Green Cleaning approach. Green Cleaning is especially important nowadays because it’s safe, innovative, and sustainable practice in comparison with older methods that are harmful to our health. A cleaning company that practices Green Cleaning can help increase productivity, reduce stress, improve health, and shows to the community that the client is committed to maintain a sustainable environment. IJCSA members are required to be educated and trained in Green Cleaning, and you can easily find an IJCSA professional in your area right here

Furthermore, when working with an IJCSA member, you will understand right away that its all about customer satisfaction. Each member is trained in customer service, provided by the latest trends in the field by the IJCSA customer service program. This shows that each IJCSA member is committed to promote professionalism, innovation, career growth in the field, and above all catering to the needs of their customers. So if you are tired by your non trained and unprofessional cleaning service, take a step of how things are done right by contacting of IJCSA trained cleaning companies in Green Cleaning. You won’t regret it!

Great customer service is top priority here at IJCSA. Our main goal is to let you know we genuinely care. Every customer wants to be heard and understood, no matter where you are, so knowing you desire a clean and safe work place is what we will set out to do. If there is ever a problem you run into please do not ever hesitate to bring it to our attention and we will do whatever is necessary to make sure you are fully satisfied. 

Things can sometimes go wrong and we are here to assure you we will always try to create a strategy to your solution. Not only can you be sure that we are here to emphasize with your companies needs, but rest assured we will always follow up to make sure all is going smoothly.. we understand how important it is for all your employees to feel safe and happy. And you can count on us sending you out some savings your way just to remind you that we care.

It is every persons dream to have an office job, you go into your clean germ free office and get through your daily activities without getting sick or passing your germs to co-workers ( yes we all have germs) and then able to return to your family without transferring germs from work to your precious home. Have you actually thought about how this is possible for all office buildings, schools , churches, doctors offices, emergency rooms, labs, hospitals and even where we wine and dine (restaurant's).

Janitors and custodians are truly the backbone of cleanliness, they are responsible for the care taking of all companies and businesses whether small or large. Janitors and custodians are very important to Corporate America, they are the ones that help keep these places germ free, dust free, free of debris and awful odors in the restrooms. The first impression a client receives when entering a building or business is credited to the janitor or custodian responsible for cleaning the place.

If for any reason you are in search for a certified janitor or custodian take a walk through IJCSA's Janitorial Directory for the best in the business. You  will find a list of well qualified and trained companies nationwide, companies you can trust to take care of all your cleaning assignments and needs. At the beginning of your daily lives and activities it starts with a janitorial or custodian staff member, at the end of your day it ends with a janitorial or custodian staff member.....Something to think about when you walk into your next office appointment or business meeting.

We are constantly surrounded by chemicals. In our food, our clothes, our air, our water, and our general environments. What makes this worse, however, is when we use cleaning products that contain chemicals that do nothing but add to our overall toxic load and exposure levels. In order to keep ourselves safe from constant inundation from harsh chemicals, using green cleaning products and methods are so much safer and are the better alternative. 

One of the most common chemicals found in people's homes is chlorine bleach. Although it may be an effective disinfectant, it can lead to lung and eye irritation, and be toxic when added to the waterways. Overall, bleach is not a very safe method for killing bacteria or disinfecting without the person using it also experiencing physical discomfort. A nice green cleaning alternative for disinfecting, is a safe form of hydrogen peroxide, or a natural cleaning product such as one of Seventh Generation's disinfecting cleaning products that contain thymol, a derivative of thyme, that kills up to 99.9% of bacteria. Using safer alternatives to common chemical cleaning products, such as the ones above, provide safer and healthier environments. 

Other common household chemicals that are commonly used in cleaning products are alkyl phenoxy polyethoxy ethanols. These chemicals are used in laundry detergents, all purpose cleaners, and hard surface cleaners. What makes these chemicals so awful is they are not only slow to biodegrade, but they have been proven to alter the gene expression once estrogen receptors have been activated, leading to breast cancer and a slew of other chronic health problems.

Many common cleaning products contain fragrances with phthalates, which can lead to reproductive issues, cancer, asthma and issues within our food system, and even our waterways. 

The chemicals mentioned above are only the tip of the chemicals-in-common-cleaning-products iceberg. There are many more chemicals that can have serious physical and even neurological effects. Some chemicals can lead to skin irritation, rashes, nerve damage, sleep disturbances and even an increased risk of cancer. Not only are these chemicals physically damaging, they can be extraordinarily damaging to the environment, leaching into our waterways, and causing potential fire hazards. 

Using green cleaning products as alternatives to common household chemicals is safer for one's home, the environment, for kids, animals, waterways, and ecosystems. These safe alternatives, such as baking soda, vinegar, essential oils, and even using cellulose sponges, can prevent health hazards, and provide a better work environment for cleaners and for the community. Using green cleaning products also creates a positive conscience, knowing that these products are eco-friendly, biodegradable, and can sometimes even be composted. 

To find green cleaning services, check out IJCSA's Green Cleaning Directory, and or visit EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning for lists of natural green cleaning alternatives.

When looking for a trusted green cleaning service, it is important to keep many questions in mind. How does this business or service operate/what are their green cleaning guidelines? Do they have certain products used during service? If so, what are these products and how are they sourced? Are these products safe for children and pets? Are they eco-friendly and biodegradable? 

There are many resources one has nowadays that allows one to check out a business to ensure the business is as they advertise. Doing a quick google search for "green or natural cleaning services in my area" might pop up many options, but to get a fully certified, checked-out business, another great resource is using one like IJCSA's Green Cleaning Service Directory. Knowing that the cleaning business you are hiring is certified and knowledgable about green cleaning, is a great way to ensure you are working with a business who is taking the care to provide better health and safety guidelines for their employees and for their clients without using harsh chemicals.

Knowing what products the business uses is also a huge step in making sure you are hiring a proper green cleaning service. A great resource for this is using the Environmental Working Group's website to get a rating on the product toxicity and a breakdown of what chemicals are present within the product being used. EWG specifically certifies certain products that are eco-friendly and safe to use with their official "EWG Certified" seal of approval. Having the knowledge of what products the business you have hired is using, is a great way to make certain that the products are safe, natural, and environmentally friendly. This also takes into account that some "green" product companies aren't truly green. They may appear green and safe to use on the service of the label, but may actually be greenwashed, and are falsely advertising a "safe" product, when in reality, the product might still contain harmful or harsh chemicals. This is why it is important to know for certain what products a company is proudly using and representing.

It is also important to keep in mind that some green cleaning companies might decide to create their own homemade green cleaning products. Many of these products may contain ingredients one may find in their home, such as vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, borax, and essential oils. This may be a very good sign that the products being used are safe, simple, and effective within your home, as long as there is a good knowledge of how these ingredients may be used. Keep in mind however, that these companies should also always ensure that the client or anyone within the home or building being cleaned, does not have any allergies to the ingredients or essential oils. 

These are some great tips for how to find a good green cleaning service. It is always a good idea to do thorough research and to verify that the service you have chosen is advertising themselves properly and that they are using safe and eco-friendly products.

Nowadays, I hear a lot about “Green Cleaning”. This method is encouraged to be adopted by the cleaning industry because it’s safe, and is an innovative and sustainable practice in comparison with the “good old cleaning” practices. Green cleaning has proven to have many benefits. For example, increase productivity, reduces stress, improves health, and shows to the community that you are committed to maintain a sustainable environment. For these reasons, the cleaning industry has invested into researching better practices for the safety and benefit of the people who operate cleaning services as well as those customers who receive these services.

Since the benefits of Green Cleaning is understood, the next step is to implement the practice of Green Cleaning into the current business model. For that to happen, I will need to train my staff and cleaning techs. Training is the second most important asset to my company; the 1^st important asset is always my staff and cleaning techs. Without training, my company will fail to meet its goal, and that is by providing a Green Cleaning service, our employees and customers will be at continued risk. When we train our employees, we want to make sure that when they go out to different projects, they are equipped with the necessary knowledge to complete all tasks without fail. Training ensures that the material was reviewed and understood. The next step is to test your staff to see if the information has been understood. Once that step is done, the next step is to go out at the field and apply the Green Cleaning practice at projects. To ensure that all work has been properly carried out, the work must be documented, and a supervisor must give their final approval that the work was properly completed. If there is a cleaning tech who has not applied the Green Cleaning practice properly, they must be provided with additional training and coaching to ensure that they understand the Green Cleaning practice.

Within my business, I plan on incorporating a green cleaning program to ensure the safety of not only myself, but for my clients, as well as my employees. I will encourage using EWG's guide to healthy, clean living, looking for products that are safe to use, environmentally friendly, and non-toxic.

This program will heavily emphasize(s) the importance of using green cleaning products to clean, sanitize, disinfect, and scrub to get the job done, while also maintaining safety from harsh chemicals and properly sticking to health standards. I want nothing more than for my workers and for my clients to feel safe and to have a good conscience when cleaning products are used within their homes and community. Who wouldn't want to use products that are eco-friendly, safe around kids, pets, and the like? For my business, green cleaning is clearly the way to go. 

IJCSA certified companies are great at customer service. Here are some key factors for great customer service.

Be aware of what the customer wants. Smile, eye contact and a friendly comment are important for good in person customer relations. This can go along in getting a reasonable solution to a service related issue. Listen to and empathize with the customer.

Create and clarify solutions for the customer’s issues. Review the remedy with the customer and then follow up with the customer to make sure they were happy with the services provided. Phone calls and e-mails are a good way to follow up with customers.

WOW! Understanding the needs of the client can be as simple as looking at the lifestyle they live. Successful Mortgage Broker, Working mom with kids, Doctors on call, Realtor in constant meetings at work, Frantic family work schedules and a stressed out business owners. All is customer service. 

It cost money for labor but it cost nothing to show some kindness in the process. Airing a House out for a 2 hour period may make the working mom happy and the fresh air smells good. Business owner may like a kind note of inspiration placed on the fridge. (keep it neutral) The successful Broker may like to know that his trash is empty and it did not smell like the fish that was ate last night. The frantic family may like that extra straightening up even, not asked but done, will go a long way. Doctors need pampered. Nothing lavish but a simple flower made out of tissue paper or a clean fridge. Each client is different. 

Take a look at the lifestyles of the clients and see with in reason what or how you can in some small way make their day or week a more special - wow factor.

Keep it simple, keep it smart and keep it going in many different ways.