Green Cleaning Products for Schools

Some states, including Connecticut, Illinois and New York, have recently enacted the Green Cleaning Schools Act, which requires or encourages schools to replace traditional toxic cleaning products with environmentally sensitive cleaning supplies. Though the bill enacted in each state differs somewhat, the ultimate goal of each bill is to reduce toxins in schools and promote healthy environments for children.

Benefits

• Approximately 25 percent of the chemicals used in nongreen cleaning products are toxic. Children are especially at risk when exposed to toxins. The organ systems of school-age children are still developing. Exposure to harmful chemicals and toxins can cause respiratory problems such as wheezing, worsening of asthma, nosebleeds and nasal congestion. Exposure can also lead to other symptoms, including headaches, nausea, rashes, fever and muscle aches. Switching to green cleaning products in schools can reduce, if not eliminate, the symptoms brought on by chemicals found in nongreen cleaning products.

Products

• Cleaning products that schools are required to replace with green alternatives include bathroom cleaners, carpet cleaners, floor finishers and strippers, glass cleaners, window and mirror cleaners, hand cleansers, soaps and general purpose cleaners. Disinfectants, sanitizers and other antimicrobial cleaners are typically not covered under green cleaning laws.

Green Certification

• Some cleaning products claim to be green and environmentally safe when they actually are not. Only use products that have been tested and certified by an impartial third party. The three leading nonprofit certification systems that approve green cleaning products are Green Seal, Design for the Environment (DfE), and Eco-Logo. Eco-Logo is a Canadian agency, and DfE is part of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Cost Comparison

• Switching to green cleaning products is considered "cost neutral." Though some green products are more expensive than their nongreen counterparts, schools usually use fewer chemicals to complete cleaning tasks, which ultimately saves money and staff time. Many green cleaning products are multipurpose, so schools can purchase as few as four different green cleaning products to get most of their cleaning work done. Purchasing fewer cleaning agents in bulk also saves money compared to purchasing numerous individual nongreen products to finish each cleaning task.