Follow these 8 easy steps to make the switch to green cleaning products.

1. Get buy-in from management.

• Need help convincing someone? These short reports make the business case for switching to green cleaners: The Business Case for Green Cleaning, Green Cleaning: The Business Case. 

2. Engage relevant players.

• Depending on your cleaning arrangements, this group may include the purchaser, cleaning staff, contractor, facilities’ manager and/or green team.

3. Take an inventory of your current cleaning products.

• Prioritize the most hazardous products you’re using and the products you use most frequently.

4. Identify green replacements.

• For offices
• For restaurants
• Microfiber cloths
• Canned air
• Handmade cleaners
• Understanding eco-labels

5. Make sure cleaning staff are comfortable with the new green cleaning products. If needed, give the cleaning staff a tutorial including usage and safe storage. 

6. Formalize your commitment to green cleaning with a company policy. Follow a sample policy like this one and write green cleaning requirements into your janitorial contracts.

7. Measure your success.

• The Office of the Federal Environmental Officer’s Green Cleaning Pollution Prevention Calculator measures your impact from switching to greener cleaners.

8. Identify long-term strategies to eliminate the need for hazardous cleaning products.

• For example, consider replacing carpet with concrete or linoleum flooring to reduce your need to shampoo. Hotels can switch to colorful sheets to eliminate the need to use bleach.