How to Make the Switch
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.
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.