Many cleaning businesses are changing how they provide their services, and they are trying their best to meet changing environmentally-conscious standards. They are using safer and less toxic cleaning solutions and evolving methods that have a reduced environmental impact.
Natural Cleaners to Replace Toxic Ones
One of the biggest and most widespread changes we are seeing in cleaning companies across the world is the changeover from toxic chemicals to natural, safe ones. It is the man-made chemicals that are tough on the environment and that create a large carbon footprint, but the ones made from naturally occurring elements are safer for people and are not dangerous for the environment.
Cleaning companies are replacing parabens, phthalates, chlorine, and other toxic components with lemon juice, baking soda, and vinegar. These can sometimes have a strong smell, but they don’t leave behind a toxic residue and do not contribute to environmental decay.
This is happening on a very wide scale and is making such a difference. Businesses and homeowners that hire cleaners with these eco-friendly practices are reporting that they have safer environments where the air is easier to breathe, and they are reporting fewer allergic reactions to cleaning chemicals as well. They feel safer having kids and pets around areas that have been professionally cleaned.
Instead of volatile organic compounds being released into the air, inert components are used, and the result is transformative. People feel better, and surfaces are being cleaned every bit as well as before. This is one change that is generally easy to make and that also makes quite a difference.
Reducing Water Usage
Water is one of our most valuable resources. It is difficult and expensive to create clean, potable water, so many cleaning companies are finding ways to reduce their water usage. This leaves more of this necessary natural resource for others to use and saves valuable resources that are expended to produce clean water.
Cleaning companies in Philly and other places are cutting down on water use in a multitude of ways. They are using buckets of water instead of making use of running water. They are using water bottles instead of hoses, and so forth. They are ensuring that there is no unnecessary waste of water, and they are taking measures to protect this valuable resource.
This is especially important during times of drought, where there is little water available, but cleaning still needs to be done. Is your cleaning company using water carefully and conservatively or are they being wasteful? You can always ask them about their green practices and if they are making smart use of resources.
Less Waste in Packaging
How many disposable items does the average cleaning company use when cleaning a home or a business? It could be a lot depending on how large the property is that they are cleaning as well as the kind of cleaning practices that they engage in. They may be burning through disable scrubbing pads and cloths as well as packaging for cleaning chemicals, and the amount of plastic and paper that is used in a single cleaning can be tremendous.
Not every cleaning company is so wasteful, though, and there is a big trend in the right direction that is seeing many cleaning services opt for reusable items instead of disposable ones. That’s a very healthy trend, because it means not only is the packaging not being tossed but also the cleaning tool itself is not being tossed. That is conservation of multiple items for a single cleaning service.
It can be difficult for companies to break out of their old habits and to change their ways to be more environmentally conscious, but we are seeing more and more companies adopt sensible wastage practices so that fewer items are being thrown away and more items are being reused. Companies that do this are often able to pass their savings onto the customer, since it costs them less in the long run to use reusable items that last for a long time.
Using Energy Efficient Equipment
This is another environmentally conscious change that can take some work to implement but that really pays off for the environment over time. When cleaning companies use energy efficient cleaning tools and methods, they are conserving energy, saving the environment, and helping their clients have a positive environmental impact.
Think about the amount of energy used to run a pressure washer or to run multiple loads of laundry. Think about how much energy is used to run a powerful vacuum cleaner or a suction machine used to clean carpets. These tools were built in the past to simply be as powerful as possible so the work could be done as quickly as possible. Now, companies that design the machines are thinking about how they can be energy conscious.
Many cleaning companies are switching over and are gradually changing out their energy hungry machine for energy conscious ones. They are using less energy and still get their clients’ homes and businesses clean. Be sure to ask your cleaning company about the kind of cleaning tools they use. Ask them how important it is to them to conserve energy and to be efficient with their resources.
Finding the Right Cleaning Company
Because professional cleaning is such a competitive industry right now, there are lots of choices for you to pick from. That means that you can find energy conscious and environmentally conscious cleaning companies if you take the time to look. Spend some time comparing different cleaning services in your area and each out to them and ask them questions about the services they offer.
You can find a cleaning company that really does care about the environment and that makes an effort to save energy and save you money. If you want to do your part to protect the environment and you want your home or business to be clean as well, you can accomplish both by hiring the right cleaning service.


Love this piece—cleaning that saves the planet and your sanity.