Learn how to start a cleaning business or take your existing cleaning business to the next level of success. Join The Janitorial Store today!
Home | Discussion Forum | Contact Us | Tell a Friend | Search | Member Area
 JOIN US
Gain immediate access to all our articles, forms, discussion group, bidding calculators, tele-seminars, training programs and more! Click here for details.
Click here to watch video comments about membership to The Janitorial Store
 Membership
Join Now
Member Comments
Our Guarantee
Help
Update My Account
Cancel Membership
Terms of Use
 RESOURCES
Cleaning Success Blog
Cleaning Tips Archive
Cleaning Videos
Equipment for Sale
Free Downloads
Recommended Reading
Resources
Sample Articles
Service Directory
 JANITORIAL TOOLKIT
Bidding Calculators
Paper Usage Calculator
Business Calculators
Discussion Forum
Bidding Forum
Download Library
Free Tele-Forums
Join a Mastermind Group
Member Profiles
Product Reviews
Image Galleries
 ARTICLES
Article Index
Bidding & Estimating
Business Planning
Cleaning Procedures
Computer Tips
Employees and HR
Equipment & Products
Green Cleaning & LEED
Residential Cleaning
Safety
Sales & Marketing
Training
 Online Store
Tele-Classes & Webinars
Training Programs
Training Videos
Ebooks / Manuals
Janitorial Forms
Janitorial Books
Cleaning Clip Art
Consulting
Supplies and Equipment
 ABOUT THIS SITE
About Us
Affiliate Program
Panel of Experts
Partners
Privacy Policy
Shipping & Returns
Publicity

Bookmark on del.icio.us

Digg This

Submit to Reddit
 TESTIMONIALS

Here's what our members are saying...

"I had my first strip and wax job and it happened to be a VERY picky Client. Well I have the advantage of living very close to Steve and Jean. Steve offered to come and help. With Steve's help we completed the strip and wax job. I learned so much and I am extremity grateful for Steve and his commitment to helping his members succeed. Steve and Jean you both are a GREAT blessing to our industry and an example of true selfless individuals that I am proud to know. Thank you for all you do."

Matthew Kitzmann
Air Quality Solutions
Rochester, MN


"Steve, thanks for your help. I can't even begin to tell you how valuable your site and help has made a world of difference to how we do business."

Rocky Lozano
Big Sky Mountain Enterprises
Great Falls, MT


"Steve thanks for all your help. I got the contract. Just to let you know this site has been fantastic. I have been in business for 4 months here and I have secured 6 contracts with your help and info. Keep up the great work."

Tim Daniels
All Green-All Clean
Long Beach, MS


"Jean and Steve, this is a big thank you for your knowledge and expertise in operating your company. There is an old familiar saying, 'only in America'. Well that is how one should feel about The Janitorial Store. 'only at THE JANITORIAL STORE'. Where else can one go to find the wealth of information that you provide daily? Where else can one have experience people like you and people like Sharon Cowan, Dick Ollek and Debbie Sardone, just to name a few, share their knowledge of how to run a successful business. These are people who have been there and done that. Thank you and continue doing what you do best."

William Briggs
One Briggs Janitorial Service
Woodbridge, VA


"You two have been a blessing to our business. Your knowledge, wisdom and tools on your website has allowed us to bid on our first contract feeling like an expert. We have continued to acquire more clients with your help. Thanks again for all you do."

Norman and Alecia Smith
Covenant Commercial Cleaning Services
Little Elm, TX


home | Cleaning Tips Archive | Traditional Cleaning vs. Green Clean . . .
 

Traditional Cleaning vs. Green Cleaning - Part 2, Restroom Cleaning
Steve Hanson
Printer-Friendly Format

Traditional Cleaning:
If you're cleaning restrooms the traditional way, you're probably using disinfectant cleaners, glass cleaners, stainless steel cleaners, and acid bowl cleaners. Although these products do a good job of cleaning, they can be toxic to the environment and to the people who use them. In addition, many stainless steel cleaners are made from petroleum products, which is not a renewable resource, so using a product that is water based would be a "greener" alternative.

Many companies who clean in the traditional way also use white cotton cloths for cleaning surfaces. When using cotton cloths, you take a chance that your employees will cross-contaminate surfaces as they move from one area to the next.

Cleaning restroom floors in the traditional way includes sweeping and mopping with a broom or dust mop, and then using string mop-heads and mop buckets to clean the floors.

Green Cleaning:
When you clean restrooms using environmentally friendly products, tools and methods, you use safer cleaning products, and more efficient tools and cleaning systems. First, consider switching to products that are safer for the environment, aquatic life and human life. Check with your local janitorial distributor, as they should carry at least one environmentally friendly product line.

Restroom cleaning involves disinfecting a number of different surfaces, so you want to avoid cross-contaminating surfaces. The best way to do this is to use color-coded microfiber cloths. Each color is used for a particular task. For example:

  • Blue - mirrors and bright work
  • Yellow - sinks and countertops
  • Red - toilets and urinals

Cleaning floors using green cleaning equipment and methods means you'll use a back pack vacuum to vacuum the floor, rather than sweeping, which spreads soil around and causes dust to become airborne.

Mopping floors using green cleaning equipment and methods means you'll use a microfiber mop instead of the traditional mop and bucket. Microfiber mops are lighter weight, use less water, and are able to trap more soil in the fibers than traditional mops. In medical facilities, you can quickly switch mop heads from room to room to avoid cross contamination.

Conclusion:
As you can see, making a few simple changes in chemicals, equipment and cleaning methods can make a big impact. Not only will you be making a contribution to protecting the environment, but you'll also be protecting your employees from toxic chemicals and outdated equipment that can cause unnecessary injuries.

If you haven't made the switch to green cleaning yet, consider doing more research by checking out our Green Cleaning Ebook.

Copyright (c) The Janitorial Store (TM)

 

Click here to discuss this topic in the forum

Thoughts or comments? Please consider posting them to the discussion forum





Printer-Friendly Format
·  Traditional Cleaning vs. Green Cleaning - Part 1
·  Cleaning Green vs. Green Cleaning
·  10 Tips for Choosing Green Cleaning Chemicals


 TIP OF THE WEEK

Trash Talk - Sign up and Receive FREE GIFT!


- Tip Archive -
Follow me on Twitter!
Let's be friends on Facebook!
Let's connect on LinkedIn!
Watch our videos on YouTube!
Subscribe to our tips Feed!






 DISCUSSION FORUM
Recent Forum Posts
 SURVEY
What would you like to see more of on this website?
articles
tele-classes
webinars
videos
discussion forums
books
training programs
product selection
resources

  • Show Survey Results
  • Show All Surveys

  • Receive 50% off a One-Year BSCAI Membership when you join The Janitorial Store for One Year!



    Join a Cleaning Business Mastermind Group Today!



    Tripodcast: concise, usable information for cleaning industry professionals



    Subscribe to Home Cleaner Magazine



    ICPA - Independent Cleaners Purchasing Alliance



    Credit Card Processing