Guide to Cost-Effective Green Cleaning Products for Your Business

What Is Green Cleaning?

Environmentally friendly products work just as well as their commercial counterparts. They both clean in the same way, but one causes less harm.

Why Is Going Green With Cleaning Important?

The chemicals used in commercial cleaning products can be damaging to human health and the environment. They release toxic fumes, are non-biodegradable, and need unsustainable packaging.

Commercial cleaning products may contain harmful chemicals that:

• Do not breakdown in the environment
• Have not have been tested for safety
• Cause allergic reactions or other medical issues
• Cause chemical burns on exposed skin
• Release fumes that can cause respiratory issues
• Are poisonous if ingested
• Come in un-recyclable or un-refillable packaging
• Are difficult and expensive to dispose of

Choosing to use a green cleaner in your business helps to protect the environment. It ensures the safety and good working conditions of staff.

How Does a Cleaning Product Clean?

The goal of environmentally friendly cleaning is to use methods that do as little harm as possible. They keep the environment–and the people, animals, insects, and plants that live in it–safe.

Commercial cleaning products fall into one of four categories: alkali, acid, solvent, or soaps and detergents.

Akali-based cleaners range from heavy-duty to mild and contain chemicals that break down grease and proteins. Some cleaners in this category are corrosive and can be harmful to your skin.

You use cleaners containing acid in the kitchen or bathroom. They clean soap scum, dirt, rust, and hard-water deposits from ceramic or metal surfaces. In their strongest form, acid cleaners are corrosive.

If alcohol, acetone, or mineral spirits are in the ingredients list, the cleaner is usually designed to cut through tough grease and stains. They can be highly flammable. Soaps and detergents serve the same purpose and are the safest option among industrial cleaners.



Makers of natural cleaners mimic these properties. They use ingredients that are better for the environment than their industrial counterparts.

Benefits of Green Cleaning for Business

A business that chooses to use a green cleaner will give their staff something special. They will give them the peace of mind that the environment they're working in is safe.



Not only that but going green may have cost-saving benefits.

Reduces Environmental Pollution

All cleaning products release compounds into the environment by evaporation or in water. The difference is that when you use a green cleaning product, the released compounds are less likely to harm the environment.

Keeps Allergic Reactions at Bay

Janitorial staff use cleaning products day-in and day-out. Managers expose staff inside offices or factories to the chemical residue, too. They lean on their workspaces, tap on their keyboards, or open the fridge to get out their lunch.

Some ingredients in commercial cleaners can have a detrimental effect when absorbed by the skin. Alkylphenol ethoxylates, for example, are a known endocrine disrupter. Certain preservatives and cleaning agents can also cause allergic reactions in some people.

Green products contain naturally sourced ingredients. They are less likely to have negative side effects when handled or touched.

Stops Waterway Nutrient-Loading

Cleaning product ingredients that contain phosphorus or nitrogen can clog waterways with nutrients. The risk is small compared with other pollution like farm run-off or wastewater. By choosing to use green cleaning products, a business can contribute to cleaner water systems.

VOC-Free Cleaning

We all know that smog can be a problem outside, especially in cities. Car fumes, factory emissions, and fires all contribute to outdoor dirty air. But did you know that indoor air quality can contribute to poor health, too?

The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) given off by some cleaning products can make it difficult to breathe indoors. How can green cleaning help cleanse indoor air? By choosing green products formulated to release low or no VOCs.

A cleaner like Purbloc’s NANO GRAB air is a world-first non-toxic spray-on air purifier enhancer that cleans and fragrances indoor air.

Reusable or Recyclable Packing

Companies that make green cleaners are often more focused on sustainability than others. This means that their products, as well as the packaging they come in, are environmentally friendly.

The packaging is made of materials like recyclable plastics or paper free of plastic coatings. Sometimes the company has a packaging return policy or its products come in reusable metal tins or glass bottles.

Companies might even offer a refillable service or supply concentrates in larger bottles, lowering the amount of overall packaging.

How Do I Know if a Product Is of Good Quality?

Some green cleaning product manufacturers make their production standards available to consumers. Others, well, don’t.

Since there are currently no government regulations in the USA for terms like “natural” and “non-toxic”, individuals need to be vigilant when it comes to reading labels and researching products. Thankfully, some organizations provide resources and third-party certifications for green cleaning business- and home-owners.

The EPA’s Safer Choice website has a database you can use to search for safe cleaning products. Green Seal is a global non-profit organization that provides certification for clearing products and services using science-based standards. Similarly, the EWG reviews cleaning products and releases their findings on their online Guide to Healthy Cleaning.

Another useful way to find out if a green cleaner lives up to its claims is to read the user reviews. To ensure transparency, read reviews posted to an online store like Amazon, as well as those shared on the product manufacturer’s website or social media accounts.

Save Time and Money With Commercial Application

If you’re looking to do a deep clean of your business or institution, it would be worth considering a commercial application. You'll save money on labor, reduce the amount of packaging and products you need to buy, and give yourself a head start on meeting your green cleaning business goals.

Curious about how green cleaning products can benefit your business? Contact us at Purbloc today for a free consultation on our products and services.