Step 3: Adopt Green Cleaning Procedures

Changes in the frequency, technique or time when cleaning is performed can be as important to a Green Cleaning program as the products and equipment being used.

Standards

There are no standards for green cleaning procedures per se, but
The Carpet and Rug Institute offers environmentally sensitive guidelines for carpet cleaning and maintenance. Green Seal also has an Environmental Standard for Cleaning Services that offers guidelines as well as standards for floor care finishing for hard surfaces. These documents can be downloaded at Resources and Tools. To learn more about procedure-related standards see Green Standards.

ASTM International has published Standard Guide for Stewardship for the Cleaning of Commercial and Institutional Buildings (Publication E1971-05), which outlines a step by step approach for developing cleaning procedures. This can be ordered from their website: www.astm.org.

Types of Procedures

Typically, Green Cleaning procedures fall into three broad categories: those that reduce general health impacts, those that accommodate populations with special needs, and those that reduce environmental impacts.

Reduce general health impacts by changing:

how products are used, for example, minimizing exposure to VOCs by spraying the cloth, not the surface to be cleaned. (Note that for disinfectants to be effective one needs to follow the label instructions, which probably means spraying the surface directly.)
dusting technique, for example using a back pack vacuum or microfiber mop in place of traditional dust cloths and mops for hard floor care.
the order of activities, for example vacuum after high dusting to minimize residual dust in the air.

Accommodate populations with special needs, such as people with allergies or chemical sensitivities or pregnant women, by changing:

the times that major cleaning activities are conducted, for example clean carpets or strip floors early in a school break to maximize ventilation and minimize chemical exposure.
the time of day cleaning is done, for example clean earlier in the evening to allow VOCs or other irritants time to dissipate.

Reduce environmental impacts by changing:

floor care procedures; i.e. improve daily and routine floor cleaning to reduce the frequency of stipping and recoating. This will minimize harmful waste poured down the drain.
floor care products; for example eliminate metals such as zinc.
pest control procedures; for example, adopt an Integrated Pest Management program that limits use of very toxic pesticides.

Evaluation and implementation of these and other changes in cleaning procedures are discussed in greater detail under Developing Green Cleaning Procedures.

Cost Comparison

It is impossible to predict the financial impact of adopting Green Cleaning procedures. For example, using floor burnishers with filters will reduce the need for dusting, and using appropriately sized and placed entryway mats to keep keep soil out of the building, thus reducing cleaning requirements. On the other hand, changing the cleaning schedule to accommodate special needs populations might, but does not necessarily, cost more. Prioritize by adopting new procedures that protect health while saving money.

Training Requirements

Making procedural changes that affect the custodial staff can be somewhat controversial and require ongoing communication and training to succeed. See Training Issues and Opportunities for guidance on how to introduce new procedures and resources for identifying and evaluating training resources.

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