Developing Green Cleaning Procedures

As previously mentioned, green cleaning is not a “one-size fits all” proposition. Which cleaning procedures you decide to add or change will depend on individual conditions and priorities in your school. See Food Service and/or Infection Control sections for more guidance on cleaning and maintenance procedures for thoes areas or click on Resources and Tools.

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. The following suggestions can be adapted to your school’s unique circumstances.

Reduce General Health Impacts

Control the spread of potential infections: Cleaning is important and let's prioritize the most effective cleaning activities that promote better health. First, focus your cleaning activities on things people on touch and spread germs. Second, encourage regular hand washing for all students and staff. Read more about infection control.
Limit use of disinfectants: Find opportunities to use the least toxic cleansers and only use disinfectants, or preferably peroxide based sanitizers when necessary. In most situations, thorough cleaning is sufficient and disinfectants are not required – we do not need to sterilize the world! In fact disinfectants require the removal of soils from surfaces before they can be effective and should not be used as a substitute for a thorough cleaning. Use the following guidelines when using disinfectants:
- Perform disinfection in areas or on surfaces where pathogens can collect and breed, such as computer keyboards, public telephones, nursing offices and shared athletic equipment, along with certain food service and restroom surfaces, etc. Use disinfection only where required.
- When using chemical disinfectants, prepare and use disinfectant solutions as per label directions (e.g. dwell time). Most disinfectants require five to ten minutes of contact time to kill the targeted organism. Procedures can be changed so that the disinfectant is used earlier in the process to increase the dwell time to allow the disinfectant to work properly.
- Clean surfaces prior to disinfecting unless using a cleaner/disinfectant capable of performing both functions.
- It is critical when using disinfectants to always follow the instructions on the label to ensure effectiveness.
- Perform disinfection using only EPA-registered disinfectants. Use the appropriate disinfectant/method for the area to be cleaned.

Replace drain openers: Highly caustic (pH 14) drain openers which can cause severe eye and skin burns. Replace them with non-pathogenic (not harmful to human health) bacteria-based products.

Use color-coded mops and wiping cloths: Change mops and wiping cloths frequently to ensure that harmful organisms are not being introduced from one area to another.

Consider vacuums over dust mops: If cleaning dry areas, vacuums with micro-filtration bags rather than treated (and often improperly prepared) dust mops can do a much better job capturing and retaining the small particles which can affect occupant health. For deeper cleaning or wet/damp areas, see microfiber below.

Use microfiber dust mops. Microfiber dust mops require no treatment, may be laundered hundreds of times (versus a few dozen for traditional dust mops) and are proven to capture and retain up to 98% of the dust particles.
Change the cleaning schedule. Zone/area cleaning should be scheduled so that vacuuming becomes the second activity that takes place, as opposed to the last thing done in the day. (First would be high dusting so that vacuuming can capture this dust as well.) This is because as workers get tired they tend to do a poorer job vacuuming, since vacuuming can be so physically demanding. If they vacuum earlier in their shift (especially using a good quality vacuum which can reduce the dusting by capturing more of the particles) the result can be a better job at removing the contaminants, which has a positive impact on protecting health.

Change the polishing procedures: Apply furniture and metal polishes by spraying the chemicals directly on the cleaning cloth instead of onto the surface. This significantly reduces the amount of chemicals (VOCs) that get into the air (which can be inhaled and cause respiratory problems).
Polish with microfer cloths: Use microfiber cloths as a substitute for many furniture and metal polishing operations. These require no chemicals and last much longer than traditional rags, reducing costs while protecting health.
Minimize cross contamination: Minimize cross contamination by changing mop water, cleaning cloths, and mops heads between critical areas.

Accommodate Populations With Special Needs

Reschedule cleaning: Change the time of the day cleaning occurs in and around areas occupied by sensitive individuals. This may mean cleaning these areas at the end of the school day (versus later in the shift if cleaning is done in the evening) so that there is more time for the area to be “flushed” with fresh air to minimize lingering contaminants.

Clean before weekends and holiday: Do major cleaning in and around these areas on Fridays or before holidays, allowing maximum time for the area to be “flushed” with fresher air to minimize lingering contaminants.

Review products: Re-evaluate the actual products used in these areas.

Communicate: Explain what work is going to be done before the work is actually done, especially in the case of major projects or the use of products with strong fragrances. If the work cannot be rescheduled or postponed, it may be necessary for sensitive individuals to move to another area of the building or be excused for a certain period of time.

Reduce Environmental Impacts

Apply cleaners to a cloth: Reduce the amount of airborne chemicals by applying cleaners to a cloth rather than directly on a surface, eliminating the use of aerosols by replacing them with trigger sprayers that apply the material in larger drops.

Change the floor care procedures: Reduce the need to scrub and recoat or strip and refinish the floors, as well as limit the amount of waste and effluent poured down the drain. For example, use entryway mats and vacuum hard floors to help extend the life of floor finishes. Use metal-free and burnish-free floor finishes to reduce the dust and contaminants introduced into the air.

Minimize use of disinfectants and sanitizers: Choose the most environmentally preferable EPA-registered product available and avoid the futile attempt to sterilize the entire school. Rather focus on high-touch points. See Choosing Green Cleaning Products and Infection Control for more information about when to use disinfectants in the school environment.

Adopt Integrated Pest Management: Eliminate the sources that attract the pests in the first place and help reduce or eliminate the need for toxic pesticides by sealing cracks, repairing screens, adding barriers and making other improvements that keep pests out of the building. Reduce clutter that provides shelter for pests, and improve cleaning procedures around food areas, kitchens, break rooms and areas where soda and other food containers are stored for recycling. Pesticides affect the nervous system and can be toxic in the environment once disposed after use. For more information see IPM.

Recycle: Help reduce reliance on virgin materials, lower overall impacts on animal habitats and landfills, and increase the value of recyclables by recycling and purchasing recycled materials. Many schools have found that they can significantly reduce trash disposal costs as well.

For recommended sources of these products, see Featured Green Products.

Back to STEP 3: Adopt Green Cleaning Procedures