Safer Indoor Environments Through Purchasing Decisions

. 1

Informed Green Solutions, Inc.| www.informedgreensolutions.org| info@informedgreensolutions.org| 802.626.8643

ed The Plain Facts

be

Cleaning for Healthier Child Care Green Cleaning – What’s It All About?

Green cleaning is a widely accepted cleaning approach that protects public health, without adversely affecting the health of staff, building occupants or the environment. A comprehensive program ensures that the products and processes used during the cleaning of our child care centers are the least-toxic available and do not needlessly expose our children, product users or other building occupants to cleaning products or procedures that could be hazardous to their health. Conventional cleaning products used in our child care centers may contain hazardous chemicals, including those that cause cancer, asthma, reproductive and central nervous system problems, and that contribute to poor indoor air quality. These cleaning chemicals are routinely washed down the drain where they find their way into drinking water, lakes and streams, and affect plant and animal life, threatening public health and adding to pollution. Children Children’s bodies are more likely to suffer harm from the effects of these chemicals because:

• pound-for-pound children breathe more air, drink more water, and eat more food than adults, so they are exposed more to whatever toxins are present.

• they play close to the ground and engage in repeated hand-to-mouth activity. • their rapidly developing systems –the central nervous system, reproductive organs, immune

system, and lungs-are highly susceptible to toxic effects. Staff Custodial workers who use cleaning products on a daily basis have a greater risk of developing occupational asthma. Some ingredients in cleaning products have been identified as causing cancer. Pregnant Workers Research tells us that pregnant women who use certain cleaning products in their daily jobs are more likely to have children:

• who develop wheezing which can lead to asthma • and who are born with certain birth defects.

How Can We Avoid Hazardous Chemicals in Cleaning Products? Unfortunately, no government agency is thoroughly reviewing the chemicals used in cleaning products before they are sold to the public. But we do have non-profit organizations that identify safer products called third-party certifiers. A comprehensive green cleaning program includes the four components listed below. Adopt a Comprehensive Green Cleaning Program Green cleaning is a comprehensive program that includes:

1. Third-party certified cleaning chemicals 2. Best practices 3. Advanced technology equipment

Safer Indoor Environments Through Purchasing Decisions

. 2

Informed Green Solutions, Inc.| www.informedgreensolutions.org| info@informedgreensolutions.org| 802.626.8643

ed The Plain Facts

be

4. Implementation protocol

1. Third-party Certified Cleaning Products are safer for humans and the environment. They are certified by non-profit organizations that evaluate products using science-based criteria for health and environmental impacts and are called third-party certifiers. They help us identify safer cleaning products and publish lists of the products they have certified. They do not certify sanitizers or disinfectants. The three main certification agencies that tell us these products have been certified are: Design for the Environment – a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program EcoLogo – a program of Underwriters Laboratory, based in Canada Green Seal – a program based in the United States and used by many state and institutional purchasers Look for the logos:

EcoLogo

Green Seal

Design for the Environment

Safer Sanitizers and Disinfectants The Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs currently does not allow manufacturers to label their sanitizers and disinfectant products with a third-party certifiers’ seal or logo or make claims that they are safer. However, purchasers for state and institutional cleaning programs (hospitals, universities, etc.) have identified the following as safer active ingredients for disinfectants:

• Accelerated hydrogen peroxide (example – Oxivir TB, Clorox Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner Disinfectant Spray)

• Silver dihydrogen citrate – combination of citric acid and a minute amount of silver ions (example - PureGreen24)

Safer sanitizers: • Accelerated hydrogen peroxide (example – Envirox 118, SaniDate 5)

2. Best Practices include having written procedures such as cleaning from the top down, spraying into the cloth instead of on the hard surface where it can bounce back into the air and leaving the disinfectant solution wet on the surface for the amount of time listed on the product label. Other best practices include the following:

• written procedures for cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting • training on chemical and equipment use • instruction and certification on bloodborne pathogens procedures • training and preparation on personal protective equipment (PPE) usage • education on chemical right-to-know programs

Safer Indoor Environments Through Purchasing Decisions

. 3

Informed Green Solutions, Inc.| www.informedgreensolutions.org| info@informedgreensolutions.org| 802.626.8643

ed The Plain Facts

be

An important Best Practice involves gaining an understanding of the differences between cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting. The following definitions are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Cleaning with a detergent (essentially soap and water) removes soil, dirt, dust, organic matter, and microbes (like bacteria, viruses, and fungi). Detergent cleaners work by mobilizing surface contaminants, such as dirt or bacteria, so that removal occurs through rinsing. This is the equivalent of hand washing. Rinsing is an important part of the cleaning process. Use detergent and a cloth (preferably microfiber) for routine cleaning of hard surfaces.

• Sanitizing with a chemical or device reduces but does not eliminate surface microbes (bacteria, viruses, fungi). Sanitizers reduce surface microbes to levels that are considered safe, but it does not completely eliminate them. Sanitizers are used for certain tasks in child care centers and in food service.

• Disinfecting uses a chemical product or device to destroy or inactivate microbes. Disinfectants are toxic to micro-organisms only and do not remove dirt, soil, or dust. Disinfectants are some of the most toxic products used in child care centers.

3. Advanced Technology Equipment is an important part of a green cleaning program. The equipment described below helps to improve air quality by capturing dirt and dust and removing them from the building better than conventional equipment. Microfiber Cloths and Mops are made up of fibers that are smaller than a human hair so they can get into cracks and crannies that cotton or paper towels can’t reach. They have an electrical charge that captures dirt and dust and holds it in until it is laundered. Microfiber is also superior at capturing germs. For more information see the Microfiber for Child Care Fact Sheet. Microfiber mops and cloths can be used for the following cleaning tasks:

• Dusting • Floor finishing • Glass and stainless steel cleaning • Removing biofilm, a community of germs that can form in wet areas • Wet cleaning • Wet mopping

Floor Care Equipment A new generation of floor care equipment has been developed to complement a green cleaning program. These include:

• high-performance vacuums (HEPA filters) that capture and hold particulate matter better than traditional vacuums

• steam mops that use dry steam vapor technology and provide disinfecting capability • auto-scrubbers that use less water and chemicals • buffers with vacuum attachments that capture and contain any particulate matter that is generated • carpet cleaning equipment that uses less water and cleans more thoroughly

Safer Indoor Environments Through Purchasing Decisions

. 4

Informed Green Solutions, Inc.| www.informedgreensolutions.org| info@informedgreensolutions.org| 802.626.8643

ed The Plain Facts

be

Walk-off Mats Walk-off mats are the first line of defense in keeping your center clean. Research shows that properly positioned multi-level scraper walk-off mats with a rubber backing can capture up to 80% of dirt and debris that comes into the building on people’s shoes. Mats that are 15 to 20 feet in length or that add up to that length are the optimal size, but any length of matting will be effective. They should span the entire entryway and be rotated during rainy or snowy weather. 5. Implementation Protocol It is important to involve staff members in the process of transitioning to the new products and procedures in order to ensure they understand and fully adopt the green cleaning program. It’s also important that other building occupants are aware of the transition and what changes they may expect. The following steps can assist in making the transition to a green cleaning program more successful: Discuss the project with the staff and inform them of reasons for transitioning to a green cleaning

program. Initiate a pilot project and have staff members evaluate the cleaning products for their ease of use

and effectiveness. Their evaluations should be shared with all the staff members who will be using the products.

Schedule trainings with the distributor on how to use the new cleaning products and equipment. It is helpful to have a translator for workers with English as a Second Language when possible.

Monitor success through the acceptance of the new products by custodians and building occupants.

Inform the public about the changes that have taken place through a newsletter, flyers, emails, or posters.

For additional information on Cleaning for Health/Green Cleaning: Environmental Protection Agency Resources. Available at: http://epa.gov/childcare/providers.html. Informed Green Solutions Fact Sheets. Available at: www.informedgreensolutions.org. OSHA/NIOSH Fact Sheet and Poster on Green Cleaning. Available at: http://www.asse.org/en/index.php/govt_affairs/new-osha-niosh-resources-for-workers-using-cleaning-chemicals/. Funding for the adaptation of this document for the Child Care audience was provided by the Northeastern IPM Center.