Have you been thinking about making the switch to eco-cleaning? While it has risen to popularity over the last few years, it’s certainly not just a buzz phrase.

Eco-cleaning is the process of using products and practices that are better for the environment and your health.

With more and more people and businesses becoming aware of these important benefits, cleaning companies have been jumping on the eco-cleaning bandwagon.

But just because a cleaning company may oblige to using green products, doesn’t mean that it’s a part of their normal practice.

So how can you ensure that their cleaning services are truly green? To help you separate the true natural cleaners from the frauds, we’ve compiled 7 steps to choosing an eco-cleaner.

1. Understand what eco-cleaning really means

First, it’s important to make sure you understand what eco-cleaning truly means, so that you can make an educated decision when it comes to your commercial cleaner.

Eco-cleaning, sometimes referred to as ‘green’ cleaning, is using products and methods that are environmentally friendly and designed to look after human health and the environment.

Unlike traditional methods of cleaning, eco-cleaning avoids the use of products that contain toxic chemicals, some of which can cause respiratory, dermatological and other health issues.

Eco-cleaning can also refer to the way that residential and commercial cleaning products are manufactured, packaged and distributed. Additionally, if a product uses non-toxic ingredients or has biodegradable packaging, it may also be deemed ‘eco-friendly.’

2. Look for eco-cleaners that are certified

Any cleaning company can claim to be eco-friendly when in fact they could be really missing the mark. Look out for environmental certifications that show that your eco-cleaner is undertaking the right practices.

One key area to keep an eye out for is certification in environmental management, which shows that the company is achieving environmentally friendly and economically sound solutions.

Some nationally recognised certifications & management courses to look out for:

BCorp Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.

ISO14001 training for environmental management system professionals

Organisations that implement an environmental management system (EMS) based on ISO 14001 reduce energy usage, contribute to environmental sustainability and save money

Tafe Course Certificate IV In Environmental Management & Sustainability

Green Building Association gbca.org.au The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) is committed to developing buildings, cities and communities that are healthy, livable, productive, resilient and sustainable.

Fresh Green Clean Training has been helping businesses, governments and individuals to achieve clean and healthy buildings and environments.

3. Find out what products they use

Do you know what products your eco-cleaner is using? It’s important to understand that there is a difference between true green cleaning products and those that employ clever marketing tricks. Often traditional brands will make their products more attractive to consumers by using natural colours like green, white and neutral shades and imagery like plants and foliage.

While this imagery may paint a ‘natural’ picture, it certainly does not mean the ingredients are clean. When researching what green cleaner to use, make sure you ask them to provide you with the details of the exact brands they use.

From there, you can do your own research to ensure that those products are eco-friendly. A good guide is to see if the products have been certified by GECA, which is Australia’s top eco-labelling program.

GECA’s standards for commercial cleaning products are much more rigorous than other Australian labelling programs – they not only take into account the ingredients in a product but also its level of biodegradability and recyclability of the packaging.

Along with cleaning products, make sure your commercial cleaners are using eco-friendly solutions such as biodegradable towels and wipes, reusable cleaning cloths, chemical-free tools and steam cleaning.

This is often an area that is overlooked when it comes to eco-cleaning, as cleaners will tend to use unnecessary plastic and other non-recyclable items.

Ensuring your commercial cleaners use both the right cleaning products and solutions gives you the confidence you need and sends a message to your clients that you are committed to maintaining the highest environmental and health standards.

4. Ensure they are committed to environmental practices

Eco-cleaning is so much more than just using the right products – it’s also about what a company does when it’s finished using those products, and how it handles waste.

True eco-cleaners will be involved in programs that are sustainable for the environment. These can include cardboard recycling, white office paper recycling, commingled recycling, electronic waste recycling, toner cartridge recycling, battery recycling and environmentally friendly liquid waste treatments.

5. See if they are innovators

Eco-cleaning is an industry that’s advancing at an astonishing rate, as people become more educated about the great benefits.

With this advancement comes the continual release of new products and methods for green cleaning. As a business, you want to choose a commercial cleaner that is an innovator in the industry and committed to testing and adopting new practices as they are developed.

6. Check their testimonials

Before engaging any service provider, you should always check out their track record. Most eco-cleaning companies will have information about their clients as well as informative testimonials on their websites.

If there’s something you want to know more about, don’t hesitate to ask your eco-cleaner! By learning about their current clients, the number of businesses they’ve services and their customer satisfaction rate you’ll gain a greater picture of what it will be like to work with them.

7. Make sure they are knowledgeable

If you’re going to hire a green cleaner for your commercial cleaning needs, you need to make sure they know what they are talking about. Anyone can touch on the basics of eco-cleaning but only a true professional will be able to provide specific information. Here are a few key questions you should ask a prospective eco-cleaner:

• How long have you been in business?
• Have you been green the entire time?
• How do you train your employees in green cleaning?
• Can you give me a list of your cleaning products?
• What types of products do you avoid using?
• Do you have any certifications?
• What kinds of cleaning tools do you use?
• How do you dispose of waste?
• What recycling programs do you use?

If you’ve gone through these seven steps and find your eco-cleaner ticks the right boxes, then it’s time for you to get started! You can move forward with confidence knowing that you’re making the best choice for the environment, your commercial property or business and, most importantly, your valuable employees and clients.

Bio

Lara Blanco

​Head of Customer Service​

Culture happiness centric individual with the belief that happy teams make happy customers, which in turn makes everyone happy. I also know a thing or two about cleaning 🙂

Commercial Cleaning Services – Clean Focus