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Author: More and more clients are interested in using green, or ecologically safe products to clean their homes. If you are looking to boost your client base, advertise how you easily transform their home into a non-toxic and healthy haven.
The trick? Clients may want to save the earth, but they also want clean laundry, shiny dishes, and a spotless kitchen. Here are some tips on green cleaning without sacrificing the efficiency of traditional products.
What does it mean to be eco-friendly?
There is no standard, so you have quite a bit of room to define how your services incorporate ecologically-friendly concepts into your client’s home. Of course, green products are crucial, but here are some other ideas:
• Use microfiber cloths instead of paper towels
• Add organizing and decluttering services for additional revenue streams
• Burn essential oils, such as jasmine, citrus or lavender in every room you clean
• Offer to dispose of the traditional toxic cleaners clients already have
• Offer to care for indoor house plants to improve air quality naturally
Switching Products
“When I decided to go green, the easiest thing for me to do,” says Annie Dinado, who runs a cleaning business in Indianapolis, “was to simply switch products. I did some research on the best, and just switched. I give copes of the product reviews to my new clients.” Good Housekeeping Magazine and Consumer Reports both test green cleaning products and their results can be found online.
Quick Tip: Switching products will keep you healthier, too. In a recent study, 42% of the people who used an aerosol cleaning agent at least once a week showed symptoms of asthma.
While there are no specific criteria that qualify a product as green, most that make the claim are biodegradable, phosphate and chlorine free, and derive their ingredients from plants like coconut or palm (renewable sources) rather than petrochemicals like crude oil or natural gas (which are not renewable).
However, some products like Clorox brand products partnered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency created The Design for the Environment (DfE) Program to reduce risk to people and the environment by preventing pollution. Products with this logo have been screen by the DfE review team for potential human health and environmental effects.
Do It Yourself
If you or your clients want to get back to the basics, you can make your own inexpensive versions of cleaning products.
Household Cleaner
Mix together:
1 tsp. liquid soap (castile, peppermint)
1 tsp. borax
Squeeze of lemon
1 qt. warm water
OR
¼ c. baking soda
½ c. borax
½ c. vinegar
1 gal. water
For surfaces that need scouring, try moist salt or baking soda and a green scouring pad.
Window Cleaner
Mix together:
2 tsp. vinegar
1 qt. warm water
OR
2 tbsp. borax
3 c. water
Rub dry with newspaper to avoid streaking.
Ceramic Tiles
Mix together: ¼ c. vinegar
1 gal. warm water
Basin, Tub, and Tile
Mix together: ½ c. baking soda
2-3 tbsp. liquid soap (castile, peppermint)
House Cleaning Checklist
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anita_Hodzic
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4498102
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