Resources about Green Cleaning for Child Care Providers
Green cleaning refers to the use of cleaning products that have a reduced impact on human health and the environment, often because they have been re-formulated to eliminate the most potentially toxic ingredients. Child care providers recognize the important role that cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting can have in maintaining an attractive, safe, hygienic environment and reducing the spread of germs. But, it is important to know when cleaning is good enough and when sanitization or disinfection, which may involve harsher chemicals, is called for.
And, given the growing set of state requirements promoting green cleaning in early learning environments and schools and increased availability of green cleaning products, it is important for child care providers to know how to identify and use green cleaning products. The following links provide information about the dangers of cleaning products and the steps that can be taken to utilize less toxic alternatives in a childcare setting.
Resources
- Green Seal - Certified Green Cleaners Products SearchExit
- Informed Green Solutions - Cleaning for Health Fact SheetsExit
- University of California, San Francisco – Center for Child Care HealthExit
- Commonly Used Toxic Cleaning Products (PDF)(1 pp, 70 K, About PDF)Exit
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Extension - Disinfect Child Care Surfaces with a Bleach and Water Solution
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency