Cleaning Supplies & Methods
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August 2008
Currently our preschool uses 10% bleach solution to clean and
disinfect kitchen and tables for snacktime. Concerns are
inhaling the bleach in the air, especially for kids prone to
asthma. Any ideas for a safer cleaning process that is hygienic
as well? Maybe soap and water then hydrogen peroxide? Any other
ideas for ''greening and cleaning'' a preschool appreciated also.
THANK YOU for your input!
Green Mom
licensing strongly recommends the bleach solution for child care.
that said, i am a child care provider and I use bio-kleen's
all-purpose cleaner diluted and poured in a spray bottle.
occasionally on weekends I'll douse the tables with something
stronger, but I trust the bio kleen for everyday cleaning, and it
doesn't bother anyone.
stephanie
Don't despair -- there are better, safer alternatives to bleach!
Peroxide-based bleach (sold at Wal-Mart, Target, Safeway,
natural stores, etc.) is still a bleach, but is peroxide-based
instead of chlorine-based, and is easier on the lungs (and the
environment!). You can find this type of bleach by looking
for 'oxi' on the bottles. I personally use the Biokleen line.
Also, as far as greening preschools go, you should really check
out the Eco-Healthy Childcare Program. It started in Oregon and
has just recently gone national. There are tips on how to make
preschools more eco-healthy and eco-healthy fact sheets will be
posted sometime soon. Check it out here:
http://www.oeconline.org/our-work/kidshealth/ehcc/index_html
anon
Vinegar & water solution. Easy. Baking soda if needed to scrub.
I would like to second the post about vinegar + water solution. Also,
microwave your
sponges daily for 1-2 minutes (depending on microwave strength). This
sterilizes
them.
Also CLOROX GREENWORKS products. Non toxic, plant-based cleaners.
Endorsed by
The Sierra Club.
:-)
A great product is CleanWell - www.cleanwelltoday.com - they
have wipes, hand soap, and spray. It's antibacterial, and the
only truly green product that actually disinfects. No nasty
chemicals, no alcohol. I've seen it at Target, Whole Foods, and
amazon.com.
:)
June 2007
I share a janitorial job of which we prefer to stay as biodegradable and
green as
possible. Currently we use Natures Miracle for stains and Simple Green
for floors &
counters, and Trader Joe's cedarwood-sage multipurpose cleaner for
surfaces and
windows. Every now and then I am tempted to use a non-green product for
extra
tough jobs (floors, mostly) but my partner refuses, which is good because
it is forcing
me to find the ultimate cleaning product that is easy on the earth and the
those using
them. I do not mind an MLM product, I am open as long as it works. Any
recommendations? Thank you.
I really like Holy Cow Multi-Purpose Cleaner. I've found a lot of green cleaners just
don't work very well, but I've been happy with this product. The only place I've seen it
is Piedmont Grocery, but they have a web site which may have more information.
Fiona
June 2006
My son's daycare -- which we're happy with in virtually every
other way -- has the frustrating habit requiring clean up with a
bleach and water solution after each child's diaper change.
Frequently enough the kids are changed in quick succession and
because the bleach solution hasn't dried, my son's shirts and
pants often get bleach stains on them. It's driving me and other
parents nuts to constantly find white spots and streaks on our
kids' clothes and I'm definitely going to talk to the school
about it to see what solution we can figure out together.
But I'd also love to hear if anyone else has run up against this
sort of problem, and what other daycares use to clean up and
disinfect after diaper changes. It would be nice to have some
concrete suggestions for when I do appproach the school!
Thanks!
Bleach wary
This sanitizing method is the recognized 'gold standard' in child care
for infection control. however, the science behind the recommendation
requires a 3-minute air drying time to be effective (and a proper
concentration of solution made fresh daily). you can call the California
Child Care Healthline at 1-800-333-3212 for consultation with a nurse/child care health consultant
(free service)for alternative methods.
health and safety trainer
I am happy to hear that the daycare cleans up with bleach, as it is the
best way to kill germs associated with poo. It is also nontoxic at low
concentrations, since it is a small molecule that our bodies can deal
with quite easily.
That said, it sounds like the daycare is using a bleach solution that is
more concentrated than it should be. To kill most germs I think you only
need about 1 part per million. There's probably a guide online
somewhere...I'd start with government sites like the city of san
francisco restaurant food safety inspection, or something like that.
Bleach does worse things than discolor fabrics: it is a caustic agent
which irritates and burns skin, eyes and air passages; it can be fatal
if swallowed; and can create organochlorines in the environment (see:
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/hazardous/contaminated/organochlorines.htm
l).
You may suggest the day care use:
SAFEST:
a sprayable combination of hot water, white vinegar and lemon juice.
SAFER:
alcohol (still must be careful not to inhale it and let surfaces dry.
Another option is purchasing and using non-toxic commercial products,
such as: Ecover, EarthPower, EarthFriendly, etc
Miguel
Sounds like a valid complaint! Kudos to the school, however, for being
overly cautious when so many make such little effort.
Our school uses roll-away paper. Similar to what the doctor's office
uses on the bed/examining table. Seems clean/hygienic enough to me.
Good luck
anon
My daycare uses paper over the table, like at the doctor's office, and
of course, gloves etc. After each diaper change they toss the paper and
the gloves. They would only probably disinfect if there was some sort of
terrible mess, and otherwise once or twice a day.
Hygenic Momma
Yikes! You should be concerned less about your child's clothing than
your child's health and safety! Bleach is a noxious chemical that can do
damage either by inhalation or being absorbed through the skin and
should never be used around - let alone on - children. For more
information take a look at
http://www.checnet.org/healthehouse/chemicals/chemicals-detail2.asp?Main_ID=327#healthfx
Linda
I worked at a daycare (for years) which required those of us who changed
diapers to wipe the table (a vinyl mat) with a bleach and water solution
after each diapering. We too had complaints of strong bleach smell,
bleached clothing and concern of children's skin getting into contact
with the bleach water. The situation was quickly remedied by reducing
the amount of bleach used in the spray bottle. A bleach bottle capful
of bleach with one full spray bottle of water is enough. The solution
needs to be made fresh daily however.
There should also be plenty of paper towels to wipe the table nearly
dry. Also, children should have something between them and the table -
we used computer paper which parents donated.
Hope this is helpful!
Bleach water is best
Our daycare cleaned up with bleach, and I was always thankful for the
cleanliness, but we never had a problem with bleached clothes. I'd
suggest offering up some rags or towels to them so that they can wipe it
off after spraying (which I think our daycare did). maybe you can even
offer one of the ruined shirts! (Kidding. THat would piss them off.)
Ask them nicely, and maybe show them some of the bleached shirts.
Preferably, talk to the other parents too, so you can all offer up the
same plea. otherwise you're left with just sending your kid to school in
the old clothes.
We use the clorox disinfecting wipes (bought at Costco) or the Costco
brand on the potty seat, changing table, toilet, sinks, etc. No bleach,
and quick easy wipe up. I'd be more concerned about the effect of the
bleach water on baby's skin and system than clothes...that can't be
good, what if they put their hands in it, then into their mouth? (as so
many do) Even in small amounts...though I am sure that's part of your
concern. Since it not just you, make it a group effort to make change
happen!
wipe happy
Clorox is coming out with some new products that include wipes that are
bleach but that can be used around kids, around food, and, apparently,
that don't require vigilance to not fade clothes. They will surely be
more expensive than just mixing bleach in water in a spray bottle, but
maybe all the parents can pitch in and get a supply for the program. JM
My son's daycare has a roll of paper, like the kind doctors use on
examining tables, that they roll out over the changing pad and tear off
after each use. They also wear gloves when changing diapers. Also, they
always put the kids heads at the same end of the table. It is a very,
very clean daycare and there's never been a problem. I think they
bleach/clean the counter area at the end of the day. I can understand
the daycare's paranoia -- my neice got samonella which they think might
have been caused by exposure to feces, maybe from unwashed hands, etc.
But bleaching every diaper change sounds like overkill and not worth the
exposure to the chemical fumes.
anon
I've never written here, but it just kills me to see misinformation.
Bleach is the most effective and safest way to kill germs; that's why
it's used by hospitals. It is NOT fatal if swallowed. Not that you'd
want to, but if you drank a cup of it you'd probably end up with a sore
throat. If you want correct information on how to mix it for
disinfecting (you need a very small amount), go to the Clorox website
(no, I don't work there). And after you use bleach, it decomposes to
basically salt and water. The biggest concerns are bleach stains on
clothes, but they should be less of a problem at the right concentration.
anon
Jan 2006
Our preschool is interested in alternatives to the standard
cleaning products such as 409 and Windex. Are there any
preschools which have switched to using less-toxic cleaners and
found particular products that are appropriate for use in a
preschool setting?
anon.
This may seem incredibly low-tech, but it's also non-toxic (good
for you!!) and inexpensive: Straight vinegar. Yes, that's right.
It kills germs and can also be used on windows. I use it full
strength in a spray bottle - I'm not sure if you'd dilute with
water for windows, but at any rate, things will get clean and the
yucky germs will die.
FYI - spray your sponges with vinegar after use. It prevents the
mold buildup and that horrible fungus smell that sponges tend to
get. I sometimes also spray dishcloths in the winter because they
can't dry out quick enough between usage and otherwise take on
that bad smell.
~Annika's old nanny
try listerine in a spray bottle. Waterdown if you want it will
help clean off tables and toys. No need to rinse off
mom
May 2005
A colleague of mine is working with a group of domestic
workers in San Francisco who are interested in encouraging
their employer to use less toxic cleaning supplies. She found
the Berkeley parents website and was interested to see people's
recommendations about less toxic products, and was hoping our
community could help her get a little more information.
She is looking for some personal testimonies from families
who have switched to using less toxic cleaning supplies,
including how you like the new materials, how they may have
improved the health of you and your children, and any
economic effects that the switch might have had.
She is also interested in any comments about how families
went about selecting a brand of ''nontoxic'' cleaner to use,
since there aren't any standard definitions of
what ''nontoxic'' or ''green'' and manufacturers change their
formulations constantly.
June
I have a great book to recommend:
''Clean House, Clean Planet - Clean Your House for Pennies a
Day, the Safe, Nontoxic Way'' by Karen Logan
This woman sells her own eco-friendly cleaning products and in
her book, tells you how to make them at home. I have a dog-
eared copy and have made everything from an all-purpose cleaner
to furniture polish. AND MOST OF THEM HAVE WORKED!
Joy
August 2004
I have nine month old twins and have become very aware of how
smelly our household cleaners are. The odor is really intense
and I can't imagine it's particularly good for any of us.
What non-toxic/non-smelly household cleaners do folks use?
Thanks
For lots of things, I really like using baking soda. You can
sprinkle it on like other powdered cleansers - either on a damp
sponge or damp surface - , but is has no smell, is non-toxic, and
doesn't scratch (unless the surface is super-delicate). I think
it works better than those toxic formulas for some things - like
counter-tops.
Vinegar (diluted) works well for mild soap scum, shining faucets,
and glass/mirrors. It's not toxic, and the mild vinegar smell
dissapates quickly.
R.K.
I work with Natural Home Cleaning Professionals, an eco-friendly
housecleaning service that has tested a good number of products
for non-toxic/non-smelly and effective cleaning. We've had great
results with two environmental labels, Seventh Generation and
Ecover, both available at Berkeley Bowl. We also use a light
vinegar and water solution, which is very effective for cutting
build-up on shiny surfaces and wood.
Deb
Try homemade cleaners. Baking soda and vinegar work on
everything and although vinegar has an odor, it is non-toxic.
Vinegar and water make an excellent window cleaner, while baking
soda is a fabulous non-abrasive scrubbing powder.
-N
I'm with you, those toxic-smelling cleaners can't be healthy. A
lot of us are conditioned to associate certain odors like bleach
with cleanliness, but I prefer my clean house to be odorless.
Some cleaners I like:
Bon Ami cleanser for sinks and bathtubs.
Baking soda for cleaning fingerprints off walls (you don't need
Formula 409!)Just make a paste with a wet sponge.
2 Tblsp vinegar in a quart of water makes a good window cleaner.
Or use club soda.
For an ''air freshener'', open some windows.
I use Murphy Oil Soap for floors. It's not odorless, but less
toxic than most.
There's a book by Karen Logan, ''Clean House, Clean Planet: Clean
Your House for Pennies a Day the Safe Nontoxic Way.''
Also, the EPA has a website on this subject,
http://es.epa.gov/techinfo/facts/safe-fs.html
Another health-conscious Mom
There are several ''natural'', ecological cleaners at places like Whole
Foods or the Berkeley Bowl. If you're into making your own cleaners,
check out the book ''The Naturally Clean Home'' by Karyn Siegel-Maier,
which has recipes for all sorts of cleaners using simple ingredients like
Borax, baking soda, and essential oils.
Liz
You can make all of your cleaning solutions with vinegar,
baking soda, water, essential oils, and boric acid. A good
resource is from the Super Baby Foods book by Ruth Yaron.
non-toxic cleaner fan
Vinegar can be used for a number of cleaning jobs. Salt and baking
soda are also excellent cleaners. Water softener is a good agent, too,
and can be mixed with the other cleaners to make almost anything.
Also, you can buy Ivory soap flakes for really tough dirt. Mixed with
water, they really loosen up things.
I use these products for a lot of different jobs and my friends think I'm
pretty anal-retentive about my house so they must work. I also use
bleach. It's toxic, but I find it's one of the better disinfectants. I keep it
and the water softener in a place that is utterly unreachable by my son.
The other things I don't worry about. If he wants a mouth full of vinegar
or salt, I doubt he'll want a second mouthful.
I have found that these simple products are often more effective than
the more toxic cleaning agents, they are cheaper, and they get the job
done. If you are unfamiliar with how to use these things as cleaners,
there is a good book called HALEY'S HINTS that I really like. Good luck.
-- clean freak.
I use fragrance-free dish detergent, laundry detergent, soap,
shampoo, conditioner, lotion. Bon Ami for scrubbing. Vinegar for
soap scum. Just a damp sponger works for most things. For
instance, if there is a spot on the carpet, just try a damp
sponge first. Here are some more ideas:
http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/home/14
sunsolsal
You are right to be concerned about the chemicals, especially since the industry is
so unregulated on ''trade secret'' ingredients. It is well known that banned
chemicals are slipped into products under the ''inert ingredients'' umbrella, allowing
continued exposure to their hazards.
I think baking soda, vinegar, vinegar. Bon Ami, and Dr. Bronner's work wonders.
Gaiam/7th Generation has a good line. Pharmaca also carries one called ''Mrs. ___''
that look promising.
Nori
A good resource for things environmental is the ecology center. They have a
collection of non-toxic cleaning recipes at:
http://www.ecologycenter.org/erc/fact_sheets/cleaning.html
I also have a more extensive list of recipes, many of which I have tried myself
(they really work), that I am happy to send to people. If you want this let me
know if Word format does not work for you.
-Randall
Feb 1999
Good for you for becoming aware of simplifying your cleaning supplies! The
Ecology Center on San Pablo at Parker Street has supplies and lots of
literature. Also, any of the larger health food stores would have
supplies. Vinegar and baking soda do a lot by themselves. Barbara
My housecleaner effectively does our whole house using only vinegar and
baking soda, along with a toilet bowl cleaner from a health food store.
Stefanie
Cleaning supplies:
I have a book called Clean & Green by Annie Bertold-Bond which tells you how
to make your own environmentally sound cleaning supplies.
ZRJ
Quick N Brite is a product that can be mixed in different strengths for
different applications. It's good for counters, glass, floors, taking out
stains on clothing, getting crayon off walls, etc etc. We are gradually
replacing most of our cleaning products with this one. It's even available
in a formulation for regular laundry, though I haven't tried it yet.
Here's the address of the company that makes it, so you can order it
directly from them:
http://quicknbrite.com/
Hope this is helpful!
Dawn
I use two maybe three products. About 75% of what I need done gets
Simple Green ( I keep two different concentrations premixed in spray
bottles - 1 very light which gets used as Windex would, and another mid
range for floors, appliances, etc.) I also keep some Comet or Ajax, for
porcelain sinks/tub. And some Murphy's oil soap mixed with water in a
spray bottle for spills on the hardwood floor, wood furniture, etc. Two
out of the three are non toxic, and the Comet/Ajax gets relatively little
use, and gets stored in a high cabinet. Diana
Someone recently asked for advice about child- and environment-safe
household products. If you have time, you may want to join a "Green
Team"in your neighborhood or workplace, guided by a coach from the Bay Area
GreenTeam Project. It's a great way to find out latest in cleaning
products, recycling, energy use, and so forth. All the things we say we'll
look
into some day, but never quite find the time.
For more info: Green Team Project, gtp@sirius.com, (415) 546-1231,
546-1232 fax.
Lori
There is a cloth from Sweden called Trasan Miracle Microfiber Cleaning
Cloth (or
the like). It is made from a special fiber that cleans incredibly WITHOUT any
cleaning products. All you add is hot water. I use it to clean most
everything
from my kitchen, including a greasy, grimy stove, to the bathroom and
everything in
between. I started using it while I was pregnant to eliminate the noxious
fumes
associated with most cleaning products and am hooked. I think you can
order it off
their web site: http://www.trasan.com/index.html. I bought mine from some
random person whom I no longer know how to get in touch with. I loved it
so much I bought another one the next day for my mother. They cost about
$13 but last forever.
I've had mine about a year and have washed it many, many times and it still
works
great. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me or check
out their
web site.
Allison
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