Green Cleaning During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Green cleaning experts see the hypercleaning trend as an opportunity to educate consumers and businesses about healthier alternatives to harsh disinfectants, more efficient technologies and procedures, according to an article on the Green Biz website.

As facilities start cleaning everything multiple times a day, they should be more concerned about what is actually in the products, the article said.

Its important to consult List N about green products for COVID-19 eradication. List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, identifies 478 products (as of press time) that work against the virus. 

Plus, foggers and electrostatic sprayers are becoming more common. While they are usually mentioned in conjunction with one another, experts believe electrostatic sprayers offer a chance for more sustainable and better cleaning while foggers are perceived to be dangerous and are not recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.)

When it comes to cleaners and disinfectants, it’s been said that healthcare doesn’t care about green cleaning, but painting an entire industry with such a broad brush is not accurate. Instead of focusing on green cleaning and products, – and many other companies – focus on sustainability, Patrick Kehoe, a product marketer for cleaners and disinfectants for Minnesota-based 3M Company, said in an article on the Healthcare Facilities Today website.

“We define it as environmentally preferable products, made with green ingredients and Green Seal-approved,” Kehoe said. “We say sustainability is OK, but you also have to look at safety, reducing exposure and reducing chemical usage.”

Read the full Green Biz article.