What Is Green Cleaning Anyway?

It seems like everyone is talking about “going green” these days.  Whether it refers to how you eat, how you heat or cool your house, or even how you clean your home, the trend today is to move toward green options.  But what does it mean to “go green”?  Well, that question does not always have a straightforward answer.  It can mean slightly different things to different people.  When applied to cleaning, “green” can mean that it is environmentally conscious, that it utilizes more natural methods and products, or that it avoids chemicals altogether.  (These three goals sometimes, but don’t always, converge.)   Green cleaning is definitely trendy, but is it effective?  Well, again the answer to that question is not a simple “yes” or “no”.  Let’s look at some of the benefits and drawbacks of green cleaning.

Benefits of Green Cleaning

Using more natural substances to clean has some obvious benefits.  It reduces the use of chemicals, some of which are toxic.  Even though these chemicals have been shown to be safe when used as directed, most people would prefer to minimize their exposure to chemicals. This is especially important to people who have sensitivities to certain products.  Many people also find that a greener mindset allows them to simplify the cleaning process.  Since green methods typically take advantage of common household substances, there are fewer cleaning products to buy and less care that needs to be taken to handle and dispose of the cleaning supplies.

Drawbacks of Green Cleaning

Like everything, though, there are some drawbacks with green cleaning.  The first and probably most important is that it is not usually as effective as conventional cleaning.  It is more difficult to sanitize or kill bacteria without using a substance like bleach.  Natural substances also often lack the power to get rid of dirt and stains as effectively as chemical products.  Some would say that this drawback can be mitigated by just working harder or with “more elbow grease”, but sometimes that is just not feasible or desired.   Another drawback is that sometimes green cleaning can require more time, money, and effort.  Products that are less effective will require more time and effort spent on the task to get it to the desired level of cleanliness.  Products that are manufactured specifically to meet the standards of green cleaning can also sometimes be more pricey than traditional cleaning products.

As you can see, the subject of green cleaning is not a simple one.  There are various goals and preferences that go into the decision to integrate green methods into your cleaning routine.  Green cleaning and conventional cleaning both have strengths and weaknesses, and many people choose to use a combination of both.  While they may use baking soda and vinegar to accomplish everyday cleaning tasks, they might also still employ more effective chemicals when the size of the job requires it.

At Langenwalter Carpet Cleaning, we believe that we can best serve our customers by using the chemicals recommended by our industry standards.  These are safe and effective at getting carpets clean.  However, for customers who want us to use only water and no chemicals, we can do that.  Keeping our customers happy is our highest priority!  Call us at 317-876-9944 or visit us online to schedule today and we’ll show you why we are rated #1!