Green Cleaning Products and the new Definition of “Clean”

A good definition of “Green Cleaning” can be found in former U.S. President Clinton’s Executive Order 13101: “Green cleaning means the use of those products and services that have a lesser or reduced impact on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose.”

We have distilled from this definition three guiding principles, upon which our approach to green cleaning products has been based:

Protection of Human Health is Paramount

The principle purpose of using green cleaning products is to protect human health.  Product formulation must therefore be driven by considerations of how active ingredients will impact custodial personnel and the occupants of the built environment where cleaning activities are performed.

While ongoing research to uncover the least harmful synthetic cleaning ingredient is a necessary and ongoing exercise, the cleaner that is 100% natural will always be the safest; to this end, we place great emphasis on the effectiveness and versatility of our concentrated oxygen-based, vinegar, and enzyme cleaning products.

Real Preservation of the Environment Requires a Holistic Approach

It is well-known that conventional cleaning products can cause harm to the environment when they are poured down drains, circulated through building ventilation systems, or disposed of outdoors.  This, however, is only one part of the equation. Environmental impact extends from the development, manufacture and transport of such products to how many are used and what resources are taken up in this process.  Any effective effort at environmental preservation must be a comprehensive one, such that consideration is given not just to the composition of cleaning products, but also to whether they are used efficiently as part of an integrated building maintenance strategy, which minimizes waste of any kind.

To this end, we designed our green cleaning line to focus on the versatility of natural cleaning products to do many things well, rather than the need for several specialty chemicals.  Included as part of this package are tools for institutional maintenance such as matting and micro fiber towels which are aimed at making cleaning more efficient.

Moreover, our bulk natural cleaning products are highly concentrated rather than ready-to-use. Ready-to-use cleaners are composed of 90% water, thereby requiring extra energy and packaging during production – the extra packaging meaning extra solid waste ending up in our landfills. Concentrated product however, uses very little water and less packaging.  It also cuts down on weight, which means less cost associated with transport of the product to its final destination.

Natural Cleaning Solutions Must be Effective and Economical

Implicit in the above-noted definition is the importance of green cleaning products working as well or better than conventional chemicals.   The performance of cleaning products is, of course critical to maintaining a safe and healthy indoor environment, but it also goes without saying that a cleaning product which is purchased at a premium, but cannot clean effectively is a waste of resources in more ways than one and is therefore the antithesis of environmental (and managerial) responsibility.

Many Shades of Green:  The Spectrum of Natural Cleaners

Some green cleaning products substitute eco and user-friendly ingredients for the harsher chemicals sometimes used in conventional products.  They contain no phosphates, Nonyl Phenol Ethoxylates, or VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) and all ingredients are readily biodegradable in accordance with OECD 301 standard.

Pure natural cleaners, such as vinegar, enzyme and oxygen-based products take this concept one step further, by relying exclusively on organic cleaning power.

In addition to their unmatched health and ecological advantages, these products feature tremendous versatility, which allows for broad, all-purpose usage. Applications for Digester range from enzyme stain remover to enzyme drain cleaner, while the innumerable functions of RG Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner include natural mildew remover and kitchen counter cleaner.  Industrial Vinegar may boast the longest list of possible functions, from cleaning a no wax floor, to producing clean hardwood floors, to window cleaning with vinegar.

Extending the Concept of Natural Cleaning Products

Reducing overall consumption is critical to environmental responsibility.   It is estimated that six billion pounds of commercial cleaning products are used throughout buildings in the United States each year.  In addition, commercial buildings use over 4 million pounds of hand towels and toilet tissue and 30 million trash bags each year.

To this end, our offering of green cleaning products extends to concepts and tools that promote preventative maintenance and judicious use of cleaning products.  Wholesale microfiber towels and mops require minimal amounts of cleaning solution to remove impurities, while effective entrance matting systems limit the dirt, dust and contaminates that enter a building in the first instance.

Microfiber, for instance, is a cleaning technology that comes in different forms, namely rags, cloths, towels and mops.  Microfiber only needs water to clean 99% of bacteria and only very minimal, inexpensive chemicals needed, when necessary. Water is all it takes to remove stubborn dirt in your surfaces; microfiber mops scoop, lift and trap dirt off of the floor while absorbing up to 700% its weight in liquids.

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Revolution Green All-Purpose Cleaner:  A versatile all-purpose neutral pH water-based cleaner suitable  for a wide range of housekeeping, janitorial and light to medium industrial applications.  Ideal for floors, walls, and other hard surfaces where a neutral pH range solution is desirable. Powerful cleaning agents quickly remove soils without dulling, damaging, etching or harming floor finishes even when used for daily applications. Free-rinsing formulation leaves no film or residues. Ideal for use in automatic scrubbers, mop and bucket applications, damp mopping or as a spray and wipe cleaner.

Revolution Green Degreaser: Water-soluble degreaser removes oily residue, carbon ink, grease, dirt, smoke deposits and grime from hard surfaces. Can be used on floors, walls, ceramic, plastic, copper, brass, metal, concrete, and other surfaces not harmed by water.  Ideal for cleaning and degreasing of machinery, equipment, boats, garage floors and vinyl or aluminum siding.

Revolution Green Glass Cleaner:  Dissolves, suspends, and removes soil from glass, plexiglass, windows, mirrors, windshields, walls, countertops, cabinets, partitions, light fixtures, stainless steel, chrome, plastic, vinyl, computer screens, appliances, desks and other surfaces not harmed by water, leaving no streaks or residue. Excels in heavy cleaning and film removal.

Digester: Harnesses the power of naturally-occurring enzymes to systematically eliminate grease, organic waste and the odors such deposits cause.  Contains among the highest concentrations of enzyme-producing bacteria on the market, making it the among the most efficient and effective enzyme cleaner available .

As an enzyme stain remover: Digester can be sprayed onto the toughest stains from pet urine to blood, to grease, causing such blemishes to literally disintegrate as enzymes break-down the impurities.  The natural formulation can be sprayed directly onto stained carpets and laundry.

As an odor inhibitor:   Peerless among house deodorizers and bathroom deodorizers. Digester Literally devours organic odors focusing its attack on the source of the problem as opposed to the symptoms caused.  While ordinary deodorizers are commonly sprayed into the air, Digester should be sprayed directly onto the source of the problem, where it deactivates odors on contact.

As an enzyme drain cleaner: Organic debris such as fat, starch, food waste, uric acid crystals, soap scum and hair build-up accumulated in drains causing terrible odor, slow-running drains, and ultimately blockages which can require emergency service.  Digester can not only remedy such blockages, but used regularly, it can actually prevent them.

Neutralizes the most putrid odors, liquefies and digests the most severe grease accumulations, and removes almost indelible stains, yet its completely safe for both user and environment.  Digester is nonpathogenic, non-toxic, non-caustic, and non-corrosive.

Revolution Green Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner:  An extremely versatile oxygen cleaner sold in concentrated form to maximize cost and cleaning efficiency. Systematically breaks down the molecular bonds of which stains and other impurities are comprised.  When the hydrogen peroxide dissipates, the residue is simple water and oxygen – natural elements are absorbed seamlessly back into the environment.

This makes RG Peroxide Cleaner a great eco-friendly choice amongst bathroom cleaners and kitchen counter cleaners and deodorizers.  Works extremely well for cleaning and disinfecting  countertops, and other surfaces that may be used for the preparation of food, including cutting boards made of woods and plastics.

As with most pure natural cleaners, RG Peroxide Cleaner can be used on its own or in combination with other common household products for a multitude of purposes, including  natural rust remover, natural mold and mildew remover, all-purpose disinfectant spray or wipe, spotter for blood and other stains from white clothes, and natural bleach.   Literally foams away wet blood stains.

Industrial Vinegar:  Can be used to disinfect, clean and shine nearly every surface whether using vinegar as a household cleaner or cleaning with vinegar in an institutional setting. Our concentrated formulation allows for a broad range of possible dilutions, and therefore limitless potential vinegar uses in cleaning, including:  windows, copper, grout, descaling coffee makers, and removing mildew from fabric.  Also commonly used in the the final rinse of laundry cycles to remove smells from clothing, eliminate static cling,  and reduce wrinkles.

Estesol:  Green Seal Certified soap-free skin cleanser designed for removal of light soils.  Contains a mild surfactant made up of sugar tensides to enhance skin compatibility.  Ideal for everyday use – pleasant fragrance and feel with excellent lathering properties encourages consistent hand washing, while economical formulation of 2000 washings per bottle ensures cost savings.

Microfibre Hand Cloths: Has more than 40 times the surface area of normal fibre and therefore has more contact points on the surface being cleaned. The wedge shaped fibre fits the surface tightly, attracting and trapping dust, dirt and bacteria. With its millions of tiny, super absorbent strands, Microfibre can actually reach down into the smallest pits and indentations of almost any surface. This results in a deeper more thorough cleaning, dramatically reducing airborne microscopic dust particle irritants, dirt and bacteria.  Holds dirt in the fabric to prevent moving dirt and bacteria from one location to another.  Withstands hundreds of launderings.  Provides better cleaning results with less chemicals and effort. Available in blue, green or pink to color code cleaning jobs and reduce cross contamination.

Microblue Damp Flat Mop: For dry or damp mopping. Unique three-layer microfibre blend picks up and traps dust and; dirt. Virtually lint-free and stands up to hundreds of launderings. Mops are designed with a velcro backing and can be used with standard velcro flat frame and handle. Intended for smooth floor surfaces.