Home Cleaning

Creating a safer home environment requires both safer products and safer practices.

• See the Safer Cleaning Factsheet for safe products, including simple recipes using only a few ingredients

• Reduce the number of cleaning products you use
• Separate products to clean windows, countertops, floors, bathrooms and kitchens are often unnecessary
• Reduce potential hazards associated with multiple products
• Can save you money

Use less

• Dilute cleaning products according to instructions
• Follow label directions and only use what is needed to effectively clean

• Be sure to ventilate the space you clean by opening doors and windows
• Chemical cleaning products can generate vapors as well as vacuuming and dusting can generate settled dust into your breathing zone

• Remove 98-99% of all dirt with just water
• No need for chemicals, effectively cleans without chemical cleaning products
• Can reuse microfiber cloth repeatedly
• Works safely on nearly any surface, specific cloths for specific surfaces

Use vacuums that have "high efficiency particulate air" HEPA filters

• Can trap large amount of very small particles that other vacuum cleaners re-circulate back in the air
• Trap at least 99.97 percent of particles of .3 microns

Use doormats at all entryways

• Having large enough doormats at all entryways reduces the amount of soil and dirt tract in from the outside
• Less soil results in less frequent cleaning is needed

Wear protective equipment

• Wear rubber gloves to protect your skin
• Dust mask
• Wash your hands regularly when handling chemicals

Read labels and follow directions

• Be aware of ingredients, warnings and first aid
• Never mix two cleaning products, especially those containing ammonia, chlorine, bleach or other acids

Avoid using antibacterial and anti-microbial cleaning products

• Do not demonstrate extra health benefits
• Can contribute to allergies and super germs

Properly store and dispose of products

• Certain cleaning products require specialized storage such as temperature range, away from any moisture and away from a heat source.
• All cleaning products should always be kept out of reach from children.
• Dispose of extra cleaning product at the Hazardous Waste Facility or set up a pick-up appointment.