Green cleaning involves using methods and products with environmentally friendly ingredients designed to preserve human health and environmental quality. As advocates of green cleaning at Great Green Cleaning, we’re eager to share some of our top tips with you.

Why Clean Green?

Green cleaning is not just about being kind to the environment. It’s also about creating a safe, non-toxic environment for you and your family. Traditional cleaning products often contain chemicals that can cause health issues such as allergies, asthma, skin irritations, and more. Green cleaning products, on the other hand, are made with natural ingredients that are safe for both humans and pets.

Green Cleaning Tips for a Healthier Home

1. DIY Green Cleaning Products: You can make effective, non-toxic cleaning solutions with common household items. For example, a mixture of vinegar and water can be used to clean windows and mirrors, while baking soda and lemon are great for scrubbing surfaces. For scrub powder, we use Barkeepers Friend, which is unbleached and uses all-natural ingredients.
2. Eco-Friendly Air Fresheners: Synthetic air fresheners can contribute to indoor air pollution. Instead, try natural methods to keep your home smelling fresh. Simmer herbs and spices on the stove, use essential oils, or open your windows to let in fresh air.
3. Regular Dusting: Dusting is crucial for maintaining good indoor air quality. Use a damp cloth to trap dust instead of sending it back into the air. Don’t forget to dust hard-to-reach areas like ceiling fans and baseboards.
4. Green Laundry: Make your laundry routine more eco-friendly by washing clothes in cold water, line drying when possible, and choosing laundry products with plant-based ingredients and minimal packaging.
5. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Try to reduce waste by using reusable cloths instead of paper towels. If you have to use paper towels, you can always compost food-soiled paper towels. Re-usable sponges are also great and save you money as well, and can usually be cleaned in the laundry or in the dishwasher.
6. Compost Food Scraps: Keep a bowl next to your cutting board for all the food scraps. Composting also keeps your garbage from smelling, improving indoor air quality. If they don’t collect compost on your street, there are numerous food scrap drop-off sites located at Greenmarkets, certain subway stations, and other locations throughout the city. You can find the nearest drop-off site using the NYC Compost Project website.

At Great Green Cleaning, we’re committed to providing our clients with top-notch cleaning services that don’t compromise on environmental responsibility. We understand that every home is unique, and we tailor our services to meet your specific needs.

If you’re interested in making the switch to green cleaning but aren’t sure where to start, we’re here to help! Give us a call at 718-369-9000 for a free estimate. We’re available 7 days a week to assist you in creating a healthier, happier home.

Remember, green cleaning is not only better for the environment, but it also creates a healthier home by reducing exposure to toxic chemicals. Start implementing these green cleaning tips today for a cleaner, healthier home. With Great Green Cleaning, you can have the best of both worlds.

Stay clean, stay green!

A Word of Caution: Beware of ‘Greenwashed’ Cleaning Products

As you embark on your journey towards a greener, healthier home, it’s important to be vigilant. Unfortunately, not all products labeled as ‘green’ or ‘eco-friendly’ live up to their claims. This phenomenon, often referred to as ‘greenwashing’, can mislead consumers into purchasing products that are not truly environmentally friendly or safe for health.

One common pitfall to watch out for is the inclusion of fragrances in cleaning products. While a pleasant scent may make cleaning more enjoyable, many fragrances are synthetic and can trigger allergies, asthma, and other health issues. Some products may also contain hidden allergens and irritants, even though they’re marketed as ‘green’ or ‘natural’.

Always take the time to read labels carefully. Look for products that are fragrance-free, and that list all their ingredients transparently. If you’re unsure about a product, do some research or consider making your own cleaning solutions from natural, household items.

Remember, a truly green cleaning routine is about more than just using products labeled as ‘eco-friendly’. It’s about making informed choices that prioritize both your health and the health of our planet.

The post Green Cleaning Tips for a Healthier Home appeared first on Great Green Cleaning.

However, if you’ve started to notice the quality of the work lessen over time, you’re not alone. Many new clients complain that after a short time of getting familiar with their home, their new private housekeeper starts rushing to get out early, complacency sets in, and with no one to answer to and no quality assurance you find the bare minimum or only surface level work gets done.

Should I fire my housekeeper?

If you’ve lucked out in finding a great cleaning person you really like, who knows your cleaning preferences, your habits, and makes your life easier on a regular basis, and you have no concern about them calling the department of labor to report you for not paying their employment taxes, then you’re one of the rare lucky ones. Definitely keep them around. But if they’re not getting in corners and the ceiling fan has lines of furry dust, if they don’t show up when you really need them, if broken objects get tossed out and unmentioned, then it’s time to assess your options.

Don’t worry! This doesn’t mean you have to let them go. Many people that feel emotionally committed to their current cleaner for relationship reasons, find a professional cleaning service might be just what they need to supplement their housekeeper’s work. So while they pick up around the house and still do the basics, you can have a professional cleaner come in once in a while to handle all of your deep cleaning and organization needs. It’s a win, win.

Why is deep cleaning important?

Surface cleaning your home is like only brushing the front of your teeth: you might not see it but eventually you’ll have a cavity or two. Besides the many physical and even psychological effects of an unkempt environment which we cover in our previous article Cleanliness is Next to Happiness, there’s still the simple fact that once the germs are out and the house is really clean it just feels better. When you’re in a home with spotless walls, floors and cabinets, and no dust in sight, you’re left with peace of mind and clean air to breathe.

What if my housekeeper is not doing a good job at all?

It happens! Due to the challenges of self-employment workers can sometimes become overwhelmed with keeping track of their work schedule and finances, as well as having to come up with their own retirement plans or even the means for taking time off. If they become stressed and are having trouble focusing while on the job, try speaking with them to see if there’s any way you can help. Perhaps giving them some constructive feedback or a clearly structured checklist might get them back on track. Be sure to mark priority tasks and add specific instructions if necessary. If they still aren’t improving with even the most basic chores it may be time to move in a different direction. The most important person in this equation is you.

Why hire a professional maid service?

When you hire Great Green Cleaning you can expect quality, stability and a consistently thorough cleaning experience.

You’re getting a large staff of cleaning specialists to choose from who are:

• Experienced and trained to handle any situation.
• Well paid employees, in uniform with photo ID and a professional attitude.
• Background checked, screened and tested.

You’re getting a company with:

• A 100% satisfaction guarantee.
• Over 30 years of experience in the cleaning industry- a great track record!
• Workman’s compensation and liability coverage.
• A client care specialist who handles your account.
• 24/7 accountable live office staff for all of your cleaning emergencies.
• And much more…

For a more detailed explanation check out our previous article comparing private cleaners and professional services.

When someone has taken care of you, your home, and your family for so long, it’s like they become family too. We understand! Many of our regular clients have worked with people from our staff for years and feel the same way. There’s no need to say goodbye! Just remember that if things are getting a little rough around the edges, you can always count on Great Green to make sure your home is getting properly cleaned, sanitized, and organized, all the way through!

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Here are some essential things every pet-owner needs to know.

Preventative Measures

Your pets body is like their home, and as much as they might self-groom, there are a few things you need to help them with on a regular basis.

Minimize the hair and dander in your home by keeping your pets bathed and groomed. A weekly bath with some all-natural pet shampoo will greatly reduce the work you have to do later on, and it’s also a great opportunity to get rid of any fleas. Microfibers are excellent for quickly drying them after the bath, so they don’t get water all over the place in a rolling and shaking frenzy (or in the case of cats, a quietly grooming frenzy).

Take your pet outside with a good de-shedding brush and scrub them down. They usually love getting rid of all that hair and dander, and getting itched and massaged in the process. Be sure to properly dispose of as much hair as you can. And to think, all that would have been on your floors and furniture!

Keeping them clean is a great way to prevent a mess, but keeping them in good spirits can also help to prevent other messy situations. To dogs, you’re the head of the house and leader of the pack, so it’s important that you give them a stable environment. General cleaning around the house helps keep stress levels low, and leaves less reasons for a dog to chew something up.

Cleaning Up After Pets

Pet hair is notorious for finding its way into every crack and crevice of your home, so we must be diligent if we’re going to keep things spotless. Because of wind currents created by open windows, ceiling fans, and just walking around, pet hair will often accumulate in corners, under furniture, and other hard to reach places.

A good rule is to do a quick sweep once a day, and vacuum floors and carpets once a week. Don’t forget to wipe surfaces Before vacuuming for a tip-top job. Not only will you eliminate hair and dust, but if you deal with fleas, this will help to eliminate breeding grounds and flea larvae. If you want to go the extra mile, make sure you throw the window curtains in the wash and vacuum the couches, as these are common breeding grounds as well.

You also want to wash their bedding often. Make sure you have bedding with a cover that is washable as well as waterproof (for any accidents that may occur).

When dealing with accidents around the house, always start by either absorbing it with a microfiber, or picking it up with toilet paper. The microfiber can be washed, and toilet paper can be disposed of in the toilet to avoid a smelly trash can. Microfibers are incredibly absorbent, and work great on carpets and couches to soak up most of the moisture. Then use an all natural spray for just this occasion, let it sit for a few minutes, and soak it up again before letting it air dry the rest of the way.

A Few More Tips

To help prevent fleas from breeding, you can put a little diatomaceous earth in corners or inconspicuous locations. Learn more about how D.E. works here.

Leaving pet food in open bags can attract mice and other bugs. Keep it clean and organized inside a large, sealed container.

Make sure you have a good matt for when they come back inside on a rainy day, and keep wet-wipes handy to clean off any mud and dirt.

Keep their toys washed and cleaned, and all in one place like a basket. Some dogs can even be trained to put them back!

Messy litter box? Get a nice mat for underneath. It catches most of the rogue litter and can be easily shaken out.

Remember– always use hypoallergenic, natural products when you have pets (and when you don’t) because the chemicals found in generic products are harmful to touch and to breathe.

Pet-Owners Paradise

As much as pets might struggle when it’s bath time, they truly love being clean in a clean environment, and will love you for it! And you’ll be able to breathe easy without all that hair flying around and sticking to your clean clothes. Follow these tips and you’re on your way to a cleaner, healthier, happier home for you and your pets.

Good luck!

The post The Pet-Owners Guide to a Clean House appeared first on Great Green Cleaning.

That means:

• Offering people excellent service without compromise.
• Making sure each employee gets paid a living wage.
• Always using eco-friendly cleaning supplies and products.

Private Service Pitfalls

The danger of using private or unlicensed cleaning people is that you never know what to expect.

• Are they trustworthy?
• Are they held responsible for how they treat your home?
• What happens if they get hurt on the job?
• Do they know the best methods and products for the job?

The Professional Choice

When you hire us you’re getting far more than just someone to clean your home.

You’re getting fully-employed cleaning specialists who are:

• Experienced and trained to handle any situation.
• In uniform with photo ID and a professional attitude.
• Background checked, screened and tested.

You’re getting a company with:

• A 100% satisfaction guarantee.
• 30 years of experience in the cleaning industry.
• Workman’s compensation and liability coverage.
• A client care specialist who handles your account.
• 24/7 reachability for all of your cleaning emergencies.
• And much more…

At Great Green Cleaning, we know. You do your best to pick up around the house, and it feels like the mess is still gaining on you. Getting someone to help with deep cleaning, organizing, and everyday chores can give you more time to focus on what matters most to you. Now, getting someone you trust who’s great and professional? That’s invaluable.

The post Professional Service or Private Cleaner… whats really best? appeared first on Great Green Cleaning.

Free your space, free your mind.

Clutter is proven to have a negative affect on your psychological well-being. Acquiring possessions has become so commonplace in our culture that many people are overwhelmed with clutter and have a difficult time letting go of things they’ll never use. The only way to break free of this behavior is to learn new behaviors that balance them out.

Every time you clear up clutter from your table or counter, cabinet or closet, take a second to bask in it’s beauty and remind yourself how wonderful free space really is. You’ll notice how quiet your mind is when you look at it, compared to looking at a closet full of random things. Nothing’s worse than going to cook or put something down and having a bunch of junk in the way. Remember: free space is good!

Experience your things. Think of everything that you own as a potentially positive experience for your life. Surround yourself with things of great value that will lift you up and help you achieve your goals.

Don’t assume that you need to keep just any old thing. If you find something that you don’t use every day, every week, or every month, your first thought should be “can I get rid of this?”. Training yourself to think this every time will help you assume that getting rid of it is not just a possibility, but a priority. If you choose not to get rid of it, ask yourself again if it truly brings value to your life, and since you haven’t used it in such a long time, how likely is it that you’ll ever need it again? If you decide you can live perfectly fine, if not better, without it: throw it out, recycle it, or drop it off at your local thrift store.

Don’t leave well-enough alone.

When it comes to feeling at home, you don’t need to become an expert on the laws of Feng Shui. After there’s no more clutter, and no dirt or dust hiding anywhere, you’re free to consider the best possible arrangement for your space.

Doing a little bit of renovation can make you feel more at home. Do you like your counter-tops or flooring situation? Do you like the color of your walls? These are things you can learn to re-do yourself using the internet and asking advice from qualified people.

The smallest things can make an impact on how you feel every day; from the type of wall-switch cover you have to the lighting fixture itself. When it comes to the place you live, form and function should be equally important.

Try re-arranging your furniture in a few different ways to see what feels the best. Just because it works already, doesn’t mean there isn’t a better way. Try to center and position everything in a geometrically beautiful way. When you’re done, leave and re-enter the room to get a feel for the new arrangement.

Use space logically and efficiently– leave a clear and easy path to the places you need to go, organize things in a way that’s easy to use and remember, only keep art/decorations that really add to the room they inhabit. You’ll soon find yourself flowing from task to task in what seems like a beautiful dance, rather than an awkward endeavor. Even keeping things clean will become easier; with everything organized, you’ll quickly spot when something is out of place and you’ll know exactly what to do with it.

Some words to live by.

Cleaning and organizing are positive and beautiful things. As you get into the swing of it, you’ll find it’s actually quite satisfying to conquer clutter and keep everything in perfect order. Always treat your home with the same care and respect you wish for yourself. When you transform your space into the best possible version of itself, you’ll also transform your life for the better.

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