For How to Switch to Green Cleaners for your Classroom, click here: Green Cleaning Action Steps.

Green Cleaning: Frequently Asked Questions:

Why is green cleaning important for our children?

Children are uniquely vulnerable to toxins because;

• pound for pound children take in more contaminants than adults,
• they have certain behaviors like lying on the floor or hand-to-mouth behaviors which expose them to more toxins,
• schools are cleaned every day with industrial strength cleaners which leave behind residues,
• researchers have found that early exposure to environmental toxins appear more likely to produce chronic disease than similar exposures encountered later in life,
• many conventional cleaners contain asthmagens (asthma triggers)
• asthma is the number one cause of absenteeism in the NYC public schools.

(excerpted from Grassroots Environmental Education's ChildSafe Guidelines.)

What is the New York City Clean, Green Schools Program?
It is a cost-effective, safe green cleaning program for NYC public schools which actually works.

Are there schools successfully using the green cleaning program?
Yes, there are over 40 school districts in the New York metropolitan area using this green cleaning program. Some of these include: Great Neck Schools, Baldwin UFSD, City of Mt Vernon, East Williston, Hewlett Woodmere, Jericho, Briarcliff Manor, Greenburgh, as well as Newark, NJ schools.

Does it clean as well as conventional cleaners?
Yes, in fact, the following local hospitals use this program for all but their infectious disease rooms: Sloan-Kettering, NYU Medical Center, Bellevue, Interfaith, Coney Island Hospital, Staten Island Hospital, Kings County Hospital (Brooklyn), and Seaview Hospital (Staten Island), among others.

Is it really safer?
According to MSDS* comparisons, these products have a better HMIS** and health effects rating compared to the other so-called "green" and conventional, more toxic cleaners.

How cost-effective is it?
Very, in fact, most schools using these green cleaners find that they save between 4-13% on cleaning costs. This is possible because one product (in different concentrations) replaces over a dozen more toxic products.

Isn't bleach cheaper?
Yes, but as of July 1, 2007, bleach will not be allowed for general purpose clenaing in NYC public schools.

How does it work?
One product uses a new technology which stabilizes hydrogen peroxide. It lifts dirt, but, unlike most industrial cleaners, does not leave behind a residue or create toxic fumes.

I've used green cleaners and they just don't seem to work, why not?
More than likely, they weren't the right ones. Some products sold as "green" are just watered-down petrochemicals, which tend not to be as effective as other cleaners.

Is Green Seal the best standard?
Although, Green Seal is the most familiar standard for green cleaning products, it may provide only a rough indication of a product's safety. Green Seal's safety standard measures the effect of substances on a 150 pound adult, not a small child. Green Seal is a good place to start and we are pleased that Green Seal has announced that they will be revising their GS-37 standard to be more child-protective. Our program uses Grassroots Environmental Education's ChildSafe Guidelines.

Are these green cleaners on SDI's list? Can my school start the program now?
Yes, as of June 2007 there will many ChildSafe cleaners on SDI's*** list. Your school can start using bio-based products now! Please contact us to get started. Click here for a list of products which meet ChildSafe and are now available on SDI's list.

Do you offer your program to private schools?
Although we work primarily in the NYC public schools, we do have a fee-for-service green cleaning program for private schools. Proceeds go to programs for NYC public schools. If you are interested, please contact us.

How can I or my organization help?
Please sign up on our Get Involved page.

What about teachers' cleaners?
We are working with the UFT to develop a best-pratices protocol for teachers' classroom cleaners for the fall of 2010. As of the fall 2008, NYC public school teachers should use only green products in their classrooms. Click here for Action Steps on Green Cleaning Your Classroom.

What can I use for my home?
Most products found in Natural or Health Food Stores tend to be safe--e.g. 7th Generation, Biokleen or Ecover. Or you can get information on making your own cleaners from books such as Better Basics for the Home: Simple Solutions for Less Toxic Living by Annie Berthold-Bond. Here is a link on how to make your own green cleaners at home.

Read about an ABC report on PS 8 in New York City: Girl's Illness Traced to 'Toxic' School. See our Green Cleaning Links page for additional information.

Quotes from NYC public school custodians who participated in our Clean, Green Schools pilot:
"This is definitely an idea whose time has come. When we were asked to participate in the pilot program, my staff was ready to get on board right away, and the training didn't take as long as I thought it would. The green products seem to be working just as well as the traditional products we've been using, and we've had no complaints from the staff."-Frank Byrne, Manhattan Borough President of local 891 and Custodial Engineer at the JHS Corlears School in lower Manhattan

"All three of the cleaners we are using in this pilot program are performing well. My staff is very comfortable working with these products and actually likes the all-purpose cleaner better than what they were using before. I tested the new floor program on one half of my cafeteria floor and it worked really well. Right now we can't see any difference between it and the one we have been using. I understand that it will not yellow like the others and now I'm just going to wait and see how well it stands up." - Vincent Stanzione, Custodial Engineer at P. S. 290, the Manhattan New School

"The slogan of our union is 'We Put Children First'. If we do indeed put children first, it's important that we start using the cleaning products that will provide the safest environment for them. In this pilot program, we have been given an opportunity to ensure the absolute safety and integrity of our public school buildings. We have a responsibility to meet evolving standards for children's health and I'm thrilled to be a part of this pilot program." -Charlie Carr, Custodial Engineer at P.S. 9 in upper Manhattan

Prepared by Wellness in the Schools: www.wellnessintheschools.org

*MSDS-material safety data sheets-contain information on the potential health effects of exposure to chemicals contained in the products.

**HMIS-Hazardous Material Information System-rates health effects of products, among other things.

***SDI-Strategic Distribution, Inc.-NYC schools' custodial supply company.

Any mention of a brand name or company is for the reader's convenience and does not constitute endorsement by WITS.

Read about WITS and Green Cleaning in Kiwi Magazine: