Our Mission: We are igniting a movement that inspires parents to protect young children from harmful chemicals. Donate »
Charity Navigator 4 Star CharityBlog
Get Your Child’s School or Day Care Center to Clean Green
Janelle Sorensen
Saturday, October 17, 2009
You've made the switch to safer cleaners at home, but what about when your child is off at daycare or school? The chemicals in institutional cleaning products can cause a wide range of major health problems for children, including respiratory irritation and increased risk of cancer.
Luckily, safer cleaning products are now widely available and cost effective. As a result, child care centers and schools across the country are switching to green cleaners to improve health, increase staff performance, lessen adverse environmental impacts, reduce potential liabilities, and save money. (Yes, switching to green cleaning does have all of these benefits - talk about win, win, win.)
How do you get your childcare provider or school to make the switch?
1. Get informed. Use the resources listed below to get up to speed on the benefits of going green and the tools available to help schools and child care centers make the switch. It's much easier for them to address the "problem" if you have solutions in hand.
2. Inform others. Once you understand the problem and solution, talk to other parents, teachers, the school nurse, anyone who'll lend you a sympathetic ear. You want to have an influential group of people to help support your effort as you move forward.
3. Talk to someone with the authority to do something. That may be your school's superintendent, a school board member or the manager of your child care center, or they may direct you straight to whomever is in charge of maintaining the facility.
4. Approach every person you talk to as an ally, not an enemy. Remember the fundamentals of How to Win Friends and Influence People - like not criticizing people, showing appreciation for their work, smiling. Trust me, you will get much farther much faster if you employ kindness, gratitude, and diplomacy. You want to be seen as an invaluable asset, not as an incessant nag.
5. Give people the benefit of the doubt that they are doing their job to the best of their ability. School and child care professionals are typically overworked, underpaid, with a lot to do and inadequate funding to get it done. Make yourself available. Keep asking "what can I do to help?"
Here are some resources to get you started:
- Creating Healthy Environments for Children: Easy Steps for Homes, Child Care Centers and Schools
- Cleaning For Healthy Schools Toolkit
- Healthy Schools Network Guide to Green Cleaning
- Healthy Schools Campaign Quick and Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools
- Green Clean Schools Free Webinar Series
- ChildSafe Cleaning Products
Do you have an experience to share?
Posted by Janelle Sorensen on 10/30 at 12:58 PM
Absolutely! Also, I’ve heard from many moms concerned about the apparent mandate to use bleach in day cares. It’s a terribly tricky issue and even when there are loop holes, some care givers are leery to try anything else for fear of losing their license. Some inspectors will understand the nuances of the law and some will not. It’s very sticky.
If you’d like, you can email me the Maryland policy and I can read it over to see if there is indeed a loop hole.
Thanks for the comment and for continuing to push this conversation!
Posted by Cindy InIndy on 01/21 at 09:29 PM
Janelle, I felt forced to use bleach, due to the language of the code for my state licensed day care. Then almost two years ago, a state agency approved of a botanical disinfectant and sanitizer. I am so excited and would love to talk with you about the product!
Posted by Janelle on 01/22 at 12:31 PM
That’s great news, Cindy! What’s the product and what state do you live in?
Posted by Tiffany on 03/28 at 11:17 PM
I’m so glad I stumbled upon this post as I’m working with another mom to start a ‘green’ committee at our children’s preschool. When I approached the topic of cleaning products with the Director, I was told that the state ( Oregon ) mandates that bleach be used. I can smell it when I walk in at night to pick up my daughter and I CRINGE! At the minimum, I’m going to ask if they can wait to use it until the kids are all gone.
Posted by Janelle on 04/02 at 09:00 PM
Tiffany - I encourage you to look into the law yourself because often there is language stating they should only use bleach when the children are not present. Also, just as I mentioned the loop holes and different interpretations of codes (usually the bleach mix is only a recommendation, but since it’s the only one given people think it’s the only option) look into other settings that may be using safer alternatives. The Oregon Environmental Council coordinates an Eco- Child Care program and I would bet there are child care facilities near you using alternatives to bleach. Visit http://www.oeconline.org/our-work/kidshealth/ehcc
Good luck and let us know how things progress!
Posted by Graco baby strollers on 07/06 at 01:45 AM
Children’s little lungs and respiratory systems are particularly sensitive to toxins and irritants in cleaners, carpeting, furniture and other elements. That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to indoor air quality when children are in the mix. You need to be able to rest assured that your daycare center uses non-toxic cleaners and is careful about outdoor and other pollutants that might come in from landscaping, street care…
Posted by Melaleuca on 08/26 at 04:06 PM
It’s good that people are becoming more aware of the environmental and health hazards that chemical based cleaning products bring. There are actually safer cleaning products which are derived or made with botanical ingredients that are much safer and are as effective as those with chemical ingredients.
Posted by Beth on 10/17 at 10:18 AM
What a great idea! Unfortunately, I know that my son’s preschool would never switch over. For one, they wouldn’t pay the higher price for green cleaners. Two, most of the parents wouldn’t care (and even use pesticides in their own yards, despite having young children around—they see our organic gardeners as just one other thing those of us obsessed with health do, “cute” and unnecessary). Three, the school administration wouldn’t believe that such cleaners would actually do the job (and I believe the administrator would be defensive and offended, and think that I am unrealistically unconcerned about swine flu if I were to suggest a bleach-based spray cleaner not be used).
I can check with my daughter’s school (or at least her class); given that they recycle and are starting a composting project, they might be more open.
Posted by Physical Therapy on 10/29 at 06:47 AM
Thanks for posting this article Janelle, you are pretty much right there. Daycare centers really become a center for lot many infections. My nephew just got infected from the daycare center and we all are having tough time handling him. This kind of article will surely help several people like me who can bring forth this issue in the daycare centers in , to put in your words the fundamentals of Dale Carnegie, “like not criticizing people, showing appreciation for their work, smiling.”
Posted by Andrea on 11/04 at 03:04 PM
Hi Janelle,
I’m in MD and have approached my son’s preschool and my daughter’s daycare about using non-toxic products. They have concerns about meeting the state mandates. Have you had a chance to review the Maryland code yet? I’d like your opinion.
I have a copy and can foward it to you if you’d like. Just let me know where I should send it.
Thanks for your time.
Posted by Lynn from OrganicMania on 11/05 at 02:37 PM
Wow, Janelle, I don’t know which town the prior poster is from, but I’m in Maryland too and would love to sync up!
Posted by Janelle Sorensen on 11/06 at 11:39 AM
Hi Andrea - I haven’t seen the MD code, yet. Feel free to pass it along to janelle (at) healthychild.org
Posted by Janelle Sorensen on 11/06 at 01:36 PM
Of course, Lynn! As soon as I review the state code and have some recommendations, I’ll let you know!
Posted by lynn from organicmania.com on 10/30 at 10:48 AM
Hi Janelle,
I appreciate this post as this has really been on my mind a lot lately. Unfortunately this issue is really quite complex as in certain states, there are mandates to use products like Clorox. This is in the case in Maryland day cares, for example. However, in places like CA and OR you can use green cleaners in your daycare.
I’d like to explore this issue more with you. Perhaps a topic for your upcoming monthly call?
Lynn