All three segments of the professional cleaning industry—manufacturers, distributors, and end-users—have now embraced green cleaning. While this is certainly good news for cleaning professionals, building users, and the environment, many cleaning service providers are not totally sure what green cleaning is all about.
 
For this reason, Enviro-Solutions has put together the following “Are You a Green Contract Cleaner?” quiz to help grow awareness and understanding of green cleaning. Give it a try and test your knowledge of green cleaning (all answers are below).
 
1. Green cleaning comprises:
A. The use of green cleaning chemicals and equipment
B. All indoor activities typically required to clean commercial, public, and industrial buildings
C. Using cleaning chemicals and equipment that are green certified
D. All of the above

2. Before beginning green cleaning, a service provider should:
A. Replace all conventional cleaning products with green certified cleaning products
B. Develop a green cleaning plan describing how the facility will be cleaned to protect the health of the user, building occupants, and the environment
C. Train cleaning workers on how to use green cleaning products
D. All of the above

3. When it comes to floor maintenance, a green cleaning program requires:
A. The use of green certified cleaning chemicals
B. Developing ways to extend the life of floor finish to decrease refinishing cycles
C. Machine scrubbing floors more frequently
D. All of the above

4. A green service provider typically stores cleaning chemicals:
A. Away from the facility
B. Only in small amounts of green cleaning chemicals
C. In closets that are well ventilated and away from air intake ducts

5. Which of the following is not required to be used by a green service provider?
A. Green certified all-purpose cleaners and restroom cleaners
B. Green certified floor finishes and strippers
C. Green certified plastic liners
D. Green certified paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, etc.)

6. Custodial workers are to be trained in green cleaning:
A. Upon being hired
B. Once they begin actually cleaning a facility
C. Every six months
D. All of the above

Answers are based in part on GS-42, Green Seal’s Standard for Commercial and Institutional Cleaning Services.
1. B
2. B
3. D
4. C
5. C
6. A