Literary Review: Cleaning Service Sustainability Plan

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Kathleen,

Thank you
Karen

Literary Review: Cleaning Service Sustainability Plan
Karen Sasser
Marylhurst University

Literary Review: Cleaning Service Sustainability Plan
The directive of this literary review is to focus on the directive of establishing a viable sustainability plan for an established residential and commercial cleaning service. The directives of this review will be to focus on health impacts concerning the cleaning service employees and their clients, as well as the environmental impact. There will be a focus on chemical and green formulated cleaning products. Additional focus will be given to the cleaning procedures used by both chemical cleaning products and green cleaning products. The review of this literature will support the research question for my capstone project. The research question is will the integration of green cleaning products and procedures improve the health effects for employees and clients; while reducing the environmental impact?
Sustainability Directives The sustainability directives of this research is to address the use of green cleaning products and the way they are used on the sustainable issues of social, economic and environmental impact. The social aspect is addressed through the health effects for the employees as well as the clients. This research will be looking at the current and long term costs associated with using green cleaning products. When considering the environmental impact of this company going green consideration will be given to cleaning products packaging, biodegradable products, and waste management as it applies to air, water, and land quality.
Cleaning Products
Green cleaning products and chemical cleaning products. Not all cleaning products are created equal. When a company labels its product green it does not by name alone constitute safe and non-toxic product. There are chemical ingredients in the environment that are both natural and synthetic (Toxnet, 2011). It should also be noted that the natural and synthetic ingredients used in cleaning products are both capable of being safe and toxic (Toxnet, 2011). This toxic effect is dependent on the usage, mix and proportion of the ingredients that are used (Toxnet, 2011). An example of this is in the products by “Simple Green”, that use an ingredient that has been found to 2-butoxyethanol and 2-butoxyethanol acetate; which have been found if breathed in large amounts to result in irritation of the nose and eyes, headache and vomiting as a result of the exposure (ATSDR, 1999).
Green and Chemical Cleaning Procedures. The Household Product Database to not mix cleaning products as this action can result in the formation of harmful fumes that can result in ill health effects or death (Toxnet, 2011). It is important to note, follow and teach the correct procedures for using natural and synthetic ingredient based cleaning products; because of the potentially hazardous effects of not properly handling these products (McDonald & Russell 2001). The use of cleaning products for this purpose will apply toward the physical interaction of a human with the physical areas needing to be cleaned (McDonald & Russell 2001). It is by the interactions of those humans with both natural and synthetic ingredient based cleaning products that ill health effects can be introduced (McDonald, G., & Russell, A., 2001).
Health Effects. There are many combinations of cleaning products and there uses; which can cause ill health effects for those using them and those who are in the area of use before, during and after application (Markkanen, Quinn, Galligan, & Bello, 2009). Integration of the following policies will be considered to provide for a protective and sustainable environment (Markkanen, Quinn, Galligan, & Bello, 2009). This will done through conducting exposure assessments, characterizing the health effects of cleaning products, assessing the effectiveness of new cleaning products, conducting