New Yorkers want their clean to be green. Some apartment-cleaning services no longer bring giant totes of cleaning supplies with them to jobs, finding customers prefer instead home-made concoctions like lemon juice and water.
Natural cleaners are better for the environment than harsh chemicals, business owners say.
“Vinegar and water go a long way on a hardwood floor,” said Troy Walker, co-owner of EcoMaidNYC, an eco-friendly cleaning service company. Walker and his wife opened the company two years ago after they found few maid services in the city that carried purely biodegradable solutions.
Working out of their Harlem apartment, they use microfiber cloths instead of paper towels and make their cleaning supplies from scratch — with ingredients like vinegar, water and lemon juice.
“People are looking for these solutions,” said Walker. “There’s not that heavy, overwhelming stench that they get from industrial products.”
Cori Morenberg, owner of Inwood-based Ms. Green-Clean, travels the city toting natural soaps and essential oils.
Many of her clients choose eco-cleaners for the health of those they love, she said. “They feel like they’re doing the best thing for their children and their pets,” she said.
Green tips
Tips for keeping your cleaning green:
» For an easy fix, replace bleach with hydrogen peroxide.
» Instead of traditional window-cleaning sprays, use white vinegar.
» Replace powdered cleaners with baking soda.
» Throw out all products with labels that include a warning of toxins, poison or danger.
» Chlorine bleach should be axed from cleaning products, along with anything containing hypochlorite.
Follow Alison Bowen on Twitter at @AlisonatMetro.
