If you are using Ha-Ra at home, you enjoy a fresh, clean house free of chemical smells. But we all spend large amounts of time in environments where noxious cleaning products are in daily use. We completed builder’s cleans of new C&K centres in 2011, so with the kids back at school I thought we’d look at cleaning in day cares and schools.
Healthy air is vital in a learning environment, yet studies have shown that children are exposed to chemicals linked to asthma, cancer and many other illnesses.
In Europe microfibre cleaning has been used extensively since the 1970s. In the U.S. individual states are voting to implement green cleaning in schools, but here in Australia too many schools still use dangerous cleaning products on a daily basis.
According to Professor Peter Collignon, infectious disease physician at the Australian National University's Medical School, warm soapy water is actually a very effective cleaner, along with a bit of elbow grease. We would add that using microfibre means you need a lot less elbow grease as the fibres do the work for you. And lab tests have shown microfibres are just as effective as chemical cleaners in the removal of bacteria since a clean, dry surface will not harbour bacteria.
Dr Michael Whitby, director of Infection Management Services at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, states that proper hand washing is most important in controlling the spread of illness, whereas antibacterial cleaners and wipes have not been shown to effectively stop the spread of disease.
So if you are concerned about the level of chemical cleaners used in your child’s day care or school, or if your child has asthma, what can you do?
Here is a link to a letter you can adapt and print out to take to your P&F to encourage the day care or school to switch over to non-toxic cleaning systems. If you would like more information, feel free to contact me.
And later this month we will share information on using Ha-Ra products as a fundraiser for your day care or school.
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