Toilet Cleaners (Acid)
Acid bowl cleaners are more hazardous by nature, but may be needed for occasional deep cleaning. Non-acid or general purpose cleaners should be used on a routine basis.
Info on this product category: Toilet Cleaners (Acid)
Criteria for Toilet Cleaners (Acid)
Products must be Green Seal GS-37 certified.
Last updated
Last updated:
April 30, 2015
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GS-37 Cleaning Products for Industrial and Institutional Use ,
July 12, 2013
Guide for City Staff
City Custodians:
- Are required to buy these cleaners (if needed):
Post the City department green cleaning checklist/poster.
Post tips (for microfibers, disinfecting, dusting, polishing, floor care, kitchens, restrooms) from custodial green cleaning training videos by SF Environment.
- Disinfectants are only important for surfaces like doorknobs.
- Switch to microfiber mops and cloths, which can prevent injuries because there's no need for heavy mop buckets.
Install closed-loop dilution systems (if possible) to prevent employee exposure to hazardous concentrates.
Non-custodial City Staff:
- Try microfiber cloths, which can get rid of 99% of bacteria with plain water.
- Get discounted consumer general purpose cleaners, disinfectants, dish soaps, hand sanitizers.
- Make cleaners (air fresheners, oven cleaners, mold and mildew remover, wood furniture polish) with things like baking soda, castille soap, or lemon juice.
- See other safer consumer products at GoodGuide.
Recycling Instructions
It's illegal to trash cleaners (and other chemicals, electronics, lighting, metal, paints). So do one of the following:
- Use what you already have.
- Give them to someone who needs them.
- Legally and safely dispose them. Post this recycling poster (available in Spanish/Chinese) above each trash bin. Then get a pick up.
Guide for Small Businesses & Homes
- Try microfiber mops and cloths, which can get rid of 99% of bacteria with plain water.
- Make your own cleaners from common materials like baking soda, castille soap, or lemon juice.
- See consumer products on GoodGuide.
- Use disinfectants sparingly. The most important surfaces are doorknobs.
- Choose ready-to-use, peroxide- or citric acid-based disinfectants. Avoid disinfectants that list hypochlorites or quaternary ammonium compounds as ingredients (e.g., ammonium chloride).
- Small businesses can save money by switching to industrial/institutional cleaners. Ready-to-use products are 15 times more expensive than concentrates.
- Custodial companies that are SF Green Businesses should watch the custodial green cleaning training videos by SF Environment, and consider posting Custodial Green Cleaning Tips (available in Spanish and Chinese).
- Legally and safely dispose of cleaners (and other chemicals, electronics, lighting, metal, paints) in the San Francisco Bay Area or rest of the U.S.
Guide for Large Organizations
- Post the Custodial Green Cleaning Checklist/Poster and Tips (available in Spanish and Chinese).
- Watch custodial green cleaning training videos made by SF Environment.
- When creating contracts, paste specifications from the Criteria section above.
- Try microfiber mops and cloths, which can get rid of 99% of bacteria with plain water.
- Install closed-loop dilution systems to prevent employee exposure to hazardous concentrates.
- Legally and safely dispose of cleaners (and other chemicals, electronics, lighting, metal, paints) in the San Francisco Bay Area or rest of the U.S.