In a society where people are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, the "go green" syndrome has started affecting almost everything we do, and this includes cleaning our homes and businesses. It is possible to clean the living spaces we occupy without contaminating the air with harmful VOCs and hazardous chemicals by using the right equipment and products.

Indoor Air Quality Matters in Both Homes and Businesses

It isn't enough just to be concerned with indoor air quality in our homes. Most people spend several hours each day, five or more days a week, at work. This places a responsibility on business owners to make their place of business safe not only for themselves, but their customers and employees as well.

Using environmentally safe cleaning products in both residential and commercial applications is important for the overall health of everyone exposed, and this includes both humans and animals.

Hazards of Cleaning Hardwood Floors

There are many products on the market designed to clean hardwood floors. Before using any of them, a thorough label check is recommended. Often even if you take time to read the label, it still isn't clear if a product is (or isn't) safe. Here are some considerations regarding cleaning methods for hardwood floors:

• A standard mop is a common choice for cleaning hardwood floors, but it harbors bacteria and germs after use because it is typically stored wet. Mops are also difficult to thoroughly clean after use. This is an invitation for mildew and mold, and next time you use the mop, you are simply spreading the floor with bacteria, germs, mildew, and mold spores.
• Any chemicals you use to kill germs and bacteria on a used mop are most likely harmful to anyone exposed to the area not only at the time of mopping, but long afterwards. Many floor cleaning products, whether aerosol or not, release harmful VOCs into the air that affect the air quality that we breathe. Many health problems are the result of exposure to volatile organic compounds we absorb into our lungs, our skin pores, and our sinuses.

A Versatile Product - From Bed Bug Steamer to Steam Cleaners for Hardwood Floors

A popular solution finding its way into many homes and businesses is steam cleaners for hardwood floors. The wonderful thing about these appliances is they are so versatile and not limited only to safely cleaning hardwood floors. Benefits of using steam cleaners include:

• Surfaces dry quickly so areas don't remain toxic the way they would after using a standard mop.
• Chemical-based cleaners are not necessary; both pets and humans benefit by avoiding exposure to fumes, residue, and chemicals that are left behind by many cleaning agents.
• Steam cleaners are not limited to cleaning only hardwood floors; this appliance has a wide range of applications and can be used as a bed bug steamer, for example, and for cleaning many other items such as bedding, curtains, mattresses, tile, grout, upholstered furniture, and carpeting.

There's no need to expose yourself and others to harmful chemicals and substances that can cause serious health issues. Machines that double as a bed bug steamer and steam cleaners for hardwood floors are growing rapidly in popularity because they are safe, effective, and affordable to operate. Live well and breathe easier when you opt for steam cleaners for hardwood floors instead of harsh toxic chemical alternatives.