Should You Mix Your Own Cleaning Chemicals?
Many people want their homes cleaned with products that are made from common household ingredients such as lemon juice, baking soda and vinegar. They may have read information on websites who offer tips on mixing up their own home made concoctions, so they want to do the same. They may even ask you to clean their home using these same products.
But before you agree to this, and before you decide to start mixing your own products, think carefully about some of the possible ramifications.
- As a cleaning business owner, it is your responsibility to make sure all the products you use are labelled properly. If you or your customer are mixing up your own products, they probably aren't going to have the proper labels. In fact, they may have no labels at all! How will you know what is contained in that bottle and what would you do if a child got a hold of it? Just because a cleaning product is made from household ingredients, it doesn't mean it is safe to drink.
- Manufacturers spend billions of dollars each year in research and development for their cleaning products. These products must also meet stringent federal and state laws for quality and safety. Plus each chemical comes with an SDS sheet, which gives details about the product including safety precautions and what to do in case of emergency. Home made cleaning products have not been tested, and the amounts of each ingredient in the bottle may vary every time it is mixed. And just because it is home made, it is not a guarantee that it is safe for the environment, nor does it guarantee that it is safe for home occupants including children and pets.
- Because home made products have not been tested, you may see varying results, and you may end up with unfortunate consequences when using the product. For example, many home made products include acid-based ingredients such as vinegar or citrus juice. Acid-based products can be harmful to wood floor finishes and some stone surfaces, so although it may appear to do a great job cleaning, it may damage these surfaces over time.
These are just a few things you must take into consideration when thinking about mixing your own cleaning products, or using your client's home made cleaning products. Your customer may not realize it, but they rely on you to be the cleaning expert. Because of this you must make decisions that protect you as a business owner, and more importantly, that protects the safety of your clients.
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Steve Hanson has been a building service contractor for more than 20 years and now uses his knowledge to help owners of residential cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business at MyHouseCleaningBiz.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at //www.cleaning-success.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for House Cleaning Profit Tips at //www.myhousecleaningbiz.com.
