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ALBANY, GA -- Green cleaning is defined by the government as the use of products and services that reduce the health and environmental impact compared to similar products and services used for the same purpose. Recently, the government has increased regulation on harmful chemicals.

More and more people are following the green trend.

Elizabeth Perkins switched to eco-friendly cleaning products when they were introduced.

“Any little bit helps; if you can do just the one think like change all-purpose cleaner, that’s got to be better for the environment. So if every person does a little bit then it could add up to be a whole lot,” says Perkins.

She says the products are better for the environments and even for her pets. Perkins says she can hardly tell a difference between non-green products.

“The Green Works works about as good as any cleaner I’ve ever used and it doesn’t have a harsh smell afterwards,” says Perkins.

Melissa Howard also uses similar products.

“I started ready more about the toxins and the dangers that were associated with the traditional cleaning products,” says Howard.

She says she read about them causing cancers and allergies so she switched to green cleaning. Howard even created a cleaning solution out of white vinegar which she found on a website called The Vinegar Institute.

“I’m not exposed to the chemicals, I’m not ingesting it if it gets on my hands and touch my face and also for my pets,” says Howard.

Bishop Clean Care says it’s not just about the products.

“Using certified methods in general, for example, in our carpet cleaning side of the business and the methods that we use to protect the carpet to keep it lasting longer so they’re not replacing it every five or ten years. You can get 15 or 20 years out of the carpet,” says Jud Savelle, Owner of Bishop Clean Care in Leesburg.

The cleaning company says they are 95 percent eco-friendly. For their clients and their own building, Bishop Clean Care uses environmental vacuums which have a CRI Seal of Approval and Green Label certification. They also use microfiber cloths and a machine that accurately measures their environmentally-friendly chemicals.

“They’re as effective; in some cases they’re more effective than some of the regular store bought chemicals,” says Dennis Moore who works at Bishop Clean Care.

Eco-friendly cleaning products must meet the same performance standards that non-green products meet when it comes to cleanliness. Green Seal also evaluates products to find if they’re applicable with their eco-friendly requirements.

With more people using green products, I decided to put them to the test to see if they are truly effective.

Armed with a blacklight Bishop Clean Care provided, I began testing all-purpose cleaners on my dirty kitchen surfaces.

First up: Windex from my cupboard. I’ve always used this product for my cleaning, and according to the blacklight it works! All the splattered pasta sauce and water marks disappeared.

Next: Green Works all-purpose cleaner by Clorox. The majority of households I visited use this brand. After scrubbing at mold and soap scum, a clean stainless steel sink was left. Green Works All-Purpose Cleaner passes the test.

Finally, Seventh Generation, which says it kills 99 percent of bacteria just as my Windex does. Like most green products, this all-purpose cleaner doesn’t have a strong odor unlike non-green products which often smell like ammonia. The blacklight test shows, it cleans just as well!

So the verdict is in: Green and non-green products work the same. The products are also similar in prices:

ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER:
Green Works: $2.99
Seventh Generation: $2.79
Windex: $3.29

DISH SOAP
Green Works: $2.99
Seventh Generation: $2.39
Dawn: $2.99

After cleaning my kitchen with green cleaning products, I decided to give my space the ultimate test: The restaurant inspection.

A study by a Los Angeles County health department found that one in seven home kitchens would not pass the same inspection as restaurants.

After a health inspector tells me my kitchen is very clean, products are organized and sealed properly, and all of my food (hot and cold) is at the right temperature, I’m pretty confident I’ll pass.

Then I’m busted for not labeling when I open my containers, not having my hair tied back and not having thermometers. I’m also marked down for not having a separate sink for my vegetables or soap and paper towel dispensers. Having eggs stored in the top shelf of my refrigerator while my ready-to-eat foods are on shelves below is a no-no too.

My final score: 63.

That’s right, a big fat 63. I failed a restaurant inspection.

While green products may have helped my kitchen cleanliness in the inspection, I need to install five sinks, buy hairnets, invest in a soap dispenser and buy a label maker before I pass a restaurant inspection. And because that won’t be happening anytime soon, I’ll stick to being green when I clean.