Cleaning Safely in Schools

You can use safer cleaning products to protect yourself, the people around you and the environment. Safer cleaning products work as well as traditional products while reducing exposure to harmful chemicals, improving indoor air quality, and helping to protect the food we eat and the water we drink. Choosing safer cleaning products creates healthier spaces for everyone and reduces pollution.

In 2012, the Vermont General Assembly passed Act 68, requiring commercial vendors to sell only third-party certified environmentally preferable cleaning products to schools. This means schools should only be using safer cleaning products.
Read the Green Cleaning Law Summary

Why Choosing Safer Products Matters

Health Benefits: Safer products mean fewer chemicals that harm our lungs, skin and eyes.

Environmental Impacts: Choosing safer products helps keep our air, water and soil clean.

Cost Savings: Using safe, effective products reduces health risk from chemical exposures and saves money for schools and the families they serve.

Products in Vermont schools

In 2022, cleaning products used in 52 Vermont schools were evaluated.

Almost all schools used at least one cleaning product that was not third-party certified (94%).
Almost all schools used at least one harmful disinfectant (90%).
Most schools were using disinfectants that contain quats (88%), which are of particular health concern.

Using safer cleaning products and practices helps create safer spaces, reduce costs and protect our environment. It’s a win for everyone!

Choosing and Using Safer Products

It's important to know when to clean, sanitize or disinfect:

Cleaning removes germs, dirt, and debris from surfaces. In most situations, cleaning is all you need to do.
Sanitizing reduces germs on surfaces or objects to safe levels by using chemicals or steam. You must clean before you sanitize. Sanitize objects and surfaces that come in contact with mouths (like toys, feeding supplies or surfaces that touch food.)
Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces or objects using chemicals that have been approved for this purpose. You must clean before you disinfect. Disinfect surfaces when someone has been sick.

How to Clean

Clean surfaces that are dirty or frequently touched with soap and water. You don’t need fancy cleaners. Regular soap and water or a fragrance-free all-purpose cleaner can remove most germs.

Sanitize and disinfect surfaces and objects only when necessary, like when there is vomit or feces, or when it is required by law.

Sanitizers and disinfectants (including wipes) are registered pesticides. If you use a sanitizer or disinfectant, always follow the instructions on the product’s label, including letting disinfectants sit on surfaces for the required amount of time to effectively kill germs. Frequent disinfection is not needed for a clean and safe environment. When disinfectants are overused or misused it can potentially create germs that are resistant to disinfectants.

Choose Safer Products

Terms like “natural,” eco-friendly,” and “green” do not mean the product is safer. Instead, choose products that are certified as being safer.

For cleaning products, look for the Green Seal or Safer Choice logos:

A cleaning product with one of these logos on it meets the requirements of Act 68 of 2012.

For sanitizers and disinfectants, look for the Design for the Environment logo:

If you cannot find a sanitizer or disinfectant with this logo, look for one that lists safer active ingredients like hydrogen peroxide, citric acid, ethanol, lactic acid or isopropanol.

Also look for sanitizers and disinfectants that have an EPA registration number and a short contact time (ideally 30 seconds to 1 minute).

For more details on safe cleaning practices and choosing safer products, explore Cleaning Safely in Schools.

Take Action

You can take simple steps to make sure only safer products are being used in your school:

Ask your supply vendor what safer options they sell. Look for the logos!
Supply staff with approved products to keep their classrooms and offices clean.
Prohibit parents and staff from bringing in their own products, including disinfecting wipes.

Disinfecting wipes are easy to use but are generally not safe for everyday classroom use. Disinfecting wipes (for example, Lysol and Clorox brands) often contain harsh chemicals that have been linked to short-term and long-term health issues. They can cause eye, skin and respiratory irritation. Plus, the fragrances used can trigger allergies and asthma and have been linked to hormone disruption and reproductive issues. Learn more about disinfecting wipes and what to use for everyday classroom cleanup.

Protect Yourself

Proper handling and storage are essential to maintain a safe school environment. Always review product labels before handling or using a chemical. Follow all label instructions and manufacturer recommendations.

More Information and Resources

Resource	Description
Find safer cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting products	Ask your supply vendor about what Green Seal, Safer Choice and Design for the Environment certified products they carry. Schools can also purchase cleaning supplies at a negotiated rate through the State’s janitorial supplies contracts. These products meet safety standards and support healthier environments for students and staff.
Cleaning Safely in Schools fact sheet	School staff work hard to make sure schools are safe and clean for students and staff. Unfortunately, some cleaners and disinfectants contain harsh chemicals that have been linked to short-term and long-term health issues. A 2022 survey found that most Vermont schools are using cleaning products, air fresheners and disinfectants that contain chemicals which can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, lungs and throat and can cause cancer and disrupt hormones. They can also cause or worsen asthma.
Safer Products Poster	See which products to use and which to avoid at a glance.
Breathe Easy, Choose Fragrance Free fact sheet	Using products with added fragrances and essential oils can trigger asthma and cause other health impacts. Read about the real-life impacts fragrance and essential oil use have on Vermont students and school staff in this fact sheet.
Creating Safer and Healthier Classrooms Without Disinfecting Wipes	Disinfecting wipes can cause health risks and should not be used by children. This flyer gives safer alternatives for general classroom cleaning.
Conduct regular school walkthroughs	From unblocking air vents to limiting the use of disinfecting wipes, you can take simple steps to make your school healthier. Learn how to use the Envision School Walkthrough tool to inspect your school building to identify potential environmental health issues.
Informed Green Solutions	Informed Green Solutions is a non-profit organization that educates school staff on the benefits of safer cleaning and the impacts purchasing decisions have on human health and the environment. Informed Green Solutions has many resources and trainings for school staff on how to find safer products, the importance of preventing teachers, staff and parents from bringing in their own products, and why to avoid fragrances and essential oils. Visit the Informed Green Solutions website to learn more.
Green Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfecting Toolkit for Early Care and Education	Informed Green Solutions provides a variety of resources, including posters and fact sheets, to support safer cleaning practices in early care and education settings like preschools. Explore the Green Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting Toolkit.
Green Cleaning Myths video	This video from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection educates school staff about the hazards of common cleaning products while showing the benefit and effectiveness of using safer cleaning products. Watch the Wastebusters: Green Cleaning Myths video.
Safer Cleaning in Schools Video	This video from the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) shows the benefits of using safer cleaning products in schools. Safer cleaning products are effective and using them is important for a healthier learning environment. Watch the safer cleaning in schools video.
Green Cleaning Products Law Summary	Act 68 of 2012 helps protect students’ health by requiring schools to buy and use safer cleaning products.

Resource

Description

Find safer cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting products

Ask your supply vendor about what Green Seal, Safer Choice and Design for the Environment certified products they carry.

Schools can also purchase cleaning supplies at a negotiated rate through the State’s janitorial supplies contracts. These products meet safety standards and support healthier environments for students and staff.

Cleaning Safely in Schools fact sheet

School staff work hard to make sure schools are safe and clean for students and staff. Unfortunately, some cleaners and disinfectants contain harsh chemicals that have been linked to short-term and long-term health issues.

A 2022 survey found that most Vermont schools are using cleaning products, air fresheners and disinfectants that contain chemicals which can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, lungs and throat and can cause cancer and disrupt hormones. They can also cause or worsen asthma.

Safer Products Poster

Choose Safer Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfecting Products

See which products to use and which to avoid at a glance.

Breathe Easy, Choose Fragrance Free fact sheet

Using products with added fragrances and essential oils can trigger asthma and cause other health impacts. Read about the real-life impacts fragrance and essential oil use have on Vermont students and school staff in this fact sheet.

Creating Safer and Healthier Classrooms Without Disinfecting Wipes

Disinfecting wipes can cause health risks and should not be used by children. This flyer gives safer alternatives for general classroom cleaning.

Conduct regular school walkthroughs

From unblocking air vents to limiting the use of disinfecting wipes, you can take simple steps to make your school healthier. Learn how to use the Envision School Walkthrough tool to inspect your school building to identify potential environmental health issues.

Informed Green Solutions

Informed Green Solutions is a non-profit organization that educates school staff on the benefits of safer cleaning and the impacts purchasing decisions have on human health and the environment. Informed Green Solutions has many resources and trainings for school staff on how to find safer products, the importance of preventing teachers, staff and parents from bringing in their own products, and why to avoid fragrances and essential oils. Visit the Informed Green Solutions website to learn more.

Green Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfecting Toolkit for Early Care and Education

Informed Green Solutions provides a variety of resources, including posters and fact sheets, to support safer cleaning practices in early care and education settings like preschools. Explore the Green Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting Toolkit.

Green Cleaning Myths video

This video from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection educates school staff about the hazards of common cleaning products while showing the benefit and effectiveness of using safer cleaning products. Watch the Wastebusters: Green Cleaning Myths video.

Safer Cleaning in Schools Video

This video from the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) shows the benefits of using safer cleaning products in schools. Safer cleaning products are effective and using them is important for a healthier learning environment. Watch the safer cleaning in schools video.

Green Cleaning Products Law Summary

Act 68 of 2012 helps protect students’ health by requiring schools to buy and use safer cleaning products.

Last Updated: May 19, 2025

Cleaning Safely in Schools

Healthy Schools