American Craftsman specializes in water damage restoration for homes and businesses in Santa Clarita. One aspect of water damage restoration is cleaning and repairing water affected areas, another aspect is getting areas dry enough that they don’t support future mold growth. In this process, our experts have the opportunity to use many different products to sterilize and sanitize in your home, and we take these choices seriously.

Modern cleaning products take the dirt and debris of our lives down our drains. After treatment with the sewage and other wastewater at municipal treatment plants, they are discharged into nearby waterways. Most ingredients in chemical cleaners break down into harmless substances quickly. Other products, however, threaten water quality and therefore wildlife.

A U.S. Geological Survey studied contaminants in stream water samples across the country and found persistent detergent metabolites in 69% of streams tested. Sixty-six percent of streams contained disinfectants. By making better choices with our water damage cleaning supplies, American Craftsman can have a direct effect on the environment.

Effects Of Cleaning Chemicals On Us

Cleaning products are necessary for maintaining healthy conditions in the home and workplace. But, many industrial-strength cleaning products can present health hazards and environmental concerns. They may contain chemicals associated with eye, skin, or respiratory irritation, or other human health issues. Additionally, the concentrated forms of some commercial cleaning products are classified as hazardous, creating potential handling, storage, and disposal issues.

For example, a common household cleaner has harmful side effects that have been known for decades. Bleach, or sodium hypochlorite, is a leading cause of poisoning in the home. It is a strong irritant to the eyes, nose, and throat. Detergents are also harmful to our health; phenols are very easily absorbed into the skin and could cause damage to the lungs, heart, kidneys, and liver.

Why Eco-Friendly Products Matter In Water Damage Restoration

While the actual risks from these chemicals at typical exposure levels are often uncertain, and in many cases, they are probably low. Regardless of the expected risk levels, however, reducing the intrinsic hazard of a product is a desirable pollution prevention objective as part of the decisions you make for your home.

• Cleaning products are released to the environment during normal use through evaporation of volatile components and rinsing down the drain of residual products from cleaned surfaces, sponges, etc.
• Certain ingredients in cleaning products can present hazard concerns to exposed populations (e.g., skin and eye irritation in workers) or toxicity to aquatic species in waters receiving inadequately treated wastes
• Ingredients containing phosphorus or nitrogen can contribute to nutrient-loading in water bodies, leading to poor water quality.
• Volatile organic compounds (VOC) in cleaning products can affect indoor air quality and also contribute to smog formation in outdoor air.

Water Damage Restoration In Santa Clarita

Choosing less hazardous products (biodegradability, low toxicity, low volatile organic compound content, reduced packaging, low life cycle energy use) is better for our workers, your home, and Santa Clarita. Taking steps to reduce exposure can minimize harmful impacts,  improve indoor air quality, and reduce water and ambient air pollution while also still cleaning and sanitizing after water damage.

American Craftsman has been providing expert restoration services in homes and businesses for over 20 years: fire, smoke, vandalism, water or weather. In Southern California, they provide expertise, craftsmanship and the highest safety standards to every project. Additionally, American Craftsman uses only the finest and most powerful cleaning solutions that are non-toxic, biodegradable and environmentally friendly.