🌿 Why I Started Green Clean Innovations: A story about motherhood, caregiving, health, heart, and building something that gives back

Kelly Strum
Jan 9
5 min read

Green Clean Innovations didn’t start with a business plan.

It started with my son.

When he was born, he struggled with skin and respiratory issues that no parent ever wants to see. His body reacted to things that felt normal — the air, the surfaces, everyday life. As a single mom, that kind of fear reaches into every part of you. You question everything. You wonder what you can control when so much suddenly feels uncertain.

For me, the place I could control was our home.

Learning the Hard Way What “Clean” Really Means

I began paying close attention to what I was using to clean — the sprays, the wipes, the fragrances that lingered long after I thought things were “done.” The more I learned, the more uneasy I became. A lot of what we’re taught is “clean” is actually harsh on our bodies — especially small, developing ones.

So I started searching for better options.

That’s when I found Force of Nature and other healthier, science-backed cleaners. I didn’t change everything overnight. I moved slowly. Intentionally. I changed how I cleaned, what I used, and what I allowed into our space.

And something incredible happened.

My son’s skin began to clear.

His breathing became easier.

His sensitivities slowly faded — and eventually disappeared.

I remember the moment it really settled in. He was sleeping peacefully, his skin calm, his breathing steady. I felt a deep sense of relief — the kind that brings tears with it. I knew I was doing everything I could. I knew our home was finally supporting his health instead of working against it.

That moment changed my life.

Caregiving From Both Directions

Around the same time, my mother’s health began to decline.

Suddenly, I wasn’t just caring for my child — I was also caring for my mom. Watching her struggle. Trying to support her with the same tenderness I gave my son.

I found myself standing in the middle — caring for the generation below me and the one above me — and that changes you.

When someone you love is vulnerable — a child, an aging parent, someone who is sick — cleaning becomes something different. You don’t rush. You don’t cut corners.

You pay attention. You clean with intention. You clean with heart.

That experience reshaped everything for me.

I realized I didn’t just want healthier homes for my family — I wanted that same care extended to my entire community.

From Personal Care to a Community Calling

Once I saw the difference a well-cared-for environment could make, I couldn’t keep it to myself. I wanted to spread the health — not just through products or services, but through the way people are cared for inside their homes.

But this mission was never just about health.

It was also about relief.

As a single mom and caregiver, I knew how heavy life could feel. Wanting to do everything right — for your child, your parent, your home — while quietly running on empty.

Having help with cleaning wasn’t a luxury for me, it was how I stayed afloat.

Green Clean Innovations became a way to offer that same relief to others — families who are carrying a lot and just want to know their home is being cared for with the same attention they would give if they had the time and energy.

The Golden Rule at the Center of Our Work

One of our core values is simple, but it guides everything we do:

The Golden Rule:

Treat others the way you want to be treated.

At Green Clean Innovations, that means we treat every home as if it were our own.

When you clean for your child or your aging parent, you clean differently. You clean with awareness. You clean knowing what’s at stake.

You clean with heart.

That is how we approach every home.

You are not just a stranger.

You are not just a transaction.

This is not just a service.

We clean for you with the same heart we would bring into our own homes — because that’s what real care looks like.

Creating Work That Supports Real Life

Starting my own business also gave me something I deeply needed: flexibility.

Flexibility to care for my son.

Flexibility to support my mother.

Flexibility to be present when it mattered most.

And I realized how many other women needed that too.

That’s why creating flexible, respectful work — especially for single mothers and caregivers — became another passion. Work that understands “mom hours.” Work that honors life outside of a job. Work that doesn’t ask people to choose between their families and their livelihood.

I intended to become the kind of leader I needed during those times.

Leading With Heart — and With Standards

Before starting Green Clean Innovations, I worked in environments where people were treated like replaceable parts instead of humans. Where fear mattered more than trust.

Where respect was missing.

I knew I wanted better.

At the same time, I was clear about what I didn’t want to build.

We are not here to create a culture of entitlement or a lack of accountability. We believe you can lead with compassion and still have expectations. You can care deeply and still hold boundaries. You can create a supportive workplace without sacrificing professionalism.

We want to help shape the next generation by showing what healthy leadership looks like — grounded in respect, responsibility, and awareness beyond the self.

When the Heart Gets Tested

I also want to be honest about something else.

It’s easy to lead with heart when everything is going well.

It’s harder when life gets heavy.

There are seasons in business — and in life — when people disappoint you. When situations test your patience. When bitterness quietly tries to creep in and harden you.

I’ve been there.

There have been moments when it would have been easier to pull back, to toughen up, to lose sight of the heart behind it all.

But time and time again, I find myself humbled — brought back to the reason I started this in the first place. When I remember the mother I was trying to protect. The daughter I was trying to support. The caregiver I became out of necessity. And, of course, my son, who humbles me daily.

In those moments, I choose to release the bitterness and return to the heart. Because the heart isn’t weakness — it’s the foundation.

It’s what grounds us when things get hard.

It’s what keeps this work meaningful.

And it’s what allows us to continue showing up with integrity.

The Values That Shape Our Culture

The values we live by are simple, but they matter deeply:

Be honest.
Focus on the solution.
Have faith.
Embrace growth.
Practice generosity.

These are the qualities we want to nurture — in our team, in our clients, and in our community.

A Vision Bigger Than Ourselves

We don’t see Green Clean Innovations as something that exists only for itself.

We see it as a hub — one working part of a greater whole.

As we grow, we’re committed to giving back.

We’re beginning with York County’s Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and we’re excited about the ways we’ll continue creating positive impact locally and beyond.

When you choose us as your cleaning company, your investment doesn’t just fund a clean home. It helps support families, workers, and community initiatives. It moves outward.

We don’t want a world of isolated systems working only for themselves.

We want a hub that works for the whole.