We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mahnaz Khaliqi a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Mahnaz, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The idea for Green Apple Cleaning came from a personal struggle with allergies that had plagued me for years. One late evening, I was watching an infomercial for a Shark steam machine, and something clicked. I purchased the machine and cleaned my entire home with it—mattress, carpets, couches, everything. The results were transformative: the air felt different, and for the first time in years, I could breathe easily, free of allergies. I realized I had been polluting my home with toxic chemicals that were likely exacerbating my health issues. That moment marked a turning point; I immediately stopped using traditional cleaning products and embraced steam cleaning as a safe, effective alternative. Dust mites and unseen environmental irritants make many of us sick, and we often resign ourselves to thinking, “I have allergies; that’s just how it is.” But my experience proved it doesn’t have to be that way. In 2012, when I started Green Apple Clean & Steam in Northern New Jersey, green cleaning was still viewed with skepticism. Many believed only bleach and ammonia could truly kill germs. However, science proves otherwise—bacteria die at 120°F, and viruses at 140°F, making steam not just effective but indisputably powerful. I researched and found no companies focusing on steam as their primary cleaning method, so I made it the heart of my business. Today, Green Apple stands as a testament to how small, thoughtful adjustments can lead to significant change—not only in individual lives but in an entire industry.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Mahnaz Khaliqi, founder and owner of Green Apple Commercial Cleaning. We hold the prestigious Green Building with Honors Certification by ISSA’s Cleaning Management Standard.

My journey into the cleaning industry began as a very personal one—out of necessity. I struggled with allergies and realized that conventional cleaning products were making things worse. When I switched to cleaning my home with steam instead of chemical-laden products, I saw an incredible difference in my health. Not only did my allergies improve, but my home felt cleaner in a way I had never experienced before.

That’s when it hit me—why wasn’t anyone offering this type of truly green and sustainable cleaning as a professional service? That’s how Green Apple Clean & Steam was born. I started as a one-person operation, cleaning homes using steam to sanitize every surface, upholstery, carpets, and mattresses, ensuring a 360-degree deep clean without a single drop of toxic chemicals. Customers would tell me that they could actually feel the difference and that they were sleeping better at night.

Then, in 2021, we made the shift to 100% commercial cleaning in response to the pandemic. The world was facing an urgent need for cleaner, healthier spaces, and I knew that our sustainable methods could make a real impact on businesses and their employees. But I didn’t want Green Apple to be just another cleaning company—I wanted it to be a leader in truly sustainable, innovative cleaning solutions.

What sets us apart is our obsession with reducing environmental impact while delivering immaculate, healthy buildings. Our carbon footprint is extremely low because we operate with onsite generators that eliminate the need to buy, ship, and dispose of plastic bottles. We also prioritize machinery and technology that drastically reduce water waste, including:

Low-moisture carpet cleaning that uses up to 90% less water than traditional methods, reducing drying times and the risk of mold.
Electrostatic sprayers that maximize disinfectant coverage while using fewer chemicals.
Microfiber technology that captures more dirt and bacteria than traditional materials, reducing the need for excessive detergent and water.
High-efficiency HEPA vacuums that trap airborne allergens and fine dust, improving indoor air quality.
I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built at Green Apple. We’ve redefined what it means to be a cleaning company—not just one that sanitizes spaces, but one that prioritizes health, sustainability, and efficiency. Potential clients should know that when they work with us, they’re not just getting a cleaning service; they’re investing in a healthier, greener, more innovative way to maintain their facilities.

At the end of the day, my mission is simple: to create truly sustainable, truly green spaces that don’t just look clean—but actually are clean in the healthiest way possible.

Have you ever had to pivot?

During the pandemic, we had to make a critical pivot from a residential cleaning company to a fully commercial operation to address the urgent needs of businesses in our communities. As the world shifted, it became clear that offices, medical facilities, and other commercial spaces needed more than just surface cleaning—they needed deep, sustainable sanitization to keep occupants safe and ensure germs were effectively removed. By following CDC recommendations, we used EPA registered disinfectants and green seal certified products, and most importantly- a higher level of training and education to our staff. Our methods were already designed to provide a higher level of cleanliness, so transitioning to commercial cleaning allowed us to make a bigger impact where it was most needed. This shift not only helped businesses create healthier work environments but also reinforced our mission of delivering truly green, sustainable cleaning solutions on a larger scale.

We now serve our customers in the tech industry and care for several large high volume, high traffic facilities in NJ, and have expanded to Texas in 2024.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

While the cleaning industry is extremely profitable, it can also be very low cost to start up. I started very small, with an initial investment of around $6k. Within 3 years we had $2M in sales.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.greenapple.cleaning
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenapplenj
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenapplecleans
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahnazkhaliqi

Image Credits

Lekker Photography