Most bosses want to provide an office space that is clean and safe for staff and it is now possible to do so using eco-friendly or non-toxic cleaning products that have less of a detrimental impact on the environment.
Some heavy duty cleaning products contain toxic chemicals that not only smell bad but could cause long-term harm if breathed in on a regular basis.
Some cleaning chemicals that you don’t want in the office:
- Ammonia can cause irritation to the eyes and skin.
- Phenol and cresol in disinfectants causes dizziness and have corrosive properties.
- Formaldehyde, which is used as a preservative in many cleaning products, can cause irritation to the eyes, skin, throat and lungs.
With so many dangerous chemicals in our cleaning products, it’s no wonder that so many companies are trying to go green when it comes to sprucing up the office and are using more naturally sourced cleaners. And what’s more, green cleaners are often cheaper than their chemically enhanced counterparts.
Steam cleaning for the office: Steam can be a powerful ally in reducing the amount of dirt and bacteria in the office. It can be used to clean everything from work tops to the carpet and the great thing is it just uses water.
Hydrogen-peroxide is an eco-friendly alternative to bleach: Whilst still having irritant properties in a concentrated form, Hydrogen-peroxide evaporates quickly and is kinder to the environment. It also has more uses than chlorine based bleach, especially around the home.
Bicarbonate of soda, vinegar and lemon juice: Some of the most natural green cleaning agents can be found around the kitchen. Many office cleaning products now use these as ingredients for their products. Baking soda has the added natural gift of acting as a deodoriser – sprinkle some on the carpet and then hoover it up to get rid of those stuffy smells in the office.
A whole industry has risen out of the desire for eco-friendly cleaners in both the home and the office and it is sometimes confusing when you try to figure out which is the right one to use.
Be warned. There are lots of products out there that pretend to be green but are not. Make sure you check the label before you buy:
- Give products with warning signs about toxicity or flammability a miss.
- Avoid products that don’t give a list of all their ingredients or hide them under general titles like “surfactant” or “fragrance”.
- If you see a lot of unpronounceable names, you can be sure it’s not as green as it pretends to be.
Most office cleaning contractors now look to provide a green solution that benefits both the environment and the customers who depend on their services. Using products and processes that are non-toxic, non-harmful, not hazardous, fully biodegradable and extremely cost effective, yet still clean effectively, is something we should all be concerned with.
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