Commercial Cleaning & Chemicals: Where Expertise Really Matters
Effective commercial and office cleaning depends on disinfectants, cleansers, and other chemicals that can be dangerous when people misuse them or are exposed to them improperly. This is true even for certain chemicals that are certified as green when they are used for commercial building cleaning. After all, many natural substances used in professional commercial cleaning chemicals may be harmless to the environment even if they are considered allergens.
A good commercial cleaning service recognizes this and will take proper precautions to always handle its chemicals properly. Here are some ways to ensure that any potentially harmful office cleaner and all other harmful cleaning chemicals are handled safely:
- Proper labeling of all cleaning supplies
- Safe storage of all cleaning products
- Proper disposal of all cleaning products
- Thorough training of front line employees on the safe and effective use of all products
- Safe use to protect both your employees and cleaning personnel
- Use of green cleaners where possible and appropriate
Professional commercial cleaning services have expertise with dangerous cleaning chemicals, so they are the best qualified to use them. A commercial cleaning service will make sure to store these chemicals properly at your business. They will also take the proper precautions to ensure that others are protected from exposure when performing office cleaning services.
Keeping Our Kids Safe
As risky as unintended exposure to cleaning chemicals can be for adults, it’s even more threatening to children. Schools, daycare facilities and other institutions that serve children should be especially careful to keep dangerous office cleaning chemicals locked up in a secure location. Kids should never have access to these caustic office cleaners and chemicals that can cause serious harm if misused. Any janitorial employee or commercial cleaning team should be carefully trained to use all cleaning products in a manner that safeguards the health of children.
Cleaning Services, MSDS & First-Aid Information
Every chemical that is classified as a commercial or office cleaner will have a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and information on what to do for first aid in the case of exposure or ingestion. The MSDS data sheet lists the ingredients found in the chemical used by the office cleaning service, which keeps employees informed about possible allergens and other risks associated with a particular product. The data sheet also indicates poisoning danger and potential adverse combinations to avoid. Since applying incorrect first aid can sometimes cause further injury, knowing what to do in the case of accidental chemical exposure is invaluable. A CIMS-certified commercial cleaning company or janitorial service provider is familiar with this information and will put it to use effectively. Cleaning companies that take shortcuts with training, labeling, and storage put everyone at risk.
Is Green Cleaning For You?
If you are considering making the move to green cleaning or greener cleaning, there are many potential benefits. Traditionally, office cleaning services have employed commercial cleaning products and tools that may contain chemicals, which can be harmful to you and your employees. Although these products clean on the surface, they can also contribute to poor indoor air quality. The worst culprits among traditional caustic cleaners can cause irritation to eyes, skin, or lungs and may contribute to ongoing health issues. Green cleaning (or greener cleaning) can offer an alternative to traditional cleaners. In addition to improving employee well-being, a green cleaning program can create a healthier environment for customers as well.
When you partner with a commercial cleaning service that offers green cleaning, you provide a healthier work environment, you increase staff productivity by reducing the risk of illness, and you demonstrate a commitment to a greener workplace. When considering a green cleaning service, keep several things in mind. Any commercial cleaning company committed to green cleaning will have clear “green” policies in place. Green cleaning supplies should be as effective as they are safe, ensuring you don’t have to sacrifice cleanliness to be environmentally responsible.
How Can I Find A Commercial Cleaning Company That Operates With Safety & Health In Mind?
There are safety programs for chemicals used in commercial cleaning. The International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) certifies companies that implement these programs in their Cleaning Industry Management Standards (CIMS) program . This certification requires a building services company to implement best practices designed to help prevent accidental exposure to dangerous cleaning chemicals. Commercial establishments that hire a CIMS-certified company gain added verification that their cleaning provider operates by high industry standards designed with efficacy, safety, and health in mind. The safety programs required for CIMS certification help protect your employees from harmful chemical exposure during office cleaning services and commercial cleaning.
Finding a Commercial Cleaning Company That Really Cleans and Really Cares
Owners, managers, and Facility Managers have a few tools at their disposal when it comes to finding an office cleaning company, commercial cleaning service, or janitorial service provider that will make health and safety a priority. First, make any prospective cleaning company show you their commitment, not just tell you. Anyone can deliver a sales pitch that sounds good, but a commercial cleaning company that is truly invested in health and safety will have the materials to prove it. Things to consider and ask about that can have a real impact on your cleaning, safety, and health:
- How does a prospective commercial cleaning company find, interview, and screen their employees?
- What kind of training do they provide employees?
- How do they respond to customer issues, concerns, or problems?
- What is their Cleaning for Health & Safety commitment, and how do they meet it?
- Do they offer a green cleaning program, and what does it look like?
If you are short on time or need to find a new commercial cleaning, office cleaning, or janitorial service provider quickly, consider using industry certifications like the ISSA’s CIMS certification. These voluntary but stringent certification programs allow professional cleaning companies to demonstrate their commitment to industry best practices by opening up their methods to review and meeting specific benchmarks set by the ISSA. It isn’t easy to get certified, but cleaning companies that pursue and earn certification are serious about their business and dedicated to offering their customers their best.
