(Originally Published January 23, 2019)
According to doctors Herbert Needleman and Phillip J. Landrigan, “since 1950, at least 70,000 new chemical compounds have been invented and dispersed into our environment” and only a small portion of these chemicals have been tested for toxicity to humans. Unfortunately, many of these chemicals exist in the cleaning products and cleaning services that we use on a daily basis in our workplaces, putting employees and the environment at risk. It doesn’t have to be this way, though, because green cleaning services are an incredible alternative that will create a healthy work environment for your staff without sacrificing on the office cleanliness that you’re looking for.
Not sure whether or not switching to green cleaning services is the right decision for your business? We’re sharing 4 of the main benefits of making the switch. To learn more about non-toxic cleaning, contact the experts at Kitchener Clean today!
Many cleaning products contain harmful, toxic chemicals that most are unaware of. When your cleaning company uses these products, it increases the likelihood that your staff will absorb the harmful ingredients such as phthalates, toluene, and formaldehyde through inhalation and absorption through contact on the skin.
TOXIC CHEMICALS IN CONVENTIONAL CLEANING PRODUCTS CAN CREATE SHORT AND LONG-TERM HEALTH RISKS FOR YOUR STAFF.
When residue from toxic cleaning products is left on floors, door handles, counters, or tables in your office, the chemicals may result in short or long term health problems for your staff. For instance, harsh chemicals on counter tops in the kitchen may cause irritation to the skin or eyes, and longer term exposure has been previously linked to cases of both asthma and reproductive harm. Although much research is still to be done in this area, cleaning products have also been known to contain carcinogenic ingredients, causing a significant long-term health risk.
By opting for green cleaning services, you significantly reduce the likelihood of employees facing potential health risks associated with harsh cleaning products. Instead, you can trust that your staff will be safe and your office will be clean--a win-win solution for your business.
Green cleaning services have the potential to significantly reduce your business’ environmental impact, simply by opting for environmentally-friendly products. Many conventional cleaners, while great at getting rid of bacteria and germs, have a detrimental impact on the environment at large. Ingredients often found in cleaning products such as phosphorus, nitrogen and ammonia are environmental hazards that often enter waterways when used.
CONVENTIONAL CLEANING PRODUCTS CAN RELEASE HARMFUL INGREDIENTS INTO WATERWAYS AND THE AIR, CONTRIBUTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
For example, each time a product with harmful ingredients is used to clean a toilet or sink, chemicals enter waterways in excessive quantities. As a result, aquatic wildlife is harmed. Not only can these chemicals actually cause mass deaths in aquatic animals, but they adversely impact their habitats as well.
In addition to waterways, conventional cleaning products harm the environment when airborne chemicals leave your office and enter the external environment. Cleaning products in aerosol cans are known to contribute to greenhouse gases, perpetuating the depletion of the ozone layer as well as climate change. Most surprisingly, perhaps, is that some conventional cleaning products used to disinfect or sterilize have actually been known to make bacteria stronger. Studies have found that exposure to certain low doses of chemicals in these products can lead to a resistance, leaving people at risk.
When you hire a green cleaning service provider, your office can make the switch from toxic chemicals to biodegradable ingredients that don’t have adverse impacts on the environment.
If the toxic cleaning products you are using in your office are having a negative impact on the environment beyond your office walls, imagine what they’re doing to the air within it!
MANY CONVENTIONAL CLEANING PRODUCTS ARE HAMFUL FOR YOUR STAFF TO BREATHE IN, CAUSING IRRITATION TO EYES, THROAT, SKIN, OR HEADACHES.
Many of the ingredients in conventional cleaning products such as aerosol spray cans, bleach, detergents, and carpet and floor cleaners are dangerous for humans to inhale. When these products are used in your office, volatile organic compounds are released into the air, increasing the likelihood that your staff will experience irritation of the eyes, throat, skin, or headaches. More seriously, long-term exposure can also result in chronic respiratory problems, allergic reactions, or asthma.
Using all-natural or organic products to clean your office will result in a better environment both within and outside your business, leading to happier, healthier employees and a cleaner world.
More and more, internal and external stakeholders such as employees, customers, and investors expect that businesses will do their part to improve the environment. This is why the triple-bottom line philosophy, including “people, planet and profit” has become the underlying foundation of many business operations. No longer will a merely profitable business be considered “successful”--stakeholders want to see that the business is also doing its part to improve the overall trajectory of the environment.
TRANSITIONING TO GREEN CLEANING SERVICES IS A FANTASTIC WAY TO SHOWCASE YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
By investing in a green cleaning service, your business can bolster its corporate social responsibility initiatives and showcase your commitment to the triple bottom line by investing in the environment. Your stakeholders will recognize that you have made an intentional decision to reduce your carbon footprint as a company, improving morale across all spheres.
The benefits of a green cleaning service are clear: your employees are happier and healthier, the environment you operate in will thank you, and your office can be just as clean as it would be with conventional products.
At Kitchener Clean, we use green, non-toxic cleaning products and methods. We know that every workplace is different, with unique requirements and challenges. Many employees and customers or clients have skin sensitivities, asthma, or allergies, that may be triggered by toxic cleaning chemicals. At Kitchener Clean, we care about everyone in your office!
Let us introduce you to the non-toxic way to clean. Remember that non-toxic doesn't have to mean sacrificing quality or cleanliness. We always use highest quality EcoLogo or Green Seal certified products when possible in your office. Non-toxic cleaning provides just as thorough a clean and sanitization as cleaning with harsh chemicals - except you can breathe a lot easier at the end!
Kitchener Clean is a locally owned and operated family business, so we treat our customers like we would treat our own family - with respect. We value integrity, consistency, and thoroughness with all of our clients. We also use non-toxic cleaning methods to keep you, your staff, and your clients breathing cleaner!
Did you know that Kitchener Clean started out as a home cleaning company? Today we are still firmly committed to cleaning your office as thoroughly as we would our own home. We are also dedicated to great customer service, honesty, and integrity.
At Kitchener Clean, we believe that our Office Care Technicians are a key reason we are so successful. We strive to hire the best Office Care Professionals in the business. We take security seriously so all of our staff are bonded and have undergone police checks.
Our reputation is important to us, so we guarantee all of our services. If for any reason you are not completely satisfied, simply contact us and we will return within 24 hours to address your concern at no additional cost.
We even guarantee our response time. If we haven’t responded to any client communication within 24 hours of receiving it, we will offer you a free week of Office Care. That is how strongly we feel about the importance of communication and customer satisfaction. We will always stand behind our work. We guarantee it.
"They do a great job, for over 5 years now. Professional, trusted, and affordable... exactly what you need in a commercial cleaner."
-- Robert, A Kitchener Clean Customer!
