It might not be obvious, but indoor air quality can sometimes be more harmful than the outdoor pollutants we encounter and can have a significant effect on the health of your staff. This is concerning.
The Royal College of Physicians in London has estimated that poor indoor air quality contributes to 99,000 deaths per year in Europe alone. Stark reading. Less alarming, but also as important to factor in your thinking, are stats from the United States that show that one in two office workers have experienced a lack of concentration because of poor air quality in their workplace.
Have your employees ever complained of headaches, coughing and respiratory problems at work? If so it might be that you will need to address the indoor air quality in your office.
We’d like to reassure you that it is not all doom and gloom and it is possible to improve the quality of the air in your office. We have spoken to the cleaning experts at Cleanology who have provided their expert insights
Here are our recommendations to make a difference in air quality in the office:
Deep Cleaning Carpets And Upholstery
There are so many benefits to having your carpets commercially cleaned. But mostly because it will make your work environment better for all. Carpets and upholstery collect pollutants such as dirt, dust, bacteria, pollen and mould spores that can affect indoor air quality.
Dust mites, for example, leave their faeces in carpets and upholstery, causing allergies if not cleaned and removed. These pollutants can also exacerbate respiratory illnesses like asthma and can cause skin rashes and headaches.
There are a number of different methods for deep cleaning of carpets and upholstery and it’s advisable to seek professional help with this. A good cleaning company will be able to recommend the best possible option for your offices.
Disinfecting
Some offices require regular deep cleaning and this is where fogging can be employed. It’s a way of disinfecting a space with a fog of disinfectant, dispensed from a spray gun that saturates and disinfects hard-to-reach surfaces. Very effective, it's more efficient than wiping each surface individually.
Properly Ventilating The Space
Indoor air quality in offices can be impaired by a number of different pollutants that are released by carpets, office equipment and paint for example. These are known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and these will be higher if ventilation is poor.
Humidity levels too have an impact and these can be kept at healthy levels with a professionally installed ventilation system.
Without good ventilation, stale and potentially polluted air can circulate for long periods. This can have a direct bearing on the health of your employees.
It’s important to ensure your ventilation system is regularly checked, inspected and well-maintained. Over time, dust will collect in the filters so professional cleaning of the ventilation system and all air conditioning filters is key and an easy way to help improve air quality and to ensure it works as effectively as possible. This is something our expert and fully trained cleaners will be able to help you with.
Air filters should be replaced at least once a year, but preferably every six months. Again a professional cleaning service would make sure this gets done.
If your office doesn’t have a ventilation system, then keeping the air flowing through the regular opening of windows is important and a very simple way to maintain a healthy working environment.
Removing Dust & Pollen
Dust and pollen can also pollute the air and be harmful to your health. This may lead to respiratory issues, asthma and eye irritation.
Dusting with a damp microfibre cloth is one of the most effective methods for removing dust, with the use of a steam cleaner for those harder-to-reach areas with an eco-friendly sanitiser that helps to prevent mould.
It’s also important to ensure that you use the correct vacuum cleaners fitted with High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filters (HEPA) that collect the tiny particles that an ordinary vacuum cleaner can’t capture.
Using Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are contained in some disinfectants and other cleaning products and will affect the air quality in your office, and could cause respiratory issues. Professional cleaning companies will use products that contain low or no VOCs, and also eco-friendly cleaning products that are not harmful to the environment or air quality.
A healthy workforce is important and the steps outlined above will help to maintain high standards of air quality, helping to protect your staff. Good ventilation, clean and dust-free offices, eco-friendly cleaning products and deep cleaning of carpets and upholstery will all make a significant difference.
In addition to incorporating our professional recommendations into your office cleaning routine, we have a couple of additional suggestions that are easily executed and will help to improve the air quality in your working environment.
Having a thorough cleaning regime is key. That can include keeping work surfaces clear and dust-free, regular cleaning of furnishings and also investing in an air purifier. Alternatively, be sure to keep windows and doors open as much as possible.
