How to Assess the Environmental Impact of Your Commercial Cleaning Services

There are four primary ways in which commercial cleaning can negatively affect the environment, and businesses should be concerned with all of them. These include:

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other hazardous substances in cleaning products can contribute to indoor air pollution or water pollution in Odessa and Midland
  
  
• Water and energy usage, which primarily affects business owners since cleaners aren’t bringing their own water and power to jobs 
  
  
• Waste generation, particularly non-recyclable materials like disposable cloths, mop heads and packaging
  
  
• Carbon emissions from vehicles or groundskeeping equipment

Some of those categories are more important than others. The carbon emissions from your cleaners is relatively minor and likely no greater than the carbon emissions contributed by your employees when they commute to and from work every day. Conversely, VOCs can be a serious concern for businesses. Some cleaning chemicals can cause allergic reactions, hives or other negative reactions among your workforce.

If you are concerned about the safety and efficiency of your cleaning services, you should ask your commercial cleaning company what types of chemicals they use, how much water they use during cleaning and whether they use disposable, recyclable or reusable supplies.

In the grand scheme of things, the environmental impact of office cleaning is minor. Still, any cleaners who provide quotes for your business should be honest about their practices and the ways in which they may affect your indoor and outdoor environment.

Which Commercial Cleaning Services Have the Potential to Negatively Affect the Environment?

Some of the most important and common commercial cleaning services are also those with the potential to pollute. The degree to which these services can be problematic is based largely on the chemicals and methods used.

• Carpet Cleaning: Some carpet cleaning chemicals are harsh. Although carpet cleaning doesn’t have a dramatic effect on outdoor pollution, these chemicals can pollute indoor air. Some of them can also be damaging to local waterways and should be disposed of properly to prevent environmental damage.
  
  
• Floor Stripping and Waxing: Stripping floors can require powerful chemicals, many of which are toxic, especially in enclosed spaces. Proper personal protection should be worn when stripping floors or applying wax, and spaces should be safely aired out to prevent the buildup of dangerous indoor air pollutants.
  
  
• Window Cleaning: Not all window cleaning solutions pose equal risks. Cleaning agents containing high concentrations of ammonia can potentially pollute indoor air, although the risk to most workers is minimal.  
  
  
• Disinfecting Services: How hazardous disinfecting services are varies based on the type of treatment, chemicals and delivery system. We use one of the safest fogging methods and low-risk disinfecting chemicals when performing our disinfecting services. It’s safe for workers to reenter the premises in just 30 minutes after the fogging is complete.

How Can Commercial Cleaners Minimize Environmental Hazards?

There are both operational steps and material choices that can reduce the indoor and outdoor environmental impact of commercial cleaning.

Professional cleaners have access to eco-friendly, green-certified cleaning products that are thoughtfully designed to be free of VOCs and potentially hazardous chemicals like ammonia. There are also some biodegradable and plant-based cleaning solutions that can minimize health risks for offices.

There is not a perfectly safe and effective alternative for every cleaning application. Some tasks will require the use of chemicals that could pose a risk to people or the environment, especially if they’re used incorrectly. However, commercial cleaners can still adopt waste-reducing processes to lessen the overall impact of their services.

For example, using washable clothes and mops, as well as purchasing products packaged in bulk, can help minimize waste by reducing the volume of disposable containers generated.  

It’s also vital for commercial cleaners to follow proper disposal guidelines whenever they deal with hazardous chemicals. At West Texas Commercial Cleaning, we’re committed to always following the strictest disposal protocol to protect local water systems in the Odessa and Midland areas.

Get Environmentally Responsible and Safe Commercial Cleaning in Odessa and Midland, TX

At West Texas Commercial Cleaning, we believe you should not have to sacrifice safety or environmental responsibility for the sake of high-quality office and business cleaning results.

If you would like to learn more about our cleaning services, or about specialized services designed to minimize indoor air pollutants, please don’t hesitate to call us at 432-552-9520.