The Hazards of Traditional Cleaning Products in Commercial Cleaning: Health Risks and Eco-Friendly Alternatives.

When it comes to professional cleaning and keeping your home or working environment spic and span, you would think that just because the surfaces are wiped off of stains and dust, it is already considered a plus point to keeping yourself risk-free from health-related issues that can come with. But that isn’t always the case.

Some commercial cleaning companies often use traditional cleaning products such as all-purpose cleaners, bleach, and air fresheners, which are accessible and easy to stack for their supply kits. We couldn’t fault these companies for using those products despite the underlying hazards that come with them because they do get the job of effectively ridding your space of dirt and bacteria while giving your walls and floors that added luster.

What are the hazards that come with these cleaning products, and do the benefits outweigh the risk that comes along with using them?

Chemical Hazards

• Toxic: Many all-purpose cleaner products are made up of chemicals like solvents, acids, bleach, and ammonia that are toxic and can be harmful when in contact with the body, whether they are inhaled, ingested or simply touching the skin. 

Health Effects : 

1. Headaches
2. Dizziness
3. Respiratory Issues
4. Possible Chronic Health Effects

• Irritants: Products that include ingredients like ammonia, bleach, and many other types of solvents can act as irritants and may have compounds that can also cause allergic reactions, especially in sensitive people.

Health Effects : 

1. Dermatitis/ Skin Irritation
2. Asthma/ Respiratory Issues
3. Eye Irritation

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Most floor care and all-purpose cleaning products usually give off VOCs, especially products with strong solvents. This can cause harmful indoor air pollution when the area isn’t well-ventilated during the cleaning process.

Health Effects : 

1. Respiratory Issues
2. Headaches
3. Dizziness
4. Potentially long-term health risks

Physical Hazards

• Flammability: Cleaning products that particularly contain solvents and alcohol are labeled as flammable chemicals. There is a significant risk when using these items near open flames, sparks, or any high-heat sources that can trigger an igniting reaction.

• Slippery Surfaces: During and often after the process of cleaning, floors, and other surfaces can be made extremely slippery. This can increase the risks of potential injuries from slips, trips, and falls.

Environmental Hazards

• Water Pollution - When wastes and cleaner products are not well-disposed of, they can contaminate water sources and pose significant danger to ocean life and their habitats.

• Air Pollution - The most significant impact these traditional cleaning products have is being one of the contributors to air pollution, particularly the fumes released by products that contain VOCs. This can widely affect the health of people and the environment around them.
  

Safer Alternatives and the Certifications to Look out for 

When choosing to use commercial cleaning products to clean your personal and business spaces, there are also safer and green-labeled options for you to consider over traditional all-purpose cleaning supplies, and here is how you can spot them : 

• Green Seal - Green Seal-certified products are considered and labeled as environmentally approved based on their good performance in meeting the criteria and standards that are related to Human Health and Environmental Impact. These products are transparent with their ingredients and strict on harmful chemicals and compounds like VOCs. 

Examples of some of these products : 

1. Seventh Generation All-Purpose Cleaner
2. Ecos Pro All-Purpose Cleaner
3. Green Works All-Purpose Cleaner
4. Simple Green Industrial Cleaner and Degreaser
5. BioKleen All-Purpose Cleaner

• EPA Safer Choice - The EPA Safer Choice is a program of the US Environmental Protection Agency that promotes the products of companies that meet clean and green safety standards without compromising quality performance. 

Examples of some of these products : 

1. Clorox Green Works
2. ECOS Pro
3. Bona 
4. Simple Green
5. BioKleen

Safety Measures 

Although the type of cleaning products used for the job holds a big impact on the potential hazards of traditional cleaning, there are other factors to consider in taking the next steps to practice safety within the services.

• Proper Training - Ensuring that all working personnel are properly trained in not only the techniques of effectively delivering a neat and clean space to your environment but also in the handling, usage, and disposal of the cleaning products involved.

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)- It is essential for workers to practice proper safety measures with the use of the correct gear such as gloves, goggles, masks, and other protective clothing to avoid the product from getting inhaled or coming in contact with eyes and skin.

• Ventilation - Some cleaning products can emit harmful fumes into the air. Keeping the workspace well-ventilated will ensure that there is little risk of inhalation.

• Safe Storage and Proper Disposal - properly disposing of used products or carefully storing them away are some of the ways to help keep people and the environment safe from chemical contamination coming from waste pollution and hazardous spillage into sources of water.

In conclusion, while traditional cleaning products used by commercial cleaning companies can effectively remove dirt and bacteria, they pose significant health and environmental risks due to toxic chemicals, VOCs, and physical hazards like flammability and slippery surfaces. Safer alternatives, such as Green Seal and EPA Safer Choice certified products, offer eco-friendly cleaning options without compromising cleaning performance. To ensure safety, proper training, personal protective equipment, ventilation, and correct storage and disposal practices are essential. Contact us for more information on safe commercial and office cleaning solutions.