4 steps for green cleaning your office

Green cleaning just might be the most important thing you aren’t doing to boost employee wellness in your office. With the trend toward sustainable building and green energy over and above your efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle, your office’s cleaning routine may be skimming just under your radar.

But not any more! Green cleaning is basically about two things: eco-friendly supplies and techniques to match. Going green isn’t just about what’s better for the environment, although it definitely helps; keeping your office air clear of pollutants, which includes cleaning chemicals, can boost productivity and wellbeing.

In the spirit of yesterday’s announcement that our customers have helped save nearly 1,300 trees by using digital sign-in, here are four steps that will help create a greener, healthier space for your team (not to mention your hard-working cleaning staff!)

Step 1: Take stock, you might already be on your way

Green brands have been around for decades but really picked up steam in the 1990s — particularly after President Bill Clinton signed an executive order that called on federal facilities to use “environmentally preferable” products and services where possible.

Have a look at the products you already have. Specifically, watch for these respected and well-established certifications:

• ECOLOGO certified products (from UL)
• Safer Choice (from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
• Green Seal

What makes a product eco-friendly? It helps:

• Minimize health risks by avoiding irritants and toxins, which can trigger asthma, increase the risk of cancer, and even cause job-related injuries through exposure.
• Reduce pollution through sustainable or recyclable packaging.
• Conserve resources through qualities such as more concentrated formulas, sustainable sourcing of materials, a greener manufacturing process, or less harmful disposal.

Step 2: Get the right tools

Like cleaning products, there are more niche third-party certifications you can use to choose ecofriendly supplies. The Carpet and Rug Institute, for example, has a Seal of Approval program for vacuums and carpet cleaners.

Other green options simply scale up what you may already be doing at home: Items that are biodegradable, non-toxic, sustainably produced, reusable, and/or recyclable. This might include:

• Microfiber cleaning cloths and mops
• Cellulose sponges
• Naturally sourced abrasives, like baking soda
• Recycled plastic buckets and bottles

Another tip many people pick up at home: Purchase what you can in bulk. Not only will this typically get you a break on price, it’s also a way for you to reduce the waste that comes with extra packaging as well as time spent restocking.

Step 3: Change your approach

Remember: Just because a product is green doesn’t mean it’s benign. Once ecofriendly products and tools are on hand, the point of changing your office cleaning procedures is to minimize everyone’s exposure to any sort of chemicals.

That doesn’t just mean adjusting what you do, you may also need to change also how — and even when — you do it.

Provide clear guidance and training. It’s important that cleaning staff understand how to safely handle any chemicals and use any equipment. By providing easy-to-follow instructions, you can encourage safe use and help prevent unnecessary waste.

Talk about prevention. With any chemical, you should avoid contact with skin or breathing it in — and prevention is the best way to do that. For example, anyone involved in cleaning should:

• Wear gloves to help protect their skin.
• Apply products with a cloth rather than spraying them.
• Know how to properly store products and equipment.

Schedule and communicate major projects. Planning cleaning and maintenance projects for off hours means there will be fewer people around, which is always a good thing. However, it also allows as much time as possible for the air to clear of any fumes and particles. If you’re planning something that will create a cloud of allergens like dust or pollen, give staff a heads up and, where possible, the option to work from home.

Step 4: Start with a clean slate

Before launching your new green cleaning program, give your office a fresh start by targeting dirt that’s accumulated over the years. For example:

• When was the last time you had an office cleaning day? People spend a lot of time sitting, working, and eating at their desks — and a lot less time cleaning up after themselves. Phones, keyboards, and mice are great places for germs to camp out.
• Clean the accessible parts of your HVAC system. Washing any grate covers and vacuuming around the grates can make a difference.

Want to learn more? Check out these helpful resources

The Healthy Schools Campaign — An in-depth guide created for educational facilities managers, but a great resource for anyone who wants to do green cleaning at a commercial level.

Green Building Operations & Maintenance — While created for use by public housing authorities, this detailed infographic from Green Seal offers processes and techniques for cleaning as well as overall maintenance.