Cleaning office common areas: “Environment shapes attitude”
There is little doubt that successful businesses operate in environments that are comfortable and clean. Maintaining this type of atmosphere is important for keeping both employees and customers satisfied. It ensures that visitors receive a good first impression of your company, that everyone remains healthy and that productivity is maximized.
These benefits might not seem crucial, but they can make a huge impact on a business over time. For example, according to data compiled by the International Sanitary Supply Association, employee sick days in the United States end up costing businesses $225.8 billion each year. Meanwhile exposure to colds, flu viruses and dust inhibit employee performance and cognitive skills.
Customers, too, value cleanliness. Whether shopping, eating out or using an office restroom, customers rate cleanliness as a top factor in their willingness to do business with a given company.
Thankfully, keeping employees and customers happy—and your business running smoothly—doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, of all the operating expenses that a business faces annually—expenses such as insurance, building management costs, utilities and taxes—cleaning and maintenance are the lowest ones.
But what is “clean”? Is there a standard of cleaning? And is an environment that looks clean synonymous with an environment that is healthy?
Professor Michael Berry, who has authored a book titled Protecting the Built Environment: Cleaning for Health, defines cleaning as “putting unwanted matter in its proper place.” This process involves separating the unwanted matter from an object, containing the unwanted matter so that it can be effectively moved, transporting the unwanted matter to a suitable location and properly disposing of the unwanted matter.
Each day people are exposed to millions of bioaerosols, including microorganisms like fungi, bacteria and viruses. Some of these microorganisms have beneficial effects, but others are detrimental to human health. A good cleaning routine is the only way to reduce the deleterious effects of these unwanted pollutants.
At Avery Cleaning, we have identified the following seven major sources of airborne microorganisms in the office environment: humans, plants, bathrooms, HVAC systems, mold, dust re-suspension and the outdoor environment.
Humans are one of the biggest sources of bioaerosols in office buildings because we carry a myriad of microorganisms in our digestive tract and on our skin. Respiration and the daily shedding of millions of skin cells result in the build-up of these tiny life forms, especially in poorly ventilated or heavily occupied offices. For example, a collection of airborne microorganisms in a pet-friendly office showed that 40% of the organisms originated from humans, 30% came from dogs and 30% came from the outdoors.
Uncontrolled moisture and engineering mistakes in built environments can further contribute to the accumulation of microorganisms, especially fungi. Meanwhile, constant foot traffic leads to the tracking-in of pollutants from the outside world. These pollutants tend to amass on surfaces and are constantly re-suspended as we walk or otherwise interact with those surfaces throughout the day.
In fact, contamination largely occurs not from coughs or sneezes, but from the re-suspension of bacteria from floor surfaces. A study by showed that one person can re-emit an average of 10 million bacteria per hour. Further, it turns out that the type of floor surface plays a role in the degree to which particles are re-suspended in the air.
In the study, one person was first asked to walk on both a carpeted surface and on plastic sheeting. Next, researchers invited 30 people to walk only on the plastic sheeting. The results showed that a single person walking on carpeting re-suspended more particles than 30 people did walking on plastic sheeting.
In addition to floors, objects susceptible to cross-contamination in offices include tabletops, office equipment, items in break rooms and bathrooms, as well as many other frequently touched surfaces. Without regular cleaning, all of these surfaces accumulate more and more pollutants over time and pose greater dangers to human health.
Clearly, cleaning for health is much more valuable than cleaning for appearances. That’s why at Avery Cleaning, we use research-based techniques to ensure that every inch of your office environment is left not only looking clean, but also more hygienic for your employees and customers.
Our unique approach to wiping tabletops and other flat surfaces employs a spray-microfiber-squeegee extraction vacuum. All our microfiber towels are disposable; we never wash and reuse these tools.
When it comes to floors, we use auto scrubbers and a spray-and-vac method of cleaning to reduce cross-contamination risks. This method eliminates germs far more effectively than the use of traditional string or microfiber mops and buckets. We also use quiet HEPA-filter vacuums for improved indoor air quality.
Regularly cleaned surfaces lead to less re-suspension of harmful pollutants, and, ultimately, to reduced illness and absenteeism. Regular cleaning also boosts employee morale, attracts new customers and helps companies grow their business. As Professor Berry says, “Environment shapes attitude.”
At Avery Cleaning, we are happy to sit down with you to consider your unique set of problems. What areas would you like addressed? What issues do you see emerging on a regular basis? Together, we will work to develop a customized cleaning program that makes sense for your office and schedule.
Here are just some of the highlights of what we offer:
· We sanitize bathrooms with a high-level of detail, especially when it comes to disinfecting high-touch surfaces to minimize the risk of germ transfer
· We clean all types of flooring, including carpet, tile & grout and wood. We also deep-clean and strip and wax VCT tile upon request.
· We make your break room a pristine space to eat lunch and unwind
· Our professional office cleaning crews wear uniforms and name tags, so you can feel secure knowing who is in your space
Call Avery Cleaning today at (860) 503-8333 to schedule a consultation with our team.