National Cleaning Week is a time to celebrate the importance of clean and its positive impact on public health, the environment, and the economy. The International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) uses this week to provide education and training to raise awareness on the importance of cleaning in our society. The week promotes the value of clean spaces, recognizes front-line cleaning professionals, and advocates for the cleaning industry.
Here at Dexterra, we’re taking this opportunity to recognize our front-line employees, thank our customers, and demonstrate the value of clean during this week dedicated to the cleaning industry. Let’s start with breaking down why cleaning is so important.
Why is a clean environment essential? Maintaining a clean environment has many benefits, including:
Promotes Health and Hygiene
Cleaning helps remove dirt, dust, and harmful bacteria from living spaces, which reduces the risk of illnesses and infections.
Prevents the Spread of Diseases
Regular cleaning can prevent the spread of diseases by eliminating germs and viruses that may be present on surfaces.
Improves Indoor Air Quality
Regular cleaning removes allergens, pollutants, and other harmful particles from the air, which can improve indoor air quality and reduce the risk of respiratory problems. This can contribute to efforts towards achieving a healthy building.
Increases Productivity
A clean and organized workspace can increase productivity, reduce stress, and improve mood, leading to better mental and physical health.
Promotes Environmental Sustainability
By properly disposing of waste and using eco-friendly cleaning products, cleaning promotes environmental sustainability and reduces our impact on the planet.
Overall, a clean space can have a positive impact on our physical, mental, and environmental well-being. Celebrating National Cleaning Week within the facilities management industry helps promote awareness on the importance of cleanliness and its impact building user experience, health and safety, facility productivity and success, and sustainability.
National Cleaning Week encourages organizations to focus on sustainability, green cleaning practices and the environment. A clean facility helps to minimize waste and energy consumption. For example, regular cleaning of a buildings HVAC systems enhances its efficiency, resulting in lower energy consumption and costs. As a facility management company, we understand the importance of integrating green cleaning practices into our routines to minimize our environmental impact.
Green cleaning practices refer to using eco-friendly cleaning products and techniques that are safer for the environment and human health. Below are a few examples of green cleaning practices:
Natural and non-toxic cleaning products
Instead of using harsh chemicals, green cleaning products are made from natural and non-toxic ingredients.
Environmentally friendly cleaning tools
Microfibre cloths and mop heads, as well as reusable cleaning tools are environmentally friendly options that reduce waste.
Conserving water
By using low-flow faucets and toilets, and avoiding letting the water run while cleaning, you can conserve water.
Recycling and properly disposing of waste
Recycling and proper disposal of waste reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and promotes sustainability.
Research shows that cleaning chemicals can have a negative impact on the environment. Here are some statistics that illustrate this impact:
Water pollution
A study by Environment Canada found that certain cleaning chemicals, such as surfactants, can be found in surface waters in Canada. These chemicals can have a negative impact on aquatic ecosystems, including fish and other wildlife.
Air pollution
According to a report by the Canadian Environmental Law Association, some cleaning chemicals can release VOCs into the air, which can contribute to smog and air pollution. This can have negative impacts on human health and the environment.
Waste generation
The Canadian Plastics Industry Association reports that Canada generates around 3.3 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, much of which comes from plastic packaging used for cleaning products. This waste can end up in landfills or the environment, where it can take hundreds of years to decompose.
Wildlife impact
A study by the Canadian Wildlife Federation found that chemicals from cleaning products can have a negative impact on aquatic ecosystems, including fish and other wildlife. In addition, plastic waste from cleaning products can pose a threat to wildlife if it is ingested or entangles animals.
Climate change
The production and disposal of cleaning chemicals can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change. A study by the Canadian government found that the production of cleaning products in Canada was responsible for approximately 1.4 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
Overall, these statistics highlight the need to be mindful of the environmental impact of cleaning chemicals. Traditional cleaning chemicals may be harmful, but choosing and using green cleaning products properly protects the health and safety of building occupants and the planet.
Staples Corporation conducted a survey that showed 94% of workers reported feeling more productive when they are exposed to a clean work environment. And 77% of the same respondents stated that a clean workplace enables them to generate higher quality work.
Clearly, a clean environment matters, which is why at Dexterra we focus on just that.
As an integrated facility management service provider, our ultimate goal is to support and enhance the product or service offering of our clients – a clean, safe space can do that. We understand that a clean environment is not only essential for health and safety but also for creating a positive impression on visitors, employees, and clients.
From janitorial services, to housekeeping, to speciality cleaning and disinfection – we deliver custom cleaning solutions that focus on safety, quality, and enhancing the integrity of your facility and assets.
At Dexterra, safety is fundamental to everything we do. To best serve our clients, we embed sustainable cleaning practices into our custom cleaning solutions and green cleaning programs. One of the sustainability practices we deploy in our green cleaning programs is the use of microfibre cleaning cloths.
Microfibre cloths are a great alternative in promoting green cleaning because they:
By prioritizing the use of eco-certified cleaning products, we can help our clients protect the health and safety of their building occupants while minimizing the use of harmful chemicals.
Our people are the backbone of our company, everyday they work on the frontlines keeping our clients’ facilities shining. In honour of National Cleaning Week, we would like to take a moment to spotlight just a few of the wonderful cleaning staff across our organization that keep our operations running.
This national cleaning week, do your part to get involved in the celebration and recognition!
How can you participate? The ISSA has several ways you can participate, including:
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And that’s fine with us - we work in both the U.S. and Canada. We just wanted to know if you prefer your words with or without a 'u'.