As the cleaning market expands to meet market demands,
cleaning professionals are
faced with more pressure. The need for organizations to match their cleaning needs with the right
tools and practices has become increasingly important as hygiene standards continue to rise while
the economy causes every purchase to be scrutinized.
Building service managers understand the importance of choosing suitable tools, but they are often
faced with the dilemma of purchasing globally recognized brands or cheaper versions that often
become more expensive in the long run.
Both financial and environmental benefits must be considered, as cleaning professionals understand
the important role that quality of products play in the overall process of cleaning. In addition,
building service managers need to consider the affect of the products on employee health and safety.
Green cleaning is often defined as a concept or approach to cleaning that protects health without
harming the environment.
Building service managers and employees often ask if green cleaning costs more than conventional
products and practices. The answer is no; it does not. The overall benefits of green cleaning, improved
environmental sustainability, reduced costs and a marketing advantage over companies that choose
cheaper imitations can generate significant financial benefits for cleaning organizations.
Quality Costs Less
One key aspect of green cleaning is the use of higher quality products with longer life cycles.
While cheaper imitation cleaning tools are an obvious attraction to many industry professionals,
the long-term financial benefits of choosing leading brands can actually be greater. By choosing
high quality products, companies ensure quality, peace of mind and an extended period of usage.
By also choosing cleaning tools made from microfiber materials, cleaning professionals are guaranteeing
further benefits in terms of product use. Studies have shown that microfiber products outlast
natural fiber products at a rate of 10:1, resulting in long-term financial benefits for companies and
cleaning professionals.
Product performance is something that cleaning professionals must consider when purchasing
tools and services. While cheaper imitation products will provide short-term financial benefits to
users, they often result in poor performance and lower hygiene standards. By choosing leading
cleaning brands, users are guaranteed high performance standards and hygiene levels. Cleaning tools
from leading manufacturers also complement green chemical systems that increase worker safety.
Waste Not, Spend Less
Through the use of green cleaning products and practices, the impact that cleaning professionals
and buildings have on the environment can be dramatically reduced. Buckets and tools
that are ergonomically designed to clean with less water and without the need for expensive aggressive
chemicals can improve a cleaning professional’s bottom line and the impact of their operation
on the environment because microfiber is reusable it reduces the use of disposable;
products contributing to less waste.
Green cleaning can also dramatically improve the workplace environment by improving air
quality and reducing the risk of employee injury by using less harsh chemicals and ergonomically
designed tools. A safe and positive workplace yields happy and healthier employees. This directly
generates greater productivity and efficiency. Productive and efficient employees accomplish
more in less time while improving the bottom line and the cleanliness of the facility. Cleaning tools with modular designs are also a key element of green cleaning.
These tools allow for components to be replaced and reused, which
eliminates short product life spans. This is a much better financial
option for cleaning professionals than the use of cheaper imitation
products, with short life spans.
Safety Concerns and Hard-to-Reach Areas
A key area that is often overlooked by cleaning professionals
when discussing green cleaning is the maintenance of hard-to-reach
areas. Using cleaning products and services that improve occupational
health and safety standards is an important aspect of green
cleaning.
Maintaining hard-to-reach areas such as lights and fixtures can be
a cause of workplace accidents. This area of concern can be addressed
when installing a sustainable green cleaning program.
Today, the most common way that cleaning professionals clean
such areas is by climbing ladders, which often poses a risk to both
cleaners and those in the surrounding area.
Squeegees, washers and scrapers can easily snap onto lightweight
telescopic poles to clean walls and windows. This
eliminates the need for cleaning professionals to strain their
backs or stand on unstable platforms or ladders. These poles
may be used with microfiber dusters to remove dust and dirt
from ceilings.
In addition, falls from heights are a common cause of workplace
injuries. Even a fall from a short distance can result in
injuries to cleaning professionals. A telescopic pole system
helps to dramatically decrease the likelihood of these injuries by
eliminating the need for cleaning professionals to use unstable ladders and platforms.
Stay Out of the Red by Going Green
The adoption and promotion of green cleaning tools and
practices is an important step for the cleaning industry. While
cheaper alternatives may be attractive to many cleaning professionals,
the long-term benefits of adopting green cleaning
tools and techniques will lead to a more sustainable working
environment for years to come.
In addition to creating a sustainable environment, green
cleaning can also increase the productivity levels of cleaners.
Improved sanitation directly affects the wellness of building
occupants, most notably employees and consumers.
Countless sums of money are lost due to decreased levels of
productivity, employee absenteeism, remediation costs and
legal fees as a result of declining hygiene standards.
While many cleaning professionals are wary of purchasing
high-quality products and investing in green cleaning due to financial
concerns of our current economic environment, these
concerns prove to be unwarranted in the long run as the products
pay for themselves in a short period of time.
By addressing the issue of how best to clean a facility now,
organizations will enjoy the benefits of a safer and more aesthetically
pleasing venue for staff and visitors in the future. A
cleaner, safer facility can provide a better customer experience
while enhancing the company’s reputation and boosting
its brand value. ❑
Aileen Cleary is channel marketing manager for Unger Enterprises
Inc. For more information, visit www.ungerglobal.com.
