Indoor air

Daily cleaning is crucial for maintaining an agreed level of cleanliness and ensuring that facilities function optimally between more extensive cleaning sessions. Beyond just the aesthetic and functional benefits, regular cleaning also plays a significant role in enhancing indoor air quality. By reducing dust, allergens, and harmful microorganisms, daily cleaning helps create a healthier environment for occupants.

Key daily cleaning practices for improved indoor air quality

Daily cleaning significantly impacts indoor air quality. To optimize this effect, certain daily cleaning practices must be put into practice.

Preparations

First, cleaning textiles should be prepared in a specially designated cleaning room. Employees should use only pre-prepared mops and cloths. A pre-prepared solution, made from carefully measured dilutions of a concentrated cleaning agent, is used to moisten the cleaning textiles. For convenience, the concentrate can also be added to the fabric conditioner compartment of a washing machine. Ready-to-use spray products and bottles are not recommended for pre-preparation or professional cleaning.

For daily cleaning, only a minimal amount of cleaning agent is needed. The standard dilution ratio is 1–5 ml per litre of water, or 0.1–0.5 %. To ensure accuracy, using a dispenser or pump for the cleaning agent is recommended. Correctly dosed cleaning agents do not accumulate on surfaces. When used sparingly, these agents do not even wet the surfaces.

The indoor air quality is most influenced by the odour and solvents present in the cleaning agent. Therefore, a fragrance-free and solvent-free cleaning agent should be chosen for maintenance cleaning. Additionally, look for products with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, which signifies adherence to stringent user safety standards or the The Allergy label, granted by the Finnish Allergy, Skin and Asthma Federation and indicating that the product won’t ordinarily cause skin irritation or sensitization, nor trigger fragrance sensitivity symptoms, allergies, or asthma reactions.

Achieving cleaner indoor air is possible with the right combination of cleaning agents and equipment. Cleaning machines are more efficient than manual methods and should be utilized for daily cleaning whenever possible. Automatic floor scrubbers and microfibre mops are particularly effective, as they prevent the build-up of cleaning agents by removing any excess solution from surfaces.

Aseptic working order

An aseptic approach is essential, as it binds dirt rather than spreading it from cleaned to uncleaned areas. Aseptic working order should be implemented not only on individual surfaces within a space but also as a whole when cleaning all areas. Therefore, cleaning always begins in the cleanest space and progresses towards the dirtier spaces, and while cleaning a space, from the cleanest surface to the dirtier ones.

Regular dusting of upper surfaces and cleaning of ventilation outlets are also crucial for maintaining clean indoor air. Keeping surfaces clear of clutter helps promote dust-free tops, further contributing to better air quality.