How to Reduce Allergies in the Workplace

A lackluster cleaning routine, especially during allergy season, can leave workplaces dusty and wreak havoc on the health of employees and visitors. Dealing with allergies at work can often be difficult as dust and other allergens can aggravate asthma and cause wheezing, sneezing, and eye irritation. Allergies can impact workplace productivity, increase sick days, and make your employees miserable.

Ensuring that your office environment is as clean as possible is an essential part of keeping staff, clients, and other visitors as healthy and comfortable as possible.

Reduce the impact of allergens in your office by following a few simple steps to help keep your employees healthy and happy.

Allergy Triggers

One of the most common causes of allergens found indoors are dust mites, which are often the cause of coughing, sneezing, and watery eyes.

The eggs of dust mites can attach to fabrics and be carried into the workplace on people’s clothing and then spread throughout the office. Dust mites can also get trapped and flourish in carpets, blinds, and upholstered furniture like chairs and couches.

Besides dust and dust mites, there are a wide variety of allergens that could also impact those in your office space, including:

Mold

Cigarette Smoke

Fumes from cleaning products (solvents, bleaches, and aerosols)

Perfumes and Colognes

Pollen

Animal Dander

Food

Choose Natural Cleaners

When using certain cleaning products in an effort to combat allergies, we can unknowingly trigger symptoms such as watery eyes, sneezing, and wheezing.

When at all possible, use natural cleaning products that work well but do not cause irritation. When it comes to cleaners, lean toward unscented options as they still work great.

Avoid cleaners that contain ingredients like:

Ammonia

Bleach

Formaldehyde

D-limonene

Triclosan

Sodium laurel sulphate

Sodium hypochlorite

Clutter:

Just like in our homes, if we are not diligent about tidying up the common areas and workspaces in the office, clutter can accumulate almost overnight and it doesn’t take long for it to get out of control.

Not only is clutter a dust magnet, but it also takes longer to clean “around” clutter and it is harder to do so properly. Reduce the clutter in your office so cleaning is a snap, which will also help keep your space dust-free.

Vacuum and Shampoo Carpets Often

Next on our allergy hit list are floors. Experts have found floors and clutter hold the most dust and allergens.

Make sure your cleaning crew is vacuuming as regularly as possible. Commercial cleaning companies should be using high-quality vacuums that have HEPA filters so that dust and debris are not redistributed.

Professional carpet cleaning is highly recommended as these professionals have the tools and skills to clean the accumulated dirt and dust, stubborn stains, and microorganisms thriving within your carpet.

Get Rid of Blinds

Horizontal, or slate-style window blinds serve two functions – they filter light and collect dust. Blinds can be difficult and inconvenient to clean. Consider replacing slate or panel blinds with roller blinds to keep your office as allergy free as possible.

If you are going to hang curtains, select a cotton or synthetic fabric that can be washed and rehung. If you find that replacing or removing problematic blinds is not possible, make sure that the cleaning staff is cleaning the blinds on a regular basis.

Little Things that Can Make a Big Impact

Below is a checklist of other steps that you and your employees can take to help make everyone comfortable.

Avoid opening windows during peak pollen times.

• Make sure offices are well-ventilated.
• Encourage employees to regularly clean their work area (all hard surfaces) daily with a disinfectant wipe or microfiber cloth.
• Run a dehumidifier to reduce the risk of mold growth.
• Run the office AC system during peak allergy season.
• Use HEPA air filters in the office and change them regularly.
• Review building maintenance routines for best cleaning practices.
• Repair water damage to reduce/inhibit mold growth.
• Remove carpet and other absorbent materials that might collect allergens.
• Minimize office plants and make sure the ones you have are cared for properly.

By implementing these steps, you can help reduce allergy triggers and make your workspace a more comfortable environment for asthma and allergy sufferers.

Enviro USA knows that maintaining a rigorous cleaning routine while running a business is not easy, but that’s where we can help.

Enviro USA offers a wide variety of services to keep your office clean and allergy free. We offer a variety of services including day porter and janitorial work, carpet, floor care, breakroom cleaning, window cleaning, and more!

Contact us today to freshen up your facility during the Spring season. 866-564-1414 or visit our website at www.envirousa.com



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