Have your employees been taking a lot of sick days? Do they complain about feeling unwell, but only at work? This could be a case of sick building syndrome. While researchers are still trying to understand this syndrome, Houston janitorial services may help reduce the risk of sick building syndrome at your business. With a customized cleaning contract, you can address areas that may be making your employees and customers sick.
What is Sick Building Syndrome?
You may be wondering “what is sick building syndrome?” Well, it a condition that many believe is caused by being inside a particular building. In most cases, people feel symptoms while they’re inside a building and they start to improve once they exit the building. It’s a growing concern among many workplaces, as they are common sources of sick building syndrome.
Many attribute sick building syndrome to poor indoor air quality, which can occur for a variety of different reasons. In addition, some believe that sick building syndrome is caused by strong, unpleasant odors in a building. Houston janitorial services can help improve indoor air quality at work and reduce unpleasant smells, which may also help with sick building syndrome.
Some common symptoms of sick building syndrome are:
- Sore throat
- Respiratory difficulties
- Cough
- Tightness in the chest
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Burning sensation in the nose
- Skin rashes
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Fatigue
While these symptoms are common with other types of sicknesses, likes colds, the difference is that most of the time, symptoms start to get better after leaving the building. Your workplace could be a source of sick building syndrome, which is why it’s important to contract Houston commercial cleaning services to help improve your indoor air quality.
Houston Janitorial Services for Sick Building Syndrome
Houston janitorial services can help remove many of the contaminants, microbes, and other factors that may cause sick building syndrome. Frequent cleaning and disinfecting may help improve indoor air qualities and reduce symptoms your employees may be experiencing. Often, this results in higher productivity and morale. If you suspect that your building is causing sick building syndrome in your staff or customers, Houston building cleaning is a great step for helping them feel better.
Houston Janitorial Services for Dust, Bacteria, and Other Contaminants
Regular Houston commercial cleaning services help remove many of the impurities that could cause sick building syndrome. Dust and germs may be contributing to or causing sick building syndrome in your business. However, frequent Houston janitorial services for dusting, vacuuming, and disinfecting can help remove these from your workplace.
Part of cleaning for sick building syndrome includes using the right equipment. For example, microfiber cloths help trap dust and germs to help prevent them from getting into the air and making your employees sick. Vacuums with a HEPA filter also help improve indoor air quality and remove dust from the air. Also, using EPA-approved disinfectants can help kill germs inside your workplace.
Reduce the Risk of Mold and Mildew
Another potential cause of sick building syndrome is mold and mildew growth. Regular commercial cleaning can help detect and prevent mold and mildew from growing in your office. In wet or damp areas, we may even need to employ water extraction measures to help stop mold from growing.
Your Houston janitorial services crew frequently checks areas that may encourage mold growth. For example, inside cabinets or under drains. If we notice a leak, we’ll take steps to help prevent mold and mildew and can even help you fix the leak in many circumstances. If mold is already causing sick building syndrome in your business, then we’ll help you deal with mold and mildew removal to help improve the health of your air quality and employees.
Deep Cleaning Carpets and Upholstery
Carpets and upholstered furniture in your office can also harbor many contaminants that may cause sick building syndrome. They can absorb dust, mold spores, mildew, and bacteria easily. Older carpeting and furniture may have had years to soak up these harmful contaminants, which could also be affecting the indoor air quality in your business.
When designing Houston janitorial services for your business, you should also incorporate routine carpet and upholstery shampooing. This can help reduce the amount of dust and germs in the air. In most cases, you will need carpet and upholstery cleaning about once or twice every year. However, if your building gets a lot of traffic or if your employees start to show symptoms of sick building syndrome again, then you may need more frequent carpet and upholstery Houston commercial cleaning services.
Green Houston Janitorial Services for Fewer VOCs
In addition, if sick building syndrome persists after starting Houston janitorial services, you may consider choosing green cleaning services. Green cleaning may help reduce the number of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air inside your building. VOCs are in many different things we use every day. For example, air fresheners, paint, and cleaning chemicals. If you’re concerned about sick building syndrome, then it may be time to switch to low VOC alternatives for these substances.
Your cleaning crew offers green Houston janitorial services with environmentally friendly cleaning solutions. These solutions give off fewer VOCs that could be making your employees and customers sick. VOCs are chemicals that vaporize into the air at room temperature. A VOC you may have heard of is formaldehyde. However, even normal household chemicals, like chlorine bleach, can be volatile organic compounds.
Often, cleaning chemicals that foam, fizz, bubble, or produce any other kind of chemical reaction emit VOCs. However, even standard cleaning chemicals may contain VOCs in their ingredients. For example, many glass cleaners emit ethanol. Also, many fragrant cleaning chemicals and soaps can emit terpenes, which are another form of VOC.
Generally, these emissions from cleaning chemicals are quite low and don’t pose much of a hazard. However, they could be contributing to sick building syndrome, particularly if you don’t have adequate ventilation. Green cleaning products generally have fewer VOCs, which is why green cleaning may be a good option if your business may be causing sick building syndrome.
Call the Houston Janitorial Services Experts
At Accredited Building Services, we are here to help you keep your business in top shape. Our team is here to help you with Houston building cleaning, general maintenance, and even other services such as build out construction and lawn care. We are dedicated to serving you and keeping your business looking professional at all times. When you need superior cleaning services, you need the Accredited Building Services team. Call us today at (281) 578-2296 to get an estimate for your business. We are here to serve you!