When you’re in charge of keeping your office or workplace clean, that’s probably your only focus when hiring janitorial services. However, if you choose a company that doesn’t use green cleaning supplies, you’ll be contributing to environmental pollution and potentially harming countless life forms. To help you understand why you should opt for an eco-friendly service, here are some of the problems toxic chemicals can bring for the planet.

How Do Cleaning Products Harm the Environment?

1. Water Contamination

Products end up in water systems when you wash them down the drain to wring out a sponge, clean a sink, or wipe a faucet. This contaminates natural water sources like lakes and rivers, affecting an entire ecosystem. For example, products containing phosphorus or nitrogen cause nutrient-loading in bodies of water, decreasing their quality.

2. Air Pollution

Many cleaning products such as air fresheners and rug cleaners contain substances known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), or chemicals that release gasses. As you use them, they evaporate into their air and reduce the air quality of a room, polluting outside air and contributing to toxic smog. Short- or long-term exposure to these is also known to cause adverse health effects, such as chronic respiratory problems, allergies, and headaches.

3. Wildlife Exposure

Animals and marine life that come in contact with polluted air or water also face lasting health effects. For example, animals that ingest alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs), often found in stain removers, experience reproductive issues. To protect the environment, use only mild, natural, or other green cleaning products to sanitize your office or home, which will harmlessly dissipate in nature when they are released.

Marsden Building Maintenance LLC in St. Paul, MN, knows the importance of providing a deep clean that’s eco-friendly. Since 1952, this national leader in maintenance, building cleaning, and janitorial services has offered services that use green cleaning products, minimizing the impact we have on the environment. With locations in over 45 states and low turnover rates, their employees are skilled, professional, and provide a personal touch. Learn more about their commitment to green cleaning online, then call (651) 641-1717 to book your service.