OPINION
How cleaning and disinfecting can impact indoor air quality
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hat does a ‘clean and healthy’ indoor environment mean to you? Yes, hygienically clean, and spotless surfaces are important, but healthy bodies need clean air as well as clean surfaces. In part two of a five-part masterclass series on Cleaning Well, this article will explore how cleaning and disinfectant products, tools, and techniques, can either enhance or reduce indoor air quality (IAQ).
THE IMPORTANCE OF CLEANING FOR GOOD IAQ Multiple studies have concluded that by improving IAQ, you can significantly improve the performance of workers and increase productivity by 4 to 10 per cent. Poor IAQ on the other hand, has been shown to affect individual wellbeing leading to increased rates of sick leave, breaks, mistakes, and risk of workplace accidents1. The NABERS Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) Rating and the WELL Building Standard have testing protocols for indoor air quality. A building’s cleaning protocols can significantly affect its air quality via: 1. Dust and mould particles being removed from the building, and 2. Cleaning and disinfectant products being brought into the building. This article will explain the risks associated with dust and chemical contaminants and how to improve IAQ by cleaning well.
HOW DUST CAN AFFECT AIR QUALITY As every cleaner knows, the air is full of dust particles that continuously build-up on surfaces. But not many cleaners realise that indoor dust is potentially harmful. While the most common 52 INCLEAN July / August 2020
source of dust is the natural erosion of soil, sand and rock, it can also contain pollen, microscopic organisms such as mould spores, fungus and viruses, plant material, dust mite droppings and dander (dead skin cells)2. Particles of man-made building and furnishing materials are also commonly found in indoor dust, plus particles of tyres, concrete, herbicides and diesel fuel that are blown or walked into the building. Many dust particles are invisible to the naked eye (which can see dust at 25 microns). Inhaling sufficient volumes of fine dust may trigger coughing, allergies or asthma. Dust that is .3 microns in size or smaller may penetrate deeply into the lungs where it can be absorbed directly into the blood stream or lead to respiratory disease.
PROTECT OCCUPANTS AND CLEANERS FROM DUST Here are three ways to remove dust effectively and safely: • Damp dust: ‘Feather’ dusters and soiled dusting wipes simply move dust from one surface to another. With the added risk of coronavirus being shed onto surfaces from asymptomatic people, the resuspension of virus particles in dust must be avoided. All surfaces should be damp wiped with a folded cloth, frequently turned to a fresh side, and rinsed out or replaced when soiled. Fully damp wiping on a weekly, fortnightly or even monthly basis, can significantly reduce overall dust levels, save time in the long run and improve IAQ. • HEPA filters in vacuum cleaners: Vacuum cleaners fitted with HEPA filters must trap at least 99.97 per cent of particles with a minimum size of 0.3 microns. Without HEPA