Here are a few things you need to know about reducing dust in the workplace:
Table of Contents:
- What is causing dust in the office?
- Are there risks to working with dust in the workplace?
- Ways you can eliminate the dust in your office:
- Using a Damp Microfiber Cloth
- Vacuuming Floor Spaces
- Using a Wet Mop
- Do-It-Yourself Dry Cleaning
- Leave It to the Professionals
Dust is a messy yet inevitable part of life. No matter how much you try to keep it under control, dust will always return. Nobody enjoys working in a dusty workplace and even a small layer of dust leaves your office space feeling dingy and untidy. Having an organized and clean office space keeps up mood and productivity so it is important to keep the workplace clean and tidy. Scheduling out and maintaining a cleaning schedule, it will help to keep your dust to a minimum.
Dust is in the air indoors and out. As it floats in the air, it settles on any available surfaces. Dust particles can be made up of lint, hair, skin cells, and pollen. Therefore, in any workspace, dust is simply inevitable.
What causes dust in the office?
Dust in the workplace occurs mainly from fallen skin cells and hair from employees and guests that occupy that space. It can be brought in through open windows, people’s clothing, their shoes, and even their belongings. Dust is microscopic and typically goes unnoticed by the naked eye until it accumulates over a period of time. We begin to notice the dust particles once they begin to accumulate and a layer forms causing a light powdery feeling on the surfaces.
Are there risks to working with dust in the workplace?
Dust not only causes the workplace to look dingy and dirty, but it can also pose a health hazard to those working in the area. While many people may not notice the immediate effects of having dust in the workplace, those with seasonal allergies may have severe reactions to the dust particles in the air and on surfaces. Dust particles can contain, and carry germs and viruses that when spread throughout the workplace can cause illness.
Research shows that clumps of dust contain not only organic matter such as skin cells and hair, but also contain harmful and toxic chemicals that are created in the manufacturing of products. The risk is even higher if your workplace is in the vicinity of a manufacturing facility. Dust particles can come from residues left behind from these products that contain phthalates and phenols which are produced in the manufacturing of plastics and industrial cleaning products. The result of inhaling these toxic particles is irritation in the respiratory tract lining, and with long-term exposure, the health effects can be incredibly harmful.
In addition to health risks, large amounts of accumulated dust can destroy machinery and create a fire hazard.
Ways you can eliminate dust in the office
There are several different things you can do to help eliminate dust within your workspace, mainly creating a healthy work environment. The following are a few ways you can do that.
1. Using a Damp Microfiber Cloth
Damp microfiber cloths are a great way to eliminate dust due to the water that is retained within the cloth. Wiping down your surfaces with a damp, clean cloth will trap the dust particles that are present. If you would like to give a deeper clean you can use a sanitizing cleaner spray or to degrease a surface you can use a bit of soap.
For electronic devices, wipe down with a dry microfiber cloth to collect any surface dust followed by a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol to sanitize and polish often-used surfaces.
2. Vacuuming Floor Spaces
If your office space has carpet, clean these larger floor spaces using a vacuum. A vacuum fitted with a HEPA filter works best to keep the air clean. Using this device several times a week will help keep up with dust particles that have settled on the floor.
3. Using a Wet Mop
If your office space has tile, linoleum, or hardwood floors, it is best to clean these larger spaces using a wet mop. Start by sweeping your floors to rid of any loose dirt, then use a wet mop to remove any remaining dirt or dust particles. Be sure to allow the floors to dry fully before walking on them.
4. Do-It-Yourself Dry Cleaning
If you would like to try your hand at DIY dry cleaning, you can clean up curtains, chair covers, and other removable cloth coverings. Place them in a trash bag and add dry baking soda, bring them outside, and give them a good shake. You can also add essential oil to the baking soda before adding it to the bag to give the items a fresh, clean scent. Remove the items and give them a gentle shake until clean, if needed you can vacuum off any remaining baking soda.
5. Leave It to the Professionals
Sometimes, DIY dry cleaning and ensuring that daily or weekly dusting and cleaning occurs is just not enough. The previously mentioned methods will help you eliminate surface dust and grime, but will not give you a deep clean that the professionals can help you with. Here at Miami Top Cleaning, we offer a wide variety of high-quality services to our customers including commercial cleaning and janitorial services within the Miami area.
Our team of highly trained and professional technicians can assist in high-level dust removal in large or small areas and the work is typically done after business hours so that we do not interrupt your daily operations. Through the use of specialized tools and equipment, our crew can clean the hard-to-reach places to ensure dust does not settle into your ventilation systems, fans, and light fixtures. We look forward to helping to create a safe and clean environment for you, reach out today for a quote on cleaning your workplace.