How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality with Vacuuming

The primary reason Building Service Contractors (BSC) clean is to protect the health and safety of their clients' clients - aka - the building occupants. Protecting health and safety should include careful chemical selection and usage, non-skid floor finish, restroom disinfection, touch point sanitation and prompt removal of trash to avoid attracting pests.


The most important benefit a BSC can provide a client is to improve indoor air quality. Our health is directly impacted by the air we breathe. Dust that accumulates inside a building carries with it soot, bacteria, allergens, paper dust, mold and dust mite droppings; couple that with outside dust, we have pollen, spores, various natural toxins, pesticides, fertilizers and plain old airborne soil making air quality poor at best.

BSCs can do a lot to remove dust particles from the workplace, including the use of: HEPA filter vacuums, hard surface floor vacuums, microfiber dust wipes and damp mops. Keeping in mind that fewer noxious particles inhaled by the client’s employees means lower health care costs, fewer sick days, and a more productive, healthier staff at work!

Using a backpack vacuum allows janitors to easily access corners, edges and under furniture. Vacuum filters are essential in maintaining good indoor air quality for your clients. Allergens (spores, pollen, bacteria, dust mite droppings, etc.) range in size from about 10 microns in diameter down to a micron. Standard paper vacuum cleaner bags generally filter out particles down to 10 microns, reusable cloth bags are even worse.

Vacuuming with standard paper (or cloth) bags pulls lots of fine dust (and allergens) out of the carpet, and pumps it into the air. Fine particles can remain airborne for eight hours! So if your BSC vacuums at 2 a.m., the client’s staff is still breathing in air borne allergens at their 10 a.m. coffee break. A HEPA filter will capture particles down to 0.3 microns in diameter, and virtually filters out all of the allergens keeping them in the filter and not redistributing them back into the air.

Perhaps the most significant benefit a janitor or BSC can provide his client is to improve indoor air quality. Let your environment sparkle! Call Sparkle Professional Cleaning Corporation at 215.757.4014 and inquire how we can help!  

Source: Contracting Profits June/July 2011, Improve IAQ with Vacuuming, by: Bob Croft

When Are Disinfectants "GREEN" ?

According to one expert, Rebecca S. Kaufold, Chemist at Spartan Chemical Company in Maume, Ohio: "Disinfectants are designed to kill, hence, they are not considered 'green.' Disinfectatnts, however, are necessary in specific applications, such as in an operating room. This is where product usage and facility priorities come into play. The Building Service Contractor (BSC) needs to work with the facility to identify what kill claims are necessary and determine what types of products carry those claims. From there, the BSC can try to find the 'greenest' product.
The greenest option may include a neutral pH (safer for the worker than something highly alkaline), low or no VOC (improves the indoor air quality for building occupants), or no phosphates (that can be harmful to aquatic life).
BSCs should also consider the intended product use. Infection control through disinfectant use is important in high contact areas (door handles, faucets, etc.) Low contact areas, like floors may be better served with a good cleaner. The BSC should be willing to discuss these alternative cleaning options, as well as alternative chemical options, with the facilities they service."
Mike Sawchuk, VP Enviro-Solutions/Charlotte Products, Ontario Canada, tells us: "Even though in the United States there are currently no green certified disinfectants (as they are not allowed by the EPA), Business Service Contractors should always review and compare the disinfectant attributes and advise their customers of those facts and why they are using a particular disinfectant."

For all you BSC questions and needs contact Sparkle Professional Cleaning Corparation at 215.757.4014. If we don't have the answer, we will find it!

Source: Contracting Profits, April 2011, "Defining Biobased Chemicals & How to Disinfect with Green In Mind"

Achoo! What Your Floors Are Doing to Your Allergies

Ever heard the statement that people with asthma should remove their carpets to reduce allergens in their environment? Well, this may not necessarily be true. It would seem logical that carpets can trap and carry more dust, dander, pollen, mites, and other allergens than a hardwood floor. But a recent study suggests that homes with carpets and homes with other flooring are essentially equal in terms of allergen control.

In an article from the Housekeeping Channel, a study (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) on children and families with asthma and allergies is described. The study touched on factors such as flooring type, presence of pets, rats or mice, and if there were any smokers in the home. They targeted an intervention group for families who tested positive on an allergy skin test for three or more factors. These families were provided with HEPA-filter vacuums and educated on removing allergens from the home. After the intervention was complete, a evaluation study was done on these families.

“The study found that children in the intervention group missed fewer days of school, slept through the night more, and made fewer trips to the emergency room. Contrary to researchers' expectations, children with carpet in their bedrooms improved as much and did just as well as children who had hard surface floors.”

Contrary to what we may believe about carpets holding more allergens than other floor types, this study found “no difference in allergen reduction between homes with carpets and those without carpeting.”

There are a few things we can take from this study. Number one, don’t always believe hear-say about cleaning your home! Number two, using a quality vacuum and replacing the filter when necessary will aid in the reduction of allergens from your home. Hardwood floors need to be swept weekly and mopped at least once a month to prevent allergens securing themselves in between the panels. Using a crevasse cleaner on your vacuum will work best for cleaning edges and underneath cabinets. Finally, number three is to have your child or family member tested for their allergies! You will not know what you need to rid your house of if you do not know what is causing the asthma or sickening allergy.

If you suffer from asthma, definitely look into this study, which was published by the New England Journal of Medicine. You may be changing your mind about tossing those cozy carpets you have in your home!

Do you need help keeping up with monthly house cleaning? Give us a call! We are more than happy to take a tour of your home and give you a free estimate, with no obligation to hire us. We service Lower Bucks County and surrounding areas of PA and NJ. We hope to hear from you! 215.757.4014.

Have a safe and allergen-free June!  J

Source: Housekeeping Channel Online. The New England Journal of Medicine: No Difference in Allergen Levels in Carpeted vs. Uncarpeted Homes.

Local Food Drive to Benefit Penndel Food Pantry