The cleaning industry uses a wide range of chemical products, and product choice has a direct effect on indoor air quality, employee comfort, and facilities with sensitive populations — schools, medical offices, and buildings with staff who have chemical sensitivities.
Why Product Selection Matters
Some conventional cleaning products release compounds that contribute to indoor air quality complaints — headaches, respiratory irritation, and general discomfort that track with strong-odor products used in enclosed spaces. Low-odor, appropriately labeled products reduce this exposure significantly.
What to Look For
- Low-odor or fragrance-free formulations where appropriate for the space
- Products suited to the specific facility type — medical-grade disinfectants for clinical settings, school-appropriate products for classrooms
- Products that don’t require extended ventilation before a space can be reoccupied
Business Benefits
- Employee comfort: fewer complaints related to strong chemical odors after cleaning
- Appropriate for sensitive facilities: schools and medical offices benefit from a more deliberate product standard
- Reduced liability: fewer harsh chemicals reduces the risk of chemical-related incidents
Ask Your Provider
When evaluating a janitorial proposal, ask which products are used in which areas and why. A provider that can answer specifically — rather than a generic “we use commercial-grade cleaners” — is more likely to have thought through product selection deliberately.