Going green and clean: Top eco-friendly commercial kitchen and office cleaning tips

Office and Commercial kitchen and cafeteria cleaning don’t need to be back-breaking, noxious-smelling activities to be feared. In this article, we’ll give you some advice on office cleaners, and commercial green cleaning products, and go through some ways to save the environment at work.

We’ll look at:

• Traditional office and kitchen cleaning supplies
• Eco-friendly cleaning products
• The power of steam cleaning
• The pros and cons of the DIY eco-cleaner
• Deep kitchen cleaning checklist
• Office cleaning tips
• Other ways to go eco-friendly in the office

Read on to discover how to go green and join other eco-friendly businesses that are helping save the environment.

Keeping your kitchen and office clean and tidy is a basic business health and safety requirement. It’s necessary to help keep your employees and customers happy and healthy. There are expert teams out there who specialize in professional kitchen cleaning and office cleaning so you can be confident you’re meeting all the guidelines. But if you’re looking for ways to be green about your cleaning, it may be a good idea to talk to them about the chemicals and equipment they’re using in your workplace.

Traditional office and kitchen cleaning supplies

While effective and excellent at killing germs and viruses, a lot of the harsh chemicals used to clean professional workspaces are bad for the environment. Some even contain phosphates, which can be harmful to aquatic life. Others use hydrocarbons and compressed gas, which is terrible for air pollution and global warming. And that’s not even taking into account the single-use plastic and packaging that a lot of these come in.

Having a conversation with your kitchen and office cleaners about sourcing more environmentally friendly cleaning supplies and methods is a simple way you can go green and clean.

Eco-friendly cleaning products

People can be skeptical about sanitizing offices and cleaning kitchens with green products, but they’re just as effective at removing dirt, grime, and bacteria. Swapping to eco cleaners is the first (and easiest) step you can take in your ‘how to be greener’ journey. And what’s great is that there are loads of products out there that fit the bill, such as degreasers, surface cleansers, and even washroom supplies.

Using more products like these is responsible, effective, and good for the environment.

The power of steam cleaning

When it comes to kitchen cleaning and sanitizing, there are so many extra spaces you have to consider. Ceilings can become caked in grease, kitchen ducting can harbor dust, and grates, drains, and sinks can start to smell so much sooner thanks to the fat and food waste siphoned away.

There’s a lot of potential for bacteria in a kitchen, so regular deep cleans are necessary to help avoid customer illness and keep your business compliant with all regulations. But these deep cleans don’t need to be full of harsh chemicals and commercial green cleaning products – Steam cleaning is one of the best ways to be green and clean.

Steam Cleaners can reach temperatures between 66-149° C, so they’re certainly hot enough to kill germs, melt grease and remove a multitude of stains with zero scrubbing. And there’s not a chemical or cleaning agent in sight. You can steam clean your floors, surfaces, and appliances. They’re ideal for those out-of-reach places too. Just be careful not to use them on anything porous or prone to heat damage.

The pros and cons of the DIY eco-cleaner

In your eco-friendly cleaner research, you’re sure to come across some do-it-yourself cleaning solution recipes. Vinegar sprays, lemon juice, bicarbonate of soda solutions – they’re all well-known for their home-cleaning prowess, but are they suitable for use in commercial kitchens and offices?

They’re certainly effective, but having overwhelming vinegar and lemony smells in a kitchen could be confusing for cooks. You need to take into account the time some of these take to work. Some bicarbonate of soda oven-cleaning hacks need overnight soaking to break down stains.

Using pantry staples may seem like a low-cost, eco-friendly option for cleaning your kitchen and office, but you’ve got to consider the time spent, any leftover scents, and overall effectiveness. Professionally produced cleaning products are thoroughly checked for their efficiency – can you say the same for your homemade vinegar/bicarb solution?

Deep kitchen cleaning checklist

To help you stay on top of it and to keep those germs at bay – here’s a kitchen cleaning to-do list of things to consider and areas you shouldn’t forget:

• Think about introducing rubber mats to trap dirt and runaway food – Brush and clean these daily
• Sweep and mop the floors with eco cleaners, degreasers and disinfectants
• Clean high-traffic touchpoints like door handles, switches, etc. daily
• Don’t forget hard-to-reach and inaccessible areas such as ceilings, lighting, shelving, etc.
• Keeping all your appliances clean will improve efficiency – don’t forget to scrub those seals and shelves
• Clean the kitchen vents and kitchen ducting regularly.
• Give the rubbish and recycling bins a clean to reduce smells

Office cleaning tips

Offices aren’t as high-maintenance as a commercial kitchen, but there are areas that need special attention as well:

• Introducing rubber kitchen mats or rugs will trap dirt and spills – you can buy machine-washable ones for ease of use
• Clean high-traffic touchpoints like door handles, switches, and desks daily
• Vacuum regularly and thoroughly clean carpets at least once per year – consider a steam carpet cleaner as a green alternative
• Keep the fridge and other communal appliances clean to improve efficiency and longevity
• Clean the inside and outside of the bins to reduce unwelcome smells
• Encourage staff to keep workspaces clean. This includes keyboards, monitors, and other equipment.

Other ways to go eco-friendly in the office

As well as making your cleaning greener, there are other ways to help the environment at work. For example, adding some plants and greenery to office spaces – they’re great for increasing oxygen levels and they create a welcoming atmosphere. To reduce the use of energy and encourage natural light, keep your windows clean both inside and out. And you could get some recycling bins and only choose reusable cups and plates.

Banishing paper towels is another great option – microfibre towels are super absorbent and you can get loads of different kinds of low-energy hand dryers these days. You should also consider smarter dispensers and sensor taps – they’re much more hygienic and reduce water consumption too.

There are so many different ways you can help the environment and keep your commercial kitchens and offices clean, all you need to do is take that first step.