Mixing chemicals can be dangerous. We recently heard about a business owner who had to be airlifted to a hospital for respiratory distress after their commercial cleaning company mixed cleaning products that created a toxic vapor. Thankfully, he survived and fully recovered. However, some products, when mixed together, can be fatal.

Make Sure You’re Commercial Cleaning Company Understands Which Chemicals Can Be Used Together

In this particular case, it turns out that the cleaning company was attempting to unblock a clogged drain and applied sodium hypochlorite unaware that an acid-based cleaner had been spilled there creating a toxic gas.

In this particular case, it turns out that the cleaning company was attempting to unblock a clogged drain and applied sodium hypochlorite unaware that an acid-based cleaner had been spilled there creating a toxic gas.

This is just one more incident that highlights the importance of proper training. Mixing chemicals can be dangerous. Always read the MSD sheets (Material Safety Data) which informs you of the safe usage of said chemicals.

Many of the accidents involving equipment and chemical mishandling that result in serious injuries or fatalities could be avoided by your vendor educating their employees before and during placement at your facility.  

Here are just few of the most common products found in homes that should never be mixed together:

  • Bleach and Ammonia
  • Bleach and Rubbing Alcohol
  • Bleach and Vinegar
  • Vinegar and Peroxide
  • Various Pesticides and Cleaning Products

The list is much more extensive in a commercial/industrial setting. The main point is that your cleaning company needs to be aware of the chemicals they are cleaning with and their proper usage. Ask them, specifically, what they do to avoid toxic chemical combinations. How do they train their people to make sure that no clients ever get sick because of bad mixtures?

These are just one of the many things that you want to be aware of when considering hiring a commercial cleaning company. They are not all created the same. Make sure they have a definite understanding of your needs and are completely qualified to do the job.

But for today, we just want you to understand the importance of making sure that your vendors are functioning as professional cleaners not haphazard chemist.  Taking some simple precautions can ensure that you and your employees never get sick because of a toxic mixture of chemicals.

More Information

Beacon Cleaning Services, LLC is a full-service Janitorial cleaning company. We provide commercial cleaning services to public and private institutions. Please request a free consultation. We will provide you with our full range of services during our initial consultation and will customize a program to fit your cleaning needs. Our service area includes Hartford and Tolland Counties including towns like Manchester CT, South Windsor CT and Vernon CT.

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