15 Aug, 2026
What is Indoor Air Quality in Canadian Workplaces?
Indoor air quality can be affected by a number of factors, including insufficient ventilation, dust, moisture, mould, cleaning products, furnishings, outside pollutants, and building maintenance. Health Canada notes that housekeeping practices can play a role in indoor air quality, alongside ventilation and maintenance related practices.
For businesses in Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto, having a year-round commercial cleaning program in place can be an integral part of overall building maintenance.
Professional cleaning does not replace building maintenance and proper ventilation, but rather complements it as a way to reduce other avoidable sources of indoor contaminants.
What Causes Poor Indoor Air Quality in an Office?
Indoor air quality can be affected by a number of causes. Common contributors to poor indoor air quality in the workplace include:
| Contributor | Source / Location |
|---|---|
| Dust, Dirt & Particulates | Carpets, upholstery, high-traffic areas, and outside pollutants entering the building. |
| Chemicals & VOCs | Cleaning products with high levels of volatile organic compounds, construction, or renovations. |
| Moisture & Mould | Damp areas, leaks, or uncontrolled humidity in the building. |
| HVAC & Ventilation | Inadequate ventilation or dirty components and filters in the building's HVAC system. |
Health Canada's current guidance on office building indoor air quality recommends addressing sources of contaminants as well as ensuring appropriate ventilation and maintenance to ensure good indoor air quality. This means cleaning should be viewed as an important aspect of overall building maintenance and not just a matter of aesthetics.
How Does Professional Cleaning Improve Indoor Air Quality?
1. Reduces Dust and Particulate Matter
Dust can build up on surfaces and work areas and become airborne when disturbed. Vacuums and other cleaning equipment can reduce the amount of airborne particulate in an office workspace. Vacuuming can also help to remove dust from carpets and upholstery; and cleaning can help to remove dust from hard surfaces, shelves, vents, and other objects in the workspace. Health Canada recommends considering HEPA-filtered vacuuming as part of proactive housekeeping in office spaces.
2. Helps to Control Allergens
Dust and other particulate matter can become trapped in carpets, upholstery, curtains, and other surfaces and furnishings. Regular cleaning can help to reduce the amount of material that becomes trapped in these items. Professional cleaning can also help to address areas that may have been missed during general cleaning, including corners, under furniture, high-level surfaces, and other hard-to-reach areas.
3. Helps to Maintain Carpet and Upholstery
Carpets can trap dust, dirt, debris, and other particulate matter that is brought into the building by foot traffic. While vacuuming can help, a deeper level of cleaning may be required regularly. Businesses that have a higher volume of traffic in Toronto, Calgary, and Edmonton may require more frequent cleaning and maintenance than smaller offices.
4. Helps to Maintain High-Touch and High-Traffic Areas
High-touch areas such as door knobs, handles on reception counters, elevator buttons, shared equipment, conference tables, and keyboards require regular attention. A professional cleaning program can help to establish a routine for addressing high-touch and high-traffic areas in the workplace, ensuring dirt and dust do not build up.
5. Low-VOC Cleaning Products Can Help
Products that emit VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) can contribute to indoor air quality concerns. Health Canada recommends considering the use of low-VOC emitting cleaning products. Professional cleaning companies can help businesses develop appropriate procedures and product recommendations.
6. Helps to Prevent Moisture and Mould Issues
Leaks, flooding, condensation, damp areas, and high humidity can lead to mould issues that compromise indoor air quality. While cleaning alone cannot resolve an underlying moisture concern, professional cleaners can help remove visible mould and clean surfaces, alerting building managers to underlying roof or plumbing issues early.
7. Helps to Maintain the Overall Workplace
Professional cleaning provides a key benefit: consistency. A commercial cleaning program can include components such as:
-
Daily surface cleaning and vacuuming
-
Floor care and washroom cleaning
-
Kitchen and breakroom maintenance
-
High-touch surface cleaning
-
Carpet and upholstery deep cleaning
-
Waste removal and cleaning of hard-to-reach areas
Does Cleaning Improve Indoor Air Quality?
No. Cleaning is only a part of overall indoor air quality management. Having a cleaner workplace does not necessarily mean that the building has good or appropriate indoor air quality. Health Canada recommends a comprehensive approach that includes reducing sources of contaminants, ensuring appropriate ventilation, maintaining the HVAC system, and controlling moisture. Building maintenance and cleaning must work in tandem.
How Often Should Offices be Professionally Cleaned?
There is no set schedule for cleaning a commercial building. A small office may require a different cleaning schedule than a busy medical clinic, retail business, or corporate office. Factors used to establish a schedule include:
-
Number of occupants and daily foot traffic
-
Industry of the business and specific health requirements
-
Size of the building and number of washrooms
-
Carpeted areas and shared equipment
-
Seasonal conditions (e.g., winter salt and snow in Calgary and Edmonton)
How Can Businesses Improve Indoor Air Quality?
Businesses can take the following steps to improve indoor air quality at the workplace:
- Establish a consistent commercial cleaning schedule.
- Remove dust and debris from surfaces and floors.
- Use appropriate vacuuming equipment including HEPA filtration.
- Use appropriate cleaning products (lower VOC emissions).
- Maintain the building's HVAC system according to manufacturer specifications.
- Replace HVAC filters as required.
- Ensure the building's ventilation system is operating appropriately.
- Address any potential leaks or moisture concerns.
- Clean high-touch and high-traffic areas regularly.
- Schedule regular deep cleaning for carpets, upholstery, and hard-to-reach areas.
Why Choose Professional Commercial Cleaning?
A professional cleaning company provides the equipment, staff, procedures, and consistency required to maintain a commercial building. Instead of asking employees to complete cleaning tasks, a business can establish a schedule based on facility requirements.
At Services Pro, commercial cleaning programs can be developed for a variety of workplaces, including offices, healthcare facilities, retail businesses, and commercial properties. We offer cleaning services throughout Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto.
Whether you need recurring janitorial services, office cleaning, deep cleaning, carpet cleaning, or other commercial cleaning services, a customized program helps ensure that important areas are never overlooked.
Keep Your Workplace Cleaner and Your Indoor Environment Better Maintained
Indoor air quality is growing in importance for Canadian workplaces. Having a clean office is important, but proactive housekeeping can also reduce other sources of dust and indoor contaminants. For businesses in Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto, a professional cleaning program provides consistency to ensure important areas are addressed on a regular basis.
Services Pro provides professional commercial cleaning services designed to meet the requirements of your office. Contact Services Pro to discuss a customized cleaning schedule for your business.
