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Common Chemicals in Household Cleaning Products

A clean home should feel fresh and easy to live in.

It should not leave your eyes stinging, your throat feeling scratchy, or a sharp “chemical clean” smell hanging in the air long after the job is done.

Many conventional household cleaning products are designed to work quickly. Some are very effective, but they can also contain ingredients that may irritate the lungs, skin or eyes, especially when sprayed often, used in small rooms, mixed with other products, or used around children, pets and people with asthma or sensitivities.

At Home Help With Rose, we believe a beautifully clean home should never come at the cost of your health, your pets, or the environment. A thorough clean can still be polished and effective without relying on harsh products.

Below are some common ingredients found in household cleaners, why they are used, and what peer-reviewed research says about their potential health concerns.

First: not all “chemicals” are bad

Everything is made of chemicals: water, oxygen, lemon oil, vinegar and even our bodies.

So when we talk about avoiding harsh chemicals, we are not talking about being “chemical-free”. We are talking about reducing unnecessary exposure to ingredients that are more likely to affect indoor air quality, irritate sensitive skin, trigger asthma symptoms, or add chemical load to the home.

For everyday domestic cleaning, the safest approach is often simple: use gentler products, good ventilation, clean tools, and the right method for the surface.

Fragrance and VOCs
That strong “clean” smell many people associate with a freshly cleaned home often comes from fragrance.

Fragrance can be found in surface sprays, bathroom cleaners, floor products, disinfectants, air fresheners and laundry products. The issue is that “fragrance” or “parfum” may represent a mixture of many ingredients, including volatile organic compounds, known as VOCs.

VOCs evaporate into the air, which means they can be breathed in during and after cleaning. A 2023 study published in Chemosphere tested conventional and “green” cleaning products and found hundreds of VOCs emitted from the products tested. The researchers reported that conventional and fragranced products generally emitted more VOCs than green or fragrance-free alternatives [1].

Some fragrance ingredients can also react with indoor air pollutants. For example, citrus or pine-scented ingredients such as limonene and pinene can react with ozone and form secondary pollutants, including formaldehyde [2].

This is one reason a healthier clean does not need to smell overpowering. Sometimes, the freshest home is the one that smells like almost nothing at all.

Cleaning sprays
Spray products are convenient, but they can increase inhalation exposure. When a product is sprayed, tiny droplets and vapours can hang in the breathing zone, especially in bathrooms, laundries and kitchens with limited airflow.

A large international study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that weekly use of household cleaning sprays was associated with an increased risk of adult asthma symptoms and asthma medication use [3].

Another 20-year study found that women who cleaned at home or worked as cleaners had a faster decline in lung function. The researchers reported associations between cleaning products, including sprays, and accelerated decline in respiratory function [4].

This does not mean every spray will affect every person. But it does show why it is worth being informed about what is being sprayed around the home, how often it is used, and whether a healthier product could do the job just as well.

Chlorine bleach
Chlorine bleach, commonly listed as sodium hypochlorite, is used for whitening, stain removal and disinfection. It has a strong smell and can irritate the eyes, skin and airways.

Research has linked frequent household bleach use with respiratory concerns. A study published in Respiratory Medicine found that women who frequently used bleach for home cleaning had increased odds of non-allergic adult-onset asthma [5].

Bleach can also become dangerous when mixed with other products. Mixing bleach with ammonia or acidic cleaners can release irritating gases.

For routine home cleaning, bleach is often not necessary. In most homes, a careful clean with safer products and good technique is enough for everyday hygiene.

Ammonia
Ammonia is often found in glass cleaners, degreasers and some heavy-duty products. It cuts through grease and evaporates quickly, which is why it is sometimes used on shiny surfaces.

However, ammonia fumes can irritate the nose, throat and lungs. Cleaning-related exposures, including ammonia, have been recognised in research and clinical reviews as potential contributors to asthma symptoms and work-related asthma [6].

Ammonia also should never be mixed with bleach, as this can create harmful chloramine gases.

For most domestic cleaning, ammonia is not essential. The right microfibre cloth and a gentler product can still leave glass, mirrors and hard surfaces looking polished.

Quaternary ammonium compounds
Quaternary ammonium compounds, often called “quats”, are disinfectant ingredients. Common examples include benzalkonium chloride and didecyldimethylammonium chloride.

These ingredients are often found in antibacterial wipes, disinfecting sprays, floor disinfectants and some bathroom cleaners.

Disinfectants have their place, but they are not always needed for routine household cleaning.

A multicentre cohort study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice found evidence that quaternary ammonium compounds can act as respiratory sensitisers and may cause occupational asthma in exposed workers [7].

A home does not need to smell like a hospital to be clean. In most everyday situations, removing dirt, grease, dust and residue is the most important step.

Glycol ethers
Glycol ethers are solvents used to dissolve grease and grime. One common example is 2-butoxyethanol, which may be found in some glass cleaners, degreasers, multi-purpose sprays and heavy-duty cleaning products.

These solvents can be effective, but they can also contribute to indoor chemical exposure. The 2023 Chemosphere study on VOCs from cleaning products identified 2-butoxyethanol among compounds contributing to higher hazard index results in some conventional products [1].

In everyday homes, strong solvent-based cleaners are often only needed when grime has built up over time. Regular maintenance with gentler products can reduce the need for heavy-duty chemical cleaning.

Phthalates
Phthalates are used in many consumer products and may be associated with fragranced formulations, although they are not always clearly listed on cleaning product labels.

Some phthalates are known endocrine disruptors, meaning they can interfere with hormone systems. A review published in Healthcare reported that chronic phthalate exposure may adversely affect endocrine function, reproductive health, pregnancy outcomes and child development [8].

For homes with babies, young children, pets, asthma, allergies or fragrance sensitivity, reducing heavily fragranced products is a simple and sensible step.

Isothiazolinone preservatives
Methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone, often shortened to MI and MCI, are preservatives used in some water-based products, including certain cleaning products, laundry products and dish liquids.

These ingredients are known skin sensitisers for some people. In sensitised individuals, even small exposures may trigger allergic contact dermatitis.

A paper published in Dermatitis examined the role of cleaning products in allergic contact dermatitis linked to MCI and MI, noting that cleaning products can contribute to both occupational and household exposure [9].

If someone in your home regularly experiences irritated hands, eczema flares or skin sensitivity, it may be worth reviewing your cleaning and laundry products.

What a healthier clean looks like
A healthier clean is not about doing less. It is about doing things more thoughtfully.

That means choosing products carefully, using only what is needed, ventilating while cleaning, avoiding unnecessary disinfectants, and never mixing cleaning products.

At Home Help With Rose, our approach is simple: a fresh, polished home without the harsh chemical feel.

A clean home should support your wellbeing.

And when it is done well, you should be able to walk in, take a deep breath, and feel at home.

References
[1] Temkin AM, Geller N, Swanson SA, et al. (2023). Volatile organic compounds emitted by conventional and “green” cleaning products in the U.S. market. Chemosphere, 341, 139570. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139570
[2] Nazaroff WW, Weschler CJ. (2004). Cleaning products and air fresheners: exposure to primary and secondary air pollutants. Atmospheric Environment, 38(18), 2841–2865. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2004.02.040
[3] Zock JP, Plana E, Jarvis D, et al. (2007). The Use of Household Cleaning Sprays and Adult Asthma: An International Longitudinal Study. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 176(8), 735–741. doi:10.1164/rccm.200612-1793OC
[4] Svanes Ø, Bertelsen RJ, Lygre SHL, et al. (2018). Cleaning at Home and at Work in Relation to Lung Function Decline and Airway Obstruction. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 197(9), 1157–1163. doi:10.1164/rccm.201706-1311OC
[5] Matulonga B, Rava M, Siroux V, et al. (2016). Women using bleach for home cleaning are at increased risk of non-allergic asthma. Respiratory Medicine, 117, 264–271. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2016.06.019
[6] Siracusa A, De Blay F, Folletti I, et al. (2013). Asthma and exposure to cleaning products: a European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology task force consensus statement. Allergy, 68(12), 1532–1545.
[7] Migueres N, et al. (2021). Occupational Asthma Caused by Quaternary Ammonium Compounds: A Multicenter Cohort Study. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 9(9), 3387–3395. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2021.04.041
[8] Wang Y, Qian H. (2021). Phthalates and Their Impacts on Human Health. Healthcare, 9(5), 603. doi:10.3390/healthcare9050603
[9] Marrero-Alemán G, et al. (2018). The Role of Cleaning Products in Epidemic Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Methylchloroisothiazolinone/Methylisothiazolinone. Dermatitis, 29(2), 77–80. doi:10.1097/DER.0000000000000352

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