6 Ways Toxic Cleaning Products May Affect Your Health

Many conventional cleaning products contain potentially harmful or hazardous ingredients that can pose risks to human health if used regularly—and we’re not just talking about what happens when you mix ammonia and bleach (PSA: never do that!). 

Ingredients like synthetic fragrances, phthalates, triclosan, and many others pose potentially significant health risks over time, including endocrine disruption, respiratory issues, skin irritation, and cancer-causing abilities.

In this article, we’ll review the main ingredients in some toxic cleaning products and how using them regularly could affect your health. 

Stay tuned for more articles in this series about how these chemicals affect the environment and the benefits of using natural cleaning products instead.

Household Cleaning Products: What’s In Them?

Toxic or harmful chemicals found in household cleaners and cleaning products may include:

• Ammonia: Found in many types of glass cleaners, polishing agents, and oven cleaners.
• Chlorine (Sodium Hypochlorite): Found in bleach, disinfectants, toilet bowl cleaners, bathroom cleaners, and mildew removers.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): A group of chemicals that can vaporize into the air and are often found in cleaning products, including air fresheners, bleach products, single-use disinfectant wipes, detergents, dishwashing products, floor cleaner or polish, and oven cleaner. 
• Phthalates: ​​These are used to enhance fragrances in air fresheners, dish soaps, and other scented cleaning products.
• Triclosan: Found in antibacterial cleaners and antibacterial products like hand sanitizers, detergents, and disinfectants.
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): Used as a foaming agent in laundry detergents, dish soaps, and shampoos.
• Formaldehyde: Found in some disinfectants, air fresheners, and fabric softeners as a preservative.
• 2-Butoxyethanol: Found in window cleaners, multipurpose cleaners, and degreasers.
• 1,4-Dioxane: A byproduct in the manufacturing of surfactants used in detergents, fabric softeners, and shampoos that can contaminate the air and water supply.
• Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats): Found in disinfectants, fabric softeners, and sanitizing wipes.
• Petroleum Solvents: Found in degreasers, spot removers, and dry-cleaning agents. 
• Perchloroethylene (PERC): Found in dry-cleaning agents, spot removers, and fabric protectors.
• Lye (Sodium Hydroxide): Found in oven cleaners, drain cleaners, and heavy-duty detergents.
• Synthetic Fragrances: Found in just about everything! Artificial fragrances are widely used in cleaning products and personal care products to improve their scent. 
• Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (NPEs): Found in laundry detergents, stain removers, and all-purpose cleaners.
• Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): PFAS are “forever chemicals” found in glass cleaners, fabric and carpet cleaners, floor waxes, and dishwasher rinsing aids.
• Ethanolamines (MEA, DEA, TEA): Used as surfactants (dirt or grease removers), foaming agents, and emulsifiers in many cleaners, like window, tile, and floor cleaners. They are also found in some shampoos and laundry detergents. 

Why Are Toxic Cleaning Products Bad for Health?

1. Respiratory Issues

Many of the hazardous cleaning chemicals mentioned can cause respiratory issues when you use them, especially ammonia and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). 

Numerous chemicals can irritate the respiratory tract, cause breathing problems, and exacerbate conditions like asthma. Additionally, VOCs are known to cause short-term effects like nausea, headaches, or dizziness when inhaled while using them.

The chemicals known to affect respiratory health negatively include:

• Ammonia
• Chlorine and chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite) 
• VOCs
• Formaldehyde 
• 2-Butoxyethanol
• Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats)
• Fragrances 
• Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)
• Ethanolamines (MEA, DEA, TEA)

2. Skin and Eye Irritation

Conventional cleaning products can also irritate the skin and the mucus membranes of the eyes when using them—especially if your skin comes in contact with them, which can cause skin burns, rashes, or allergic reactions like contact dermatitis. 

Some of the chemicals that can irritate the eyes or skin are:

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Chlorine and chlorine bleach 
• Formaldehyde
• 2-Butoxyethanol
• Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats)
• Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)
• Ethanolamines (MEA, DEA, TEA)

3. Endocrine Disruption

Many conventional cleaning products contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). 

Endocrine disruptors can interfere with normal hormone production and activity, especially estrogen, testosterone, and thyroid hormones.

EDCs mimic, block, or alter the metabolism of these naturally occurring hormones, leading to either under- or overstimulation of normal hormone production.¹ 

Chemicals in cleaning products that are known to act as endocrine-disrupting agents include:

• Phthalates
• Synthetic Fragrances
• Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (NPEs)
• Triclosan 
• Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) 

4. Reproductive Effects

Due to the endocrine-disrupting effects of several chemicals in cleaning products, long-term exposure to them is linked to reproductive and developmental issues, including infertility and miscarriages.² 

A review article from 2022 concluded that endocrine-disrupting chemicals (including triclosan, PFAS, and phthalates) are associated with reduced female fertility, impaired in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes (including low egg yield, pregnancies, and births), altered ovarian follicle numbers, altered hormones, and impaired ovulation.³

They can also cause delayed or accelerated puberty in younger adolescents and teens.⁴ 

These concerns are not minimal—if you regularly use endocrine-disrupting chemicals in your cleaning products or personal care products and have issues regarding fertility or reproductive health, consider switching them out as soon as you can.

As some EDCs can stay in your body for years, causing cumulative effects over time, now is an excellent time to consider switching to natural cleaning products. 

5. Cancer-Causing Concerns

Last, some toxic chemicals in cleaning products are linked to cancer risk. 

For example, the formaldehyde that is used in disinfectants, air fresheners, and fabric softeners is a known carcinogen that can increase the risk of cancer over long-term exposure.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has classified formaldehyde as “carcinogenic to humans by the inhalation route of exposure,” which could be the case if you are using aerosol air fresheners or cleaning in a small space.⁵ 

Another compound that is classified as carcinogenic is 1,4-dioxane, a byproduct in the manufacturing of surfactants used in detergents, fabric softeners, and shampoos. Although companies don’t put 1,4-dioxane into their products, it is a known contaminant of other chemicals that are commonly used in cleaning products.⁶ 

Laboratory studies have found that rats that breathe in vapors of 1,4-dioxane for most of their lives develop cancer inside the nose and in the abdominal cavity.⁷

Perchloroethylene (PERC) is also classified as a likely carcinogen and can cause dizziness, headaches, and long-term neurological effects.⁸

Overall, the very occasional use of conventional cleaning products is probably not harmful (unless you have sensitive skin, eyes, or lungs), while frequent exposure can undoubtedly increase health risks. 

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