What's Really in Conventional Cleaners?
By renu'd Team
Take a moment to read the warning labels on your conventional cleaning products. "Keep out of reach of children." "Avoid contact with skin and eyes." "Use in well-ventilated area." These aren't just legal disclaimers—they're acknowledgments that we're bringing toxic chemicals into our homes. The average household contains over 60 chemical products that emit hundreds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air we breathe every single day.
Many popular cleaners contain quaternary ammonium compounds (quats), synthetic fragrances, chlorine bleach, and ammonia—substances linked to respiratory problems, skin irritation, and endocrine disruption. A 2019 study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that women who cleaned professionally or regularly used cleaning sprays at home had lung function decline equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years. The chemicals don't just affect us during use; they persist on surfaces, accumulate in house dust, and continue releasing gases for days or weeks.
The fragrance industry, protected by trade secret laws, can hide literally hundreds of chemicals under the single word "fragrance" on ingredient lists. Many of these are phthalates and synthetic musks that act as hormone disruptors, particularly concerning for children whose developmental systems are especially vulnerable. Studies have linked these chemicals to asthma, allergies, reproductive issues, and even certain cancers. Yet because cleaning products aren't regulated like food or drugs, manufacturers aren't required to list all ingredients or prove safety before bringing products to market.
The environmental impact extends far beyond our homes. These chemicals wash down our drains, flow into water treatment facilities that aren't designed to filter them out, and eventually make their way into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Quats, for example, are toxic to aquatic life and can persist in the environment for months. The irony is stark: in our quest for clean homes, we're creating dirty water systems and contributing to ecological damage that will take generations to reverse. Understanding what's in conventional cleaners is the first step toward making better choices for our health and our planet.