Is Your All-Purpose Cleaning Spray Secretly Harming You?

Top health organizations like the CDC, World Health Organization, and American Lung Association are raising red flags: Many popular cleaners and disinfectants aren't just bad for the environment—they could be damaging your health. GenEo

While these products might seem harmless during regular use, countless multi-purpose sprays contain toxic chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled—especially with frequent exposure. American Lung Organization

Research shows that many common cleaners are linked to a terrifying list of health problems:

• Birth defects, asthma, allergies, and cancer
• Increased risk of ADHD and autism GenEo
• Damage to gut microbiome Plantifulclean

But that’s not all. Our obsession with cleanliness may be making us sicker.

Oversanitation is linked to allergies, asthma, obesity, digestive issues, and autoimmune disorders. And get this—according to a study in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, those fancy antibacterial formulas you’ve been using? They’re no more effective than good old soap and water. Time

The average household cleaner is a cocktail of chemicals that sound scientific and safe. But behind their sterile names lies a harsh reality:

Phthalates: Linked to hormone disruption, reproductive issues, and developmental problems. 

Chlorine Bleach: Causes breathing difficulties and can trigger asthma attacks.

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats): Common in disinfectants. Evidence suggests these compounds may have respiratory, endocrine, and reproductive effects. EWG

Frangrance: Can include harmful chemicals linked to reproductive harm, aquatic toxicity, allergens, and hormone disruption. Frangrance can include Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) and Phthalates. Women's Voices Lung.org Ethical Consumer

PFAS: Group of synthetic chemicals that are also known as "forever chemicals" and are used in dishwashing rinse aids, glass cleaners, and air fresheners. They have been linked to cancer, reproductive and immune system harm. EWG

Make Effective Cleaners Using Baking Soda, Vinegar, and Castile Soap!

Baking Soda: The Gentle Yet Powerful Cleaner - Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a versatile and safe cleaning agent known for its mild abrasive properties that effectively remove dirt and grime. It’s also a powerful deodorizer. While baking soda has some antimicrobial properties and can help eliminate mild mold infestations by absorbing moisture and disrupting mold growth, it’s not strong enough for severe mold issues. However, it remains a reliable, non-toxic choice for everyday cleaning. AllRecipes EuroMaids

White Vinegar: Nature’s Disinfectant - White vinegar, made of acetic acid, is a powerful natural disinfectant with antimicrobial properties capable of killing bacteria, viruses, and around 82% of mold species. It's especially effective when mixed with water for cleaning glass, countertops, and stovetops. A 1:1 ratio of vinegar and water creates a natural cleaner that can combat germs like salmonella and E. coli. Additionally, vinegar neutralizes odors but should be avoided on surfaces like granite and marble to prevent damage. Health Line

Castile Soap: The Gentle Yet Effective Cleaner - Castile soap, made from vegetable oils, is a safe, versatile, and gentle all-purpose cleaner. Its unique molecular structure helps lift away dirt, grease, and grime from surfaces. While it doesn’t directly kill bacteria, viruses, or mold, it effectively removes germs and mold spores by binding to them and washing them away. Diluting Castile soap with water (1 part soap to 10 parts water) creates a gentle yet powerful dish soap. Lung.org Safer Cleaning Recipes

Here are five packaging concerns to be mindful of if you're unable to make your own cleaning products:

1.  Insufficient Safety Warnings on Packaging

While cleaning products have safety warnings on their packaging, more comprehensive warnings are often found on the product's website.

For example, Fantastik includes a basic warning: "Keep out of reach of children and pets." However, if you visit the product's website and check the warning section, you'll discover more detailed guidance. It recommends washing thoroughly with soap and water after handling and before eating, drinking, chewing gum, using tobacco, or using the bathroom.

The bottom left corner of the Fantastik bottle lists Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) as active ingredients, which can be potentially harmful.

Other cleaning products that contain QACs include Lysol Kitchen Pro Spray Cleaner and Degreaser, as well as Clean Shower Daily Shower Cleaner.

2. Incomplete Ingredient Disclosure

It's crucial to be mindful of the chemicals you’re spraying in your home and inhaling into your lungs.

In the U.S., manufacturers are not legally required to disclose all ingredients in consumer products. The EPA’s labeling regulations for cleaning products are minimal, requiring only basic details like a product identifier, signal word, and hazard statements. However, these requirements are quite limited and often omit important information. Cleaning Product Label Requirements

As a result, many cleaning product labels are incomplete, leaving consumers in the dark about the true contents of the products they’re using.

For example, the label on Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Grime Fighter lists only two ingredients, making up just 0.3% of the product. The remaining 99.7% is labeled as "inert ingredients." But are these inert ingredients simply water, or could they be something harmful?Scrubbing Bubbles Label

3. Fragrance Risks

The EPA does not require manufacturers to disclose the ingredients used in Fragrance.

Fragrance can be derived from natural sources or synthetic chemicals and often includes a complex mix of substances that are simply labeled as “Fragrance.” For example, heavily scented products like Fabuloso contain Lilial, a reproductive toxin, while synthetic musks like Galaxolide and OTNE—harmful to aquatic life—are present in brands such as Mrs. Meyers and Method. Women's Voices

Additionally, phthalates, hormone-disrupting chemicals commonly found in Fragrance, have been linked to serious health issues, including cancer, birth defects, respiratory diseases, and chemical burns. Ethical Consumer

Dawn Platinum Power Wash lists Fragrance as an ingredient. But what exactly does that include?

4. Deceptive Product Naming

Labels such as Green, Clean, Natural, and Fresh can be misleading, as they don't always indicate a safer product. These appealing terms are often used for marketing and branding rather than reflecting genuine safety.

For instance, Mrs. Meyers Clean Day All Purpose Cleaner Spray lists Fragrance as the third ingredient, right after water and Decyl Glucoside.

5. Opt for Safer Choice and Green Seal Certifications

                          

                        

The Safer Choice Certified Label signifies that every ingredient in a product has been disclosed to the EPA's Safer Choice program for thorough evaluation. To earn this label, products must meet strict standards ensuring that each ingredient is safe for human health and the environment. This assessment covers factors like carcinogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, aquatic toxicity, and environmental persistence. EPA

The EPA Safer Choice Product List provides a comprehensive list of approved Safer Choice cleaning products.

Green Seal is a global nonprofit dedicated to protecting human health and the environment by promoting the use of safer, more sustainable products. GreenSeal

The GreenSeal Product List offers a directory of certified cleaning products. 

Although the harmful effects of PFAS are well-known, some manufacturers still include them in cleaning products. However, both Safer Choice and Green Seal certifications strictly prohibit the use of PFAS in certified products. EWG PFAS