Breathe — How Cleaners Affect Our Lungs

Breathe — How Cleaners Affect Our Lungs

Your Lungs Deserve Better

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we spend approximately 90% of our lives indoors [1]. Yet, as the American Lung Association highlights, indoor air can be 2–5 times—and occasionally up to 100 times—more polluted than outdoor air [2]. Cleaning our homes is meant to protect our health, but unfortunately, many conventional cleaners contribute significantly to indoor air pollution, impacting our lung health more than we realize.

 

Everyday Exposure Adds Up

Our lungs are continuously exposed to cleaning chemicals—often without us realizing it. The most obvious exposure comes from spraying cleaners directly into the air. Each spritz makes the cleaning formula airborne so it's important to avoid products that will emit harmful VOCs, synthetic fragrances, and toxic solvents.

Direct spraying isn’t the only concern. A good rule of thumb is that any time you can smell a cleaner, you're inhaling its ingredients. For instance, simply opening a container of disinfecting wipes (like Lysol or Clorox wipes) or walking into a freshly cleaned room means airborne chemicals have already reached your lungs.

 

Common scenarios of airborne chemical exposure include:

  • Spraying glass cleaners or surface disinfectants: releases solvents, VOCs, ammonia, and synthetic fragrances into the air.
  • Mopping floors or wiping counters: many conventional cleaners leave behind volatile synthetic fragrance compounds and solvent vapors, becoming airborne long after cleaning.
  • Washing dishes with conventional detergents: fragrances and solvents evaporate into the air, especially in warm water.
  • Doing laundry: dryer sheets and fabric softeners release toxic VOCs into the air through dryer vents, polluting both indoor and outdoor environments. A landmark study by the University of Washington found that dryer emissions contained numerous harmful chemicals, including acetaldehyde and benzene—chemicals linked to respiratory irritation and cancer[4].

 

Why Children and Babies Are Most Vulnerable

Children and babies breathe at a faster rate than adults and, due to their smaller size and proximity to the floor, they inhale pollutants more frequently and at higher concentrations [4]. This increases their vulnerability to respiratory issues and long-term health complications such as asthma.

 

Health Effects of Breathing Cleaning Chemicals

Breathing in chemicals from cleaning products isn't just unpleasant—it can significantly impact your health, both immediately and in the long run.

 

Short-term effects:

  • Irritation of eyes, nose, and throat
  • Headaches and dizziness
  • Coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath

Long-term effects:

  • Development or worsening of asthma, particularly among children
  • Chronic respiratory inflammation (e.g., chronic bronchitis, persistent cough)
  • Hormone disruption from inhaled phthalates and synthetic fragrance compounds
  • Increased risk of chronic respiratory diseases and compromised lung function

 

Scientific studies provide clear evidence for these health impacts:

  • A comprehensive review published in Environmental Research (2024) found cleaning chemicals to be among the most frequently implicated causative agents for occupational asthma, respiratory symptoms, impaired lung function, and rhinitis [4].
  • The American Lung Association warns that prolonged exposure to VOCs from household cleaners can cause chronic respiratory symptoms and increased asthma risk [2].
  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emphasizes that VOC exposure can irritate the respiratory system and exacerbate chronic lung conditions [1].

 

Ingredients to Watch Out For

1. Synthetic Fragrances

  • Typically labeled as “fragrance” or “parfum” without detailed ingredient disclosure
  • Often contain phthalates, linked to asthma, hormonal disruption, and respiratory irritation
  • Common in air fresheners, laundry detergents, and all-purpose cleaners

2. Toxic VOCs (e.g., Ammonia, Bleach)

  • Powerful respiratory irritants causing acute and chronic lung damage
  • Remain airborne long after application
  • Frequently found in bathroom cleaners, disinfectants, and glass cleaners

3. Toxic Solvents (Butoxyethanol, Glycol Ethers, Ethanolamines)

  • Found in spray cleaners, degreasers, and floor cleaning products
  • Linked to respiratory issues, including chronic coughing, wheezing, and lung damage

 

How Be Better Goods Protects Your Air

At BBG, we prioritize your respiratory health by:

  • Completely avoiding synthetic fragrances, opting instead for transparently labeled essential oils—or unscented options.
  • Excluding harsh VOCs and toxic solvents like butoxyethanol and glycol ethers from our formulations.
  • Creating products specifically designed to minimize airborne emissions, ensuring they're safe for sensitive lungs, children, and pets.
  • Maintaining complete ingredient transparency so you always know exactly what's entering your home and lungs.

Because cleaning your home should never compromise your family’s health or your air quality.

 

Take Action for Cleaner Air

Your home should be a sanctuary, not a source of invisible pollutants.

→ Explore our Ingredient Glossary

→ Browse air-friendly cleaning products

 

Sources and Citations

[1] EPA Report on Indoor Air Quality: https://www.epa.gov/report-environment/indoor-air-quality

[2] American Lung Association – Indoor Air Pollution: https://www.lung.org/clean-air/at-home/indoor-air-pollutants

[3] University of Washington Study on Laundry Emissions: https://www.washington.edu/news/2011/08/24/scented-laundry-products-release-hazardous-chemicals-through-dryer-vents/

[4] Children's Increased Respiratory Vulnerability: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024004227

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