Can cleaning products damage our health?

Can cleaning products damage our health?

Your office, retail space, bnb or motel room has just been cleaned. Everything smells wonderful, and everything is sparkling. But do you know what is in the cleaning products that were used, and if they are safe?

It’s an important question to ask, because cleaning products with elevated levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be a potential trigger for a number of health issues and are also dangerous to the environment.

What are VOCs?

VOCs are organic chemicals with a high vapor pressure at room temperature. They are potentially harmful pollutants emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids in cleaning products and air fresheners. VOCs have differing levels of toxicity, and not all of them are actually harmful. The danger depends on its toxicity level and the concentration. When used outdoors, VOCs can disperse easily, but in an indoor environment, concentrations can build up and become a health hazard.

What do VOCs do?

VOCs can irritate the eyes, nose or throat, cause respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing, as well as nausea, headaches, dizziness, skin issues and allergic reactions and VOCs have also been associated with asthma, eczema, reduced fertility, and cancer. Other harmful ingredients include ammonia and bleach.

Cleaning supplies and household products containing VOCs and other toxic substances can include, but are not limited to:

• aerosol cleaning spray products
• air fresheners
• detergents and dishwashing liquids
• dry cleaning products
• rug and upholstery cleaners
• furniture and floor polish
• oven cleaners.

Potential risks were highlighted in a 2017 report by the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. They assessed lung function in individuals who were employed, long-term in cleaning roles and noted health was markedly impacted, comparing it to the effects of having smoked 20 cigarettes a day for 10-20 years.

The severity of health problems was linked to the concentration of the cleaning products and length of exposure and some people are more at risk than others. Anyone with pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is more susceptible to potentially harmful effects.

How can you prevent harm from cleaning products?

Cleaning is essential to protecting our health, so no matter how much you hate scrubbing, wiping and mopping, pollution shouldn't be an excuse to giving up on it completely. But we can use other measures to try and prevent the health hazards associated with VOCs. We can limit our exposure to products containing them, and the first step in doing so is to read all labels on cleaning supplies and household products before you buy them. If you could use a floor cleaner or a toilet cleaner that is non-toxic, then wouldn’t it be the better choice, particularly when those alternatives are competitively priced?

Going VOC free

For whatever reason, there is a general misconception that eco-friendly products don’t work as well as the more mainstream cleaning products. The products we sell at Insinc are used extensively by commercial cleaners throughout New Zealand, and are proven to work as well, if not better than generic cleaners.

There are several eco-friendly, products that do not contain or have reduced amounts of VOCs, fragrances, irritants, and flammable ingredients to select from.

• Green Earth cleaning detergents are made from all natural ingredients, are non-toxic, biodegradable and made for commercial use.  
• CleanLab has an extensive range of eco-friendly commercial cleaners.
• Bio-enzymatic cleaners are a non-toxic, non-allergenic, biodegradable, environmentally friendly, deodorising agent, surface cleaner degreaser and deep cleaner. They use the cleaning and deodorizing power of ‘good’ bacteria to digest wastes, soils, stains and bad smells. BIO-ZYME cleaners are safer and easier on the environment and human health compared to other chemical cleaners.
• Microfibre cloths may also be a good alternative if you are sensitive to regular cleaning products; all you need to do is add water. Made up of millions of tiny fibres which attract and trap dust, dirt and bacteria, they also absorb fluids more effectively than conventional cotton cloths.

And remember to breathe ….

When using cleaning or household products, keep the area well ventilated. Ventilation is one of the most important things when you're cleaning, so remember to open windows and doors and never use cleaning products in a small, enclosed space.

Finally, why not get green-fingered? Putting plants around the place not only looks good, but they also act as natural air detoxifiers, and for those of us who don’t have such a good track record with pot plants, peace lilies and aloe vera are pretty resilient.

Always ask for help

On a final and very important note, if you ever think that you have health problems associated with VOCs, you should seek medical advice immediately and reduce VOC levels in your home, office, or business.

Not sure which is the right product for you? If you would like advice on which cleaning product to use at your business or place of work, call us on 0508 467 462.