Skip to main content

Using these popular floor cleaners is like inhaling pesticides, study says

There’s nothing that makes us feel more productive than a spotless house. Cleaning can be a chore (literally), but ticking items off to-do lists, the fresh scent of a recently cleaned room, and a space cleared of all clutter is the perfect environment to sit back, relax, and unwind.

Unfortunately, there’s a danger lurking in your cleaning closet. According to recent research, there’s a chemical in some household cleaners so bad it’s basically like breathing in the polluted air of a busy urban road (so much for that fresh, clean scent). It’s frequently added to cleaners and furniture polish, which means you probably have it at home.

The bad stuff

They’re called monoterpenes and according to Science Advances, they’re seriously bad for your health.

The study found that cleaning a floor with a monoterpene-based product in a closed room created as much air pollution as you would breathe in sitting next to a busy road. In some cases, the level of indoor air pollution was so high that it was equivalent to sitting next to that road for six hours. The researchers used a popular commercial household cleaner containing monoterpenes like limonene, camphene, and pinene.

Monoterpenes are a type of volatile organic compound (VOCs), which evaporate into the air and get inhaled. Once they’re in the air, VOCs come in contact with an oxidant like ozone, which disperses them more thickly. A lot of household products emit VOCs — paints, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, office equipment, glue, and permanent markers can all be culprits.

Monoterpenes are often found in cleaning products, perfumes, and products with essential oils — and the study noted they’re often found in products marketed with “natural” scents like citrus or pine. Limonene, for example, is a monoterpene used to create the citrus scent in many cleaning supplies.

Think about how many cleaning products you use that boast a pine or citrus scent — we’re betting it’s a lot, right?

What does all of this mean for your health? According to the EPA, the health effects of VOCs include eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, loss of coordination, nausea, and even damage to the liver, kidney, and the central nervous system. In short: Too much exposure to VOCs is not great for you.

What can you do to stay safe?

 The easiest way to avoid indoor air pollutants is to use a more natural cleaner. Why buy commercial cleaners with ingredients you can’t pronounce — potentially introducing toxic elements into your environment — when you can go with a tried-and-true cleaner like good old vinegar?

From your kitchen to your washing machine, vinegar is the secret ingredient to so many cleaning routines that you already have and, more importantly, that you already trust.

Not sure how to make your own do-it-yourself all-purpose cleaner? We’ve got you covered. By using this mixture of distilled white vinegar and water (seriously — how much simpler can it get?), you’ll have a cleaner that you can use not just on your floors, but countertops, appliances, showers, and more.

Note: Vinegar isn’t the best product to use on hardwood or stone surfaces. With these materials, Castile soap or plain water and a microfiber cleaning cloth are also good options, respectively.

Not ready to give up your commercial household cleaners? Make sure you use these tips when you clean:

  • Wear a mask. We’re sure you’re pretty used to that by now.
  • Look for monoterpene-free products. They’re pretty ubiquitous, but unscented cleaners are your best bet.
  • Filtrate your air. If you don’t have or can’t afford a filtration system, look into a fan with one built in.
  • Don’t clean in the afternoon. This is when ozone is typically at its highest.

We all want a clean house, but not at the expense of our air quality. Ditch the commercial cleaners with all sorts of chemicals and opt for a more natural approach.

Editors' Recommendations

Nicole Carlino
There are way more uses for baking soda around the house than you thought
Glass jar of baking soda with cork and teaspoon tipped over.

There are many uses for baking soda. It's great for science experiments, brushing teeth, and more. Plus, there are plenty of homeowners who need solutions for reducing smells and cleaning tough stains. There are products you can get, but baking soda is often cheaper and just as effective.

You can use baking soda in virtually every area of your home. Read on to explore a variety of household uses for baking soda. You'll have a bright, grime-free, pleasant-smelling home in no time.

Read more
The best natural cleaning products you can get at big box stores like Target
cleaning bathroom sink with spray and yellow gloves

You want your house to be both squeaky clean and free from harmful chemicals, right? Natural cleaning products have come a long way in recent years, becoming incredibly effective at tackling dirt and bacteria without using harsh chemicals. The world of eco-friendly cleaning products, however, can be confusing and frustrating to navigate. Many products are difficult to find, must be ordered from specialty websites, or are more expensive than their brand-name counterparts.

With the rising demand for natural cleaners, though, retailers are beginning to expand their offerings of eco-friendly brands. We've rounded up our favorite natural cleaning products that you can find at the big box stores right in your neighborhood.
Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaner
Household cleaners are extremely damaging to the environment, particularly to marine life since we tend to rinse our cleaning products down the drain. Alternately, Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaner is a friend to the earth. The formula breaks down quickly after use, and it's certified as cruelty-free by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics. This cleaner also works like a dream on the toughest messes. You can clean your kitchen surfaces, floors, and even dishes with this safe and natural solution. It rinses off cleanly and never leaves behind a layer of film, even if you use it with hard water.
Why we love it:

Read more
How to clean an oven in one afternoon with oven cleaner you make
Scrubbing the oven with a sponge

Let’s face it, cleaning the oven is a frustrating process. If only our ovens could clean themselves, we wouldn’t have to worry about all of the grime and build-up from past meals coating the racks. Even self-cleaning ovens require you to scrub baked-on food and grease with a sponge and water before starting the cleaning cycle.

That being said, manually cleaning your oven doesn't have to be a stressful task. If you’re looking for a quick and simple solution to clean your oven in just a few hours, we’ve got you covered: Take a look at our tips for cleaning your oven without any harsh chemicals.
Choose an eco-friendly option for your appliance
Using a chemical-free and all-natural cleaning solution is better for your health and safety. Family meals go into your oven, so the last thing you want is for your food to become contaminated with harsh cleaning chemicals. Chemical oven cleaners are safe as long as you follow the instructions precisely and burn off any lingering toxins. However, we say it's better to be safe than sorry, so opt for natural cleaning products.

Read more