Is Your Home Making You Sick? Hidden Toxins in Cleaners

Do you ever finish cleaning and end up with a headache? A scratchy throat? Red eyes? Or notice your child’s eczema flares on laundry day? You’re not imagining it. Many conventional cleaning products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), artificial fragrances, solvents and reactive chemicals that pollute indoor air long after you’ve finished spraying or mopping. Because modern Australian homes are sealed tightly for temperature control, these airborne chemicals build up fast — creating what health professionals call the “indoor air quality paradox.” Your home feels clean, but the air may be dirtier than outside. This guide reveals the hidden toxins in everyday cleaners, why they trigger headaches, asthma, hormone disruption and skin irritation, and how simple low-tox swaps can dramatically improve the health of your home.

Most Australians don’t realise their cleaning cupboard may be the biggest source of indoor pollution in their home. Products that promise “fresh scent,” “sparkling clean” or “kills 99.9% of germs” often rely on aggressive chemical blends that linger in the air, seep into fabrics or react with other products you use at the same time. The symptoms—headaches, fatigue, irritated skin, breathlessness, runny nose—are commonly misdiagnosed as “allergies” or “dust.” In many cases, the real source is chemical exposure.

This article breaks down the most common hidden toxins in everyday cleaners, how they affect your health and indoor environment, and how to transition toward safer, low-tox cleaning without losing performance or blowing the budget.

Is Your Cleaning Cupboard Making You Sick?

If any of these sound familiar, your cleaning routine may be the cause:

• Headache or dizziness after mopping or spraying surfaces
• Scratchy throat or coughing during bathroom cleaning
• Eczema flare-ups on laundry days
• Asthma symptoms that worsen after disinfecting
• Nausea when using strong glass or oven cleaners
• Overwhelming “cleaning smell” that lingers for hours

These symptoms are classic reactions to common ingredients in conventional cleaners. Because homes are closed up more than ever, the chemical concentration often builds faster than expected.

The Hidden Toxins Lurking in Everyday Cleaning Products

Many irritants hide behind vague label terms like “fragrance,” “disinfectant,” or “solvent.” Here are the most important ones to understand:

• Phthalates – Found in synthetic fragrances; linked to hormone disruption and skin sensitivity.
• Quats (quaternary ammonium compounds) – Strong disinfectants that can trigger asthma symptoms.
• 2-Butoxyethanol – A powerful solvent in window and multipurpose cleaners; can cause headaches and throat irritation.
• Chlorine bleach – Effective but produces reactive fumes, especially in enclosed bathrooms.
• Ammonia – Found in glass cleaners; irritates eyes and airways.
• Artificial perfume / “parfum” – Catch-all label hiding dozens of chemical components.
• Optical brighteners – Common in laundry powder; can irritate eczema-prone skin.
• Benzalkonium chloride – Found in wipes and some floor disinfectants; problematic for sensitive airways and pets.

These chemicals are effective at their job—but not designed for repeated inhalation or exposure in sealed homes.

How to Spot “Fake Green” Cleaning Products (Greenwashing)

Just because a bottle has a leaf on it or uses words like “natural”, “green” or “eco-friendly” doesn’t mean it’s actually safer for your home. In Australia, many of these terms are still used loosely in marketing, with little obligation to explain what they refer to. This practice—making products appear healthier or more environmentally responsible than they really are—is known as greenwashing.

If you’re unsure how labels such as “non-toxic”, “natural”, and “eco-friendly” are meant to differ, our guide to what these labels really mean in Australia breaks down how they’re commonly used and why they’re so often misunderstood.

When assessing a cleaning product, these are the most common red flags:

• Vague claims: Broad terms like “green”, “earth-friendly” or “non-toxic” with no explanation, evidence, or full ingredient disclosure.
• Selective “free-from” lists: A product may be “ammonia-free” while still containing synthetic fragrance, quats, or other known irritants.
• The “natural” trap: Natural does not automatically mean gentle or safe. Many natural substances can irritate skin or airways; what matters is concentration, formulation, and transparency.

Genuinely low-tox cleaning brands tend to do the opposite of greenwashing: they publish full ingredient lists, explain why each component is used, and avoid relying on vague buzzwords or decorative “eco” symbols to do the talking.

Why These Chemicals Affect Your Health

Organisations such as Asthma Australia and The Lung Foundation have long warned that VOCs and certain cleaning chemicals can worsen asthma and respiratory sensitivity. The issue isn’t a single ingredient—it’s the mix of compounds used together during typical house cleaning.

Researchers sometimes call this the “cocktail effect”: a combination of cleaners, sprays, air fresheners and disinfectants interacting in the air, on surfaces and in your ventilation system. Over time, this can irritate lungs, trigger migraines, agitate eczema and even disrupt sleep quality.

Pregnant people and babies are especially sensitive. Heavy artificial fragrances and solvent fumes can worsen nausea, headaches and airway irritation during pregnancy, which is why many households choose safer, low-tox products during this time.

Can I Just Clean Everything with Vinegar and Bicarb?

A common first step in the low-tox journey is switching to DIY pantry staples like white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. While these are excellent, low-cost options for many tasks, they do have limitations.

Vinegar is an acid, which means it can etch natural stone (like marble or granite benchtops) and damage rubber seals in dishwashers over time. It also doesn’t lift grease as effectively as a surfactant. Bicarb is mildly abrasive and great for odours, but not a complete cleaner on its own.

Formulated low-tox cleaners bridge this gap—they use plant-based surfactants to cut grease, protect sensitive surfaces, and deliver consistent results while still keeping ingredients simple and biodegradable. A balanced routine often uses both: DIY for simple jobs, and well-formulated low-tox products for regular, whole-home cleaning.

Is Switching to Low-Tox Cleaning Difficult?

Not at all. And it doesn’t mean choosing “weak” products. Modern low-tox cleaners use plant-based surfactants, mineral cleaners and food-grade acids that work differently—but just as effectively—for everyday cleaning tasks.

You don’t need to overhaul everything at once. The easiest approach is to replace the products that create the most fumes or the most contact exposure.

Start with:

• Bench spray or multipurpose cleaner
• Dishwashing liquid or powder
• Laundry powder or liquid
• Bathroom cleaner
• Floor cleaner

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion: Your Home Shouldn’t Make You Sick

If cleaning leaves you with irritation, headaches or flare-ups, it’s worth questioning what’s in your products—not your body. Hidden toxins create unnecessary chemical load in the home, especially in Australian households with enclosed living, pets, children or sensitive skin.

Understanding which ingredients matter and how they impact indoor air quality is the first step toward creating a healthier, more comfortable home. You don’t need to replace everything immediately—just make smarter swaps as your current products run out.

To explore safe, effective low-tox alternatives, see our Top 10 Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products or browse our Cleaning Products collection for options that reduce chemical load without sacrificing performance.