Parents often think about healthy eating, furniture without sharp edges, and personal care products and diapers with as few questionable ingredients as possible when they go shopping.
In this context, however, less attention is currently being paid to the cleaning products used daily in kitchens, bathrooms, and on floors. Yet it is precisely in these areas that children come into particularly close contact with surfaces—whether they are crawling, playing, or eating.
That is why more and more families are consciously choosing milder or more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Many household cleaners are generally considered safe when used according to the instructions. At the same time, some ingredients have been the subject of debate and scientific study for years regarding their potential effects on health or the environment. This discussion is being led by various stakeholders—including research institutions, government agencies, environmental and consumer organizations, as well as the manufacturers themselves.
At the same time, many manufacturers are constantly refining their formulas and increasingly bringing products to market that omit certain ingredients or use alternative solutions.
The following overview lists some substances that are regularly discussed in connection with their potential effects on health, water bodies, or ecosystems, and which many consumers now actively look out for when choosing cleaning products.
And by the way: If you’d like to learn more about ingredients, product safety, or the use of cleaning and disinfecting agents, you can find further information, for example, at the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) or the Federal Environment Agency (UBA).
Triclosan has long been used in antibacterial products. These include soaps, disinfectant cleaners, and personal care products.
Experts have been expressing concern for years that frequent use of antibacterial agents could promote the development of resistant germs. This means that certain bacteria become less sensitive to these agents. Put simply: if bacteria are repeatedly exposed to the same antibacterial agents, over time those that are more resistant to them will prevail. This is known as the development of resistance.
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment therefore recommends using disinfectants in private households—such as triclosan—only where they are actually necessary. This may be the case, for example, if an infectious person lives in the household, certain pathogens need to be combated, or people with an increased risk of infection need to be protected.
Typical labels on packaging that indicate the presence of this ingredient:
Many people automatically associate cleanliness with strong scents and specific smells such as "floral," "citrus," or "fresh." In reality, however, terms like "perfume" or "fragrance" often refer to complex blends of scents.
Some contain so-called phthalates, which scientific studies suggest may be "endocrine disruptors." This means they could mimic the body's own hormones or affect their function. In addition, some fragrances are suspected of triggering allergies themselves.
People who are sensitive to fragrances or have young children at home often opt for fragrance-free products or cleaning agents without artificial fragrances. Such products are often labeled with phrases such as “fragrance-free,” “unscented,” “no added fragrances,” or “suitable for sensitive skin.” Checking the packaging or the list of ingredients can be helpful here. The packaging usually indicates whether a product is fragrance-free or uses only natural fragrances.
Ammonia breaks down grease and helps remove dirt, fingerprints, and soap scum from surfaces. It is particularly valued in glass cleaners because it evaporates quickly and can leave streak-free results.
At the same time, ammonia can irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Many people find the fumes unpleasant, especially in poorly ventilated rooms.
For many cleaning tasks, products containing ammonia are no longer essential. In fact, windows can be cleaned to a largely streak-free finish using just water and a microfiber cloth. To tackle limescale in the bathroom, many households instead turn to citric acid or other ammonia-free limescale removers.
Those looking to clean in a more eco-friendly way will now find a wide range of glass and bathroom cleaners made with milder ingredients. These include:
Chlorine is highly effective at killing bacteria, viruses, and mold. For this reason, it is used not only in toilet cleaners, mold removers, and bleaches, but also in certain areas of the healthcare sector and for water treatment, for example.
However, chlorine should be used with caution in the home. In particular, chlorine-based cleaners must not be mixed with acidic products, such as certain toilet cleaners or descalers, as this can produce irritating or harmful gases. For this reason, mixing them directly with ammonia-based cleaners is also problematic.
Chlorine-based products are often not necessary for regular maintenance cleaning of kitchens, bathrooms, or floors. Instead, in many cases, all-purpose cleaners, bathroom cleaners containing citric or lactic acid, and suitable cleaning agents with surfactants are sufficient to remove dirt, grease, limescale, and soap scum.
When using chlorine-based products to treat stubborn mold, stains, or for specific disinfection tasks, always follow the instructions on the packaging.
Phosphates have been used in laundry detergents and cleaning products for many years because they improve cleaning performance and can soften water. For humans, phosphates are generally considered relatively harmless in the amounts found in standard household cleaning products.
They are criticized primarily for their impact on water bodies. If large quantities enter rivers or lakes via wastewater, they can promote algae growth there. Experts refer to this as eutrophication of water bodies. This can disrupt the ecological balance and reduce the amount of oxygen available to other plants and animals.
Families in particular who want to prioritize sustainability in their everyday decisions often take a closer look at the environmental impact of their cleaning products.
In many laundry detergents, phosphates have now been replaced by other water softeners, such as zeolites or citrates. These substances also help bind calcium in the water and improve cleaning performance. Furthermore, laundry detergents containing phosphates are already heavily restricted or banned for household use in the European Union. As a result, those who want to clean in a more environmentally friendly way can now find numerous phosphate-free alternatives on the market.
Parabens are preservatives. They are used to ensure that products remain usable for an extended period of time even after opening and to prevent bacteria, yeast, or mold from growing in them. Parabens are particularly common in cosmetics and personal care products. They are now much less common in traditional household cleaners, but may still be found in some liquid cleaning products or wet wipes.
For years, some researchers have been investigating whether certain parabens might have hormone-like effects. This means that, like fragrances, they may potentially affect the body’s own hormonal systems. However, the scientific assessment is complex and depends, among other things, on the specific type of paraben and the amount ingested.
That is why parents, in particular, often look for products that contain as few fragrances, dyes, and preservatives as possible.
Those who wish to avoid parabens can now find numerous products labeled as such on store shelves. This is because many manufacturers now rely on alternative preservation systems or develop products with a lower water content, in which microorganisms find it harder to multiply. As a result, the use of certain preservatives can be reduced in some cases or avoided entirely.
For families, eco-friendly cleaning doesn’t necessarily mean sacrificing cleaning effectiveness. Often, it’s enough to choose products carefully, avoid unnecessary fragrances and additives, and use cleaning products only where they’re actually needed.
However, this shows that cleaning is about much more than just cleanliness: at the same time, it takes time and energy to address health, environmental, and sustainability issues related to one’s own household. Furthermore, there is always the question of how to balance household chores, work, and family life.
In addition to the actual cleaning, this often results in an extra mental load:
What products should we buy? What is eco-friendly? What is suitable for children? When will we ever get the housework done?
By the way, if you hire a housekeeper to help with daily chores, you don’t have to compromise on your own preferences. Many families have clear ideas about which cleaning products they want to use—whether for health, environmental, or practical reasons. Our experience shows that the housekeepers on our platform are happy to accommodate these requests: they usually use the products provided by the household.
At the same time, many experienced housekeepers bring valuable practical experience to the table and can, upon request, offer advice on proven cleaning methods or suitable products.
When it comes to Helferei , families, working professionals, and seniors in Munich, Berlin, Leipzig, or Cologne legal domestic helpers on an invoice basis. Services can be booked flexibly and tailored to the individual needs of each household.
Sources & Notes: This article is intended solely for general informational purposes and has been reviewed by a chemist with a Ph.D. However, it does not replace chemical, medical, or toxicological advice. The substances mentioned are evaluated differently in scientific studies and by regulatory agencies. It is recommended that readers seek further professional evaluation from a chemist or an expert in consumer and environmental health who is familiar with the reader’s individual situation.
