When shopping, people with children often think about healthy eating, furniture without sharp corners or edges, or care products and diapers with as few questionable ingredients as possible.
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.
Therefore, more and more families are consciously choosing milder or more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Many household cleaning products 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 continuously developing their formulas and increasingly bringing products to market that do without certain ingredients or use alternative solutions.
The following overview shows some substances that are regularly discussed in connection with possible effects on health, water or ecosystems, and which many consumers consciously pay attention to when choosing cleaning products today.
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, including soaps, disinfectant cleaners, and personal care products.
Experts have been expressing concern for years that the frequent use of antibacterial agents could promote the development of resistant germs. This means that certain bacteria become less sensitive to these substances. Put simply: If bacteria are repeatedly exposed to the same antibacterial agents, those that are more resistant can eventually prevail. This is known as resistance development.
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 disease-provoking pathogens need to be combated, or people with an increased risk of infection need to be protected.
Typical indications on packaging that point to this ingredient:
Many people automatically associate cleanliness with intense fragrance and specific scents like "floral," "citrus," or "fresh." However, terms like "parfum" or "fragrance" often conceal complex mixtures of fragrances.
Some contain phthalates, which are discussed in scientific studies as potential endocrine disruptors. This means they could mimic the body's own hormones or influence their effects. Furthermore, some fragrances are suspected of triggering allergies themselves.
Those who are sensitive to fragrances or have small children in the household often opt for fragrance-free products or cleaning agents without artificial scents. Such products are often labeled with terms like "fragrance-free," "without scents," "fragrance-free," or "suitable for sensitive skin." A glance at the packaging or the ingredient list can be helpful here. The packaging usually indicates whether a product is fragrance-free or uses only natural fragrances.
Ammonia has a grease-dissolving effect 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 particularly unpleasant in poorly ventilated rooms.
For many cleaning tasks, ammonia-based products are no longer absolutely necessary. Windows can actually be cleaned largely streak-free with just water and a microfiber cloth. For limescale in the bathroom, many households instead use citric acid or other limescale-dissolving cleaners without ammonia.
Those who want to clean in a more environmentally friendly way can now find numerous glass and bathroom cleaners based on milder ingredients. These include:
Chlorine is very effective at combating bacteria, viruses, and mold. Therefore, in addition to toilet cleaners, mold removers, and bleach, it is also used in certain areas of healthcare and for water treatment.
Chlorine should be used with caution in the home. Chlorine-based cleaners, in particular, should not be mixed with acidic products such as some toilet cleaners or descalers, as this can produce irritating or harmful gases. Direct combination with ammonia-based cleaners is also problematic for this reason.
For regular cleaning of kitchens, bathrooms, or floors, chlorine-based products are often unnecessary. Instead, in many cases, all-purpose cleaners, bathroom cleaners based on citric or lactic acid, and suitable cleaning agents with surfactants are sufficient to remove dirt, grease, limescale, and soap scum.
When using chlorine-containing products for stubborn mold infestations, discoloration, or certain disinfection tasks, the instructions for use on the packaging should always be followed.
Phosphates have been used in detergents and cleaning agents for many years because they improve cleaning performance and soften water. In the quantities used in common household cleaners, phosphates are generally considered relatively harmless to humans.
They are primarily criticized for their impact on bodies of water. If large quantities enter rivers or lakes via wastewater, they can promote algal growth. Experts refer to this as eutrophication of waterways. This can disrupt the ecological balance, leaving less oxygen available for other plants and animals.
Families who want to pay attention to sustainability in everyday decisions often also consider the environmental compatibility of their cleaning products.
In many detergents, phosphates have now been replaced by other water softeners, such as zeolites or citrates. These substances also help to bind limescale in the water and improve cleaning performance. Furthermore, phosphate-containing detergents are now heavily restricted or banned for use in private households in the European Union. Those who want to clean more environmentally friendly can therefore find numerous phosphate-free alternatives on the market.
Parabens are preservatives. They are used to ensure that products remain shelf-stable for extended periods after opening and that bacteria, yeasts, or molds cannot multiply within them. Parabens are particularly common in cosmetics and personal care products. They are now much less frequently found in traditional household cleaners, but may occasionally be present in liquid cleaning products or wipes.
For years, some researchers have been investigating whether certain parabens might have hormone-like effects. This means that they—like fragrances—could potentially influence 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.
Parents in particular often pay attention to products with as few fragrances, colors and preservatives as possible.
Those wishing to avoid parabens will now find numerous products labeled accordingly on the market. Many manufacturers are now using alternative preservative systems or developing products with lower water content, in which microorganisms have more difficulty multiplying. This allows the use of certain preservatives to be partially reduced or even completely eliminated.
For families, environmentally friendly cleaning doesn't necessarily mean sacrificing effective cleaning. Often, it's enough to consciously choose products, avoid unnecessary fragrances or additives, and only use cleaning agents where they are actually needed.
However, this shows that cleaning is about much more than just cleanliness: It also takes time and energy to deal with health, environmental, and sustainability issues related to one's own household. Furthermore, the question always arises of how to reconcile household chores, work, and family life.
In addition to the actual cleaning, this often creates additional mental load :
What products should we buy? What's environmentally friendly? What's suitable for children? When will we even 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 domestic helpers bring valuable practical experience and can, if desired, provide advice on proven cleaning methods or suitable products.
With Helferei, families, working professionals, and seniors in Munich, Berlin, Leipzig, or Cologne can find legal domestic help and cleaners on an invoice basis. Services can be booked flexibly and tailored to the individual needs of each household.
Sources & Notes : This article is for general information purposes only and has been reviewed by a PhD chemist. However, it does not replace professional chemical, medical, or toxicological advice. The substances mentioned are evaluated differently in scientific studies and by regulatory authorities. Further professional review by a chemist or consumer and environmental health expert familiar with the individual circumstances of the reader is recommended.
