10 Household Cleaners That Could Be Hurting Your Family

As a mom to a busy household of boys, I’m no stranger to the daily grind of cleaning up after painting, adventures, and just general boy-induced chaos. Keeping our home clean is non-negotiable, but so is ensuring the health and safety of my family.

Over the years, I’ve learned that not all cleaning products are created equal, and some carry risks that just aren’t worth taking. From hidden chemicals that trigger allergies and asthma to ingredients that are known carcinogens, I’ve become pretty selective about what makes it into our cleaning cabinet.

Here’s a rundown of 10 household cleaners I steer clear of, all to keep our home safe and our cleaning routines effective without compromising on health.

Bleach and Ammonia

In our household, keeping everything sparkling clean is a must, but so is ensuring the air we breathe isn’t harmful. That’s why I avoid using bleach and ammonia for cleaning.

Individually, these cleaners are powerful enough to irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs—definitely not something I want lingering in the air at home, especially with the boys’ constant hustle and bustle.

And mixing them? That’s out of the question, as they produce a dangerous gas that can seriously damage the lungs. Finding safer alternatives that don’t compromise our health has been a game changer for us.

Products that Create Suds

From soaps to detergents, suds are everywhere in our daily cleaning routines. However, many of these bubbly products contain ingredients like 1,4-dioxane, DEA, TEA, and sodium laureth sulfate, which not only are harsh on the skin but also have been linked to serious health issues, including organ toxicity and cancer.

Knowing this, I’ve become much more selective about the products that enter our home, leaning towards those with safer, more transparent ingredient lists. Plus, these chemicals aren’t just a threat to us—they also endanger wildlife and water quality once they rinse down the drain, affecting the environment we’re all part of.

Lysol Disinfectant Power Toilet Bowl Cleaner with Lime & Rust Remover

Keeping the toilet clean in a house full of boys is essential, but not at the risk of severe health hazards. Lysol’s Disinfectant Power Toilet Bowl Cleaner, though effective against lime and rust, carries warnings that make me think twice.

The label explicitly states it can be “harmful or fatal if swallowed” and that it might cause “irreversible damage” to the eyes. If a product requires me to suit up like I’m heading into a lab rather than cleaning my bathroom, it’s a definite pass. Plus, I hate knowing I have things in my house that could hurt my babies.

Safety first means finding cleaning options that don’t feel like a chemistry experiment.

Ajax, Dynamo, and Fab Ultra Liquid Laundry Detergents

Laundry day is constant in our home, and it’s crucial that the products we use are safe for everyone. The thought of washing clothes with detergents that contain formaldehyde—known for its carcinogenic properties and links to asthma and allergies—is unsettling.

Brands like Ajax, Dynamo, and Fab Ultra, which are under Phoenix Brands, include this chemical in their formulas. What’s more alarming is that this information is typically buried in technical disclosures meant for workers, not everyday consumers.

This lack of transparency is a major red flag, steering me towards laundry detergents that are open about their ingredients and safe for family use.

EASY-OFF Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner Aerosol Spray

Keeping the oven clean is no joke in a busy household like ours—especially after a pizza night or when experimenting with new baking recipes. However, EASY-OFF Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner, although effective at cutting through baked-on mess, raises some serious red flags for me.

The precautions alone are enough to give any parent pause: avoid contact with skin, eyes, and clothing, wear long gloves, ensure good ventilation, and absolutely do not breathe in the mist.

If a cleaner requires this many warnings, it makes me question whether it’s safe to use around my family. So, I skip this one and look for safer ways to tackle the grime.

Target’s Up & Up Cleaners

Transparency is key in everything I use around the house, from food to cleaning products. That’s why Target’s Up & Up brand cleaners end up on my “do not buy” list.

The lack of ingredient disclosure is a big issue for me. When a product that’s used on surfaces my kids touch every day—like toilet bowl cleaners or surface wipes—doesn’t list its ingredients, it’s a no-go.

I prefer brands that aren’t shy about what’s inside their bottles. Knowing exactly what’s cleaning our home helps me ensure I’m not introducing more hazards into our already lively and chaotic environment.

Air Fresheners

As someone who’s constantly battling the chaos and odors that come with raising boys, I’ve learned that not all fresh-smelling solutions are created equal. Air fresheners, for instance, might promise to mask yesterday’s sports gear or pet smells, but they come with their own baggage.

Many contain fragrances that can trigger asthma and allergies—even the ones labeled as “unscented.” The reality hit hard when I learned from a 2012 Environmental Working Group review that over half of the cleaning products they studied, including air fresheners, could harm the lungs.

With such a high chance of causing respiratory issues, these are a definite skip for maintaining the air quality in our lively home.

Fabric Softeners and Dryer Sheets

There’s nothing like the smell of fresh laundry, but did you know that some fabric softeners and dryer sheets can do more harm than good? They release fragrances and other chemicals that might leave clothes feeling soft and smelling nice but can also trigger asthma, allergies, or lung irritation.

When I think about my son pulling on a freshly laundered Spidey costume, I want to be sure it’s free from irritants that could sideline him from being active and healthy.

That’s why I opt out of using conventional fabric softeners and dryer sheets—keeping our laundry routine simple and safe is a priority.

Simple Green Concentrated All-Purpose Cleaner

In my house, tackling messes is practically a daily routine, and I’m always on the lookout for products that are both effective and safe. Unfortunately, Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner misses the mark.

The label says “green,” but its ingredients tell another story. It includes 2-butoxyethanol, a solvent known to damage red blood cells and cause eye irritation—not exactly what you want lingering on your kitchen counter.

Plus, despite its claims of being “non-toxic,” it contains surfactants that some countries in the European Union prefer to avoid.

The worst part? The brand encourages heavy dilution of the product, yet it’s sold in a ready-to-use spray bottle, suggesting it’s safe to use undiluted. This kind of mixed messaging is exactly why I pass on this cleaner in the cleaning aisle.

Scrubbing Bubbles – Antibacterial Bathroom Cleaner & Extend-A-Clean Mega Shower Foamer

With three boys at home, our bathroom is a frequent scene of soap scum and mystery splashes. While Scrubbing Bubbles might seem like the perfect fix with its bubbly mascot and powerful cleaning claims, it’s a hard no for me.

This cleaner contains DEGBE at levels up to 10%—far exceeding the EU’s safety limit of 3%. High concentrations of this chemical can irritate and inflame the lungs, something I can’t risk with the hustle and bustle of a busy, active family. S