Toxic Ingredients to Avoid in Cleaning Products (And What to Use Instead)
That fresh lemon scent in your favorite disinfectant might be masking something dangerous. Many popular cleaning products contain toxic chemicals linked to asthma, skin burns, hormone disruption, and even birth defects. Some ingredients can also create harmful fumes when mixed.
Discover which harsh ingredients to avoid and why switching to smarter, science-backed alternatives is more important than ever. Plus, learn how Clean Habits’ Synbio-powered cleaning line defends surfaces from germs for up to five full days while being safe for you and the planet.
1. Ammonia
Ammonia is a powerful glass and surface cleaner, but it comes with a cost. It is highly toxic when inhaled, can cause lung irritation and burns on contact, and becomes especially dangerous when mixed with bleach.
2. Chlorine Bleach
Chlorine bleach is strong. Too strong? After all, it emits toxic fumes that can irritate the lungs and skin, causes burns to the eyes and mucous membranes, and reacts with other cleaners to form hazardous gases.
3. Hydrochloric and Phosphoric Acid
Hydrochloric and phosphoric acids are potent and dangerous ingredients found in bathroom cleaners. These chemicals can lead to burns, blindness, and severe respiratory damage. Additionally, they are corrosive to surfaces and can harm the environment.
4. Sodium or Potassium Hydroxide
Often labeled as lye or caustic soda, sodium or potassium hydroxide is typically found in drain cleaners and oven sprays. These substances can corrode surfaces and cause serious physical injuries upon contact.
5. Ethanolamines (DEA, TEA, MEA)
Ethanolamines are used to stabilize cleaning formulas and adjust pH levels. However, they can form carcinogenic compounds when combined with certain other chemicals. Exposure is linked to respiratory irritation and long-term health concerns.
6. Triclosan
Triclosan is another antimicrobial ingredient once popular in soaps and cleaners. It has been linked to thyroid disruption, increased allergen sensitivity, and the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, even at low levels of exposure.
So, What’s Safe to Use?
That’s where Clean Habits comes in. We ditched the harsh chemicals and built our formula around HEIQ Synbio Technology®—a patented blend of prebiotics and probiotics that clean deep and keep working for up to five full days. Our ingredients include:
- Synbiotics: A blend of prebiotics and probiotics
- Water and Bacillus Ferment: Safe and natural base ingredients
- Phenoxyethanol: A mild preservative
- C9-11 Pareth-3: Non-toxic surfactant to help lift grease and grime
- Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate: A biodegradable chelator for hard water
Discover a Safer and Smarter Clean
Your home shouldn’t come with a health warning. By avoiding harmful ingredients like ammonia, chlorine bleach, and quats, and choosing safe, effective alternatives like Clean Habits, you help protect your family—and the planet. Shop single products or multi-packs online today.
