Household Cleaners' Health & Safety Lab

During the pandemic, the cleaning industry became even more powerful promoting the use of strong chemicals (like bleach) for protection from Covid-19. As a consequence, we have seen a drastic increase in the use of disinfectants that contain harsh chemicals. Through our research project we learned that exposure to these chemicals can have harmful side effects on our health. Household cleaners are the most at risk.

Did you know that household cleaners face many challenges to their health and well-being at work, including insecure employment, low wages, stressful working conditions and exposure to harmful chemicals from cleaning and disinfecting products?

Based on research findings from the The Safe and Just Cleaners Study, a community-based participatory research partnership between Make the Road NY, Barry Commoner Center for Health and the Environment at Queens College, City University of New York, Mount Sinai Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the Cancer Free Economy Network’s Household Cleaners’ Health & Safety Lab has developed the videos and resources below for safer cleaning approaches to protect the health of cleaners and the families they work for.

Below you’ll find helpful resources on cleaning vs. disinfecting, the harm of disinfectants, and how to find safer alternatives. CFE’s Household Cleaners Health & Safety Lab participants – Hand In Hand Domestic Employers Network, Make the Road NY, Women’s Voices for the Earth and Silent Spring Institute – have created this video series to speak to employers about how they can protect the health of the household cleaners they employ, as well as the health of people living in the home, including vulnerable children.

Safe Cleaning Videos:

Safe Cleaning & Healthy Homes for Families & Workers

Should I Disinfect? Cleaning vs. Disinfecting to Protect Health

Health Concerns Linked to Disinfectants: Tipes

6 Things to Be a Fair House Cleaner Employer: Safer Products...

Share These Videos

Experts agree that cleaning, not disinfecting, should be prioritized. The CDC, FDA, and EPA all stress the effectiveness of cleaning with soap and water as an irreplaceable tool for cleaning, health and hygiene – including when it comes to reducing the risk of getting COVID-19.

5 Simple Things You Can Do Today for Safer Cleaning

When choosing cleaning products for the home or office, keep these five tips in mind:

Avoid fragranced products which often hide harmful ingredients.
Avoid using products marketed as disinfectants, like those sold as “antibacterial.”
Use simple, effective ingredients like vinegar and baking soda when cleaning.
Read labels to avoid quats: Commonly found quats in household products usually include “…onium chloride” in their names. Examples of commonly found quats are:
- Benzalkonium chloride
- Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (C14 60%, C16 30%, C12 5%, C18 5%)
- Alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chloride(C12-14)
- Didecyldimethylammonium chloride
If you do need to disinfect, follow user instructions. For example, many disinfectants instruct you to wash your hands after use — and to also wash surfaces you sprayed the disinfectant on. Some disinfecting products also instruct you to wear protective eyewear and gloves while using. Provide for and request that your household cleaner wear these if disinfecting is truly necessary.