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Everyone loves a clean home, but medical experts are warning that strongly scented chemical cleaners may pose hidden dangers.
In a video posted to TikTok, Dr. Mhayar “Max” Maddahali (@itsdrmax) shared that using many cleaning products regularly is the equivalent of smoking a pack of cigarettes per day for your lungs.
Referencing a study published by the National Library of Medicine, Dr. Maddahali explained that regular cleaning can lead to decreased lung function.
“Excess asthma and respiratory symptoms have also been documented in persons cleaning at home,” the study notes.
Interestingly, the study found that both occupational and domestic cleaning were associated with accelerated declines in spirometric parameters among women over 20 years, but not among men.
Dr. Maddahali reveals in the clip that people who regularly use cleaning products also face a higher risk of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
This effect is not limited to adults, either. Children exposed to these chemicals have more instances of asthma, wheezing and allergies than children who are not.
To conduct the study, researchers recruited more than 6,000 adults aged 20 to 44 years old between 1992 and 1994. Researchers then followed up with these adults again between 1998 and 2002, then again between 2010 and 2012.
Not a New Phenomenon
According to the Mayo Clinic, the notion that chemical fumes from cleaning products decrease lung function is not new.
Lung function typically decreases as people age, though most do not begin to really notice it until they reach their 50s or 60s. However, factors like smoking can contribute to respiratory decline earlier in life.
“Exposure to respiratory irritants, such as dust and chemical fumes, has been suspected to play a role, as well. The study results examining use of cleaners are further evidence,” the Mayo Clinic notes.
Safer Ways to Clean
Though the results of this study are worrisome, they are not a reason to stop cleaning your home. Dust buildup can also irritate the lungs, which can be especially harmful for those with asthma and allergies.
Instead, Dr. Maddahali and other experts encourage people to use safer cleaning products when scrubbing down their home.
In the clip, the doctor encourages people to open a window while cleaning if possible, use a microfiber cloth with water and pick fragrance-free cleaning options.
Other less-toxic solutions include white vinegar, baking soda or washing soda. The Mayo Clinic also reminds people to never mix cleaning products.
Online, many people agree that safer cleaning products do exist.
“Another reason to use eco products—anything that says it’s dangerous for the water life surely isn’t the best for us either?” wrote one concerned TikTok user.
“That’s why I clean the old-fashioned way: soap water, maybe a bit of lemon juice,” another added.
With reports that this problem is more prevalent in groups of professional cleaners that are exposed to industrial cleaning chemicals every day, some chimed in with their own hacks to stay safe.
“I don’t use Lysol or Clorox because they make me gag instantly. I use bland all-purpose cleaner that I dilute myself. A small capful in a big spray bottle of water,” shared one self-identified house cleaner.
A clean home is nice, but so is breathing at maximum lung function. Next time you tidy up, consider switching to less toxic products, or even going the natural route.
Some lemon juice and vinegar can go a long way.
Newsweek has reached out to @itsdrmax for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.
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