- Be aware that cleaning products may cause health problems, especially development and/or exacerbation of respiratory symptoms or asthma. If symptoms occur during and following cleaning activities, carefully inspect the cleaning products and change products as necessary.
- Always check the MSDS for products, and avoid products with many and/or high concentrations of toxic chemicals.
- Minimize the use of products with fragrances. The added fragrance ingredients are often unnecessary for cleaning and many of them can quickly react with ozone to form secondary pollutants.
- Exposures to the chemicals released from cleaning products are determined not only by the product formulation but also by how they are applied and by the amount of ventilation. Some easy ways to reduce health risks include: bringing in more fresh air (i.e., by opening the window) during and after cleaning, avoiding aerosol cans when possible, and using cleaning equipment/supplies (such as microfiber cloths) that allow cleaning with smaller amounts of cleaning agents.
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Indoor Air Quality 