Three Ways “Cleaning” Makes You Sick

Disinfecting that isn’t: precleaning is needed before applying disinfectant in many cases, as soils deactivate the active ingredients in many disinfectants. Also, applying disinfectant and immediately wiping or drying the surface does not allow proper dwell or set time for the actives to kill germs in many cases.

Cleaning that isn’t: Almost all methods remove some soil, but some also redistribute it. Examples include wiping using the same cloth which when “loaded” with soils begins to redistribute them, including microbes that hitch a ride on dirt. Vacuuming that stirs up dust rather than removing it, including vacuuming with HEPA-type filters when the entire system needs evaluating as dust can escape from little known places such as where the beater-brush hits the carpet.

Deodorizing that pollutes: Fragrances are almost always synthetic petrochemicals that are linked to hormone disruption (aka, being endocrine disruptors). Go fragrance-free or ventilate thoroughly when cleaning and for a short time afterwards.