Here’s something that might surprise you. A 20-year study from the University of Bergen in Norway found that women who regularly cleaned, at home or as professional cleaners, lost lung function faster than women who didn’t.
The researchers followed about 6,000 people. For the women who cleaned, the drop in lung function was comparable to smoking 20 cigarettes a day for 10 to 20 years. Cleaners also had a higher risk of developing asthma. (Interestingly, they found no effect in men.) You can read the university’s summary of the study.
That “fresh lemon scent” isn’t so fresh after all.
What’s in the bottle matters
We think of cleaning as healthy, and it should be. But it depends on what you’re cleaning with.
Many off-the-shelf products contain ammonia, bleach, synthetic fragrance and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Sprays turn them into a fine mist that hangs in the air for hours after you’ve finished, and that you breathe in. The researchers’ own advice was simple: skip the sprays, and use water and microfibre cloths for most jobs.
Why I clean with eco-friendly products
I live with asthma and eczema myself, so I know how harsh fumes and chemical residues can feel. It’s a big part of why Ordenada uses eco-friendly products as standard, at no extra cost: no bleachy smell hanging around afterwards, and gentler on your family and pets. Read more in our Eco Promise.
A proper deep clean should leave your home fresher, not your throat scratchier.
Book an eco deep clean
If your chest has ever felt tight after cleaning, or that “chemical clean” smell hangs around for hours, it might be time for a change.
Our eco-friendly deep cleans cost £295 for a two-bedroom home, £330 for three bedrooms and £395 for four. We cover South Warwickshire, including Leamington Spa, Stratford-upon-Avon, Southam, Kineton, Warwick and Henley-in-Arden, and the north Cotswolds, including Shipston-on-Stour and Moreton-in-Marsh. Outside these areas? Get in touch, as we can travel further for larger jobs.
<< Return to news