VOCs in Cleaning Products: The Invisible Chemicals You Breathe Every Day

Reviewed by Matt Keasey, Ph.D. (Molecular Neuroscience) & Kay Baker, CEO • Last updated: March 2026

What Are VOCs? A Simple Explanation

A volatile organic compound is a carbon-based chemical that evaporates easily. "Volatile" means it transitions from liquid to gas at normal room temperatures. "Organic" in chemistry means it contains carbon atoms — it has nothing to do with "organic" as a food label.

When you spray a conventional cleaner on your kitchen counter, the liquid hits the surface and starts evaporating almost immediately. As it evaporates, the VOCs in the formula become airborne gases. 

The tricky thing about VOCs is that they're not a single chemical. The term describes a massive category — hundreds of different chemicals qualify. Some are relatively harmless at low concentrations. Others, like formaldehyde and benzene, are classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Most conventional cleaning products contain a cocktail of multiple VOCs, and the combined effect of breathing several simultaneously is still being studied.

The EPA reports that levels of about a dozen common organic pollutants are 2 to 5 times higher inside homes than outside, regardless of whether the homes are in rural or highly industrial areas. Cleaning products are one of the primary contributors.

Source: EPA — Volatile Organic Compounds' Impact on Indoor Air Quality

A landmark 2018 study published in Science by McDonald et al. found that volatile chemical products — including cleaning products, personal care products, and coatings — now constitute half of fossil fuel VOC emissions in industrialized cities, rivaling the contribution of vehicle exhaust. As transportation emissions have decreased due to stricter regulations, the relative importance of chemical products as VOC sources has grown dramatically.

Source: McDonald et al., Science, 2018 — "Volatile chemical products emerging as largest petrochemical source of urban organic emissions"

Which Cleaning Products Release the Most VOCs?

Not all cleaning products are equal when it comes to VOC emissions. Some formats and formulations are significantly worse than others.

Aerosol Sprays

Aerosol sprays top the list. The pressurized spray mechanism creates ultra-fine chemical droplets that remain suspended in air for extended periods. The propellants themselves are often VOCs, and they carry the active cleaning chemicals into your breathing zone in a highly bioavailable form.

Bleach-Based Bathroom Cleaners

Bleach-based cleaners release chlorinated gases during and after use. A 2017 study by Wong et al. published in Indoor Air measured significant increases in airborne chlorine species — including gaseous chlorine (Cl₂) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) — after routine floor washing with a commercial bleach solution. Separate research has documented chloroform and carbon tetrachloride forming during bleach use indoors, with concentrations reaching levels that raise health concerns for regular users.

Source: Wong et al., Indoor Air, 2017 — "Observations and impacts of bleach washing on indoor chlorine chemistry"

Ammonia-Based Glass Cleaners

Ammonia-based glass cleaners release ammonia gas rapidly. The fast evaporation that makes these products streak-free on glass is the same property that delivers chemical fumes directly into your lungs.

Scented Products

Scented products of all types are major VOC contributors. A 2011 study by Steinemann et al. at the University of Washington tested 25 common scented consumer products — including air fresheners, laundry detergents, cleaners, and personal care products — and found they emitted 133 different VOCs, with an average of 17 VOCs per product. Of those 133 compounds, 24 are classified as toxic or hazardous under U.S. federal law, and each product emitted at least one of these regulated chemicals. Only one of all the VOCs detected was listed on any product label, and only two compounds appeared on any material safety data sheet across all products tested.

Source: Steinemann et al., Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 2011 — reported in Environmental Health Perspectives

Laundry Products

Laundry products contribute VOCs through dryer exhaust and through chemical off-gassing from freshly laundered fabrics. Steinemann's research at the University of Washington also found that scented laundry products emit hazardous chemicals through dryer vents, sending VOCs directly into outdoor air and back into homes.

Health Effects of VOC Exposure

VOC exposure affects health through two pathways: immediate (acute) effects during cleaning, and long-term (chronic) effects from repeated exposure over months and years.

Short-Term Effects

Symptoms during or shortly after using conventional products include eye irritation, nose and throat irritation, headaches, dizziness, and nausea. These are your body's direct response to chemical irritation. These symptoms are widely reported and are commonly dismissed as a normal part of cleaning.

Asthmatics are particularly vulnerable and can experience more severe reactions, including wheezing, chest tightness, and full asthma attacks. The American Lung Association identifies cleaning product fumes — particularly those containing VOCs and fragrances — as known asthma triggers, and recommends using products without VOCs, fragrances, irritants, or flammable ingredients, and avoiding air fresheners altogether.

Source: American Lung Association — Cleaning Supplies and Household Chemicals

Long-Term Effects

Chronic VOC exposure from regular cleaning has been linked to serious health outcomes. The research here is sobering.

Respiratory damage. A 2018 study from the University of Bergen tracked 6,235 participants over 20 years and found that women who cleaned regularly with conventional sprays experienced lung function decline comparable to smoking somewhat less than 20 pack-years. The lead author characterized this as roughly equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes per day over the same 20-year period. Professional cleaners showed even more pronounced decline. The study was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Source: Svanes et al., American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2018

Cancer risk. Several cleaning product VOCs are classified as carcinogenic or possibly carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Formaldehyde and benzene are both Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans). Chloroform — which can form when bleach reacts with organic matter — is classified as Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans). Long-term, repeated exposure contributes to cumulative risk.

Source: IARC Monographs — Agents Classified by the IARC

Endocrine disruption. Some fragrance-related VOCs — particularly phthalates — interfere with hormone function. This is especially concerning for children, whose developing endocrine systems are more vulnerable to disruption.

Neurological effects. Chronic VOC exposure has been associated with memory impairment, difficulty concentrating, and mood changes — most documented in professional cleaners but relevant to anyone who cleans frequently.

How to Identify Low-VOC and VOC-Free Cleaning Products

Reducing your cleaning-related VOC exposure is straightforward once you know what to look for. Here are the most effective steps, in order of impact.

Eliminate synthetic fragrance across all products. This is the single most impactful change. The Steinemann research showed that fragrance is the primary vehicle for undisclosed VOCs in cleaning products. Switch to fragrance-free formulas for laundry detergent, dish soap, surface cleaners, and bathroom products.

Check for third-party certifications. Check for third-party certifications. EWG Verified screens every ingredient against a list of unacceptable substances covering health, ecotoxicity, and contamination concerns, and requires manufacturers to submit VOC levels that must fall below category-specific limits. EPA Safer Choice evaluates every ingredient for human health and environmental safety and restricts VOC content to minimize indoor air pollution. Both certifications require full ingredient disclosure — including fragrance components — that goes beyond what standard product labels require.

Read ingredient lists for red flags. Avoid products listing "fragrance" (which can contain dozens of undisclosed VOCs), unspecified "solvents," or specific VOCs like formaldehyde or toluene.

Choose plant and mineral-based formulas. Plant-derived surfactants, citric acid, and mineral-based cleaning agents generally produce lower VOC emissions than conventional synthetic alternatives. Note that some plant-derived ingredients — particularly citrus-based terpenes like limonene — are themselves VOCs and can react with indoor ozone to form secondary pollutants, so fragrance-free versions of plant-based products are preferable. 

The Bigger Picture: Your Total Chemical Exposure

VOCs from cleaning products don't exist in isolation. Your total daily VOC exposure comes from multiple sources — cleaning products, personal care products, air fresheners, new furniture off-gassing, paint, and more. Cleaning products happen to be one of the most concentrated and frequent sources, partly because of how often they're used and partly because of the spraying and wiping actions that actively release chemicals into the air.

The households that benefit most from reducing cleaning VOCs are those with young children (who breathe faster relative to their body weight and are more vulnerable to chemical exposure), pregnant women, people with asthma or respiratory conditions, and anyone who cleans frequently — whether professionally or at home.

Frequently Asked Questions