The answer may surprise you. What we use to clean our homes can matter as much as how often we clean.

A major independent study followed 6,235 participants over approximately 20 years, examining the relationship between household cleaning activities and lung function.

Published in 2018 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the research found that women who regularly cleaned their homes experienced a faster decline in lung function than women who did not perform cleaning activities. Similar findings were observed among women who cleaned professionally.

Researchers also found associations with both spray cleaners and other liquid cleaning products, raising important questions about repeated exposure to ingredients that may irritate the respiratory system.

What does this mean for your home?

It doesn't mean you should stop cleaning! It means understanding what's in your cleaning products, using them as directed, providing adequate ventilation, and considering lower-exposure alternatives can be important steps toward protecting your respiratory health.

The study was observational, so it doesn't establish that every cleaning product causes lung damage. But it offers a compelling reason to pay closer attention to what we're using in our homes.

Want to see the research for yourself?

Click here to read the independent 20-year lung health study.

Because a truly healthy home isn't just about what looks clean. It's also about the air we breathe.

What parents should know

more info