Can perfumes and cleaning products worsen the air quality in your home?

Many people associate the scent of a detergent or scented candle with a feeling of hygiene and well-being. In reality, some cleaning and air freshening products can worsen indoor air quality, especially in poorly ventilated homes. The paradox is simple: what we use to make our homes cleaner can introduce new pollutants.

When we use a deodorant or scented detergent, they release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the air, including formaldehyde and solvents. These substances can irritate the eyes and respiratory tract, worsen symptoms in asthmatics, and further pollute the air in the home. A pleasant smell is not an indicator of safety.

The problem with chemical reactions

Some fragrant ingredients can react with ozone in the air to form ultrafine particles. These particles are so small that they can penetrate deep into the lungs. Mixing cleaning products such as bleach with ammonia can be dangerous as this mixture contributes to the release of additional toxic gases that remain suspended in the environment.

Candles, especially scented or low-quality ones, can also emit fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and VOCs from synthetic fragrances. In closed, unventilated environments, the contribution can be significant, especially if used daily.

It is important to bear in mind that most contemporary homes are designed to be energy efficient. This is good for energy savings, but it can mean less air exchange. As a result, pollutants released during cleaning tend to accumulate.

Home and office: why monitoring makes a difference

Good housekeeping practices include: always ventilating during and after cleaning, avoiding mixing chemicals, choosing unscented detergents, limiting the use of aerosol sprays, and identifying the cause of odors rather than covering them up.

A key aspect of maintaining good air quality is to start monitoring everything we breathe: we cannot improve something we do not know about.

Discover Radoff solutions to start monitoring your everyday living environments: