Cleaning and Air Freshener Ingredients Linked to Cancer: What to Look For on Labels Before You Buy

Most people assume that if a product is sold openly in stores, it must be safe.

But many common cleaning and air care products contain ingredients that have been linked to increased cancer risk through occupational studies, toxicology data, and long-term exposure research. These ingredients are not always banned. They are often regulated by concentration, which means repeated household exposure still matters.

This guide is not meant to alarm you. It is meant to help you recognize names on labels so you can make informed choices while shopping. Especially when buying all-purpose cleaners, bathroom and toilet cleaners, disinfectant sprays, air fresheners and plug-ins, scented candles and sprays.

Ingredient	Linked Cancer	Where Found	Label names to watch for	Why it matters
Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde Releasing Preservatives	Nasopharyngeal cancer Leukemia	Disinfectant sprays All-purpose cleaners Air fresheners Fabric sprays	Formaldehyde Quaternium-15 DMDM hydantoin Imidazolidinyl urea Diazolidinyl urea	Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen (IARC Group 1). Some preservatives slowly release formaldehyde over time, especially in warm or humid environments like bathrooms.
Benzene and Benzene Contamination	Leukemia Blood and bone marrow cancers	Aerosol sprays Some disinfectants Air fresheners Contaminated alcohol based products	Benzene may not be listed directly Often appears as a contaminant in petroleum-derived ingredients	Benzene is a known human carcinogen. Even low-level chronic exposure has been linked to blood cancers.
1,4-Dioxane (Contaminant)	Liver cancer Kidney cancer	Liquid dish soaps All-purpose cleaners Floor cleaners Laundry products	1,4-dioxane is not listed on labels. It forms during manufacturing. Ingredients that may indicate contamination: PEG Polyethylene Laureth Sodium laureth sulfate Ingredients ending in “-eth”	1,4-dioxane is classified as a probable human carcinogen and is readily absorbed through skin.
Phthalates (Often hidden under “Fragrance”)	Breast cancer Reproductive cancers	Air fresheners Plug-ins Scented cleaners Candles	“Fragrance” “Parfum”	Phthalates are hormone-disrupting chemicals. They are strongly associated with reproductive toxicity and may contribute to hormone-driven cancers.
Triclosan	Liver cancer (animal studies) Thyroid disruption related cancers	Antibacterial cleaners Dish soaps Older disinfectants	Triclosan	Triclosan disrupts hormones and has been shown to promote tumor growth in animal models.
Perchloroethylene (PERC)	Esophageal cancer Bladder cancer Cervical cancer	Some heavy duty degreasers Stain removers Dry cleaning related products	Perchloroethylene Tetrachloroethylene	PERC is classified as a probable human carcinogen and is especially harmful when inhaled.
Ammonia (High concentrations)	Lung irritation Increased cancer risk through chronic inflammation	Glass cleaners Bathroom cleaners	Ammonia Ammonium hydroxide	While not classified as a direct carcinogen, repeated inhalation causes tissue damage and chronic inflammation, which is a known cancer risk factor.
Chlorine and Chlorine Releasing Compounds	Bladder cancer Colorectal cancer	Bleach Disinfectants Toilet bowl cleaners	Sodium hypochlorite	Chlorine reacts with organic matter to form byproducts linked to cancer, especially through inhalation.

Air fresheners and plug-ins deserve special attention because they are designed to be inhaled. Common concerns include formaldehyde release, phthalates, benzene contamination, and ultrafine particles. If a product is meant to scent the air continuously, ingredient transparency matters even more.

How to Shop Smarter

If an ingredient name is unclear, that is often a signal to pause. Here are a couple things to look for when shopping in stores or online.

• Avoid products listing fragrance without disclosure

• Be cautious with aerosols

• Choose fragrance-free or clearly labeled essential-oil-based products

• Look for short ingredient lists

• Avoid antibacterial claims unless truly necessary

A nontoxic home is not built through perfection. It is built through awareness, reduction, and gradual change. Each ingredient you recognize gives you more agency in your space. Over time, fewer exposures add up. Your home should support health, not work against it.