• All Agents
  • Conglomerates
    • Cleaning agents

Acids
Alkaline agents
Complexing agents (water softeners)
Corrosion inhibitors
Detergents (surfactants)
Disinfectants
Film Formers / Polishers
Perfumes
Preservatives
Solvents

antibac
Antibac triclosan
Chenil and sanicloth wipes
chloraclean
chorlclean
Clean and Buff
Clean and buff spray
Cleaning agent
Cleaning Fluids
Cleaning fumes
clinel wipes
Fast lock cleaner 2
Greyland pine floor gel
Hand gel
Oven cleaners
Ovenette
Polish
Purell hand gel
Screen Wash
softalind
softalind alcohol gel
Softalind hand gel
'squeaky clean' window cleaner
Tristel
Tristel cleaning agent
washer fluid

One study has shown that housewives have a 20-30% increased risk of asthma when compared to nonmanual workers, where the incidence of asthma was higher among those using spray cleaners. Spraying on the cleaner results in a higher exposure as it gets into the air and can be inhaled. Non spray cleaners (liquids, pastes etc) only become inhalable after evaporation which happens relatively slowly and in low quantities. 

Another study shows a  mean duration of cleaning work before the onset of the respiratory symptoms of 14 years (range 1–36 years). In this study occupational asthma was triggered by chemicals in 9 cases (45%) and by moulds in 11 cases (55%). The chemicals were wax-removing substances containing ethanolamines in five cases, an agent containing chloramine-T in one case and chemicals used in the industrial processes in three cases. Of the moulds, the most frequently associated with occupational asthma was Aspergillus fumigatus (nine cases). 

Efforts should be made to reduce exposure when cleaning. Think about whether it is necessary to use a very aggressive product when a less toxic one would suffice. Can a spray be replaced by another product type (liquid, paste etc) to reduce exposure? Is the quantity of cleaning agent appropriate and can the frequency of use be reduced? Windows should always be opened where possible.

Once a worker has become sensitised to a particular agent / chemical it is best to avoid all further contact with that agent, although finding the exact cause of the problem can be difficult given the large variety of chemicals that most cleaners use. Still, once this is done substitution of a particular product / products is usually possible in the workplace. Be sure to check the constituents of each product when doing this.

Some problems can occur from acute inhalations of large quantities of the chemicals involved, especially when mixing different cleaning products. Chlorine, chloramines and trichloramine are all easily produced from mixing simple cleaning products, such as bleach and dishwashing liquid.

There are also potential problems with skin contact (wear gloves) as many cleaning products are irritating to the skin at low concentrations and can cause burns at higher concentrations.