Simple solution to clean, healthy home

Hot, soapy water with a bit of elbow grease and an open window are cleaner, greener and much less toxic substitutes for the array of chemical household cleaners and air fresheners that abound in most homes, according to a WA environmental toxicologist.

They are also much cheaper.

Mirella Goetzmann, from the WA Health Department, said many people were very hung up about being germ-free - but the answer was not to go on the attack using chemical sprays.

"Most times you don't need to have products that claim they kill 99 per cent of household germs," she said.

"Hot, soapy water will do the job just as well. If you need to get stubborn stains off, use a cream cleaner rather than something you spray."

Ms Goetzmann said one surface cleaner would probably suffice for the whole house because those used in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry might well have the same active ingredient.

Nicole Bijlsma, author of Healthy Home, Healthy Family, said the most important cleaning agent was a good set of microfibre cloths and mop.

"The beauty about the way they work is that they pick up the bacteria in the dirt and are not chemically mutating them … and are not creating super-germs," she said.

"The obsession with germs is really a problem in our society."

Ms Goetzmann said if people did use household products that contained chemicals, it was important to be mindful of the amount of time spent using them.

"Any domestic cleaner you pick off the shelf represents a hazard but it also depends on the exposure, how it's used, how often it's used and how much is used," she said. "If you are using it as directed by the label and you are careful ... the risk is very low."

If someone was not comfortable with following the safety instructions such as putting on gloves or opening a window when using a product, perhaps they shouldn't use the product, she said.

"Just take a minute to think about why you are using a product and in terms of safety, be aware that the safety label is there for a reason," she said.

"It is important to use only the recommended amounts and not to mix cleaning products because you don't know what the reaction might be; for example, don't mix common household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) or a bleach-based product with other chemicals."

Bleach and bleach-based toilet cleaners should not be used with vinegar or ammonia.

"We have had examples of individuals who have quite innocently gone to town to really clean a toilet and applied a toilet cleaner and then used an ammonia solution or vinegar solution and produced vapours that have knocked them out," Ms Goetzmann said.

Air fresheners, including plug-in ones, emitted chemicals and particulates into the air that were then inhaled. Small particles and aerosols could go deep into the lungs.

"We would be concerned about people who would prefer to always spray air fresheners rather than open a window," she said.

Ozone generators as air purifiers were no better than sprays.

"The amount of ozone that is needed to counteract an indoor pollutant or odour is up at the harmful levels," she said. The small ones for home use were useless, including the personal ones aimed at baby's rooms.

"Ozone is actually more harmful to lungs than probably the thing you are trying to get rid of," Ms Goetzmann said.

If people insisted on using an air cleaner, they should ensure it had a HEPA or fine particle filter and a powerful air exchange capacity.

Even plain candles gave off particulates, while scented candles and incense gave off chemicals and particulates.

"Some people may not be aware that plug-in room fresheners and candles emit chemicals," Ms Goetzmann said.

"The answer is to use them sparingly and wisely and then you can enjoy them. Don't put them in children's rooms, because babies and young children are more vulnerable to eye, nose and lung irritation."

Indoor air quality was becoming more important as homes were becoming more energy efficient. Indoor air was not being ventilated or replaced as often, so air quality deteriorated.

Householders should also be careful to ensure their gas heaters were flued and serviced regularly.