Back-to-school season usually means shopping for notebooks, pencils, water bottles, and backpacks. But one of the biggest sources of chemical exposure in schools isn’t in a student’s backpack – it’s in the cleaning products used every day on desks, tables, shared supplies, cafeteria and bathroom surfaces, and high-touch areas throughout the building.
Most parents assume that if a cleaning product is being used in a classroom, it must be safe for children. Unfortunately, many conventional cleaning and disinfecting products contain ingredients that can affect indoor air quality and may irritate sensitive skin, eyes, and respiratory systems.
The good news? Schools don’t have to choose between effective germ control and safer ingredients.
Today, many schools, daycares, preschools, and educational facilities are exploring safer cleaning and disinfecting options that reduce exposure to harsh chemicals while still helping protect students and staff from the spread of germs.
Here’s what parents, teachers, and school administrators should know about choosing non-toxic cleaning products for schools and classrooms.
Why School Cleaning Products Matter
Students spend roughly 6–8 hours a day in classrooms, often five days a week, during some of the most important years of their physical development. During that time, they interact with desks, chairs, shared supplies, cafeteria tables, water fountains, bathroom fixtures, and countless other surfaces that require constant cleaning and disinfecting.
Teachers and school staff spend even more time in these environments, often for decades.
While cleaning products play an important role in reducing the spread of germs, the ingredients they contain also affect the classroom environment. Because children breathe more air relative to their body weight than adults and because their bodies are still developing, many parents and educators are paying closer attention to the cleaning chemicals used in schools.
Common Cleaning Ingredients Found in Schools
Many schools use cleaning products that contain ingredients associated with respiratory irritation, skin irritation, poor indoor air quality, or other health concerns. Understanding these ingredients can help schools make more informed decisions.
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats)
Quaternary ammonium compounds, commonly called quats, are among the most widely used disinfecting chemicals in schools, healthcare facilities, offices, and public buildings.
Quats are effective disinfectants, but they have also become the focus of growing health concerns. Research has linked quat exposure to respiratory irritation and asthma, particularly among people with frequent exposure to cleaning products.
Emerging research has also raised questions about potential reproductive, developmental, and endocrine effects. Researchers have found that quats can persist on surfaces after cleaning, meaning exposure may continue long after a room has been disinfected.
Learn more about what quats are and why many families choose to avoid them.
Fragrance and Hidden Phthalates
Many classroom cleaning products are fragranced. What most people don’t realize is that “fragrance” is not a single ingredient.
The one word “fragrance” on a label can represent a mixture of dozens or even hundreds of individual chemicals that aren’t required to be listed on product labels.
Fragrance mixtures commonly contain phthalates, a class of chemicals used to help scents last longer. Research has linked certain phthalates to hormone disruption, asthma and allergy concerns, reproductive effects, cardiovascular disease, and other health risks.
For parents and teachers trying to reduce unnecessary chemical exposure, fragrance-free cleaning products can be a simple place to start.
Learn more about what fragrance really means in cleaning products and what phthalates are and why many consumers avoid them.
Bleach
Bleach has long been a go-to disinfectant in schools because it is effective and inexpensive. However, bleach also produces strong fumes that can irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory system.
Because classrooms are enclosed environments where students and teachers spend hours each day, many schools are exploring alternatives that provide effective disinfection without bleach fumes.
Learn more about how bleach works and what to consider before using it.
How Cleaning Products Affect Indoor Air Quality in Schools
When people think about cleaning products, they often think about what lands on surfaces. But many cleaning products also affect the air.
Cleaning sprays, disinfectants, air fresheners, and fragranced products can release chemicals into the classroom environment where students and teachers breathe them throughout the day.
For children with asthma, allergies, eczema, or chemical sensitivities, these exposures may be especially important. It’s estimated that as many as 30% of US children, and 40% of adults, have asthma or allergies.
Many schools are now evaluating cleaning products not only for how well they kill germs but also for how they affect indoor air quality and overall health.
For students and teachers with asthma, allergies, eczema, or other sensitivities, choosing the right cleaning products can be especially important. Learn what to look for in asthma and allergy safe cleaning products, how cleaning products can contribute to asthma triggers, and which cleaning products are often recommended for people with asthma and allergies.
School Cleaning Ingredients: Quick Comparison
| Ingredient | Commonly Found In | Why Some Schools Are Moving Away From It |
|---|---|---|
| Bleach | Disinfectants and sanitizers | Strong fumes and respiratory irritation concerns |
| Quats | Disinfectant sprays and wipes | Asthma concerns, surface persistence, and emerging reproductive and developmental research |
| Fragrance | Many cleaners, disinfectants, and air fresheners | May contain undisclosed phthalates and other chemicals |
| Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) | Force of Nature and certain disinfecting technologies | Contains no bleach, quats, fragrance, dyes, or preservatives |
What Makes a School-Safe Cleaning Product?
Every school has unique cleaning needs, but many parents and educators look for products that:
- Effectively clean and disinfect
- Are EPA-registered for use in schools
- Do not contain bleach, quats, phthalates or fragrances
- Use transparent ingredient disclosure
- Can be used around children with no rinsing required
For many schools, the goal is not simply reducing germs – it’s creating a healthier overall learning environment.
Why Some Schools Are Choosing Hypochlorous Acid-Based Disinfectants
One technology receiving increasing attention in schools is hypochlorous acid (HOCl).
Hypochlorous acid is a compound naturally produced by the immune system to help fight germs. It is used in wound care, veterinary care, skincare products, and certain disinfecting technologies.
You can learn more in our guides to what hypochlorous acid is, what electrolyzed water is, and how electrolyzed water works.
Force of Nature uses electricity to transform water, salt, and vinegar into a multi-purpose cleaner and EPA-registered disinfectant powered by hypochlorous acid.
Force of Nature is EPA-registered to kill 99.9% of germs and contains no bleach, quats, added fragrance, dyes, or preservatives. It’s EPA-registered for use in schools daycares, hospitals, and more.
How Parents and Teachers Can Advocate for Safer School Cleaning Products
If you’re curious about the cleaning products used in your school, consider asking:
- What disinfectants are used in classrooms?
- Do they contain quats? Bleach?
- Are the cleaning products fragranced?
- Are safer alternatives available?
- Are any products certified by organizations such as Green Seal?
Many schools have already begun evaluating their cleaning programs through the lens of indoor air quality, asthma prevention, and ingredient safety.
A Cleaner, Healthier Learning Environment
Students and teachers deserve classrooms that support both learning and well-being.
By understanding common cleaning ingredients and exploring safer alternatives, schools can help reduce unnecessary chemical exposures while still maintaining high standards for cleanliness and disinfection.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, administrator, or caregiver, asking questions about the products used in schools is one meaningful way to help create a healthier learning environment for everyone.
