The Hidden Cost of “Clean”

How Non-Biodegradable & Harmful Detergents Damage Our Health and Environment

When we think about cleaning our homes, we usually think about bacteria, grease, and sparkling surfaces. We don’t always think about what happens after we rinse the product down the drain — or how the chemicals in mainstream detergents and cleaners affect our bodies, waterways and ecosystems. At Fito Plus, we believe a clean home shouldn’t come at the cost of clean water, healthy communities or thriving wildlife. Here’s what you need to know.

What happens to cleaning chemicals after you rinse them away?

Most household wastewater flows into sewage systems, rivers or sewage works. Many common detergent ingredients are persistent or slow to biodegrade, meaning they linger in the environment or transform into secondary pollutants. Two of the biggest environmental problems linked to conventional cleaners are:

• Eutrophication and algal blooms: Detergent-derived phosphorus (phosphate) is a major nutrient that fuels algal growth in rivers and dams. Large algal blooms reduce oxygen in water, kill fish and aquatic life, create unpleasant odours and can produce toxins harmful to humans and animals. Studies and water authorities have repeatedly linked detergent phosphorus to eutrophication in South African water bodies. Reducing phosphate inputs is a critical local and global water quality measure. WRC+1

• Microplastics and persistent particles: Some cleaning products (and the packaging or additives they use) contribute to microplastic pollution. Microplastics have been detected across South African rivers, sediments and drinking water samples — and concentrations in some urban waterways are worrying, showing the pathway from everyday consumer use to environmental contamination. Microplastics accumulate in sediments and organisms and represent an emerging public-health concern. SpringerLink+1

Health impacts inside the home

Cleaning products don’t only affect the environment — they also affect people. Many household cleaners emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other hazardous chemicals that can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, trigger or worsen asthma, and cause headaches, dizziness and other symptoms. Vulnerable people — children, older adults, pregnant people and those with respiratory conditions — are at higher risk. Large reviews and public health organisations highlight the connection between routine household product use and increased respiratory problems. Health+1

South Africa — why this matters locally

South Africa faces particular pressures that make the problem urgent:

• Eutrophication risk from nutrient loading is a documented, ongoing threat to South Africa’s inland waters. Research and government water-research bodies have flagged phosphate inputs (including detergent phosphorus) as a contributor to local water-quality decline and algal blooms. This affects drinking-water treatment costs, biodiversity, and recreational or agricultural uses of water. SpringerLink+1

• Microplastic contamination has been detected in multiple South African studies and locations — including drinking and surface waters — indicating the presence and persistence of plastic particulates in local waterways. These findings show that pollutants from everyday products are reaching the environment and potentially entering food and water supplies. SpringerLink+1

Which ingredients should alarm you? (What to avoid)

Below are commonly used ingredients in mainstream detergents and cleaners that raise environmental or health concerns. This list helps consumers make informed choices and helps brands be more transparent.

• Phosphates (phosphorus compounds) — cause eutrophication and algal blooms in freshwater bodies. Banned or restricted in many regions for laundry and dishwasher detergents for this reason. WRC+1

• Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) and related alkylphenol ethoxylates — break down into nonylphenol, an endocrine-disrupting compound toxic to aquatic life. Banned in parts of the world but still present in some products. ECOS®

• Sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate (SLS / SLES) — effective surfactants but can irritate skin and eyes and sometimes contain traces of harmful by-products if not properly purified. Sheet Yeah!

• Triclosan / Triclocarban — antibacterial agents linked to environmental persistence and potential hormone effects; many regulators discourage or ban them in consumer soaps. ECOS®

• Quaternary ammonium compounds (QUATs / benzalkonium chloride) — used as disinfectants and fabric softeners; can be respiratory irritants and are toxic to aquatic organisms. Their increased use during the pandemic has raised concerns about resistance and environmental toxicity. Sheet Yeah!+1

• Synthetic fragrances (phthalates and complex VOC mixes) — contribute to indoor VOC exposure and may include chemicals linked to endocrine disruption and respiratory irritation. Fragrance is a common source of hidden VOCs in “scented” cleaners. Health

• Chlorine / sodium hypochlorite and ammonia — effective disinfectants but dangerous if misused (e.g., mixing bleach with acids or ammonia produces toxic gases) and they can form toxic by-products. TIME

• Microplastic beads & polymeric additives — used historically in scrubs and some cleaning formulations or as fillers; they contribute to microplastic pollution when washed into waterways. UWC+1

Why certified biodegradability and ingredient transparency matter

Labels like “biodegradable” can be ambiguous unless backed by tests. The most useful indicators that a product is genuinely low-impact are:

• Third-party certifications or test references (OECD biodegradability tests, Green Seal, EPA Safer Choice, EU ecolabels, etc.)

• Published Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and supplier biodegradation data for key ingredients

• A full ingredient list (not just marketing claims) so consumers can spot harmful compounds themselves

Transparent brands provide the documents or testing references that allow consumers to verify biodegradability, aquatic toxicity and VOC profiles.

Practical steps households can take right now

• Swap cleaners that list any of the harmful ingredients above for plant-based, readily-biodegradable formulas.

• Choose concentrated refills or bulk purchasing to reduce packaging waste and plastic demand.

• Avoid fragranced products where possible (look for “fragrance-free” or fully disclosed fragrance ingredients).

• Support brands that publish third-party test results, ingredient lists and packaging-recycling commitments.

• Improve ventilation when cleaning and use gloves to reduce skin exposure.

What Fito Plus does differently

At Fito Plus we design formulas that clean effectively using plant-based ingredients and biologically active systems, choose recycled and recyclable packaging, and avoid the problematic chemicals above. We also document our sourcing and biodegradability claims so you can trust the products you bring into your home.

Sources & further reading

(Selected references used above — for readers who want to verify or read deeper.)

• Water Research Commission: Detergent Phosphorus in South Africa: Impact… (WRC report). WRC

• Griffin NJ, Eutrophication of Inland Surface Waters in South Africa (Scielo / research review). SciELO+1

• Mokgalaka-Fleischmann NS et al., Microplastic occurrence and fate in South Africa (2024). SpringerLink

• Health reporting on VOCs and cleaning products — studies and coverage in Time / Health (reviews of VOCs, household exposure and risks). Health+1

• ECOS and other green-chemistry resources listing hazardous detergent ingredients and safer alternatives. ECOS®+1