Is Universal Cleaner a safer choice for asthma and allergies?Updated 9 days ago

Koh Universal Cleaner is approved under the Sensitive Choice program, run independently by the National Asthma Council of Australia, which assesses products as better options for people with asthma. The formula is two ingredients: potassium hydroxide and laboratory grade purified water. There is no added fragrance, no chlorine, no bleach, no ammonia and no added solvents, which are the airborne triggers most often linked to asthma symptoms in conventional cleaning products. Triggers vary from person to person, so patch-test first if you have a known reactive condition.

Koh Universal Cleaner is certified by Allergy UK, the UK's leading allergy charity, and recognised by the Eczema Association of Australasia as suitable for eczema-prone households. The two-ingredient formula is made without the additives most often linked to reactions in cleaning products: synthetic fragrances, preservatives such as parabens and methylisothiazolinone, dyes, and irritant surfactants. Sensitivities vary from person to person. If you have a known reactive condition such as contact dermatitis, patch-test a small area before wider use.

Asthma and allergy triggers are personal, and two people with the same diagnosis can react to completely different things. That is why Sensitive Choice, Allergy UK and the Eczema Association of Australasia assess a formula against defined criteria rather than issuing a verdict for every household. Those assessments tell you Koh Universal Cleaner cleared independent thresholds set by bodies that specialise in asthma, allergy and eczema. Your own triggers are the part only you can test: patch-test a small area, clean with a window open the first time, and talk to your doctor or specialist about your own history.

A few routines cut exposure further for anyone managing asthma, allergies or eczema. Ventilate the room by opening a window or door. Spray onto the cloth rather than misting the surface, which reduces airborne mist in small or enclosed rooms. Pair Koh Universal Cleaner with Koh Universal Cloths, which trap dust, pollen and dander rather than flicking them into the air. Wear gloves if you have contact dermatitis, and keep a window open or a fan on for 10 to 15 minutes after you finish.