overcleaning

Overcleaning is the practice of cleaning or sanitizing more than is necessary for health and safety, or cleaning in a way that harms protective barriers rather than maintaining them. It can involve excessive frequency, abrasive methods, or the simultaneous use of multiple cleaners or sanitizers without clear need.

Excessive cleaning can have practical and health-related drawbacks. Repeated washing with harsh soaps or hot water can strip the skin’s natural oils, disrupt the protective barrier, and cause dryness, irritation, or dermatitis. In and around the home, overcleaning can reduce beneficial microbial diversity in the living environment and on the skin, with potential implications for immune responses. On surfaces, aggressive cleaning and frequent disinfection can cause material wear and generate chemical residues or waste. In some settings, overuse of antimicrobials contributes to chemical exposure and, when misused, can foster antimicrobial resistance.

Overcleaning tends to be driven by concern about pathogens, cultural norms, anxiety, or misinterpretation of risk, and it can vary across contexts such as households, skincare routines, and healthcare or food service environments. While hygiene is important, strict or indiscriminate cleaning regimes may be unnecessary or counterproductive.

Prevention and balanced practice emphasize targeting cleaning to visible soil or evidence-based risk, using gentle or pH-balanced cleansers when possible, and reserving strong disinfectants for appropriate situations. Emphasis on proper hand hygiene, appropriate product use, and allowing natural microbial communities to re-establish can help maintain hygiene without the drawbacks of overcleaning.