About CleaningHouses
We are an independent analytical platform dedicated to the science of indoor microbiology, the chemical evolution of sanitation, and the relationship between built environments and human health in modern urban Germany.
We are an independent analytical platform dedicated to the science of indoor microbiology, the chemical evolution of sanitation, and the relationship between built environments and human health in modern urban Germany.
CleaningHouses.org was founded in 2019 by a group of microbiologists, public health researchers, and science communicators who recognized a critical gap in accessible, rigorous English-language analysis of indoor environmental science in German-speaking Europe.
While academic journals publish the underlying research, the findings rarely reach the professionals who need them most: facilities managers designing cleaning protocols, health officers drafting building standards, architects specifying materials, and the millions of people who spend upward of 90% of their daily lives inside closed buildings.
We bridge that gap. Every article we publish is grounded in peer-reviewed sources, written by subject-matter experts, and edited to meet the standards of leading science journalism platforms.
CleaningHouses.org operates with full editorial independence. We do not sell products, accept advertiser influence over editorial content, or publish sponsored article disguised as independent analysis. All sponsored content is clearly labeled as "Sponsored" or "Partner Content" in accordance with applicable German and EU advertising regulations.
Metagenomic surveys of office buildings, hospitals, schools, transport vehicles, and residential environments across Germany and broader Europe. Identifying dominant microbial taxa, their sources, and health implications.
Analysis of disinfectant formulations — active substances, mechanisms of action, spectrum of efficacy, emerging resistance patterns, and regulatory frameworks governing their use in Germany and the EU.
HVAC microbiomes, water system biofilm risk, surface material selection, and the microbiological implications of modern architectural choices including passive ventilation and closed-loop water systems.
Coverage of German Federal Environment Agency guidelines, EU Biocidal Products Regulation updates, DIN/ISO standards for building hygiene, and international comparative analysis.
Our contributors include active researchers, retired public health officers, and experienced science journalists. All contributors disclose affiliations and potential conflicts of interest before publishing.
Editor-in-Chief · Research Editor, Indoor Microbiology
Former research fellow at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig. PhD in Environmental Microbiology from the Free University of Berlin. Specializes in metagenomics of built environments. Author of 23 peer-reviewed papers.
Senior Contributor · Sanitation Chemistry
Emeritus Professor of Applied Chemistry, University of Düsseldorf. 35 years of research into antimicrobial compound formulation. Advisor to the German Cleaning Industry Association (BDH) on regulatory affairs and product safety.
Contributor · Biofilm Science & Water Systems
Public health physician with 18 years of field experience in hospital hygiene and Legionella risk management. Consultant to three major Düsseldorf municipal authorities and former member of the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology (DGHM).
Contributor · Urban Environment & Public Transport Hygiene
Environmental health researcher at the NRW State Health Office. Leads the annual microbiome survey of North Rhine-Westphalia public transit systems. PhD from the University of Cologne, specializing in surface microbiome dynamics in high-traffic environments.
Every article published on CleaningHouses.org adheres to the following editorial standards:
We welcome contributions from qualified researchers, experienced science communicators, and institutional partners. We also offer clearly-labeled editorial partnership opportunities for organizations in the cleaning science, facility management, and public health sectors.