Common household cleaning products do more than clean your home. The chemicals in widely used products can fill your home with toxins resulting in indoor air pollution, headaches, respiratory problems and other long term effects. All products are not created equal so it's important to read labels carefully.

Look for all-purpose cleaners and other items that don't contain the sudsing agents known as triethanolamine (TEA) and diethanolamine (DEA). 1,4-dioxane and Butyl cellosolve or ethylene glycol monobutyl ether are also dangerous carcinogens. Other potentially harmful ingredients are alkylphenol ethoxylates such as p-nonylphenol and one APE.

It's important to note that any item claiming to destroy bacteria and kill germs is probably effective, but at the expense of being highly toxic.

Fragrances can be irritating and cause more severe problems, especially for people with asthma. It's always best to purchase fragrance free products if possible. 

The alternatives are greener, cleaner, household products that pose no serious threats to people, their pets, and the environment. Here are some suggestions: 

White Vinegar - cleans and disinfects
- To cut through soap scum, try a mixture of white vinegar with a little bit of water to dilute. It removes tea and coffee stains very well and gets rid of lime build-up and rust. It's even known to remove germs, bacteria, and mold.

Baking Soda - cleans and polishes
- Use baking soda is an effective cleaner for tubs and sinks as well as a polisher for countertops. Simply sprinkle some on the surface and rub with a wet cloth. Adding a little liquid castile soap makes the soda extra effective.

Newspaper or Lint-free cloth - Removes cleaning agents
- A mixture of ¼ cup of white vinegar in a spray bottle topped off with water then shaken makes a window and mirror cleaner. A crumpled newspaper or cloth to remove the vinegar is recommended.

Liquid Castile Soap - cleans just about everything
- This multi-purpose cleaner can be used on tile, linoleum, wood and more. A few drops on a wet towel will do the trick.

Olive Oil - Polishes and shines
- A teaspoon of olive oil with a splash of vinegar and citrus juice make a great wood furniture polish
- A bit of olive oil used with a rag shines stainless steel and brass. Spray on shoes for a just polished look
- Spray olive oil on garden tools to remove build-up

Orange - cleans oven
- An orange is part of the recipe used to make an oven cleaner paste. Add 1 gallon of hot water, 1 tsp of liquid dish washing soap, 1 cup of orange juice, and balsamic vinegar together to make a cleansing paste. The acidity of oranges helps to remove tough grease.

Hope you find this helpful.

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