Linda - I've used Arbonne products for years and have found a huge difference not having all the petroleums and preservatives. These products you talk about I'm sure you will find superior to what is in the retail marketplace. With your allergies it is a great place to start! I hope your quest helps your allergies while helping the environment!!!

Linda- I try and clean "green", but I don't like to spend tons of money buying "green" cleaners.  You can make household cleaners for everyday cleaning out of many things that you already have in your home.  Do a google search for "homemade cleaners" or "green homemade cleaners" and you get tons of results for sites that have recipes that you can look through.  Some ingredients are readily available and easy to work with, some a little more difficult.  Most of these recipes are much better for the environment (and you ^_~) than store-bought cleaners.  Better yet, they are CHEAP. ^_^

In my kitchen I keep:

1 bottle of 1/4 lemon juice to 3/4 water for cleaning glass

Baking soda for scouring cookware, etc 

1 bottle 1/8 white vinegar to 7/8 water for all purpose cleaning

And because I like clean to have a smell ^_~ 1 bottle of water with a few drops of peppermint oil in it.  I like peppermint, but there are tons of different oils available, easily found in stores like Whole Foods.  (Look for the "aromatherapy" section) I use this bottle to wipe down my kitchen after cleaning. 

I was amazed at how well using these worked when I first tried them.  I'll never go back to store-bought for the majority of my cleaning at home. 

Hi Linda, I found a great product but I don't have the name for it off hand. I loaned it to my mom-she has bad allergies too.  The stuff is awesome. You can drink it if for some strange reason you wanted to and I used it to get mildew off the concrete on my front porch.  Amazing. I'll get you the name of it.

Patricia - thanks for the tips on how to use products in our house.  this does sound like a cheaper way and I LOVE the idea of adding peppermint or another oil fragrance.  I agree with you that I like a plesant smell with my cleaning products.

Stephanie - what an interesting product.  I don't think I'd drink something that could remove mildew but let me know the product name.

Thanks!

Linda, good and different information. I didn't event think about shaklee, will have to look it up.

Patricia, thanks for the peppermint idea -- although peppermint and me don't get along I am certain I can find a different oil that appeals to me and use your idea with that!!!