We all have an interest in a sparkling house. To achieve that goal and be green in the way you do it we need to learn some things.

Daily we are exposed to an incredible array of toxins in our normal lives. When using cleaning products we are exposed to numerous “toxins” and each one has a certain degree of toxicity to it. Although they do the job, some ingredients in regular cleaning products can cause headaches, skin rashes and respiratory problems. Researchers from the University of California-Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory analyzed 21 household cleaners and air fresheners and found that many of them especially those with pine, lemon or orange scents, emit excessive levels of toxic pollutants.
To protect yourself, your family and anyone else whose house you clean you need to know more about educating yourself about these problems. So how should you respond and what can you do?

1. You can do a lot to help yourself and anyone else in your house that does some of the house cleaning. First, work at limiting your exposure to toxins by reading labels carefully. Use nontoxic cleaning products. Avoid using indoor pesticides.

2. Limit the exposure of the people around you. Happily for you and your house there are plenty of effective, earth-safe cleaners. Many are very simple solutions and chances are you’ve got half of the ingredients in your cupboards already. Here are some alternatives to chemical household cleaning products that can do the same job. Borax mixed with lemon juice will take out toilet-bowl stains. White vinegar is useful for disinfecting bathrooms and kitchens. Bon Ami, a borax-based powder cleanser sold in supermarkets and hardware stores for more than 50 years, safely cleans pots, pans, sinks, oven interiors along with other corroded surfaces.

Using these alternatives will reduce the toxic load in your house and beyond. Using environmentally friendly cleaners will also safeguard your health and that of the community. In the big picture it also reduces air, water and ground pollution.

3. If you start buying green cleaners instead of your old ones, good move but you need to know that not all “green” products are created equal. Again, read. Catch the ones that have been prettied up with essential oils. Also check labels for irritating chemicals such as chlorine, ammonia and artificial fragrances and dyes.

Each time toxic cleaners are used, there’s a heavy impact on our environment. It doesn’t matter whether the cleaners are poured, sprayed, washed, rinsed, or dumped. The negative and harmful effects are the same. When we use these things we risk adding toxins to the air and to the water, both of which come back to us and are shared with the public.

So why aren’t more people doing it? The reality is few people actually check labels. You can start a trend and start now. Take time to read the label don’t just read the advertising on the box. Distinguish yourself as someone who only thinks green is a good idea and be someone who takes action. Become a “green cleaner.” You may even become a product toxicity home specialist.

Many people who “think green” are just now applying this to the way they approach cleaning. Eco-friendly cleaning and laundry products are a frontier of environmentalism that is just beginning to have an impact. One of the manufacturers that produce green cleaning products is
Green Works. Check out their products and see if they can help you change the way you clean. “Going Green” doesn’t have to be a difficult task that means sweeping life changes. Simple things can make a difference. It’s an inexpensive, easy and effective way to protect our planet and commitment to life.

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