Less Toxic Cleaning

Standard household cleaning chemicals can be rough on your skin, your pets, your family, and the environment. Also, recent studies have shown mounting evidence that exposure to chemicals in common household cleaning products may be contributing to a rise in health problems, particularly asthma and reproductive harm. The chemicals that are pointed to as being the most harmful are monoethanolamine (MEA), glycol ethers, and benzalkonium chloride (found in many antibacterial products). There are, however, less toxic ways to clean your house.

The first thing you have to accept when looking at less toxic ways to clean is that, unless there is someone in your household with a compromised immune system, you don't have to disinfect every surface in your house. Really. With the exception of cleaning kitchen surfaces that have come into contact with raw eggs and raw meat, disinfecting is providing little or no additional benefit beyond what you get by cleaning without disinfecting. That said, here are some ways to clean your house without exposing your family to harsh household cleaners:

Use household cleaners that are both biodegradable and made from plant-based ingredients. One brand that has a substantial product line (toilet cleaner, floor soap, glass and surface cleaner, lime scale remover, and an all purpose cleaner) and is fairly easy to find is Ecover. Another line of natural cleaners to check out is BioKleen.

Clean your shower, bathtubs, and kitchen sink with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. The Magic Eraser is a melamine "sponge" that does a really good job of removing dirt and soap scum from bathtubs and showers; and it does great cleaning kitchen sinks (including coffee and tea stains). The Magic Eraser also does a pretty good job of removing dirt and stains from kitchen counters and plastic items (storage containers and plastic tables and chairs, for example).

Use a static duster without spray or polish to dust.

Use citrus-based cleaners (for example, De-Solv It) to clean and degrease stoves, ovens, and cook tops.