Keeping Your Home Clean and Going Green!

Often, when people clean their homes it is done using products that contain harsh chemicals. These chemicals can leave residues or pollute the air with fumes that are unhealthy for children and adults of all ages. Additionally, these chemicals can further negatively affect the environment if, for example, they make their way into the water system.

When people clean using products and methods that are free of toxic or unsafe materials, and that are safe for the environment and human health, it is called green cleaning. “Green” is a word that is typically associated with products and actions that are environmentally friendly and safe. Because these safe, or green, products tend to be natural, they generally do not adversely affect the people who come in contact with it, nor will it harm the environment. This is of particular importance when it comes to cleaning one’s home, as commercial cleaning products and certain methods can exacerbate health conditions such as asthma and can greatly affect infants, young children and the elderly. To have a clean and healthy home, a homeowner will want to learn what natural products are best for cleaning and how to go about using them.

• Ten Green Cleaning Tips: The TLC Green Living website provides cleaning tip for ten areas/items. The list is in slide-show format and begins with number ten.
• Real Green Living – Ten Simple Ways to Clean Green: Green America presents an article that lists the ten basic products needed to clean one’s home in a eco-friendly manner. After listing the products the article lists recipes that may be used to create safe cleaning products.
• Green Cleaning Recipes: Better Homes and Gardens lists items that are commonly used for green cleaning. Additionally, readers are also given methods for using the products during the cleaning process.
• Non-Toxic Home Cleaning Guide: This guide by Eartheasy provides readers with information regarding homemade cleaning substitutions, formulas, healthy home cleaning habits, and commercial non-toxic household products. People who view this page may go directly to any of these topics by clicking on the associated link at the beginning of the article.
• Green Cleaning: Click this link to open up a page on the Seattle Public Utilities Department website. The information on this page provides guidance on how to clean green.
• Earth Day Detox – Clean Green: People who click on this link are given information on how to start cleaning green. It also reviews what to look out for in terms of false claims regarding the safety of products.
• Green Cleaning Solutions: Read how lemons, white vinegar and baking soda are used as green cleaning solutions by clicking on this link.
• U.S. EPA Safer Choice certification: This page discusses looking for the EPA’s Design for the Environment label when buying green cleaning products. It also reviews the common household items that may be used for safe cleaning.
• Wacky Double Duty Spring Cleaning Items: By clicking on this link, people searching for green cleaning advice are able to watch an ABC News video that offers green cleaning tricks such as using a grapefruit and salt to clean the bathtub.

• Clean and Green: This link opens a PDF brochure about green cleaning. In the brochure readers will find information about products that are commonly used for green cleaning such as baking soda and white vinegar.
• Green Cleaning Tips: An article that discusses how to rid the home of cleaners containing potentially dangerous chemicals. Safe, all-natural alternatives are also included on this page.
• Tips for Better Green Cleaning: Read this article for tips on how to use natural products to clean and advice on how not to use certain items.
• Green Living – Ten Green Cleaning Tips: This is an article found on the website for Family Circle magazine. The tips are numbered and cover topics ranging from mold prevention to cleaning the carpet using green products and methods.
• Spring Green Cleaning Tips: The PDF document that is associated with this link lists six tips on how to make cleaning more green. Tips on this page include green ways to replace dryer sheets and cleaning indoor air naturally.
• Selection and Use of Green Home Cleaning Products: In this PDF readers are given information that will help them make decisions on what products to use when cleaning. The document also cautions against using certain products together.
• Green Cleaning – Do It Yourself Safe Cleaning Guide: A twelve page PDF brochure that provides valuable information on how to clean green. Readers will find information about natural products that may be used for cleaning and recipes for various tasks, such as cleaning mold for example.
• Green Cleaning Solution: The Greenpeace website lists products that may be used independently or combined to clean the home. Readers also are given various cleaning methods for cleaning glass and polishing metal to name a few.
• Tips for Green Living – Green Cleaning: On this page readers will find a list of cleaning products that are considered “bad” or unhealthy. For each product a green alternative is given along with its method of use.
• Green Cleaners – Why Clean Green?: On this page view six reasons why the Environmental Protection Agency advises people to use green cleaning methods. Links to information and green cleaning recipes for specific areas in the home are also found on this page.
• Green Cleaning Guide: The Clean Calgary Association’s PDF guide on green cleaning homes and businesses. The guide discusses the benefits of green cleaning, what to look for when buying green cleaning products, and more.

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