Most cleaning products available these days rely heavily on caustic and toxic chemicals that seriously damage the environment. They often aren't good for your health either.

If you're thinking about not using these unnecessarily harsh products, you may want to consider an equivalent but more environmentally friendly cleaner. There are various green options available that will do a great job cleaning your home while being gentle on the environment. Here are some ideas to consider:

Simple Green. Simple Green is an excellent industrial strength cleaner that happens to carry the Green Seal certification for environmental responsibility. This objective, third-party certification guarantees that a product meets strict standards of environmental stewardship in the way it’s manufactured and used. It also marks a product as easily biodegradable. Simple Green is versatile, extremely effective and will clean the toughest jobs. It’s very strong in its off the shelf form, so you may want to dilute it in water. This has the positive benefit of allowing you to control its strength when cleaning more delicate objects. Use it to clean your kitchen, bathroom, car, or just about anything else. You can be confident of not harming the environment.

Baking Soda. Baking soda is great for cleaning, scrubbing and deodorizing. It's also environmentally friendly. It has a large number of uses, including many you may not have thought about. In addition to its popular use for removing unpleasant odors from the refrigerator, it can be sprinkled on carpets and rugs to deodorize them. You can sprinkle it on a sponge and clean your counters without scratching them. You can dilute it in water and clean your mop. It's a wonderfully versatile substance.

Tea Tree Oil. If you’re attacking mold, there are several natural ways to get rid of it. One of the best is to use tea tree oil, which is great against fungus and bacteria. Mix a teaspoon of it with two cups of water, spray it on the affected area and allow to dry. The scent can be strong, but it will dissipate in a day or two.

Going green often requires sacrifice, but not when it comes to cleaning. You should not have to endure toxic chemicals when cleaning your home. You can get the job done right with a green cleaner without putting your family’s health at risk or harming the environment.

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