Did you know that the average household uses 40 pounds of household cleaning products per year? And that your indoor air is likely more polluted than the air outside your home – even if you live in a large city? Considering that we probably clean our homes and businesses regularly and spend nearly 90 percent of our life indoors, that’s a serious concern!

While there are many sources of indoor air pollution, household cleaners are a major baddie because they continuously emit dangerous substances into the air we breathe. Every time you squirt, spray or wipe these cleaners onto your home furnishings you’re reintroducing them into the air and your body. You may not even know you’re harming yourself because some health effects may not show up until years later.

If you’ve ever experienced headaches, dizziness, irritation of the eyes, nose or throat, lightheadedness or fatigue during or after cleaning your house, chances are you’re sensitive to the chemicals and fragrances used in traditional cleaners. Some of these traditional products can trigger or aggravate chronic diseases, particularly those affecting the respiratory system like asthma or emphysema.

So all that time you spend trying to keep things clean and keep the dust down may actually be harming you more than if you had let the dust bunnies lie!

These ingredients find their way into the environment too. They could be flushed down toilets, poured in the sink, sprayed into the air, tossed out in the trash, dumped on the ground, landfilled or incinerated, where they’ll pollute the air and groundwater, contaminate the soil, and harm plant and animal life.

Fortunately, natural cleaning products are gaining in popularity and offer an environmentally-friendly and cost-effective alternative to the toxic household cleaning products used in many homes today. When you consider the contact that most cleaners will eventually have with our air, soil and water resources, using natural cleansers makes tons of eco-sense.

While there are a few “brand-name” or ready made green-cleaning products on the market, the only way you can be absolutely certain what your products contain is by making them yourself. Commonly found brand name products are BioKleen, Chlorox Green Works, Method, Mrs. Meyers, and Seventh Generation. While these products are more environmentally friendly or sustainable than traditional cleaners, they still use some non-natural ingredients, fragrances and even petrochemicals (made from petroleum).

However, if making your own cleaners isn’t for you, using these products instead of the traditional more toxic products might be a happy medium. If you’re going to opt for the pre-made cleaners check the labels. Look for terms such as “readily biodegradable”, “recycled packaging”, “no animal testing”, “no phosphates” and “no petroleum-based products”. This will help ensure your cleaner AND it’s packaging are eco-friendly.

Homemade natural cleaning products are easy to make and can be substituted for many of the toxic cleaners on the market. All you need are a few inexpensive ingredients and information on how to put them together.

Basic ingredients are common household items such as: baking soda, vinegar, borax, castile soap, beeswax and essential oils. You can easily find these items at grocery stores or health food stores. Internet searches will turn up homemade cleaner “recipes” and you’ll even find several books on the subject. One of the nicest side benefits of making your own cleaners is that you get to create your own scents! The essential oils perform cleaning and antiseptic functions but also give off great smells! You don’t have to settle for faux-pine or lemon-like smells anymore! Soon you’ll be tailoring your cleaning smells to the seasons or your mood. Aromatherapy while you clean your house! What could be better?

And because essential oils are so concentrated, they last a long time. The other ingredients are usually very inexpensive, so you’ll save money by making your own cleaners too! Keep the bottles and containers from your old traditional cleaners and you’ve got ready-made storage for your homemade products! Old squirt bottles, coffee cans or jars will serve you well and you can use old t-shirts or rags to clean with. You’ll be surprised how little you’ll actually need to purchase to get started with your homemade cleaners.

One of the easiest “recipes” is a floor wash. A gallon of hot water, 1 cup of white vinegar and 10-15 drops of the essential oil of your choice (they come in lemon and pine if you like those smells!) and you’ve got yourself a floor wash!

To clean your sinks, use baking soda, lemon juice and white vinegar. Let it sit and fizz for a few minutes then wipe it clean. Voila! Clean and smells good too – the baking soda acts as a natural odor-eater. Pouring baking soda and vinegar down your sink drain will eliminate those nasty drain odors too.

Instead of using fabric softener in your washing machine, use white vinegar instead. It’ll rinse laundry detergent residue from your clothing and soften fabric at the same time!

Got an ant problem? Use a sponge dampened with peppermint or essential oils to discourage the ants. A few drops of these oils on windowsills or doorways will dissuade ants from entering the house too.

Of course you’ll need to get rid of your toxic cleaners first. The least helpful thing to do would be to dump them out or throw them away. Instead, you could use them up and simply not replace them. Some may evaporate on their own if left unopened outside. You might also want to contact your local hazardous waste agency or city hall and see if there is a place to dispose of these items safely. Once your house is free of those toxic chemicals, you’ll breathe easier on cleaning day and rest easier knowing you’re doing your small part to keep poisons out of your home and the environment.

Happy Cleaning!