Still scouring your counters with bleach in an attempt to kill any germ within a five-mile radius of your kitchen?
While the thought of being stricken with salmonella may scare you, using toxic chemicals on your counter tops should frighten you even more.
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Pictured above: Product from Shaklee
StyleChicago's Guide to Cleaning Green
One 17-year study found that women who work at home have a 55 percent higher chance of dying from cancer than those who do not, which makes some people wonder if this increased rate of cancer could be linked to harsh chemicals used to clean the home, according to an article written by Betty Beier and Carol Johnson at Women's Cancer Resource Center.
Furthermore, air quality inside most homes is more polluted than the air outside, even in large cities like Chicago and Los Angeles, due in large part to volatile organic compounds, which are gases emitted from many commercial cleaning products.
With the United States Environmental Protection Agnecy estimating people spend an average of 90 percent of their time indoors, it's easy to see how inhaling this air can lead to health problems, which is exactly why so many people are now cleaning green.
Cleaning green is not an entirely new concept. Fifty years ago Dr. Forrest Shaklee, who founded the Shaklee Company, saw how environmental calamities were linked to human actions and formulated one of the very first phosphate-free all-purpose cleaners, Basic H®, which is still on shelves today.
The Facts Behind Cleaning Green
One argument regularly heard about green cleaning is, 'But my mom always used chemicals like bleach on our floors and I turned out just fine! Besides, the government regulates products, so how can they sell items that are harmful to my health?'
However, those chemicals your mother used, when compounded over time, may contribute to numerous health complications. As for the government's involvement, while the EPA sets standards for limiting exposure to toxic products, not all toxins are completely eliminated from these products. Therefore, it is up to you to determine how much exposure you are willing to risk.
While most household cleaners are harmful or fatal if ingested or inhaled over time, cleaners are not good for the environment either. Studies have shown high levels of phosphates, which are found in common detergents that we use to wash our clothes, can kill animal and plant life found in our oceans and rivers.
Furthermore, antibacterial soaps can contain Triclosan, which has been linked to reproductive problems and birth defects.
In addtion, a product is labeled green, which means it is not harmful for our environment, does not mean the product is not toxic to humans. For example, Butyl cellosolve, a biodegradable chemical found in some green cleaners, could cause irritation and tissue damage in humans when inhaled.
Pictured above left: The Health and Safety Information on Household Products Web site.
"When shopping for green cleaning products, keep in mind that labeling on cleaning products are not regulated; as a result, terms such as eco-safe, environmentally friendly, environmentally preferable, environmentally safe, green and nontoxic vary in meaning from brand to brand," Anca Novacovici, president of Eco-Coach, says.
Anca suggests looking for Green Seal's, an organization dedictaed to science-based environmental certification standards, certification on products.
Since most green cleaners are priced a bit higher than traditional cleaning products, some people will contend cleaning green is too costly.
However, the beauty of cleaning green is the ease with which it can be done. If you have just a few extra minutes to spare you can make your own green cleaners using some very basic ingredients already found in most homes. Many people find, in the long run, natural, non-toxic products are actually more cost-effective than those that contain harsh chemicals.
After suffering the ill effects of inhaling too many toxic cleaning product fumes, Michael DeJong compiled an entire book filled with recipes for natural cleaners. Clean: The Humble Art of Zen-Cleansing focuses on just five basic ingredients that are commonly found at your grocery store: baking soda, borax, lemon, salt and white vinegar. His recipes are simple, safe and effective, so even if you failed high school chemistry you'll have no problem mixing up these natural cleaners. See DeJong in action below in his video, "Zencleansing."
Pictured above right: Clean: The Humble Art of Zen-Cleansing by Michael DeJong.
Simple Recipes Using Everyday Items
In today's busy world, some amy barely have enough time each week to sit down and pay the bills, much less to formulate cleaning products in the kitchen. However, by creating your own products you can utilize ingredients not harmful to you, your family, your pets or the environment, and you'll be able to reuse the packaging, which cuts back on the amount of plastics being tossed in the dump each day.
Below are some sample recipes from Clean: The Humble Art of Zen-Cleansing.
Baking Soda
Leave it out of cookies and they won't rise: sprinkle it on your counters and they'll gleam. Baking soda, which costs less than a Starbucks coffee, has numerous household uses and makes a safe, cheap and easy alternative to harsh chemical cleaners.
Microwave Cleaner Recipe:
Mix one cup of water, two to three spoons of baking soda and boil in the microwave for two minutes. Wipe clean.
Floor Cleaner Recipe:
Mix one half cup of baking soda with hot water to clean up even the toughest of stains. We all know how greasy our kitchen countertops can become: Simply sprinkle some baking soda on top, wipe with a wet sponge or rag, then rinse.
Borax
Borax is a naturally occurring mineral that has been around for millions of years; for the past 115 years, 20 Mule Team Borax® has been used as a natural laundry booster.
Laundry Booster:
Mix ˝ cup of vinegar and 2 teaspoons of 20 Mule Team into a half gallon of water to create an excellent all purpose non-toxic cleaner.
Toilet Cleaner Receipe:
Skip the use of commercial toilet bowl cleaner, as it is one of the most toxic cleaners in the home, and instead simply toss 1/4 cup of Borax in the bowl, swish around with a brush, let set for an hour or longer and then flush away!
Vinegar
Some use it on their salads with a dash of oil; others prefer this bitter kitchen ingredient for mopping up the floors. Yes, DeJong says, vinegar is excellent at fighting grease and when mixed with water vinegar makes a great glass cleaner.
Window Cleaner:
Simply spray on the windows and wipe clean with recycled newspaper or a dry cloth.
For more ingredients using vinegar or any of these five basic household ingredients, check out DeJong's book.
Pictured above right: Borax and Baking Soda
A Buying Guide for Purchasing Green
With the proliferation of information about the effects of toxic chemicals used in the home, many department stores, grocery stores and online stores are now stocking green cleaning products on their shelves.
The range of products available in specialty stores is much greater than those that you will find in stores that do not specialize in healthy living.
For example, Trader Joes offers several brands of green cleaning products, including their own multi-purpose cleaner. Whole Foods also stocks green cleaning products, and if you are interested in creating your own products they have some easy recipes available on their site including one for a non-toxic oven cleaner.
For one-click shopping, Shaklee offers some of Oprah's favorite things; you can view her recommendations and all of Shaklee's products by visiting the Shaklee Web site. Amazon offers Method and Simple Green among other brands.
While misconceptions about green cleaning abound, the truth is really quite simple: Using products that do not contain harsh chemicals is healthier for you and for those living in your home, and it is also better for the environment.
But perhaps DeJong says it best, "Knowing that cleaning products are the number one pollutant on our planet can be overwhelming, but there are many things that each of us can do to be mindful and empowered. If we all choose to eliminate just one cleaning product from our routine, packaging and all, imagine the impact that we'll collectively make on the environment."
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With the United States Environmental Protection Agnecy estimating people spend an average of 90 percent of their time indoors, it's easy to see how inhaling this air can lead to health problems, which is exactly why so many people are now cleaning green.
The 
focuses on just five basic ingredients that are commonly found at your grocery store: baking soda, borax, lemon, salt and white vinegar. His recipes are simple, safe and effective, so even if you failed high school chemistry you'll have no problem mixing up these natural cleaners. See DeJong in action below in his video, "Zencleansing."
In today's busy world, some amy barely have enough time each week to sit down and pay the bills, much less to formulate cleaning products in the kitchen. However, by creating your own products you can utilize ingredients not harmful to you, your family, your pets or the environment, and you'll be able to reuse the packaging, which cuts back on the amount of plastics being tossed in the dump each day.
With the proliferation of information about the effects of toxic chemicals used in the home, many department stores, grocery stores and online stores are now stocking green cleaning products on their shelves. 
