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Green cleaning tips which avoid products that are highly toxic to the environment, human health, or both.  Perhaps most crucially, avoid products that are highly toxic to the environment, human health, or both. Here is a short list of problematic ingredients that are easily avoided ....

Compiled from Green Seal, Seventh Generation, and Washington Toxics Coalition resources: http://www.newdream.org/newsletter/greencleaning.php

Corrosives. Avoid products labeled "Danger. Corrosive." Corrosives include some of the most dangerous chemicals in the home, such as lye, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, and sulfuric acid — the active agents in many drain cleaners, oven cleaners, and toilet cleaners. These chemicals can burn the skin, cause internal burns if ingested, and explode if used incorrectly.

Chlorine bleach. Chlorine bleach is irritating to the lungs and eyes and contains trace amounts of organochlorines — extremely persistent and toxic chemical compounds known to cause cancer in animals, among other serious health problems. When mixed with ammonia, chlorine forms a potentially deadly gas.

Ammonia. Many home recipes and commercial products contain ammonia, but it is a strong eye and lung irritant and should particularly be avoided by anyone with asthma or other lung sensitivities.

Phosphates. Phosphates are naturally occurring minerals used in automatic dishwashing detergents as a water softener. When released back into the environment, phosphates can cause algae blooms in lakes and ponds that kill aquatic life. Look for "phosphate-free" dishwashing detergents, try a homemade recipe of half borax and half washing soda instead, or skip the dishwasher and use a dishpan and regular dish soap instead.

Petroleum products. Many surfactants (cleaning agents) are refined petroleum products that are linked with health problems and require environmentally harsh methods to extract and distill. Seventh Generation estimates that "the average household contains 63 different synthetic organic chemical products which total approximately 10 gallons of potentially hazardous petrochemicals." A few specific ones to avoid: diethylene glycol, nonylphenol ethxylate, and butyl cellosolve.

The term "biodegradable" suggests that a product will decompose in nature, but doesn't indicate the rate or extent of decomposition. It is better to choose a product that states that it "biodegrades completely in three days." The same goes for individual ingredients — "citrus-derived fragrance" is better than just "fragrance."

GREEN CLEANING TIPS

LOOK UNDER YOUR KITCHEN SINK - Remove toxic products

LEARN ABOUT HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE PICKUPS

REPLACE TOXIC PRODUCTS - Choose nontoxic, biodegradable substitutes

LEARN NONTOXIC CLEANING BASICS - How to use kitchen pantry and

garden ingredients

MOPS, SPONGES, RAGS, AND OTHER ACCESSORIES -- Natural, reusable

DISINFECTANTS? CHLORINE BLEACH? -- Look for alternatives

CONSERVE WATER

CLEAN INDOOR AIR WITH PLANTS - -

USE YOUR SENSES - Smell, feel, hear …

For more details:

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/clean-house-top-10-eco-friendly-ways.html