When my first child was born, I worried about what went into her little body: what she ate, breathed, and absorbed through her skin. Being trained as a research scientist, I intensely studied the cleaning products I had been using in my home for years--and their alternatives. (This is where it would be nice to live in Europe. They’re a lot pickier about the chemicals they allow consumers to be exposed to.) What an eye opener!

Many cleaners give off unhealthy fumes that can irritate the lungs or cause headaches. Some contain chemicals that are linked to cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders (source: www.healthylegacy.org).

Ultimately, I learned that creating cleaning solutions from scratch saves time, space, and money (we all can use more of those). It’s immeasurably safer for our families and the environment. And I discovered how much healthier I felt: no more headaches and far less moodiness after cleaning. I haven’t looked back since.

Here’s what we use at the Swanson house these days...

Baking soda. Also known as “bicarbonate of soda,” this mild abrasive and deodorizer does wonders in the kitchen and bathroom. Shake it on to scrub sinks, tubs and tile, pots and pans, and glass-top stoves. I’ve also used it to remove stains from my kids’ plastic toys, high chairs, etc. If you use too much, it takes a while to rinse it all off. I’ve had good success using it as a carpet freshener (test for colorfastness first). Arm & Hammer® lists all kinds of uses.

Borax. Basically a naturally occurring, inedible salt; branded in the U.S. as “20 Mule Team® Borax” and often found in a big box in the cleaning products aisle of the grocery store. This is a scouring powder, but many also consider it to be a disinfectant. Use it to clean toilets: shake it on, let it sit a while (some suggest overnight), scrub and flush. “Natural” but toxic. Check out the Dial® Corporation website for more uses of borax.

White distilled vinegar. Buy it by the gallon. It helps kill germs, deodorizes (it stops stinking when it dries), and removes mineral deposits. It’s great for laundry, as a fabric rinse to soften clothes. The Heinz® website lists a bunch of other ways to use vinegar around the house. They claim that vinegar kills weeds, too. (I’ll be trying that this summer!) Since it has the added benefit of killing grass in your sidewalk or driveway, you might want to be careful how you use it on your lawn.

Vegetable oil-based liquid soap. Murphy Oil Soap is my favorite, although I admit I don’t know exactly what’s in it. I use it for my finished wood cabinets because that’s what the manufacturer recommends; it has been around for 100 years, and it smells great. However, our wood floor refinisher told us, DO NOT USE IT ON FINISHED WOOD FLOORS. It creates a buildup that messes up the buff-and-coat maintenance process. I also use Dr. Bronner’s unscented “baby-mild” soap in my spray cleaning formulas; they’re concentrated, organic and fair trade--you can’t beat that! If nothing else, the bottle itself provides some...unique reading.

Essential oils. These are the most expensive ingredients in my “bucket,” but I like adding a few drops for scent. I use lavender, lemon and tea tree (I think tea tree oil smells awful, but I use it because of its purported disinfectant benefits). Just remember that plant fragrances can be just as irritating as synthetic ones, so watch out if you’re sensitive.

Cleaning recipes and techniques. My favorite cleaning cookbook is Clean House, Clean Planet by Karen Logan. I use her basic all-purpose spray and disinfectant spray recipes. Other resources include the Children's Health Environmental Coalition and the Twin Cities Green Guide. Speed Cleaning by Jeff Campbell is the best book I've read for fast, effective cleaning techniques.

Laundry and dishwashing detergents. I have yet to find a convincing home brew for either of these. You can reduce the amount of commercial cleaner you use by adding a natural "booster" (water softener) such as borax for laundry, or baking soda in the dishwasher. You can find environmentally friendly products at health food stores, and Consumer Reports now offers a "Greener Choices" guide with effectiveness ratings and manufacturers' claims on environmental safety.

Containers. Look for sprayers at discount retailers or beauty supply stores. Don't reuse containers previously used for toxic cleaners. Clean, empty parmesan cheese shakers work well for the powders. (Remove the original labels, re-label, and keep away from spaghetti.) Clearly label everything with all ingredients.

Tools. Some homemade recipes require a bit more elbow grease, so invest in high-quality tools that will last. Here are some basics for general cleaning. Heavier cleaning may warrant specialized tools.

• Ostrich-down feather duster
• Washable, reusable, lint-free cloth rags such as cheapo diapers, cloth napkins/serviettes, or microfiber cloths (if you want to get fancy)
• Gentle scouring pad (I like the Dobie® by Scotch Brite)
• Toilet brush
• Oversized toothbrush-style brush (not a real toothbrush--"helpful" toddlers can't tell the difference between tooth toothbrushes and cleaning toothbrushes. Don't ask me how I know this.)
• Well-designed cleaning apron (check out The Clean Team) or portable tote to keep everything together and easily accessible as you clean
• Vacuum cleaner (I love my Miele canister vac)

When it's time to clean, you can save a lot of time by limiting the clutter in your home. Getting rid of excess clutter would eliminate 40 percent of the housework in the average home, according to the National Soap and Detergent Association (source: NAPO, www.napo.net).

Now for the super-annoying, I-can't-believe-I'm-writing-this, anti-lawsuit disclaimer: Follow safety precautions. If you have a question about a product, contact the company. Test on an inconspicuous area first. Keep out of mouth, eyes and skin. Wear goggles and cleaning gloves or a haz-mat suit if you need to. Read the manufacturers' manuals for your cabinets, floors, appliances, etc. Keep out of the reach of children and pets. If irritation develops, discontinue use. Use your head. (Okay, not literally...oh dear.) Do what works, and don't blame me. :)

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